How to Rotate Your Tires

Written By: Shaun MacDonald

Comments: 5

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

Time Required

30 - 45 minutes

Introduction

Tire rotation ensures even wear on the tires. Front and rear axles support different weights, and will wear differently. Rotating tires allows for even wear on a set of four tires, maximizing the lifespan of the set.

You should rotate your tires every five thousand to ten thousand miles to reduce uneven tire wear.

Tools

Step 1

Place the hydraulic floor jack under the vehicle until the saddle is directly under the crossmember.
The crossmember is the long metal support beam that runs underneath from the front fender to the rear fender on both sides of the car.
The saddle is the round metal part of the jack that moves upward as you pump the jack up.

Just for understanding: the crossmember runs from the legt fender to right fender, or am I wrong?

VauWeh - 15/10/17

( I mean left fender)

VauWeh - 15/10/17

Correct-o-mungo!!

Kevin R Brown - 29/06/20

Step 2

Push downward on the jack's lever to lift the saddle upward so that it contacts the crossmember. Continue pushing downward on the lever to lift the car upward.

Step 3

Place the jack stand under the jack mounting point.
The jack mounting point is a metallic protrusion beneath each of the car doors.

Step 4

Raise the jack stand until it contacts the jack mounting point.
In the event the floor jack fails, the jack stand is designed to prevent the car from falling.

Floor jack is not designed to hold the weight. In case the jack stand fails, put jack stand under the car if possible.

BBMonster - 24/07/17

Step 5

Once the car is raised, remove the lug nuts with the ratchet attached to a 3/4'' socket.
It may be a good idea to initially loosen the lug nuts while the wheels are still on the ground, that way you'll get plenty of leverage without the wheel spinning.

Step 6

Remove the tire off the wheel studs and place it aside.
The wheel studs are the metal bolts sticking out of the wheel hub in the center.

Step 7

On the same side of the vehicle, go to the rear tire.
Using a ratchet attached to a 3/4" socket, loosen wheel lug nuts. Do not remove them.
It may be a good idea to initially loosen the lug nuts while the wheels are still on the ground, that way you'll get plenty of leverage without the wheel spinning.

Step 8

Place the floor jack under the frame in front of the rear tire.
Make sure that you are not pressed against the plastic and you are directly on the metal frame of the vehicle.
Raise the jack until the tire is off the ground.

Step 9

Remove the lug nuts by loosening them with your hands.

Step 10

Remove the rear tire. Roll and place the tire onto the wheel studs on the front wheel.
Tighten the lug nuts using your hand until they are tight.
Roll the previous front tire to the rear and repeat the tightening process

Step 11

Using a torque wrench, tighten the lug nuts on each wheel to the car manufacturer's recommended torque specification found in the user's manual.
If a torque wrench is not available, use the ratchet attached to the 3/4'' socket to hand-tighten the lug nuts until very tight.

Step 12

Using an air compressor and the air pressure gauge, fill the front and rear tires to appropriate amount.

Conclusion

Follow these steps in the same order to rotate the tires on the other side of the vehicle.

Author

Shaun MacDonald

Member since: 03/10/12

2570 Reputation

One comment

Really useful and valuable content, Thank you.

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