How to Interchange Your Car Tyres?

Tyres are the single point of contact for your vehicle with the road and are accustomed to kilometres of use. Under these circumstances, the tyres endure uneven tread wear and often succumb to all the wear and tear. Rotating your tyres is imperative for neutralising the difference and ensuring that your vehicle's performance is not compromised. Rotation of your car tyres on a regular basis can save you a lot of bucks as it extends the life of your tyre and enables you along with your car to enjoy a smoother as well as a safer ride.

Believe us, rotating your car's tyres isn't a terribly difficult job. The entire process takes less than an hour, and for your relief, the required tools are provided with your car by the manufacturer!

Tools Required

• 4 Jacks
• Wheel spanner/Lug wrench
• Jack handle

Step 1: Park the Car on a Leveled Surface

It is ideal to park your car on a flat, level road surface preferably a concrete road, to perform the tyre rotation task. If you feel that the car is parked safely in a clear space, put the car in first gear and apply handbrake to keep the car still and stable in its position.

Step 2: Loosen the Lug Nuts

Once the car is in a stable position, remove the wheel cap and loosen the wheel nuts. You will have to use a wheel spanner or lug wrench, which usually is a four-arm tool. To unbolt the nuts, slip in the right arm of the spanner and apply a lot of pressure on it with your feet. Do not remove the nuts from their place, just loosen them.

Note: Loosen the lug nuts in a diagonal pattern i.e. top left first, bottom right next and so on.

Step 3: Lift the Car

Carefully fix the jacks on the appropriate jacking points which are marked at the back of front tyres and in front of rear tyres. Ensure that the jack stands perpendicular to the ground and does not move or bend. Once you are sure, lift the jack until all wheels are 1 inch above the ground and firmly supported by the jack.

Note: Be careful and do not go under the car.

Step 4: Rotating the Tyres

Now unbolt the nuts with your fingers and remove them. Subsequently, grip the wheel firmly with both hands and pull it off.

The tricky part here is to identify which tyre is to be replaced by which one. Well, it totally depends on whether your tyres are directional or non-directional. Regular or non-directional tyres have the same tread pattern on all of them and are the most common ones. Whereas directional tyres feature one-way tread pattern.

Non-Directional

These tyres can be placed on any wheel, for any direction of rotation.

To replace the tyres in a Front Wheel, Four Wheel and Rear Wheel Drive car respectively, follow the pattern shown in the image below.

Directional

These tyres are specially designed for either the left or the right side of the car. They can be replaced by tyres of the same side. Refer to your manual or the image below.

Step 5: Lower the Car

When all the tyres have been anchored and all the lug nuts are hand screwed on the tyres, lower the car down from the jack stands. Remove the jack stands and tighten the nuts diagonally using the lug wrench again. Put back the wheel caps and lastly, collect all the tools.

Congratulations! You have just rotated your tyres.

On an average, rotating your car tyres take around 20-25 minutes. It is advisable to rotate your tyres at every 10,000 km, it'll surely lengthen their life.

Also Read:

• Which One is Better for Tyres - Nitrogen or Standard Air?
• Preventive maintenance of tyres
• How to maintain your chrome alloy wheels?