As you know, the treads on your tires wear down with time. Most people are aware it happens, but wait too long before having their tires replaced; the treads eventually wear down to the point they become a safety risk. There’s a simple method for prolonging their useful life, and postponing buying a new set: rotate them on a regular basis.

Most automakers recommend rotating the entire set every 10,000 miles. With some makes and models, they’ll suggest doing so every 5,000 miles. You’ll find the recommended service interval listed in your owner’s manual.

A lot of people take their vehicles to their mechanics in order to have the rotation done for them. However, you can easily do the job yourself without spending much time. The key is knowing how to rotate your tires (simply crisscrossing them is not enough) to maximize their life. You’ll learn how to do so below.

How To Rotate Your Tires: Step By Step

First, if your wheels have hubcaps or rims, remove them before starting the rotation. Otherwise, they’ll get in the way.

Second, prior to raising your vehicle, loosen the lug nuts on each wheel. Don’t take them off completely; simply loosen them.

Third, lift your vehicle on sturdy jacks. The jack located in the trunk of your car can be used, but is unsafe. If possible, use a hydraulic model. The best way to position the jacks is to place one at each corner of your vehicle (four in total). If you only have two available, place them on the front and rear axles.

Fourth, with your car raised, remove the lug nuts. Place them in a small container to avoid losing them.

When you rotate your tires, you’ll put the front ones in the rear, and the rear ones in the front. However, there is a particular way to rotate them based on your car’s drivetrain. For a rear-wheel drive vehicle, the left-rear tire should be placed on the left-front position. The right-rear goes in the right-front. The left-front tire goes in the right-rear position while the right-front goes in the left-rear.

On a front-wheel drive car, the opposite should be done. The left-rear goes on the right-front, and the right-rear goes in the left-front. The two front tires should be placed on their respective sides on their rear positions. The left-front goes on the left-rear, and right-front on the right-rear.

Once the set has been properly mounted, replace the lug nuts on each wheel, and tighten them by hand (don’t tighten them completely). Then, lower your vehicle.

With your car planted firmly on the ground, use your wrench to tighten the lug nuts on each wheel. Use a star pattern to ensure the tires are firmly tightened. Lastly, replace the hubs or rims.

Reasons Behind The Rotation

Your treads can wear down for many reasons. Besides the wear that normally occurs over thousands of miles, the alignment of your front wheels (on a front-wheel drive vehicle) can cause those in front to wear prematurely. For example, if you notice a feathered pattern, it often means toe is misaligned. If you notice wear on only one side of a particular tire, the problem may be a camber misalignment.

Other factors that can contribute to premature wear include loose or damaged ball joints in your suspension, loose tie rod ends, or a problem with the steering column. It may also be caused by a bent axle from a past accident.

Because wear occurs for different reasons, your treads will seldom wear down evenly. This is why their rotation should follow the patterns described earlier. If the left-front tire becomes worn on its outside edge (on a front-wheel drive car), placing it in the right-rear position reduces pressure on that edge.

You should be examining your tires for premature wear every few weeks. Take note of the wear patterns you observe, and have the underlying problems (i.e. misalignment, suspension issues, etc.) resolved.

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Category: Automotive
Keywords: tire rotation, rotation of tires, rotating your tires, how to rotate your tires, cheap tires