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How to Rotate Tires Yourself

technician changing tire

Tire rotation is an important maintenance task that will not only ensure that you enjoy optimal traction on Jackson roads, but will also help to make your tires last longer. Here at Wilson KIA we’ve prepared this step-by-step guide to help you learn how to rotate your tires at home. If the task is a little out of your league, you can always stop by our service center or schedule a tire rotation with us online.

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Why is Tire Rotation Necessary?

You’re probably wondering, “why is tire rotation important?” The tires on your car, truck, or SUV don’t wear evenly. Due to the extra pressure from turning the vehicle, the outside edges of the front tires tend to show greater wear, while the rear wheels wear more evenly. If the tires are left in place they will wear down at different rates, and you will have to replace them sooner.

How Often to Rotate Your Tires

It is recommended that front and rear wheel drive vehicles have 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, it’s a good idea to refer to your owner’s manual to find exactly what the tire rotation schedule is for your specific vehicle.

Tire Position

  • FWD Tires: Move the front tires to the back of the car in the same left/right positions, then move the rear tires to the front, switching 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.

Rotating Your Tires

When rotating your tires at home you will need a car jack, lug nut wrench, and a set of car jacks. Once you have gathered the necessary tools follow these five easy steps:

  1. Engage parking brake for an extra measure of safety.
  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 up one wheel with a car jack and place the jack stand underneath it. Do this with each tire, until the car is entirely supported by the jack stands.
  4. Remove the tires one by one.
  5. Take the opportunity at this time to check the tire pressure. Once the tires are properly inflated you can rotate them according to the pattern for your FWD or RWD car. 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.

Get Assistance With Tire Rotation at Wilson KIA

If you’re not ready to rotate your tires yourself, the certified technicians at Wilson KIA can take care of the job for you. We offer a variety of service specials at our Brandon service center that can help you to save money on oil changes and other Kia Maintenance services. Learn more about proper tire care, the maintenance schedule for the Stinger, find out what TPMS means, or explore basic vehicle maintenance today. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Also take a minute to learn how to check your car oil with our team.

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