How to Do a Tire Rotation

Routine tire rotations are an integral part of good automotive maintenance. Because driving habits and Winamac and Plymouth road conditions can cause tire tread to wear out unevenly, rotations help ensure more uniform tread wear and, thus, a longer and more dependable life for your tires. Discover how to do a tire rotation by yourself in the following guide from the Knox Chevrolet service team. If you’d rather we handle the job for you, simply schedule a service appointment online!

How Often to Rotate Your Tires

Before we get into how to do a tire rotation, it’s important to know how often this task should be performed. In general, front-wheel- and rear-wheel-drive vehicles need tire rotations every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. The tires of all-wheel-drive vehicles are actively engaged at all times, which means they typically endure more wear and require more frequent rotations; every 3,000 to 5,000 miles is a common timetable for AWD vehicles. Consult your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s specific needs, and learn more about tire lifespan here.

How to Determine the Best Tire Rotation Pattern

The rotation pattern differs based on whether you have a front-wheel- or rear-wheel-drive vehicle. Here is a breakdown of the recommended patterns for each:

• FWD – Move the front tires to the rear in the same left/right positions. However, when moving the rear tires to the front, switch the right and left tires for optimal performance and wear.
• RWD – Essentially, you do the opposite with rear-wheel-drive vehicles. The rear tires are moved to the front in the same left/right positions, but the left and right front tires need to switch positions when moved to the rear.

How to Do a Tire Rotation Yourself

Before you begin, gather your tools: a car jack, a lug nut wrench, and a set of car jack stands. Now you’re ready to get started. This is how to do a tire rotation yourself in six steps:

1. Activate the parking brake for added safety.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all the wheels, but don’t remove them completely, as this makes it easier to unscrew them when the tire is raised.
3. Raise one wheel with a car jack and position the jack stand under it. Take the tire off.
4. Repeat Step 3 with the remaining tires.
5. Check that all tires are filled to the recommended psi; this information can be found in your owner’s manual or on a sticker inside your driver’s side door. Then, install the tires based on the recommended rotation pattern. Position each tire onto the wheel mount and screw the lug nuts as far as you comfortably can.
6. Lower the car from the jack stands and tighten the nuts with the lug nut wrench. Move diagonally in a star pattern so you can be sure they’re all evenly tightened.

Schedule a Tire Rotation in Knox 

Now that you know how to do a tire rotation, you may want to leave the job to professionals. Schedule a service appointment online or contact us to arrange a time. And don’t miss our latest service specials for opportunities to save on your visit. Our service team is here to help keep your vehicle running its best for as long as possible on the roads of La Porte and beyond!