Jacking up to rotate tyres

[xreyuk]

Hi guys,

I want to rotate my tyres this afternoon in an X pattern (front right to back left, and front left to back right).

I have a trolley jack, the jack that came with the car and 4 axle stands.

What I want to know is the best method to do this?

Is it safe to jack up 2 opposite corners at the same time, whilst leaving the other two on the ground? or should I jack the front up first and then jack the back up and do the switch that way?

[andy-xr]

I've jacked in the middle of the skill before and done front and back at the same time

[HustleRussell]

Either an axle stand on all four corners, or one corner at a time fitting the spare wheel to one corner first.

[trickywoo]

Check if they are directional first.

Even if they aren't I have heard that its not a great idea to change the direction.

[RobCrezz]

I would jack up front, put it on stands, take off front wheels, jack up back, put on stands, take off rear wheels. Then put the wheels back on in New positions.

[BliarOut]

RobCrezz said:

I would jack up front, put it on stands, take off front wheels, jack up back, put on stands, take off rear wheels. Then put the wheels back on in New positions.

Placing each wheel under the car as you remove it

[xreyuk]

Thanks guys.

The tyres aren't directional I don't think, there isn't anything written on them to indicate that they are, and I've been advised by a tyre fitter to change them previously to diagnose tyre pull. I'm assuming he would have checked these things.

I'll do as RobCrezz says. I'll have to do a wheel at a time unfortunately as I'm not aware of a suitable point to jack the whole front/rear of the car up in one go.

Edited by xreyuk on Sunday 24th February 15:02

[SystemParanoia]

do it in the middle of the subframe, that will get both front wheels up.

and at the back lift it from the diff

other options include getting a better jack that can lift higher, jack from the normal spot and get both wheels up at once

[Defcon5]

I think jacking up opposite corners at the same time is a recipient for disaster.

Do it and report back

[Garett]

When I took my Vito in to change the wheels they used 2 jacks at opposite corners, can't see any harm in it myself.

[kambites]

I tend to swap front right to back right and vice versa. They shouldn't be wearing unevenly side-to-side (at least not significantly so) and many tyres are directional and/or sided.

[williredale]

kambites said:

I tend to swap front right to back right and vice versa. They shouldn't be wearing unevenly side-to-side (at least not significantly so) and many tyres are directional and/or sided.

Same here.