Self tire rotation

[wkf94025]

I have been rotating my tires every 3500 miles (give or take). X-pattern rotation is fine since the tires are not rotation specific. ??

I have several torque wrenches meant for different uses. The thing to remember is that like our batteries, torque wrenches don’t like being near either end of their ranges. So if 150 is at the end of your wrench’s range you should consider borrowing or renting one that has a window that goes to 180-200. ??

The TPMS will self-reset in a 30 or so minute drive. You can also force reset it by putting the car in accessory mode and cycling the hazard flashers 3 times on and off, then following the instructions on the dash. ??

Thanks Steve. Just to clarify, either rotation pattern is okay? Front-back-swap-on-same-side or the diagonal-fronts-to-opposite-rear pattern? I am familiar with the margin factor on torque wrenches, and yes, a torque wrench whose nominal top end is 150 is not a good idea here. Thanks for the details on TPMS reset.

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[AtomicInternet]

Rotating mine right now. Manual says back to front, then switch front to back.

TPMS will auto detect which tire is where after an hour or so of driving

 

[HuntingPudel]

Thanks Steve. Just to clarify, either rotation pattern is okay? Front-back-swap-on-same-side or the diagonal-fronts-to-opposite-rear pattern? I am familiar with the margin factor on torque wrenches, and yes, a torque wrench whose nominal top end is 150 is not a good idea here. Thanks for the details on TPMS reset.

Either rotation pattern is OK. I have been using the back to front, cross fronts to back in my rotations. ??

 

[Teslaeata]

Rotating mine right now. Manual says back to front, then switch front to back.

TPMS will auto detect which tire is where after an hour or so of driving

Not sure if these things have already been mentioned but not all types of tyre can be rotated like this (diagonally) around the vehicle and at risk of stating the bleedin’ obvious……

If tyres are unidirectional, these will be marked with direction of rotation, only swap front to rear on same side of vehicle.

AND to avoid lost wheel syndrome, follow the golden rules:
• Re-torque wheels after 100 miles
• Before refitting a wheel, ensure mating surfaces are clean & free from paint, dirt, oxidation etc and don’t apply lubricant to any surfaces inc threads, only centre of the wheel (spigot) should ever be lubricated.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Not sure if these things have already been mentioned but not all types of tyre can be rotated like this (diagonally) around the vehicle and at risk of stating the bleedin’ obvious……

If tyres are unidirectional, these will be marked with direction of rotation, only swap front to rear on same side of vehicle.

AND to avoid lost wheel syndrome, follow the golden rules:
• Re-torque wheels after 100 miles
• Before refitting a wheel, ensure mating surfaces are clean & free from paint, dirt, oxidation etc and don’t apply lubricant to any surfaces inc threads, only centre of the wheel (spigot) should ever be lubricated.

This is good advice, especially on re-torque. The stock tires on all MME models so far (through the 2023 model year) are not unidirectional so the X pattern is fine for rotation unless aftermarket tires are involved. In that case, one needs to know what they bought. ??

 

[steve.panse]

Except for a brand new set of steel trailer tires I’ve never found lugs that were undertorqued after 50-100 miles (after proper initial torque) so I’ve been negligent on the retorques lately. It’s a good reminder, but hasn‘t shown necessary in my experience. And consider that the majority of people don’t have a 150 ft-lb torque wrench (and may not know how to use one) and aren’t taking their vehicles back to the shop after 50 miles.

 

[HughJazzol]

I just passed 6k miles on my 24, so I'm contemplating a self-rotation. But I don't own a torque wrench.

Are those digital torque adapters reliable and worth the purchase? They're obviously cheaper than a $100+ torque wrench, and I've rotated our ICE cars' tires for years and didn't worry about torque.
Perhaps with the machE, I should.

Thank you

 

[BillPitman]

I just passed 6k miles on my 24, so I'm contemplating a self-rotation. But I don't own a torque wrench.

Are those digital torque adapters reliable and worth the purchase? They're obviously cheaper than a $100+ torque wrench, and I've rotated our ICE cars' tires for years and didn't worry about torque.
Perhaps with the machE, I should.

Thank you

Buy a torque wrench……, Mach-e, 150 ft lbs torque……Bill P

 

[BMT1071]

I just passed 6k miles on my 24, so I'm contemplating a self-rotation. But I don't own a torque wrench.

Are those digital torque adapters reliable and worth the purchase? They're obviously cheaper than a $100+ torque wrench, and I've rotated our ICE cars' tires for years and didn't worry about torque.
Perhaps with the machE, I should.

Thank you

If you take your car to a shop for the rotation it is unlikely that a torque wrench will be used.

 

[HughJazzol]

If you take your car to a shop for the rotation it is unlikely that a torque wrench will be used.

incredibly valid point. Most humans simply tighten until it can go no more, and then we give that one little ummph push. Or, at a shop, until the pneumatic wrench stops.

 

[CoyoteMach]

If you take your car to a shop for the rotation it is unlikely that a torque wrench will be used.

Depends on the shop. I go to a well known tire only shop (Discount Tire) for all my tire work, and I'm the type that watches them work. In every case over the past 10 years or so, they have used a torque wrench to tighten the lugs once the car is back on the ground.

They do it right and will continue to get my business.

 

[Mach1E]

If you take your car to a shop for the rotation it is unlikely that a torque wrench will be used.

A good one will use one.

Or a good mechanic doesn’t need one.

Or you get “the other guy.”

And if you don’t know which guy at which shop you got, buy a torque wrench.

 

[alangant]

No.

If you take your car to a shop for the rotation it is unlikely that a torque wrench will be used.

My local Discount Tire always uses a torque wrench. They also will rotate tires that you didn't buy there!

 

[ChrisO]

Most impact wrenches have torque settings on them, so in most cases shops shouldn't have to use a separate torque wrench.

It is interesting "revisit" the ideal of what rotation pattern is needed, because at one point I was told that radial tires needed the front to back pattern, not the crossover pattern. Just for reference I think I have never rotated my own tires, especially since it has always been free.

I was looking it up and boy the right answer is complicated now. Things like tread patterns matters, and if you have different size tires and such, and of course if you have full size spare.

This site has patterns from A to I.
https://www.tirerack.com/upgrade-garage/what-is-the-best-way-to-rotate-tires

 

[HuntingPudel]

My local Discount Tire always uses a torque wrench. They also will rotate tires that you didn't buy there!

The West Coast version of DT (America's Tire) also always uses a torque wrench when installing. Since I self-rotate I don't know about their rotations.

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