Learning to rotate your tires yourself can save you money, and also helps extend the life of your tires. Is it difficult to do on your own? No. With the right tools, it’s something you can do in about twenty minutes.
Tire rotation is a requirement as part of your regular vehicle maintenance. Your front and rear tires wear out differently, so it’s important to rotate them every so often. How often? As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to do so every time you change the oil. This varies from vehicle to vehicle, but it’s usually between 3,000 to 5,000 miles, even if the tires don’t show signs of wear and tear. However, refer to your owner's manual and tire manufacturer recommendations to see if your car requires a different tire rotation frequency.
Tools you need to rotate your tires
There are three tools you need to rotate your tires: A car jack, four jack stands, and a torque wrench.
The car jack helps lift your vehicle off the ground. There are different types, but hydraulic jacks are often a good choice.
Jack stands are needed to secure the vehicle once it’s lifted. If you need to buy jack stands, look for a set that will support your vehicle’s size and weight.
The torque wrench will help you remove the nuts and give them a final tightening. The torque wrench will help you ensure all the nuts are tightened to the same pressure and prevent slippage.
Step-by-step: How to rotate your tires yourself
Before you proceed with rotating your tires you need to know whether they’re directional or non-directional.
Directional tires have a special tread pattern and can only be rotated in one direction, from front to back and vice versa. Non-directional tires allow you to swap them to different sides of the vehicle.
Follow these steps once you know what type of tires you have:
1. Park your vehicle in a level place. Engage the parking brake.
2. While the car is still on the ground, slightly loosen the nuts on all your wheels, just enough to break the seal but don’t take them off completely yet. This step will help make the rest of the process easier.
3. Use the car jack to elevate your vehicle. Slide the jack stands under the vehicle’s frame to keep your car safely elevated. Place one jack near each of the tires for balance.
4. Remove the nuts and take the tires off; rotate them according to the pattern for your vehicle type.
5. Once you’re done rotating the tires, mount them on the vehicle and tighten the nuts by hand as tightly as you can.
6. Lower the car and finish tightening all the nuts with a torque wrench.
You’re set! This entire process shouldn’t take you more than twenty minutes to complete. Don’t forget to check if your auto insurance is up-to-date before you hit the road again!
Infinity can help you with your auto insurance. We have plans to meet your budget and needs. Call one of our friendly agents at 1-800-INFINITY to discuss our options or visit our website to receive a quote within minutes.