How to Do a Tire Rotation Yourself

Regularly rotating your tires is an important part of maintaining your Seminole-area vehicle. You can bring your car to a qualified service center to have your tires rotated, or you can rotate them yourself at home. It’s important to rotate your tires frequently so you can maintain a safe level of traction on the road. The service team at Tate Branch Hobbs has everything you need to know about how to do a tire rotation in the guide below.

Why is Tire Rotation Important for Your Vehicle?

Since road conditions are never exactly the same day-to-day, your tires won’t wear out evenly. When you turn your vehicle on the road, your front tires will wear out more quickly while the rear wheels wear out more slowly and evenly. This is why it’s important to regularly rotate your tires so they all take the brunt of the road equally. Otherwise, your tires will wear out quicker and you’ll have to get them replaced sooner. 

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

You’ll have to rotate your tires at different rates depending on the configuration of your vehicle. Front- and rear-wheel drive tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, while all-wheel drive tires need to be rotated more frequently, every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Your owner’s manual will give you more specific numbers on when you should rotate your individual vehicle’s tires.

Learn More About the Importance of Tire Position

• FWD Tires: When rotating front-wheel drive tires, move the front tires to the back without changing their positions. When moving the rear tires to the front, switch the left and right tires (so the rear right tire moves to the front left, and the rear left moves to the front right).
• RWD Tires: When rotating rear-wheel drive tires, you’ll want to do the opposite maneuver. Move your rear tires to the front without changing their positions, then move the front tires to the rear and switch the left and right tires.

How to Do a Tire Rotation at Home

If you’re ready to rotate your tires from home, first collect the following supplies: a car jack, lug nut wrench, and a set of car jacks. Then, just follow these easy steps:

1. Engage the parking brake.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels, but don’t take them all the way off. This will make it easier to unscrew the lug nuts when the tires are elevated.
3. Lift up one wheel with a car jack and place the jack stand underneath it to keep it elevated.
4. Remove the tires one by one.
5. Make sure your tires are filled to the optimal tire pressure. 
6. Once you’ve made sure they’re filled up enough, rotate your tires according to the appropriate pattern (as discussed above). 
7. Place the tire back onto the wheel mount and screw the lug nuts on by hand as far as you can.
8. Lower the car safely from the jack stands and tighten the lug nuts using the lug wrench. Be sure to work the lug nuts diagonally from one to another in a star pattern to ensure even tightening. If the lug nuts aren’t tightened evenly it can cause your brake rotor to warp.

Get Your Tires Rotated at Tate Branch Hobbs 

If you’d rather not rotate your tires yourself, the service team at %%di_name% is happy to help. Just schedule an appointment with us and we’ll have you back on the Midland roads in no time! You can also contact our office if you have any questions, or if you want to learn more about the services we offer.