How to Rotate Tires

Rotating tires is made much easier when you get the right tools for the job:

Lug Wrench

A lug wrench is essential for loosening and tightening the nuts that secure the tire to the car. A four-sided wrench is versatile enough to use on a variety of nut sizes and also provides a good grip to get the leverage you need to turn nuts when tightening.

Car Jack

Most cars come with a small jack packed along with the spare tire kit. This jack is only intended for quick roadside repairs. If you intend to perform DIY maintenance on your car regularly, you should invest in a hydraulic car jack. It provides a reliable lift and can securely hold the weight of the car provided you buy one in the correct size.

Jack Stands

It is unsafe to allow the car to rest only on the lip of the hydraulic jack as you work on the vehicle. You must place jack stands under the car to provide the proper stability. Jack stands are usually sold in sets of two. When you purchase a set, be sure the jack stands are the correct size to support the weight of your vehicle. 

Directional tires have a uniquely designed tread pattern and are made to only rotate in one direction. They have an arrow on the sidewall to point in the correct way the tire should turn, and the tire can only be mounted correctly on the corresponding side of the car. The most significant advantage of directional tires is that they offer better handling in wet conditions and they are optimized to be more fuel efficient. 

In terms of tire rotation, directional tires can only be rotated front to back. As shown in the diagram, the front right tire will be switched with the rear right tire; the front left, with the rear left.

 While this simplifies the process, this also mean that directional tires tend to have a shorter tread life than normal tires. Also, in some cars there may a slight difference in tires size between the front and rear tires. In that case, you will not be able to perform tire rotations at all.

The tread pattern in non-directional tires is designed to perform generally well in all conditions, and while they are not as aesthetically flashy as non-directional tires, they are durable and economical. Non-directional tires have a longer tread life due to their ability to be rotated around the car; uneven tread wear is much easier to eliminate, and the tires don’t need to be wholly replaced as often.

As shown in the diagram, the standard rotation pattern moves the tires in a figure like a horizontal hourglass:

• The front left tire rotates to the right rear position
• The right rear tire rotates to the right front position
• The right front tire rotates to the left rear position
• The left rear tire rotates to the left front position

If the car is a model with front-wheel drive, reverse this pattern, beginning with the front tires:

• The front left tire rotates to the left rear position
• The left rear tire rotates to the right front position
• The right front tire rotates to the right rear position
• The right rear tire rotates to the left front position

• Place the vehicle in park on level ground.
• Engage the emergency brake.
• Place a tire block or a wedge of scrap wood under one of the tires.
• Loosen the lug nuts on all the wheels, but do not remove them completely.

• Move the jack into position under the car frame next to the first tire. Check your vehicle’s manual for the proper placement of a jack.
• Place the handle into the jack body and pump until the jack touches the car frame. Then, raise the car until the first tire just clears the ground.
• Remove the lug nuts and take off the tire. Continue to raise the car until it just clears the height of the jack stand. Put the jack stand into the proper position under the car frame. Then, slowly lower the car to rest on the jack stand and lock the stand in place.
• Repeat these steps to remove the tire that will move to the first position.

• Place the second tire into the first position, and fit it securely over the wheel bolts.
• Install the lug nuts, but only finger tighten. Then, use the lug wrench to slightly secure the bolts, but don’t finish tightening.
• Using the jack, raise the car until it clears the top of the jack stand, and then remove the jack stand. Lower the car back to the ground.

Now, it’s time to tighten the nuts the rest of the way. 

• Follow a star pattern to get the nuts securely in place.
• Start at the top bolt and work with steady medium pressure. For step two, tighten the bolt directly across from the first one.
• Then, move onto the bolt directly to the left of the first nut. Apply the wrench to the bolt directly to the right of the first one, and finish up with the remaining bolt.

Repeat steps six through seven to rotate each tire. Refer to the patterns in step 3 or step 4 as a guide.

Safety: Move the wheel block to a different wheel when removing the tire resting against it.

Once the rotation is complete, use a tire gauge to check the pressure on all four tires. 

You can usually find the recommended pressure inside the front door on the driver’s side. If not, consult your owner’s manual. 

Add air to the tires to get the pressure within the recommended range, as needed.