Tire rotations are crucial to ensuring that you get the longest life out of the tires you purchase. Over time, with different driving conditions your tires are prone to uneven tire wear. Depending on your style of driving, it is wise to rotate your tires about every 6,000 miles; or, a simpler way to remember is to change every other oil change. Rotating your tires does not take very much time and is inexpensive. With this article you will successfully learn how to properly rotate your tires.
Step 1
Be sure to acquire all proper tools and a safe way of raising your vehicle with all 4 tires off the ground. This way everything will be accessible making the rotation complete in as little amount of time as possible.
Step 2
Be sure to be on a level surface when doing the rotation to reduce the risk of the vehicle being tippy when in the air. Before raising the car in the air, if your wheels have hubcaps, remove them simply by using a flat head screwdriver so then the lug nuts are exposed.
Step 3
Raise the car in the air. This can be done several ways. Using a floor jack and jack stands or a hydraulic lift is easiest.
Step 4
Remove the lug nuts from each tire using an air impact gun and its proper socket. When removed be sure to place the lug nuts together and close to the tire being removed for easy access when placing the replacement tire in its place.
Step 5
Remove the tires from the studs holding them on. Be sure to use two hands. Then place the tire on the ground and move the tries to their new location.
Step 6
Note that the placement of the tires varies depending on the drivetrain your vehicle has. Also look at the sidewall of your tire and look to see if your tires are directional meaning the tires only rotate in one direction when being driven on the road. Here are some options.
Step 7
Place tires that are in their new location back on the studs.
Step 8
Hand tighten lug nuts onto the stud to hold the wheel in place. Now use the air impact gun again this time to make lug nuts "snug" not tight. This can also be done using a torque stick which can be applied to the end of an impact gun. When tightening lug nuts, use a star pattern.
Step 9
Lower the car back to the ground slowly.
Step 10
Use a torque wrench to finalize tightening lug nuts to spec. For most cars it is somewhere between 80 - 100 ft.lbs.; trucks 90 - 140 ft.lbs.
Step 11
Place hubcaps back on the wheels by simply pressing them back on with your hands (if vehicle has hubcaps).
Step 12
Check your air pressure and the rotate is now complete.
