How to Do a Tire Rotation

Tire rotations are an essential service you can complete during your scheduled maintenance at a Conway service center or perform yourself at home. Regular tire rotations provide you with better traction on North Myrtle Beach roads and extend the life of your tires, saving you money over time. Learn how to do a tire rotation with the service team at Myrtle Beach Chrysler Jeep. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

The Importance of a Tire Rotation

The uneven roads around town and our individual driving habits cause our tires to wear unevenly during everyday commutes. While turning on Surfside Beach-area roads, it’s the outside edges of the front tire that receive more wear while the rear wheels tend to wear more evenly. If you continue to leave your tires in the same position, the difference in wear becomes more noticeable, causing you to replace them sooner.

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Similar to other vehicle services, your tire rotation frequency depends on the specifications of your vehicle. Typically, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles receive a tire rotation every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. All-wheel drive vehicles, which supply power to all tires, require more frequent changes every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Be sure to check your vehicle’s owner’s manual for specific recommendations.

Tire Rotation According to Drivetrain

Before we show you how to do a tire rotation at your home, it’s important to consider your drivetrain. With a front-wheel drive system, power is sent to the front wheels while rear-wheel drive models only receive power to the rear wheels. Depending on your vehicle configuration, you’ll need to perform a tire rotation according to the drivetrain:

• Front-Wheel Drive Tires: The front tires will move to the back of the car, keeping their left/right positions. As the rear tires move to the front, you’ll need to switch the right and left tires.
• Rear-Wheel Drive Tires: On the other hand, rear-wheel drive vehicles have the rear tires come forward in the same position while the front tire moves to the back, switching left and right positions.

How to Do a Tire Rotation Yourself

To rotate your tires, you’ll need a car jack, a lug nut wrench, and a set of jack stands. If you don’t have the time to perform a rotation yourself, you can schedule quick and reliable service at Myrtle Beach Chrysler Jeep. Otherwise, follow these easy steps for how to perform a tire rotation:

1. Ensure you’re parked on level ground and engage your parking brake as a safety precaution.
2. Loosen the lug nuts on all wheels before elevating the tires. This lessens the effort needed when the tire is elevated.
3. Lift one wheel with a car jack and stabilize it with a jack stand underneath. Continue this process for each wheel.
4. Remove the tires one by one, ensuring their original position is remembered.
5. While the tires are off, ensure they are filled to the optimal tire pressure recommended in the owner’s manual. Rotate the tires according to the pattern appropriate for your drivetrain. When you’re ready to place the tire back onto the wheel mount, you’ll want to screw the lug nuts on by hand as far as you can.
6. As you lower the car from the jack stands, use the lug nut wrench to finish tightening the nuts in a star pattern. The star pattern ensures you work in a diagonal pattern to ensure the lug nuts are evenly secured. If they aren’t secured properly, it can cause the brake rotor to warp.

Learn More About Your Jeep, Chrysler, Wagoneer Service with Myrtle Beach Chrysler Jeep!

Now that you know how to do a tire rotation, make sure you have everything marked off on your annual car maintenance checklist. You can also save on your next service visit at Myrtle Beach Chrysler Jeep in Myrtle Beach with our parts and service specials.