How to Rotate Tires Yourself

Whether you choose to rotate your tires yourself or you leave that task to the pros at your local service center, tire rotation is an important maintenance step that should not be missed. Rotating your tires on a regular basis can lead to better traction on Kansas City roads, and it can even extend the life of your tires! Peruse the guide to tire rotation below to keep your tires rolling for as long as possible.

Because of variables in driving habits, each of the tires on your vehicle will wear at different rates. Because of the impact they experience while turning, the outside edges of the front tires show greater wear while the rear wheels wear more evenly. If your tires always remain in the same place, they will wear down at different rates. This means they will need to be replaced much more frequently.

Front and rear wheel drive vehicles should have the tires rotated approximately every 5,000-7,500 miles. All-wheel drive vehicles will need more frequent tire rotations, usually every 3,000-5,000 miles since all tires are actively engaged leading to faster wear. Be sure to check your owner’s manual to see if there are more specific recommendations for your particular make and model.

• FWD Tires: You can move the front tires to the back of the car in the same left/right positions. When it comes time to move the rear tires to the front, you must switch the right and left tire.

• RWD Tires: The opposite is true with RWD vehicles. The rear tires can be moved to the front of the car in the same left/right positions, but when you move the front tires to the rear, you need to switch the left and right tire.

If you prefer to do your own vehicle maintenance, rotating your own tires you will require you to have a car jack, lug nut wrench, and a set of car jacks. Once you have acquired the necessary tools follow these five easy steps:

1. Engage the parking brake to ensure your vehicle stays locked in place.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels, but don’t take them all the way off.
3. Lift up one wheel with a car jack and place the jack stand underneath it.
4. Remove the tires one by one.
5. Look to see if your tires are inflated to the proper tire pressure. Once filled, you can rotate them according to the appropriate pattern for your type of tires. Place the tire back onto the wheel mount and screw the lug nuts on by hand as far as you can.
6. Lower the car from the jack stands and use the lug wrench to finish tightening the nuts. It’s best to work the lug nuts diagonally from one to another in a star pattern to ensure even tightening. The brake rotor can warp If the lug nuts aren’t tightened evenly.

Not ready to rotate your tires yourself? No problem! The experienced technicians at Lee’s Summit Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram can perform the service for you. Our service specials at our Lee’s Summit service center make maintaining your car easy and affordable. Schedule your service with us today – or simply contact us with questions about service. Looking for other service tips? Learn how to read tire numbers or how to get the smoke smell out of your vehicle!