How to Do a Tire Rotation

St. Simons drivers like to have options, we know that, and they also like to carry out DIY service tasks which is why our service team has put together this guide on how to do a tire rotation yourself. At Nalley GMC, we provide you with the options that you deserve, and if you don’t want to have to fight with your tires, then let our service center take care of all of your maintenance needs. If you have any questions, contact us today, or schedule service online today, so we can take care of it all for you. 

Why is Tire Rotation Important for Your Vehicle?

All tires do not wear the same, which is why tire rotations are important. Each tire on your vehicle experiences your driving habits differently. For example, the outside of front tires wears out more due to turning, whereas rear tires wear more evenly. A tire rotation prevents constant wear on one part of the tire. 

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Tire rotations should occur every 5,000-7,500 miles for Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) vehicles. For All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) vehicles, you will generally need more frequent tire rotations due to the rough terrain you drive on near Waycross. AWD tire rotations are necessary at 3,000-5,000 miles. Be sure to check your owner’s manual for specific recommendations.

Learn More About the Importance of Tire Position

• FWD Tires: Move the front tires to the rear along the same side. However, when moving rear tires to the front you must switch the right and left tires.
• RWD Tires: You do the opposite of FWD tires for RWD tires. Instead, the rear tires move to the same side up front, while the front tires switch left to right when moving them to the rear.

How to Rotate Your Tires at Home

There are many Jessup drivers who want to rotate their vehicle tires at home. There are a few tools you will need to successfully rotate your tires, they are:

• A carjack
• Lug nut wrench
• Set of jack stands

Once you have the tools necessary for a tire rotation here is how to rotate tires at home:

1. Activate your parking brake for safety
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all four wheels without removing them. It will be easier to unscrew them when the tires are elevated.
3. Lift up one of the wheels with a car jack and place a jack stand beneath it.
4. Remove each tire
5. Use this time to check the tire pressure within each tire.
6. Fill tires to their optimal tire pressure
7. Rotate the tires to the FWD or RWD rotation patterns
8. Add the tires back onto their wheel mount
9. Screw the lug nuts back into place
10. Lower the car from the jack stands and use the lug wrench to tighten the screws
11. To ensure that you are tightening the lug nuts evenly, you will need to work the lug nuts diagonally from one another in a star pattern. If you do not tighten the lug nuts evenly it can cause the brake rotor to warp

Find Out More About Service Tasks at Nalley GMC

Whether you’re learning how to rotate tires to handle it at home, or you’re letting our service center take care of it, you now know why it’s so important to get a tire rotation. Our service team can take care of many headaches for rotating your tires, and let you get back on the road today.