How to Do a Tire Rotation Yourself

If you’re a Palm Beach Gardens car owner and you’re wondering how to rotate tires at home, we can help. It’s a relatively simple procedure and will allow you to save on service expenses for your vehicle. That said, there are a few things you should know in order to safely complete the process. Take a look at our step-by-step guide below to learn how to do a tire rotation from home. If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact our service center team for additional assistance. Let us help you get back out onto the Lake Worth and Delray Beach roads as soon as possible.

Why is Tire Rotation Important for Your Vehicle?

Due to driving habits and road conditions, not all tires wear evenly. Thanks to the impact tires experience while turning, the outside edges of the front tires show greater wear while the rear wheels wear more evenly. This means if you leave your tires in place, over time they will wear down at different rates and you will have to replace them sooner. 

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Front and rear wheel drive vehicles generally need their tires rotated every 5,000-7,500 miles. All-wheel drive vehicles require more frequent changes at every 3,000-5,000 miles since all tires are actively engaged and that results in faster wear. As with any vehicle service, we always recommend checking your owner’s manual for more specific recommendations. 

Learn More About the Importance of Tire Position

• 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 tires.

• 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 tires.

How to Rotate Your Tires at Home

If you want to attempt rotating your tires, you will need a car jack, lug nut wrench, and a set of car jack stands. Once you have acquired the necessary tools, follow these six easy steps:

1. Engage your parking brake as a safety precaution.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels, but don’t take them all the way off. This step makes unscrewing them when the tire is elevated much easier.
3. Lift one wheel with a car jack and place the jack stand underneath it.
4. Remove the tires one by one.
5. Take this time to make sure your tires are filled to the optimal tire pressure. Once filled, you can rotate them according to the appropriate pattern for your type of tire. Place the tire back onto the wheel mount and screw the lug nuts on by hand as far as you can.
6. 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.

Come to Lexus of Palm Beach for Expert Car Care

Whether you need your tires rotated, an oil change, or your new car requires other maintenance services, our knowledgeable team of technicians at Lexus of Palm Beach can help restore your vehicle to working order. If you’d like a professional to rotate your tires, schedule an appointment at our West Palm Beach service center. We also offer a variety of service specials that can help you save on your next visit so be sure to check those out before you come.