How to Do a Tire Rotation Yourself

Keeping up with routine tire maintenance is critical to safe travels in Ooltewah. Since your tires are your only point of contact with the Dalton streets, rotating them regularly goes a long way towards maintaining their health. Whether you want to visit our service center or you prefer to learn how to rotate tires at home, we’re here to support your auto care. If you’re eager to learn how to do a tire rotation, the guide below is right for you!

Why is Tire Rotation Important for Your Vehicle?

Naturally, you might wonder why you should even bother rotating your tires in the first place. Well, what you may not realize, is that your tires are not all working the same or encountering the same conditions. Depending on the terrain you drive through and whether your vehicle is an all-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, or rear-wheel drive model, your tires can wear down at uneven rates. 

To keep the condition consistent across all four tires, you’ll want to rotate them on a regular basis. Not only does this equalize wear and tear, but it will also help keep your tires rolling safely on the Athens streets for longer!

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Now that you know why you should rotate your tires, you probably want to know when to handle the job. Whether you learn how to do a tire rotation at home or you visit our shop, you’ll want to rotate your tires every 5,000-7,5000 miles for front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive models. If you drive an all-wheel drive car, your tire rotation frequency will be every 3,000-5,000 miles. Be sure to check your owner’s manual for more specifics. 

Learn More About the Importance of Tire Position

• FWD Tires: When you move the rear tires to the front, swap sides. So, the back left tire goes to the front right position, and the back right tire goes to the front left position. When moving the front tires back, they can stay on the same side. 
• RWD Tires: Invert the process above for RWD models. Keep the tires on the same side when moving from back to front, but switch sides when moving tires from the front to the rear. 

How to Rotate Your Tires at Home

Should you want to try a DIY tire rotation, you’ll need a car jack, lug nut wrench, and a set of jack stands. Once you have the proper tools, follow these steps to learn how to rotate tires at home:

1. Start by setting your parking brake out of an abundance of caution. 
2. Loosen the lug nuts on each wheel, but don’t remove them. Once your vehicle is elevated, this step makes removing your tires much easier. 
3. Lift up one wheel with your car jack and place a jack stand beneath it. 
4. Remove the tire and repeat this process for each tire. 
5. Take this chance to ensure your tire pressure is at the proper level. Once your tires are set, you can rotate them according to the proper pattern above. Move the tires and tighten the lug nuts by hand as much as possible. 
6. Lower the car back to the ground and finish tightening the nuts with the lug wrench. It’s best to tighten them in a star pattern. 

Get Your Tires Rotated in Chattanooga

If you’re not ready to handle your own tire rotation or you get stuck, schedule service with Mtn. View Chevrolet. We can quickly rotate your tires and get you back on the road. Be sure to explore our service coupons for added savings with your next visit. If you have any questions, contact our service center at your convenience.