Tire rotation at home?

[Proprioceptive]

I'm trying to learn more about cars, mostly to make myself more self-sufficient with the maintenance. We just purchased a 2007 Hyundai Entourage and I'd like to be able to rotate the tires on my own, if possible. I don't have anything as far as jacks and the like are concerned, so I'm wondering if this is something even worth doing on my own, or if I should just leave it to the shop to do. What would I need to do this? I would assume, a jack, jack stand, and four of those hydraulic lifters.... but I could be way wrong on this. Also, would I need one of those torque air drills, or would tightening with our cross bar socket wrench be sufficient? Thanks, guys.

 

[BlackTigers]

I rotate my tires way more often than I probably should have to (Ugh, 5spd and rapid clutch lifts while under power...), so my front tires never last very long at all.

I do mine with two jack stands, a jack, and a crossbar. Take about half an hour, the worst part is moving the damn heavy jack out of the garage.

You could use an air wrench, but I just do it by hand. Oh, and remember to loosen the lugnuts BEFORE you lift the car. Otherwise you'll realize how difficult it is to spin against a rolling tire.

 

[Proprioceptive]

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
I rotate my tires way more often than I probably should have to (Ugh, 5spd and rapid clutch lifts while under power...), so my front tires never last very long at all.

I do mine with two jack stands, a jack, and a crossbar. Take about half an hour, the worst part is moving the damn heavy jack out of the garage.

You could use an air wrench, but I just do it by hand. Oh, and remember to loosen the lugnuts BEFORE you lift the car. Otherwise you'll realize how difficult it is to spin against a rolling tire.

Hmm... how do you position the two jack stands to keep all four wheels up?

 

[BlackTigers]

Originally posted by: Proprioceptive

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
I rotate my tires way more often than I probably should have to (Ugh, 5spd and rapid clutch lifts while under power...), so my front tires never last very long at all.

I do mine with two jack stands, a jack, and a crossbar. Take about half an hour, the worst part is moving the damn heavy jack out of the garage.

You could use an air wrench, but I just do it by hand. Oh, and remember to loosen the lugnuts BEFORE you lift the car. Otherwise you'll realize how difficult it is to spin against a rolling tire.

Hmm... how do you position the two jack stands to keep all four wheels up?

I jack up the front and put them on stands.

Then I just jack up one side of the rear at a time.

It works for me. I know I should have four, but oh well.

 

[Proprioceptive]

Originally posted by: BlackTigers

Originally posted by: Proprioceptive

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
I rotate my tires way more often than I probably should have to (Ugh, 5spd and rapid clutch lifts while under power...), so my front tires never last very long at all.

I do mine with two jack stands, a jack, and a crossbar. Take about half an hour, the worst part is moving the damn heavy jack out of the garage.

You could use an air wrench, but I just do it by hand. Oh, and remember to loosen the lugnuts BEFORE you lift the car. Otherwise you'll realize how difficult it is to spin against a rolling tire.

Hmm... how do you position the two jack stands to keep all four wheels up?

I jack up the front and put them on stands.

Then I just jack up one side of the rear at a time.

It works for me. I know I should have four, but oh well.

Ahh... that sounds good. I also just read elsewhere that I can just use my spare and just use the OEM jack. This way one jack does all the work and the spare allows me to move tiers wherever I want. IT would take a hell of a long time, but it's cheaper, I guess. Is this really a plausible option?

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: Proprioceptive
Ahh... that sounds good. I also just read elsewhere that I can just use my spare and just use the OEM jack. This way one jack does all the work and the spare allows me to move tiers wherever I want. IT would take a hell of a long time, but it's cheaper, I guess. Is this really a plausible option?

That's what I do, but all my cars are substantially smaller than yours. Personally I think this method is safer -and jackstands have a tendency to cut into my driveway, especially in warm weather.

Be aware, however, that this method essentially involves jacking up the car five times. Good exercise.

 

[Gibson486]

Well....you know....there is a point where it "DIY version" will cost you more when you factor in your time.

Just an FYI.....lots of places will rotate your tires for a very small amount. SOme places charge just 99cents even if you do not get anything else from them. Here is a kicker, if you get Pepboys free customer points card, they will rotate them for free whenever you want them to. Just remember to say no to all other work they want to do.

