How to Do a Tire Rotation Yourself

Tire rotation is a vital maintenance step that you do not want to skip or forget. Whether you choose to learn how to do a tire rotation yourself or take your vehicle in for service, your tires will last longer. Below, we’ve provide a guide on how to rotate tires at home. If you would rather have your tires done by one of our certified technicians, please schedule a service appointment with us. Contact us if you have any further questions.

Why is Tire Rotation Important for Your Vehicle?

Some Johnson City drivers may wonder why a tire rotation is crucial for the proper upkeep of your car, truck, or SUV. For your tires to wear more evenly and have a longer lifespan, a tire rotation is necessary. Even more important is your safety. You do not want to risk having a tire blow out while behind the wheel. Therefore, a tire rotation helps prevent issues with your tires or early tire replacement.

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

The Hendersonville roads you travel do affect your tires. Tire rotation frequency also depends on whether you have a RWD, FWD, or AWD car. A tire rotation is necessary for the front and rear-wheel drive at around every 5,000-7,500 miles. If your vehicle is all-wheel drive, you will need more frequent tire rotations due to the challenging terrain you drive over. You should have your tire rotation every 3,000-5,000 miles. We also recommend checking your owner’s manual for other specific information.

Learn More About the Importance of Tire Position

• FWD Tires: Move the two front tires to the rear in the same left/ right positions. However, when moving the rear tires to the front, you need to switch the right and left tires.
• RWD Tires: Rear-wheel drive vehicles’ tire rotations are the opposite of FWD cars. The rear tires move to the front in the same left/right positions, whereas the front tires are switching to the back need to change left and right tires.

How to Rotate Your Tires at Home

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do a tire rotation at home. You will need a few tools before you start:

• Car jack
• Lug nut wrench
• A set of car jacks

Once you have acquired the necessary tools, follow these six easy steps:

1. Park your vehicle and engage the parking brake for additional security.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels, but do not remove them. You will find it easier to unscrew once the tires are elevated.
3. Use the car jack to lift one wheel and place the jack stand beneath the tire.
4. Remove the tires one by one.
5. Use this time to check tire pressure and add air, if necessary, before the tire rotation. Once your tire is at its optimal tire pressure, you can rotate the tires with the appropriate pattern for FWD, RWD, or AWD. Place the tire onto the wheel mount and screw the lug nuts on by hand as far as you can.
6. Use the jack stands to lower the vehicle and use the lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts on your tire. If the lug nuts are loose, it can cause the brake rotor to warp. To ensure even tightening, you should work the lug nuts diagonally from each other in a star formation.

Get Your Tires Rotated at Apple Tree Acura 

If you are not ready to rotate your tires yourself, we can help! Our service team at Apple Tree Acura can rotate your tires quickly and get you safely back on Asheville roads. Take a look at our service specials to see where you can save and visit our dealership in Fletcher!