Tire rotation is important to ensure you get maximum life from the tires you buy. Over time, with different road conditions, it is wise to rotate your tires and every 10,000 km, or every time you change the oil. Keep reading and learn this easy and inexpensive way to save your money.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Car Jack
Step 1. Use multiple jack stands
Your car has a jack so you can only change one wheel at a time, but to rotate the tires, all the wheels must be lifted off the ground. The easiest and cheapest way to do this is to buy a jack stand which costs around $30. DO NOT do this with multiple jacks.
If you don't want to buy a jack stand, you can use a block. Another, most expensive solution is to install a hydraulic jack in your garage
Step 2. Find a flat workplace
Reduce the risk of the car falling when jacked up by working on a flat surface. Apply the handbrake before you start work, and block the wheels you haven't jacked up to prevent the car from moving back and forth.
If your workplace is a sloping place, or you don't have a space, this job won't take long if you're going to use a parking lot
Step 3. Open the hubcap and loosen the lug nuts
While your car is still on the ground, use a flat screwdriver to pry the hubcap and remove it, so that the lug nuts are visible. Then using a wheel wrench, loosen the lug nuts. DO NOT remove the nuts, only loosen them so they can be easily removed after jacking up the car.
Turn one of the hubcaps over to hold the bolts for later removal
Step 4. Lift the car
Use a jack to lift every corner of the car, and support it with a jack stand. Read your car's manual for the correct location for the jack and jack stands.
- Using 4 jackstands would be the easiest and quickest way to get this job done, but some people would be nervous to see their car supported only by jack stands. If you only have two jack stands, you will have to lift and lower the car several times using the jack, as this procedure requires you to swap wheels from front to back.
- Whichever method you choose, plan the rotation pattern in advance before you start removing the wheel.
Part 2 of 2: Rotating Tires
Step 1. Check the direction of rotation of your tires
Tires can be installed one-way or freely. A directional tire has a tread in the same direction, usually with grooves to allow water to flow to the outside of the tire for better handling. For this type of tire, you can only swap the front and rear wheels on the same side. Wheels that do not have a specific direction, can be mounted to any position.
- For directional tires, rotating the tires means you are swapping the front tires from the driver's side for the tires behind them, and vice versa.
- For tires without a specific direction, the rotation pattern is usually an "X" shape, where you'd swap the front left wheel for the rear right, and the front right wheel for the rear left. This pattern will allow you to get the perfect rotation and ensure maximum service life.
Step 2. Remove the nuts from the first wheel you lift
Remove the wheel and roll it to its new position. Keep an eye on where you place the nuts and place them near the axle. The nut groove should be standard, but you'll usually keep the nut in the same position as the bolt, not the wheel.
Step 3. Rotate the wheel in the correct pattern
If you are lifting the whole car, all you have to do is slide the wheel to its new position, screw it on the bolts and tighten the nuts by hand.
If you only have two jack stands, and you have installed them to support the two rear wheels, then you will need to shift the left rear wheel to the left front. Lift the left front with the jack, remove the wheel, and install the new wheel, tighten the nut by hand, and lower the jack. Then, move the new wheel and remove it to the right rear, and so on. Keep rotating the wheel in the correct pattern
Step 4. Lower the car
With your jack, raise each location up off the jack stand until you can safely remove it, then lower the car. Make sure you've tightened each tire on hand-tight before you do this. You should be able to wobble the tire back and forth.
Step 5. Tighten the wheel nuts in a star pattern
Many cars have 6 nuts. Once the car hits the ground, tighten the lug nuts with a wheel wrench by tightening one of them, turning it in a quarter turn and then the nut in the position furthest from it, and so on.
If you have one, you can use a torque wrench to tighten all the nuts. In general, cars need torque between 80-100 fe.lbs, for trucks 90-140 ft.lbs
Step 6. Replace the hubcap, and check the air pressure, add if it's not enough
Tips
This is a good opportunity to wash your wheels and check for any possible damage. Also clean the tires from dirt and debris of brake canvas powder
Warning
- In some cases, many repair shops use automatic or hydraulic locks to remove your wheel nuts. But some of them didn't follow the tightness rules when they installed them, and installed them with a pressure of 200 psi. Too much tension can make it difficult to open later.
- When changing a flat tire or rotating a tire, remember to support the other wheels so that the car does not change position. Medium sized stones, or wooden blocks can be used in the opposite/farthest position of the wheel. (if you change the rear left tire, you have to block the front right tire)
