I have a '96 EB 4x4. According to the owner's guide, the proper way to rotate four tires is to move the rear tires to the front, with the tires remaining on the same side of the vehicle. The front tires are to switch sides when moving to the rear of the truck.
My company maintains a large fleet of vehicles, with many Explorers among them. One of the mechanics told me that tires should never be rotated as described above, because moving them to the opposite side of the vehicle changes the direction of rotation. He told me that this could lead to catastrophic tire failure. However, I have always rotated my tires by the above method, and have never had a problem. Besides, I am a firm believer in following manufacturer's recommendations.
It's time to rotate my tires again. Should I go with the way I've always done it, or is my mechanic friend correct?
Thanks!