Or.....you could just get an oil change at a place that includes rotating your tires. Go to a dealership (w/ a servoce coupon ofcourse) and you will probably pay $23 for an oil chnage and the "full point inspection" that icludes tire rotation, top off fliuds, and checking brakes.

Or....when it is time for new tires, buy them from a place tha gives you free tire rotation for the life of the tires.

Then there are the people here who are gonna say, "oh, I will never let anyone touch my car". Well, good for them, but you're not me and I'm not you.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Since most tires are directional, which means you cannot perform a traditional X-pattern rotation, you really only need one side of the car in the air at a time. You just need two jackstands, a jack, and a lug wrench.

- Loosen the lug nuts with the car on the ground
- Jack up the RF
- Place RF jackstand
- Jack up the RR
- Place RR jackstand
- Remove RR tire
- Remove RF tire
- Place RR tire on RF
- Place RF tire on RR
- Tighten lug nuts and let that side of the car down
- Repeat process for left side.

ZV

 

[StageLeft]

I use one jackstand and my jack. Put one end on the jackstand and then hold the other with the jack. I realize jacks are not intended to hold the vehicle for long but I never put my head or anything into the wheel well while doing this. Rotating tires is worth it to save some small bit of money and time, I suppose, though I hate it on my minivan. The fvcking wheels stick like MAD. Even after a few months (and I have tried anti-seize) their design dictates that I end up having to use a mallet/kick the sh*t out of them to get them off.

 

[sdifox]

Isn't the Entourage an SUV? Do you have jacks that go that high and stands that can take the weight?

 

[Gillbot]

Originally posted by: BlackTigers
Oh, and remember to loosen the lugnuts BEFORE you lift the car. Otherwise you'll realize how difficult it is to spin against a rolling tire.

Just to clarify, you only BREAK THEM FREE. Do not completely loosen them with the weight on the wheel.

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Since most tires are directional, which means you cannot perform a traditional X-pattern rotation, you really only need one side of the car in the air at a time.
ZV

This really depends on the vehicle. Many SUV's, trucks, cars, etc are not directional if they use typical tires and not "performance rated" ones. You should really check to be sure.

 

[Proprioceptive]

Thanks, guys for all the help. I appreciate all of the advice.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Since most tires are directional, which means you cannot perform a traditional X-pattern rotation, you really only need one side of the car in the air at a time.
ZV

This really depends on the vehicle. Many SUV's, trucks, cars, etc are not directional if they use typical tires and not "performance rated" ones. You should really check to be sure.

Very good point. I haven't worked on a truck for so long that this slipped my mind.

ZV

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Gillbot

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Since most tires are directional, which means you cannot perform a traditional X-pattern rotation, you really only need one side of the car in the air at a time.
ZV

This really depends on the vehicle. Many SUV's, trucks, cars, etc are not directional if they use typical tires and not "performance rated" ones. You should really check to be sure.

Very good point. I haven't worked on a truck for so long that this slipped my mind.

ZV

AFAIK none of my cars tires have been directional either. Maybe I just work on slow stuff.


Where would you check this?

 

[JJ650]

The tire itself would have an arrow indicating the direction of the spin and some even have raised lettering saying which side is to be out.
If the arrow is there or "this side out", then it is a unidirecitonal tire.
Left front goes to left back. Same thing with the right side.

Also looking at the tread pattern can sometimes clue you in if it is assymetric or not, but it's not best to rely on the tread pattern. Check for arrows or mounting indicators, or call up a tire shop, give the your tire info and have them check.

 

[franksta]

Originally posted by: Turin39789


Where would you check this?

It should be labeled on the sidewall. "Left" or "Right" and usually has an arrow pointing in the direction the tire will rotate when the car is moving forward. I can take a picture of my tire when I get home if you think that would be helpful.

EDIT: Doh! That's what I get for not reading all of the replies before typing my own.

 

[geokilla]

We just do our tire rotations front-back. Never in an X pattern. We just "rotate" them when we switch from summer to winter tires cus we're too lazy...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

A good shortcut when putting on and removing tires:
get a pole (the length will vary by car)
position the pole so it's on your brake pedal
lean the seat forward to press on the other end of the pole
the wheels won't spin