How to Do a Tire Rotation

Most car owners in the Los Banos area will always rely on a local service center to rotate their tires, especially if they want to make sure that they’re keeping their car safe from blowouts. But, even if you never plan to do it yourself at home in Modesto, knowing how to do a tire rotation can be useful knowledge, especially in an emergency. Learn more about tire rotations with the folks at Smith Chevrolet Of Turlock! If you have any questions about how to do a tire rotation, then don’t hesitate to reach out.

How to Rotate Tires

Rotating tires can be a difficult task when performed on your own; you will need a car jack, lug nut wrench, and a set of jack stands.

1. Enable the parking brake before you start.
2. Loosen the lug nuts across all four wheels, but don’t remove them entirely yet.
3. Lift up the first wheel with a car jack and put the jack stand below it.
4. Remove the tires one by one.
5. Adjust the air pressure in any of the tires that need it. Then, switch the tires around according to the proper tire rotation pattern. Place each tire back onto the wheel mount and replace the lug nuts, screwing them in by hand as much as you’re able.
6. Lower the car off the jack stands. Use the lug nut wrench to tighten the lug nuts the rest of the way. It’s recommended that you work on the lug nuts diagonally in a star pattern to ensure they’re evenly tightened. If they aren’t tightened evenly, the brake rotor could warp.

Why Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Everything from your driving habits, your drivetrain, to the road conditions in Ceres can affect how your tires wear. Unfortunately, these varying factors often lead to uneven tire wear. Tire rotation is a service designed to help the tires wear at a more balanced rate — if you routinely rotate the tires to alternating positions on the vehicle, they’ll wear out evenly. If you don’t rotate the tires and leave them in one spot, the outer edges will wear out at a rapid rate and you’ll need to replace them prematurely.

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

It depends on the drivetrain. On vehicles with front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive, it’s recommended to rotate the tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. On vehicles with all-wheel drive, it’s recommended to rotate the tires every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Tire Rotation Patterns: FWD vs. RWD

• FWD Tires –When rotating tires on a FWD car, move the front tires to the back in the same left/right position. When moving the back tires to the front, switch the positions so the rear left tire goes to the front right, and the rear right tire goes to the front left.
• RWD Tires –It’s the opposite on a RWD car. Move the back tires to the front in the same left/right position. When moving the front tires to the back, move the front left tire to the back right position and the front right tire to the back left position.

Rotate Tires at Smith Chevrolet Of Turlock

Now you know how to do a tire rotation, but you don’t have to go through the trouble on your own! Schedule service today, so that you can let our team do the hard part for you. But if you love the feel of DIY projects, then check out our service tips and tricks for more ways to keep your vehicle in top shape.