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Readers Questions

This time out we have two questions, One easy and one a bit more difficult.

Jul 3, 2006

A question about tires and battery terminals.

Question

I'm going to change my daughter's battery in her 1994 Toyota Celica. Can you tell me what size wrench I need to loosen the battery cable screws?

Thanks,

Steve

Answer

That's an easy one Steve. They are 10mm so a 10mm box or open end wrench should work just fine.

Question

Hi Vince,

I have a 1992 Acura Integra LS, about 130,000 miles. About 1.5 years ago I replaced all four tires. I stupidly did not rotate the tires, and after about a year my front ones were very warped, but they back ones seemed ok, so I replaced the front two. Now I have 2 new ones in the front, and 2 older ones in the back. How do you recommend I rotate these since they're from different times (especially if they're "one way" tires, meaning I can't swap the front left and front right tires).

Thanks!

Answer

Good question! You should rotate them as normal every 7,500 miles. The recommend rotation pattern is a modified X pattern.

Front wheel drive vehicles:

LF to LR

LR to RF

RF to RR

RR to LF

Rear wheel drive vehicles:

LF to RR

RR to RF

RF to LR

LR to LF

I would have the front end looked at very closely however. Wearing out brand new tires in a year and a half indicates to me there is a problem in the front end.

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