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There are some aspects of car maintenance and repair that are best left to professional mechanics. However, rotating a vehicle's tires is one thing that most people can do at home, provided they have the proper equipment. To learn how to rotate tires, continue reading this guide.
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There are some aspects of car maintenance and repair that are best left to professional mechanics. However, rotating a vehicle's tires is one thing that most people can do at home, provided they have the proper equipment. To learn how to rotate tires, continue reading this guide.
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Introduction
- Rotating the tires on your vehicle, is an important, but often neglected aspect of basic car maintenance. Because the tires on a car wear differently depending on where they are located, rotating them regularly will not only help your tires last longer, but can also affect gas mileage and make for safer driving.
- To figure out how often you should rotate your tires, refer to your owner's manual or ask your car dealer or mechanic. In most cases, your tires should be rotated every 5,000-10,000 miles.
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Video: The Importance of Rotating Tires
In this video from ExpertVillage, an expert explains why it is important to rotate tires. The expert recommends that tires be rotated every 6,000 or 7,000 miles. He explains the differences in rotating tires on different types of cars. This expert says that by rotating tires, you'll get the maximum usage out of your tires, which will help you save money.
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Step 1: Before you Begin
- When rotating your tires, do not allow your car to sit on the jack that came with your car. This jack is only designed for changing a tire in the case of a flat and is not meant to support the car for more than a few minutes. If you're planning on rotating your tires at home, invest in or borrow one of the following:
- A set of jack stands
- A hydraulic jack
- A floor jack
- You will also need a torque wrench to rotate your tires. Although you can use an impact wrench to remove the lug nuts on your tires, do not use it to tighten the lug nuts. Doing so may cause result in stripping or over-tightening the nuts.
- In most cases, you'll want to switch the front and back tires. However, some vehicles have staggered tires, meaning that the front tires are a different size than the rear tires. Some tires have a tread pattern that is specifically designed for one side of the vehicle or the other. To ensure that you are rotating your tires correctly, ask your car dealer or mechanic for advice.
Step 2: Jack up the Vehicle
- Before you begin jacking, ensure that your car is in park (or neutral, in the case of a manual transmission) and that your parking brake is set. If you have just been driving, allow your car to cool off before rotating the tires.
- Use your torque wrench to loosen your lug nuts, but do not completely remove them
- Use your jack to jack up your vehicle
- Once the vehicle is sufficiently jacked up, place your jack stands, or hydraulic or floor jack under the axles. Ensure that the vehicle is secure before progressing
- Use the torque wrench to completely remove the lug nuts. Place the nuts in a safe place to avoid losing them
Step 3: Rotate the Tires
- Once the car is elevated and the lug nuts have been removed, it's time to rotate their positions.
- Remove all the tires
- Be sure to make note of each tires' original position, labeling them if necessary
- Refer to your owner's manual or mechanic's advice regarding how you should rotate the tires
- Replace the tires back on the vehicle in their new positions
- Replace the lug nuts
- Use your torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts as much as you can
- Use your jack to carefully lower the vehicle down off the jack stands or or hydraulic or floor jack
- Use your torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts. Refer to your owner's manual for directions on how tight the lug nuts should be
Conclusion
- Before you begin the process of rotating your vehicle's tires, ensure that you have all the proper equipment and know what you are doing. Where you rotate your tires will depend on your vehicle and the type of tires it has, so if you have any doubts, refer to your owner's manual or ask your mechanic for advice.
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