How to Do a Tire Rotation Yourself

While you can easily get a tire rotation during regular maintenance with our service center, it’s a task you can also handle in your Jackson driveway. This is a great idea if you drive in ways that make more frequent tire rotations necessary. Find out how to do a tire rotation, along with other helpful DIY automotive tips, with Toyota of Brookhaven. 

Tire Rotation Information

Tires on Monticello streets don’t wear evenly. Turns wear out the outside edges of your front tires, while different drivetrains send power to different tires, causing them to wear out faster. The idea behind a tire rotation is to take the tires in hard-working spots and swap them with tires in a less trying spot. You should do this every 5,000-7,000 miles for front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles. All-wheel drive vehicles need a tire rotation every 3,000-5,000 miles. Your owner’s manual can tell you the right tire rotation frequency for your vehicle. 

The Importance of Tire Position

• FWD Tires: Move the front tires to the back of the car in the same left/right positions. Move the rear tires to the front and switch the right and left tire.

• RWD Tires: The rear tires are moved to the front of the car in the same left/right positions. Move the front tires to the rear, and switch the left and right tire.

How to do a Tire Rotation at Home

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies, which you can find at any auto supply store in the McComb area or our parts department: 

• Car jack 
• Lug nut wrench 
• A set of car jacks

Now follow these steps: 

1. Engage your parking brake.
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 up with a carjack and place the jack stand underneath it.
4. Remove the tires. Make sure your tires are filled to the optimal tire pressure. 
5. You can rotate your tires according to the appropriate pattern for your type of tires, as described above. 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 Your Tires Rotated at Toyota of Brookhaven 

Even with knowing how to rotate tires, many drivers prefer to leave it to the professional. If that’s you, schedule a service appointment with Toyota of Brookhaven. We’ll have you back on the road in no time! And we can help you save money when you shop our service deals.