How to Rotate Tires on an Automobile
General maintenance of an automobile includes rotating the tires on a periodic basis. The front tires are responsible for steering the vehicle and, in front wheel drive models, for supplying power. This causes uneven wear between the front and rear tires, which must be compensated for in order to achieve maximum tire life. By rotating the tires, wear is evenly distributed, prolonging overall tire mileage.
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Instructions
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Park the vehicle on level pavement and firmly engage the parking brake.
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Choose one side of the vehicle to start on and remove the hubcaps if present using the pointed end of the lug wrench to pry them up from their edges, and then pull them off. Break the lug nuts loose on the front and rear wheels of that side using the lug wrench but do not remove the lug nuts; only break them loose.
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3
Raise the front wheel of the vehicle using the floor jack, and place a jack stand underneath a solid point such as the frame rail. Repeat for the rear wheel on the same side of the vehicle.
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4
Remove the lug nuts from both wheels and place them next to their respective tire.
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Inspect the tires for any damage or excessive wear. If the tires are not the same size from front to rear, then you must refer to the vehicle owner's manual for the recommended tire rotation pattern. If no problems are found, switch their positions, moving the front wheel to the rear, and the rear wheel to the front, and place them on the wheel mounts.
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Install the lug nuts and tighten them firmly.
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Lower the vehicle and repeat the process for the other side.
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Tips & Warnings
If any abnormal wear or damage is found during the rotation procedure, the tires need to be inspected by a qualified professional for safety.
Never work under a vehicle unless it is supported by approved automotive jack stands.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tire image by Orlando Florin Rosu from Fotolia.com
