How To Rotate Tires With One Jack
Schedule tire rotation is crucial if you want your tires last longer. By rotating your tires, you can save your tires from uneven tire wear because the front and rear tires don’t wear the same way.
Tire experts recommend routine tire rotation of your car, truck, or SUV tires as it extends your tire lifespan and enhances driving safety. The best and recommended way is to take your car to the nearest professional and let them rotate your tires.
It’s a safe and quick procedure that will take only 15 to 20 minutes. You can also do it yourself if you want to spend some time with your car, but how to rotate tires with one jack? Wondering how to do it? Keep reading!
How To Rotate Tires With One Jack
If you don’t have relevant experience, then it’s not recommended to rotate your vehicle’s tires by yourself because it may be worthless and dangerous to do it yourself. But if you’re eager to give it a try, you should have some tools to complete this task.
Then you need to find a level surface to park your car for tire rotation. Find out the rotation pattern of your car tires because the tire rotation pattern is different for directional and non-directional tires, and start rotating your car tires using a jack and other tools.
How To Rotate Tires With One Jack: Tools Needed
To rotate your tires, you need to have some tools. The following tools are needed to complete this task:
- Jack
- At least 2 jack stands
- Lug wrench
How To Rotate Tires With One Jack: Steps
Here are the steps to rotate your tires with one jack:
- Find a level surface to park your car and apply the parking brake.
- Loosen the lug nuts.
- Lift up one side of the vehicle with the jack.
- Place the jack stands to remove the jack.
- Remove the lug nuts and rotate the tires.
- Lower the vehicle off the jack stand and tighten the lug nuts.
- Drive the car a short distance to make sure the lug nuts are properly tightened.
- Check out the tire pressure.
Find A Level Surface To Park Your Car And Apply the Parking Brake
First, you must find a level surface, a secure place aside from traffic, to perform tire rotation. You need to apply the parking brake to make sure that the car doesn’t roll while lifting up on the jack, although you’re on level ground.
Loosen The Lug Nuts
Don’t forget to loosen the lug nuts before raising your car on the jack because the tire wheel may spin if you try to loosen the lug nuts after lifting up your vehicle on the jack.
Don’t take them off completely, loosen them to remove them easily after lifting up the car, so don’t forget to loosen the lug nuts on the ground.
Lift One Side Of The Vehicle With Jack
Now it’s time to lift your car on the jack, but before doing this, check out the owner’s manual to find the right location to place the jack to lift your car.
Because not all cars have the same places to lift them with the jack, especially if you have an electric car, you need to be more careful.
Place Jack Stands To Remove The Jack
After lifting one side of the car, place the jack stands near the lifted tires to remove the jack. Be sure to place jack stands in the right place.
Not all vehicles have the same location to place the jack or jack stands, so be careful, watch a few online videos to make sure you are going to place jack stands in the right place.
Now after placing the jack stands in the right place, lower the jack slightly and let the car rely on the jack stands. Now lift the other side of the car so that all 4 tires can be rotated.
Remove The Lug Nuts And Rotate The Tires
Now it’s time to perform the actual task. Remove the lug nuts or studs and start rotating your tires. Remember that you should rotate your tires per the owner’s manual and confirm that you’re rotating your tires as per the recommended pattern so that you don’t regret after lowering your car to the ground. After rotating the tires, tighten up the lug nuts.
Lower The Vehicle Off The Jack Stand And Tighten The Lug Nuts
Now you’ve rotated your vehicle tires and double-checked the rotation pattern, it’s time to remove the jack and jack stands to lower the car to the ground.
After lowering the car, tighten the lug nuts or studs to complete the task. Now it’s time to congratulate you on successfully rotating your car’s tires.
Drive A Short Distance To Make Sure The Lug Nuts Are Properly Tightened.
After successfully rotating your tires, take a short distance drive on your car to make sure the lug nuts are tightened up to the appropriate level, and the tires and wheels are working fine.
It’s the last step of how to rotate tires with one jack guide as you’ve successfully rotated the tires of your vehicle.
Check Out The Tire Pressure
Once the tire rotation is done, it’s time to check the tire pressure. You can find the recommended tire pressure in the owner’s manual, or it can be found inside the front door on the driver’s side.
Check out the tire pressure of all 4 tires with the tire pressure gauge and fulfill as recommended.
If your vehicle’s tire pressure light is not working, here’s a helpful guide on how to reset tire pressure light in your vehicle.
How Long Does It Take To Rotate Tires Yourself?
The answer to this question will be different in different conditions. If you’ve previous experience rotating tires of your car and know all the tools and how to use them to rotate tires, then tire rotation can be done in 10 to 15 minutes.
But if you don’t familiar with the tools, then it can take 20 to 30 minutes. However, if you are rotating tires for the first time, then forget the time limit and just focus on the tire rotation process and make sure everything is in the right place to rotate your car’s tires successfully.
When You Should Not Rotate Tires?
Rotating tires by yourself can be good learning and save some money, but choosing the professionals and letting them do their job is always a good option.
But if you want to do it by yourself, make sure to keep in mind the following checklist before rotating your car’s tires.
- When you don’t have Jack to lift the car
- When you don’t have jack stands
- When you don’t have level surface ground
- When your parking or hand brake is out of work
- When you own a hefty vehicle
If any item in the above list relates to you and you don’t fulfill the requirements, you should take your vehicle to the nearest professional to rotate the tires.
Factors To Notice On Tires While Rotating
While rotating your car tires, you’ll take them off the car to rotate them in the required rotation pattern. While rotating your car tires, you should also notice below mentioned factors to get an idea about your tire’s remaining life.
- Notice uneven tire wear or one-sided tire wear often called tire feathering.
- Take a look on the tire sidewalls, whether they are damaged or not.
- Check if there is any bulge or bubble on the sidewalls.
- Check out the tread depth, keeping in mind the minimum tread depth.
- Damaged bead area or steel belts.
- Take a look on the tread and shoulders of the tire if you see cords or wires on one side of the tire, inspect your car tires from a qualified tire professional.
Conclusion
Tire rotation with one jack can be done if you’ve other related tools like jack stands, lug nuts wrench, etc. Complete the process of rotating tires with one jack slowly and carefully.
So, rotating tires with one jack is not a difficult task. You need a jack, at least 2 jack stands, and a lug nuts wrench to loosen and tighten the nut or studs, and it can be done by following the above guide on how to rotate tires with one jack.
