Also.... if you want to maximise your tread life... Make sure you tread rotates the correct direction. Some tires have a rotational arrow on the wall. Do not swap sides unless the tyres are multi directional
I don't use a torque wrench, because I don't believe it is needed. Tighten the nuts when you first rotate the tires and do it again after 25 or so miles. On the rotation question: Use a jack stand to support one wheel and the jack to support the other. Thanks for the great questions.
You normally don't need to have an alignment when you rotate your tires. You should get it aligned if there is unusual wear or after you install new tires. Thanks
The point of rotating your tires is to increase how many miles you get on them. It also helps to have all the tires wear out at the same time. The point of the video was to show people that they can do it themselves and save a few bucks.
Where are you placing your jack and also jack stands? I find that if I put the jack in the pinch weld spots I have no room for the jack stands. I also have an Optima. Did you just put it on the frame rail in the video? Thanks
Why didn't he mention using a torque wrench? Men most often make the mistake of over torqueing and mess their parts up according to my manufacturing teacher.
Even when you rotate your tires on schedule, you will probably never see more miles than what the tires are rated. However, if you do not rotate them, you will probably not get as many miles on them. Other factors will affect the life of the tire like checking for proper inflation monthly and unusual wear from alignment and suspension wear issues. All of those can shave thousands of miles off the life of your tires. Thanks for asking.
Is it safe to lift the car from 2 different corners? Like having the back left up at the same time as the front right? I need to do this to my Charger but it's a heavy car and I don't wanna fuck it up or pay someone else to do it.
The manual should have specified what to do, but since it didn't, what you recommend is probably what I would do. I don't want to steer you wrong on this so you may want to touch base with your vehicle's dealer and ask them what the subsequent rotation pattern is on that vehicle.... I hope that helps. Thanks
Hello, I did respond to your question on the spark plug video. I am not familiar with that car and do not know specifically how to remove that last plug. Sorry.
Thanks great video and tips.. finally got my first car (new) a few months ago, and I am definitely a DIY guy. Maybe I can teach my friends how to rotate their tires now or I could just link them your video :)
Tighten lug nuts randomly and check them in 25 miles, hopefully your wheels haven't fallen off. Seriously...don't follow this advice use a torque wrench people.
I actually service my cars myself they don't go to the dealer. Tightening lug nuts like this can be disastrous in the wrong hands. I understand he might know what he's doing but it's poor advice to be given as an instructional video with an audience of potential newbies. If your a mechanic with years experience you may have the feel but then you don't need this video.
What happens if you overtighten the lug nuts? My tyres have been going for at least 25,000 km.. Not sure if they rotated it when I serviced it last year but I really think I should rotate them!
Tony - I've got the same Optima as you. I've read online that the pinchweld could be damaged without the right attachment for the jack and jackstands. Because of this I was afraid to use my floor jack and jackstands. I wanted to do it just like you did but paid the dealer $20 instead. You don't see any bending on the pinchwelds?
Hi Tony, what's the size of your lug wrench? My tires are 17''. I'd like to buy a 20" lug wrench. But I am afraid that it is too large to to hit the floor while spinning.
+Alexander B If your car is front wheel drive then you should use the X pattern tire rotation so in reality you only need one jack stand and one jack and you can do for example front drivers side and exchange it with rear passenger side. THen let the car down, then jack it back up diagonal to do the other 2 wheels
I've got a pacifica ... I've raised the front and taken off the tire but my jack stand is tall and the side of the car with the stand has the car up higher than the other any of the other wheel locations ... should i get a jack stand that leaves all wheel locations about the same height?
Hi Kevin, It is normal for the wheel you are raising to be way higher than the others. It is not necessary to jack up the whole car at once. Always work on level ground and jack the wheel you are working on just enough to get it off. Use the jack stands to hold up that quarter of the car while you use the jack to do another wheel. Thanks
Safety tip: these jack stands are rated in pairs, 3 ton jack stands can hold 1500lb each, but if your jack slips and car drops it won't even hold that. If not used in pairs, I would use something more beefy (6 tons or more)
Hey Skitsn, You can do this without a jack stand, but I recommend that you put something else supportive under the frame in case something happens to the jack. Also, be sure to do this on level ground. The car is more susceptible to falling off a regular jack when not level. Hey, jack stands are really cheap. Like $20 for a set. If you do this more than once, they've paid for themselves. :)
@Roy - If you have a torque wrench, great. Personally, I've never used a torque wrench and have never had any problems. However, it's hard to get a feel for just how tight to make them without them. Too tight and the rims may crack - so don't over muscle them! Whether you use one or not, the biggest safety thing is go check the tightness of the lug nuts after you have driven for about 50 miles. If they were too loose, you'll know it by then. I hope that helps.
where were u placing your jack to lift the car? I have jacking points on my car but the issue I'm having is if I use them to lift my car I won't be able to lower it onto a jack stand
+OURPETSHEADSAREFALLINGOFF!!!!! It will take a little more time and effort, but if you don't have a jack stand, you can use your spare tire as a place holder.
lol that's not what he meant .. he has the jackstand .. he's saying the jacking point is taken up by the jack so when you lift it, you can't put the jackstand on the jacking point because the jack itself is on the jacking point .. so how do you do it .. where else can you jack it up by so the jacking point is free for the jackstand is what he's asking .. I had the same question
Balancing is normally not needed every 6 thousand miles. Tires will typically not need to be balanced for the life of the tire. However, if you have it patched for a nail hole, you should have it balanced. Anyone trying to sell you a balance ever 6K miles is just trying to rip you off. Really, find a new shop.
If you have the car's owner's manual, check that for the recommended location. With no manual, the pinch weld on the bottom of the rocker panel is usually good. Check for a notch about an inch long in the seam. That is usually the location for the jack. Watch it as you jack up the car, if it is bending or caving in, stop and find a better location.
I know it's winter and you're probably looking for better traction off the line, but you also need to really consider that your front tires are the ones that do most of the stopping of the car. If you move the bare tires to the front, the chances you'll be able to stop in time are dramatically reduced. I recommend not putting the bald tires on front. Sorry... I hope that helps.
discount tire got free tire rotation, are they any good? heard some bad stories. I don't need to tell them my lug nut torque or tire rotation pattern etc right? they know it? why check for tire movement/play when it's in the air? when there is movement that means something is wrong? last one I only need tire balancing when it's pulls to one side going straight right? if car is fine then no need for balancing.
How would one go about doing this without the jack stands? Could I lift one full side of the car up at a time and move them front-to-back instead of diagonally?
You don't exactly. It's more a feel thing. Get it tight, but don't crush it. If you're not sure, you can get a cheap torque wrench at Harbor Freight. Thanks
When you are loosening then lug nuts you should do it in a star pattern for a car with 5 lugs nuts, and then for even number lug nuts you loosen it across from each other
I followed everything Tony did, step by step and it worked out great! With regards to tightening the lug nuts, my final step is putting all my weight(180 pounds)on the bar, in a star pattern of course, for final tightness. Again, obviously not jumping on the bar, but a good stomp on it seems to do the trick.
