How to Do a Tire Rotation

Knowing how often to rotate tires is one thing, but for the driver who’s interested in saving money with DIY maintenance, only knowing how to do a tire rotation will do! We want our drivers to be as confident with a lug wrench as they can be, so we’ve put together a guide that will take you from start to finish.

Know Your Rotation Pattern

If you already have an idea of how to change a tire, then the first thing you need to do is check your owner’s manual to find your vehicle’s rotation pattern. Here’s a quick overview of what you’re likely to find:

• Front-wheel drive vehicles have their back tires moved to the rear positions without changing sides. When you move the back tires to the front, you’ll swap them right for left.
• Rear-wheel drive vehicles are just the opposite. Keep the rear tires on their respective sides as you move them up front, but flip the front tires when you move them back.
• All-wheel drive vehicles usually utilize an X-shaped rotation pattern, but since all-wheel drive systems differ in their characteristics, your pattern may differ too. It’s always best to check the manual.

How to Rotate Your Tires at Home: Step-by-Step

First, you’ll need a lug wrench, a jack, and a set of jack stands so you can keep your car in the air. If you have everything you need, take these steps to rotate your tires:

1. Make sure you’re on level ground, and engage the parking brake.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels, but leave them inserted for now.
3. Lift up each wheel one-by-one, placing a jack stand securely at the jack point near each wheel.
4. Remove the tires one by one and move them to their new locations. It’s a good idea to check each tires pressure and refill it while you have the chance.
5. Mount the tires and tighten the lug nuts as much as you can by hand.
6. You’ll then lower the vehicle and continue tightening these nuts with the lug wrench. Work in a star pattern (rather than clockwise or counterclockwise) in order to ensure an even finish.

If you don’t have a set of jack stands or a jack on hand, it might be cheaper and simpler to schedule service with our Chandler service team. Remember, you should be rotating your tires once every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.

Why is Tire Rotation So Important?

No matter what kind of drivetrain your vehicle uses, tire rotation is required in order to ensure even wear and increase the lifespan of your tires. Without regular rotation, you may notice:

• Uneven tire wear
• Reduced traction or fuel economy
• Pulling to one side or the other
• Shaking while braking

Since tires that aren’t being rotated will wear out more quickly, scheduling regular rotations will tend to save you money in the long run, too.

Whatever You Need, We’re Here to Help!

Interested in learning more about DIY car care? Maybe you’ve realized how much easier it would be to trust this task to the service experts at Jaguar Chandler Authorized Service. No matter where you’re at, we’re here to help you take the next steps. Check out our service specials to save!