DIY guide · Easy
How to rotate your own tires
Rotating tires evens out wear so a set lasts longer. It is also the perfect moment to look at your brakes and suspension with the wheels off.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time in the bay
- 0.5 to 1 hours
- Best bay
- Low scissor lift
- Bay cost, plus tax
- $50
This is a general guide, not a manual for your car. Your vehicle's service manual comes first, especially for torque values, fluid types and capacities. Support the car on the lift locks or jack stands before you go under it, wear eye protection, and if a step feels wrong, stop and ask us. We do not do welding, grinding or painting in the bays.
Look these up before you book
- Lug nut torque
- Rotation pattern for your drive type (front, rear or all wheel drive)
- Whether your tires are directional or your car has different front and rear sizes
Tools
- Lug wrench or breaker bar and socket
- Torque wrench
- Tire pressure gauge
- Air from the shop compressor
- Marker or chalk to label tires
Parts and fluids
- Nothing, unless you find a worn tire or a bad valve stem
There is an AutoZone nearby, and during business hours parts usually reach the shop in about 10 to 20 minutes. Forgot a filter or need a different size? Order it, keep working, and do not lose your slot.
The retailer's own vehicle picker confirms what fits your car. Always compare the part number with your old part.
Step by step
- Check the tire type firstDirectional tires only swap front to back on the same side. Cars with different front and rear sizes cannot be cross-rotated.
- Loosen the nuts, then liftCrack each lug nut a half turn while the wheel still touches the ground, then raise the car.
- Move the wheelsCommon patterns: forward cross for front-drive, rearward cross for rear and all wheel drive. Label each wheel with its old position.
- Look before you mountLook at the tread, sidewalls, brake pads and rotors, CV boots and tie rod ends while the wheels are off.
- Fit and tightenSnug the nuts by hand, lower the car, then torque in a star pattern to spec.
- Set the pressureFill every tire to the pressure on the door jamb sticker, not the number on the tire.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using an impact gun with no torque wrench, then over-tightening
- Rotating directional tires across the car
- Setting pressure to the tire sidewall maximum
- Skipping a second torque check after the first 50 miles
Stop and ask for help if
- If a tire has a bulge, cords showing, or the tread is worn to the bars, replace it rather than rotate it.
Doing it in our bays
The scissor lift lifts the whole car fast and low, which makes this the quickest bay for wheel work. Our minimum booking is two hours, so add an oil change or filter swap to use it well.
Every bay has air, power, work lights and jack stands, and the lift bays come with a short safety walkthrough. Bring your own hand tools, parts and fluids. New to lifts? Read how your first visit goes.
Questions
How often should I rotate tires?
Check your owner's manual. Many makers say every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, often with each oil change.
Can I swap winter and summer wheels here?
Yes. The minimum booking is two hours, so you can do the swap and look over your brakes in the same visit.