after i get 18's i really don't want mechanics touching my wheels. so how do you do this: jack up the car on one side in the middle and rotate. or i have heard that some people use the spare to do this. i guess they jack up one wheel and put the spare on, rotate the tires and then replace the spare.

anyone have suggestions. one more thing, do you tighten the lugs in the air or on the ground?

thanks

 

Jackstands work well. Lugnuts are always hand tightened in the air, then torqued properly on hte ground.

 

Well, usually if you have 18's then your tires will be directional, meaning that you can only move the fronts to the back and backs to the front on the same side. I do this with a jack and 1 stand.

Jack up the front, put the stand under there, jack up the rear, and swap the tires. Easy.

 

I think the key point is 'torqued properly'... Buy a torque bar. (good from 40-100 lbs (strut studs - wheel lugs)

 

I got one, thats why I said that.

 

i had to do this at a maxmeet,and borrowed someones jack,so i had 2,1for front,2nd rear,rest is self explanatory

 

I got tires from goodyear and when you buy it they rotate your tires free...

 

That's what I was going to say. Basically borrow someone else spare jack and raise one side of the car, then rotate. Tighten the lugs about half the rated torque value while in the air, in the proper star pattern. Trans in park (auto) or in gear (5spd) and the parking brakes applied. Then lower the car and torque to final value. But you're not done, after driving 50-60 miles re-torque the lugs while on the ground. A tad bit involved, but that's the correct way.

 

There's no need for a jack stand if you're using a decent hydraulic 2 1/4 ton floor jack since it'd be able to lift the whole left/right side of the vehicle.

 

If you put the jack in the middle, wont that mess up the car? How can you use one jack on both jack ponts at the same time?

 

Correct...that's why I use a stand. You should only really jack the car up (on the sides at least) on the jack points. If you do it in the middle the car will be less stable and you'll at least bend that lip under the car, if not worse. Use a stand...its quick easy and safe.

 

I should add that always tighten your lug nuts in a criss cross pattern. Left then right, top then bottom etc. Don't tighten the lug nuts in a circular pattern. I still see too many of those service station guys doing that That's why I tend to do mine myself alot, too.

DW

 

It is neither safe nor recommended to work with a rasied vehicle with only a jack. Jackstands are a must safety wise, because jacks can move, they have wheels.

 

Jack stands are cheap, and safe...use them........or a republican's head, their both about as dense, and serve about as much use use on any given day.

 

Yup, put on my wheels by myself and when I hit 7500, I'll rotate them myself. Definitely use jackstands for safety.

Where did that come from?

 

You can still get a whole left/right side of the vehicle in the air to pull off the wheels by lifting it up at the jack point. I pull off my street wheels/tires every other Friday and put my race wheels/tires on, race on the weekend then take off the race wheels/tires on Sunday and put the street setup back on. Since this only takes a short time, I don't bother with jack stands. If I'm going under the car or if I'm working on the brakes/suspension then I use the stands.

 

so you just use a jack and jack up at the jack point until both the front and rear tires are off the ground right? will this mess up the frame? i think this would be the easier and more convenient way.

and you hand tighten the lugs while jacked up and torque them down when the cars on the ground right?

BTW thanks to everyone for replying.

 

mmm i do this the lazy man way.

Jack up car on jackpoint, rotate tire front to back back to front. Use airgun with Orange torque stick. Boom im done. I dont think torque sticks work unless you have an airgun. I rotate about every 10,000 mi. I hate rotating tires....hehe

 

How do you rotate the tires on your bike?

 

Good way to start the day.

 

 

Yes, that's how I do it. If I use the front jack point, the front end will be a little higher than the rear but it's not a problem. I've been doing it this way for years - it should not be a problem for the frame.

Yes, I hand tighten the lugs then torque them to factory specs once it's on the ground again.

 

I do it all the time. I aint letting no fool touch my chrome rims. It only takes like 10mins. Jack up the side and do both at the same time. Then do the other side.

Dixit

 

rotate tires on my bike? hehehehe, easy! juss do a burnout so you have to replace the tire....