How to Rotate Tires on a Toyota Matrix

Rotating the tires on your Toyota Matrix will help you to wear the tires evenly over time. During normal driving, the front wheels have more weight over them than the rear wheels. Since the Matrix is front-wheel-drive, it also means the drive wheels are in the front. Consequently, the rear wheels may not experience as much wear as the front wheels. Depending on the tread life rating of the tires you have, you may want to rotate them every 10,000 up to 25,000 miles.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Tire wrench Jack with jack stands Torque wrench

1. Turn the lug nuts on all wheels 1/4 turn with a tire wrench to loosen.

2. Jack the front of the Matrix up by placing the floor jack under the front jack point and jacking up on it. The front jack point is an extension of the frame located near the radiator.

3. Place jack stands underneath the front pinch welds of the vehicle and lower the Toyota onto the stands.

4. Jack up the rear of the Matrix using the rear jack point.

5. Place jack stands underneath the rear pinch welds and lower the vehicle onto the stands.

6. Continue to loosen the lug nuts with the tire wrench. Then, remove the wheels.

7. Swap the driver side front and rear tires by placing the driver side front tire in the driver side rear position. Place the driver side rear tire in the driver side front position. Repeat this process for the passenger side. Alternatively, you may swap the driver side front tire with the passenger side rear tire, and swap the passenger side front tire with the driver side rear tire.

8. Mount the wheels and tires and tighten the lug nuts.

9. Lower the vehicle to the ground and torque the lug nuts to 100 foot-lbs with the torque wrench.

References

• Toyota Matrix, Pontiac Vibe Repair Manual 2003-2008; Jay Storer, John H. Haynes; 2009

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