Rotate the tires with one jack?

[MarsOrBust]

I have the pads for the jacking points and the torque wrench but not sure if its possible to rotate the tires using a single jack.
Let me know how you guys that do it yourself accomplish this. Thanks

 

[boiler81]

So if you lift from the front jack pad, it will lift the both wheels on that side off the ground, allowing a simple front to back rotation (unidirectional tires).
Don't know how to safely rotate side to side with one jack unless you have a spare tire to use during the process, or one of those Tesla "Safe Jack" stands.

 

[Gizmo35]

I rotate tires using one jack pad and a floor jack on the rear to raise one side off the ground moving front to rear and rear to front then I repeat on the other side. I have an impact wrench so the process is really quick for me. I also chock the wheels on the opposite side being jacked. Hope this helps.

 

[mspohr]

I have the pads for the jacking points and the torque wrench but not sure if its possible to rotate the tires using a single jack.
Let me know how you guys that do it yourself accomplish this. Thanks

I have two jacks

 

[MarsOrBust]

Did not know the car was that stiff that both sides came up.
Those Tesla Jacks look interesting but seems cheaper just to buy another jack.

 

[boiler81]

Did not know the car was that stiff that both sides came up.

Yeah, that's why Sandy Munro criticized Tesla for designing the M3 so strong (& heavy) without relying on the battery pack for structural strength.
I guess Tesla has fixed that via the structural battery pack announced on Battery day.

 

[Dolemite]

QuickJack. The Safe Jack Rennstands are an awful solution.

 

[MarsOrBust]

Quick jack sure looks nice but a bit pricey for me now, specially since I would only use it for tire rotation.
What makes the Safe Jack so awful?
I don't own them but curious to know.

 

[Sunshine State]

So if you lift from the front jack pad, it will lift the both wheels on that side off the ground, allowing a simple front to back rotation (unidirectional tires).
Don't know how to safely rotate side to side with one jack unless you have a spare tire to use during the process, or one of those Tesla "Safe Jack" stands.

Reversing the rotation of a radial tire (even non directional tires) after the tire has been in service isn’t recommended and therefore only same side rotation is recommended in non staggered applications unless the tire is dismounted and doesn’t have a inside or outside tread design. Staggered setup rotation is not recommended at all. Irregular wear is likely from changing rotation and may cause more tire issues than benefit.

 

[Phlier]

QuickJack. The Safe Jack Rennstands are an awful solution.

I've been thinking about looking at a QuickJack, but have been a bit lazy lately... haven't researched which model QJ would be appropriate for a Model 3.

Any help?

 

[Dolemite]

Quick jack sure looks nice but a bit pricey for me now, specially since I would only use it for tire rotation.
What makes the Safe Jack so awful?
I don't own them but curious to know.

See my post here: MASTER THREAD: Jack Points — location, use, damage, pads, etc.

Reversing the rotation of a radial tire (even non directional tires) after the tire has been in service isn’t recommended and therefore only same side rotation is recommended in non staggered applications unless the tire is dismounted and doesn’t have a inside or outside tread design. Staggered setup rotation is not recommended at all. Irregular wear is likely from changing rotation and may cause more tire issues than benefit.

Could you provide more details on this? First time I’ve heard it. One of the main things I like about this car is that I can rotate tires properly - front/back and side/side. Otherwise my left hand side tires are always wearing out before the rest.

I've been thinking about looking at a QuickJack, but have been a bit lazy lately... haven't researched which model QJ would be appropriate for a Model 3.

Any help?

5000SLX will be a bit short - about 1” - but will work fine without any negative consequences. Bunch of guys here are using it. 5000EXT will fit “properly” but that won’t fit a Miata, which I’m likely to own again someday. 7000 variants of each will likely work as well?

 

[LionXng]

I have the pads for the jacking points and the torque wrench but not sure if its possible to rotate the tires using a single jack.
Let me know how you guys that do it yourself accomplish this. Thanks

The mobile ranger who did my rotation used a single jack. Looked like the rear jack point and it lifted both wheels on one side enough for him to swap them.

 

[MXLRplus]

re: radial rotation -


Could you provide more details on this? First time I’ve heard it. One of the main things I like about this car is that I can rotate tires properly - front/back and side/side.

Maintaining rotation was true when radial tires were first introduced due to ply separation issues. It is no longer an issue except on racing tires and directional tires.

Rotating directional tires 'backwards' can increase the risk of hydroplaning, increase noise, and accelerate wear.

 

[Sunshine State]

Could you provide more details on this? First time I’ve heard it. One of the main things I like about this car is that I can rotate tires properly - front/back and side/side. Otherwise my left hand side tires are always wearing out before the rest.

I learned it in automotive school before getting ASE certified and working at one of our family dealerships. In the past x pattern rotation wasn’t recommended due to early radial tire construction limitations (shortly after bias ply tire phaseout). Today the main reason to only rotate on the same side is if a tire has irregular wear (not normal wear) patterns reversing the tire it can cause exaggerated wear. Tire rotation isn’t a correction for improper alignment wear problems and those tire wear issues can only be corrected by alignment. If tracking a car and the wear is simply from extreme loading then cross rotation may be a good solution if the tire design and sizing allows.

 

[mspohr]

I've been thinking about looking at a QuickJack, but have been a bit lazy lately... haven't researched which model QJ would be appropriate for a Model 3.

Any help?

I found it was cheaper to just buy a second jack (>$100 at Harbor Freight) than those specialty jack stands.

 

[Phlier]

I found it was cheaper to just buy a second jack (>$100 at Harbor Freight) than those specialty jack stands.

I already have a full set of four jack stands. I have other uses for the car lift than just rotating tires.

 

[texas_star_TM3]

Did not know the car was that stiff that both sides came up.
Those Tesla Jacks look interesting but seems cheaper just to buy another jack.

lol. ANY modern car does that.... otherwise you'd have cracked windshields and whatnot...

 

[EnrgyNDpndnce]

I use a jack on the rear Jack point and place a jack stand with pad under the front just to be sure. Also use wheel chocks on the side not being lifted. Rotate same side F to B and B to F, then rinse and repeat on the other side. I drive a lot so I rotate every 10k miles and this has worked well for me for my first 100k miles.

 

[MarsOrBust]

lol. ANY modern car does that.... otherwise you'd have cracked windshields and whatnot...

My Honda Accord and my Grand Jeep does not do that, guess thats not included in the ANY?
P.S. Not once window cracked.

 

[android04]

If you have no jacks or jack stands yet, just buy one of this jack/stand combo https://smile.amazon.com/Powerbuilt-620479E-Profile-Floor-Safety/dp/B00OCIBPIM/

It has a safety bar built in that serves as a jack stand, with 2 locking positions at 9.5" and 14.5".