How to Rotate Tires with One Jack

It is entirely possible to rotate your tires with just one jack. It will require the basic tools that should come with your vehicle as well as some jack stands.

In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of rotating your tires with just one jack! It’s actually a lot easier than you might think. So, whether you’re a professional mechanic or just someone who likes to do things yourself, read on for the step by step of how to rotate tires with one jack.

Why it is important to rotate your tires

There are a lot of benefits to rotating your tires on a regular basis. Not only does it help them wear more evenly, but it can also improve your gas mileage and extend the life of your tires. It’s a simple process that can make a big difference in the long run, so it’s definitely worth doing!

When to rotate your tires

Most experts recommend that you rotate your tires every 5000-7000 miles or so. However, it’s always best to check your owner’s manual first to see what is recommended for your specific vehicle.

For ease, we would recommend having it done with your vehicles yearly service as the costs will be minimal and your local shop may even include it for free in your service. You local shop will almost certainly have a vehicle ramp and specialized torque guns to make removing and rotating your tires a very quick process.

If you are set on rotating your tires yourself, we recommend doing it during daylight hours and when the weather is warm. This will make it more comfortable for you.

What are the different tire rotation patterns?

There are a few different ways that you can rotate your tires.

The most common pattern is the “forward cross.” This is where the front right tire goes to the back right position, the front left tire goes to the back left position, and the rear tires go forward and cross over.

This means the rear right tire will go to the front left position and the rear left tire will go to the front right position. This is ideal for front wheel drive vehicles, which is the most common drivetrain layout of all vehicles sold.

Another popular rotation pattern is the “backward cross” or the “X-Pattern”. These is more suitable for rear wheel or all wheel drive vehicles. This is where both the front wheels cross over and go to their respective opposite rear corners.

Then you can decide when moving the rear wheels forward if you want to keep them on their current side, or cross them over as well.

The most important thing is that you don’t mix up the order of the tires! Always rotate them in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction so that they all wear evenly.

Lastly, there is the “side-to-side” pattern which we would avoid. This is where the tires stay at the front or back of the vehicle and simply switch onto the other side of the vehicle. This is not as effective because it doesn’t evenly distribute the wear and tear.

Always make sure before rotating your tires that the tire sizes on the front and rear of your vehicle match up. In some circumstances (especially with high performance cars) the rear tires are designed to be much wider than the front tires. This means that they are not suitable for rotating.

How to rotate tires with one jack

Before reading this, read our guide on how to change a tire here. It will give you the complete run down of how to change a tire on your vehicle. How to Rotate your tires with one jack will be very similar with only a few different steps.

Here’s a list of the tool you’ll need for this job:

• One Jack
• 4 Jack Stands
• Lug Wrench

Before attempting to rotate your tires, make sure you are parked in a suitable place that is quiet and away from traffic. We would also recommend finding a place that is as flat as possible, as attempting this on an incline can be dangerous.

Once you have found a suitable place, the first thing you will want to do is put your vehicle in park and apply the handbrake.

The next step is to crack lose the lug nuts on all four tires. You don’t need to remove them completely, just loosen them so they can be removed easily later.

Next, use your jack to lift up the front end of your vehicle. Place the jack underneath the frame (consult your owner’s manual to find the ideal location) and make sure it is securely in place before beginning to lift.

Once the front of your vehicle is off the ground, place your jack stands underneath the vehicle on each side at the specified jacking point so that it will remain secure while you work.

Once you have done this, you can lower the jack and the front of the vehicle should rest securely on the jack stands.

Now you can remove the lug nuts completely and take the front tires off. Be careful not to damage the threads on the bolts as you remove them.

The next step is the repeat the same process for the rear of the vehicle. Again, use the jack to lift it up and secure it with jack stands before removing the lug nuts and taking the rear tires off.

Now that all four of your tires are off, you can begin to rotate them in whichever way you chose. Whichever way you decide, the main thing to remember is to switch the front and the back wheels around and not to switch them side to side.

Tires can be heavier than you think. A little tip to help lift them off the ground is to sit facing the wheel and use your feet to push up on the bottom of the tire as you lift it.

Once all four tires are in their new positions, simply reverse the process to put them back on. Start by putting the lug nuts back on by hand before using your wrench to tighten them. To fully tighten them, you will need to lower the car to the ground first.

To lower the vehicle, use the jack to raise the vehicle off of the jack stands, at which point you can remove them from underneath the vehicle. Then slowly release the pressure on the jack until the vehicle is resting on its tires.

Repeat this for the front of the vehicle (or rear depending on which you lowered first).

Now that the vehicle is back on the ground on its tires, you can finish tightening your lug nuts and lower the jack completely. Your tires should now be rotated!

You may find that you need to buy new tires entirely while rotating your tires. If you’re looking to replace your tires, then click this link for the best price on GoodYear Tires.

As you can see, rotating your tires with one jack is not that difficult once you know how. It is a simple process that doesn’t require any special tools. The main thing is to make sure you have a set of jack stands before starting, as these are not normally standard equipment sold with cars.

How long does a tire rotation with one jack take?

You can expect the entire process to take around 30 minutes to an hour depending on your level of experience.

Which rotation pattern is best?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It really depends on your individual vehicle and what is recommended in the owner’s manual.

The best way to decide on which rotation pattern is best for you will depend on which are the driven wheels of your vehicle.

If your vehicle is front-wheel drive, then you will want to use the “forward cross” pattern. If your vehicle is rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, then you will want to use the “backward cross” or the “X-Pattern”.

This will help to maximise the life of all your tires and ensure they wear evenly.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are a few things to consider when rotating your tires with one jack. But it is not a difficult task and can be done relatively quickly. Just make sure you have some jack stands handy and that you know which rotation pattern is best for your vehicle.

By following these simple steps, you will be able to rotate your tires like a pro in no time!

We hope you enjoyed this article and found it informative. If you have any questions then please leave a comment below or get in touch via email or through social media and we will read and respond to every comment, email or question. Thanks for reading!