How to Rotate Tires Yourself

Tire rotations are a crucial part of any vehicle maintenance, extending the life and performance of your tires. Use our service tips to learn how to do a tire rotation at home, or schedule your next service appointment at San Diego Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram today!

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Why is Tire Rotation Necessary?

There are many elements that factor into tire wear, including driving habits, road conditions, and weather patterns in Lemon Grove. Because your front tires experience more impact while turning, they do not wear as evenly as the back set. Rotating your tires on a regular basis will help balance the wear and extend how often you’ll need to replace them.

How Often to Rotate Your Tires

While we recommend checking your owners manual for specific guidelines, here are some general recommendations for how often to rotate your tires:

• Front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles: every 5,000-7,000 miles
• All-wheel drive vehicles: every 3,000-5,000 miles

Tire Position

As far as tire positions are concerned, here are some facts to consider:

• FWD Tires: You can move the front tires to the back of the car in the same left/right positions. When it comes time to move the rear tires to the front, you must switch the right and left tire.

• RWD Tires: The opposite is true with RWD vehicles. The rear tires can be moved to the front of the car in the same left/right positions, but when you move the front tires to the rear, you need to switch the left and right tire.

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Rotating Your Tires

If you’re interested in how to rotate tires at home in La Jolla, you will need a set of tools including a car jack, lug nut wrench, and a set of car jacks. Once you’ve gathered your tools and found an appropriate workspace, perform an at-home tire rotation in five easy steps:

1. Start by engaging your parking brake for extra safety.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels, without completely removing them. This makes unscrewing them when the tire is elevated much easier.
3. Lift up one wheel with a car jack, placing the jack stand underneath it. Remove the tires one at a time.
4. Make sure your tires are filled to the optimal tire pressure, then rotate them according to the appropriate pattern. Place the tire back onto the wheel mount and screw the lug nuts on by hand as far as you can.
5. Lower the car from the jack stands and use the lug wrench to finish tightening the nuts. It’s best to work the lug nuts diagonally from one to another in a star pattern to ensure even tightening. If the lug nuts aren’t tightened evenly it can cause the brake rotor to warp.

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Schedule Your Tire Rotation at San Diego Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

If you’d rather trust an expert with your tire rotation, visit the service center at San Diego Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram for a quick, budget-friendly service you can count on! We offer a variety of service specials to make your appointment even more affordable and can answer any questions. Visit us for more information on tires, Dodge Key fobs, or anything service-related. Keep rolling when you schedule your service today!