Jeep 5 Tire Rotation: A Step by Step Guide

You can rotate all 5 tires of your jeep by following the forward cross for FWD or rearward cross for AWD and RWD. 5 tire rotation includes the spare tire as well. It is done when the spare tire that is available has the same size as the other tires. Tire rotation can improve the life expectancy of your tires by about 20%. Jeep 5 tire rotation will cost you from $35 to $85. You can do Jeep 5 tire rotation with directional tires as well.

Are you still confused about how to perform a Jeep 5 Tire Rotation? Read this article to clear all your confusion.

How Do I Perform Jeep 5 Tire Rotation?

You can rotate your tires by following these steps:

Tools required:

1. A Car Jack
2. 4 Car Stands
3. A Lug Wrench
4. Pair of Work Gloves

Safety Precaution:

1. Firstly, park the car on level ground and then engage the emergency brake.
2. If your car has a manual transmission, put it on first gear.
3. Wear thick work gloves to avoid injury.
4. Do not completely unscrew the lug nuts in Step 1
5. After replacing the wheel, always tighten the lug nuts by applying manufacturer’s recommended torque.
6. These patterns are only for same sized non-directional tires.

Jeep 5 Forward Cross Tire Rotation

Source: Priority Tires

I will describe the forward cross method here in brief. In this section, I will also give you a step-by-step guide in case you need a little more help.

In the forward cross pattern, firstly, replace the rear right-hand side wheel with the spare wheel. Then, take the former rear right-hand side wheel and mount it in place of the front driver-side wheel. After that, replace the rear left-hand side wheel with the wheel that was previously mounted on the driver’s side.

Subsequently, take the former rear left-hand side wheel and mount it on the passenger side front wheel. The former passenger-side front wheel is now the new spare wheel.

This pattern is generally used to rotate all 5 tires of FWD vehicles. So if you own an FWD Jeep, such as the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Renegade, Jeep Patriot, or a Jeep Compass, follow this method. 

But some of these models also come with other drivetrain configurations. So be sure to check the owner’s manual first. Your jeep may also come with a badge on the side that shows the configuration of your drivetrain.

When tightening the lug nuts, use the torque that is recommended by the manufacturer. You will find the recommended value of torque to be applied in the owner’s manual. Here are the recommended torque values for some popular Jeep models:

Model	Year	Recommended Lug Nut Torque(lb ft)
Cherokee	1984-1993	80
Cherokee	1994-2001	110
Cherokee	2014-2020	100
Compass	2007-2020	100
Patriot	2007-2017	100
Renegade	2015-2020	90

Now follow these 6 steps to rotate your tires:

Step 1: Loosen all the lug nuts of all 5 tires using a lug wrench. Don’t completely unscrew the nuts. You’ll need to do it later.

Step 2: Locate the jack points on your vehicle near the right-hand side rear wheel. They’re usually marked in your owner’s manual and on the car itself. If the manual is not available, look for a jacking point at the corner, near the rocker panel or frame rail. 

Place the jack under the jack point near the rear right-hand side wheel and pump the jack handle. Raise the car until the wheel is off the ground.

Step 3: Completely unscrew the lug nuts. Grab the wheel and pull it off. Place the removed wheel on the ground nearby. It will be needed in later steps.

Step 4: Put on the spare same-sized wheel as the replacement for the wheel you just removed. The spare tire must be the same size if you want to do a 5-tire rotation.

Step 5: Put in the lug nuts you removed in Step 3 and screw them in by hand.

You do not have to completely tighten them at this point. Just screw them in by hand.

Step 6: Pump the jack handle and slowly lower the car onto the ground.

Step 7: Tighten the lug nuts using A lug wrench. Follow the torque range recommended by your car’s manufacturer. 

Step 8: Similarly, replace the driver-side front wheel with the right-hand side rear wheel you removed in step 3.

Step 9: Afterwards, replace the left-hand side rear wheel with the wheel you removed in Step 8.

Step 10: Then replace the front right-hand side wheel with the wheel you removed in Step 9.

Step 11: Now, the old front right-hand side wheel, which you removed in Step 10, is the new spare.

Your five-tire rotation in the forward cross pattern is now complete.

Rearward Cross Tire Rotation

Source: Priority Tires

I will describe the rearward cross method here in short. In this section, I will also give you a step-by-step guide for this method if you get confused.

In the rearward cross pattern, firstly, replace the rear right-hand side wheel with the spare wheel. Then, take the former rear right-hand side wheel and mount it in place of the front passenger side wheel. After that, replace the rear left-hand side wheel with the wheel that was previously mounted on the front passenger’s side.

Subsequently, take the former rear left-hand side wheel and mount it on the driver’s side front wheel. The former driver’s side front wheel is now the new spare wheel.

This pattern is generally used to rotate all 5 tires of RWD, 4WD and AWD vehicles. So if you own a Jeep Grand Cherokee, Grand Cherokee WK, All-New Grand Cherokee 4xe, Wrangler 4xe, Cherokee, Patriot, Renegade, Jeep Compass, or a Jeep Wrangler use this pattern.

Speaking of Jeep Wrangler, go through this page if you’re unsure about ‘can you put 35 inch tires with A 3 Iinch lift on your Jeep Wrangler?’ 

Getting back to the previous discussion, even if you are using these models it could still have a FWD drivetrain configuration. Check the manual beforehand.

Always use the range of torque recommended by your manufacturer. You will find the recommendation in the owner’s manual. Here are the ranges of some common RWD and AWD Jeep models.

Model	Year	Recommended Lug Nut Torque(lb ft)
Gladiator	2020	130
Grand Cherokee	1992-2013	110
Grand Cherokee	2014-2018	130
Grand Cherokee	2018-2019	110
Grand Cherokee	2020	130
Grand Cherokee SRT	2020	110
Wrangler	1986-2006	110
Wrangler 4xe	2007-2016	95
Patriot	2007-2017	100

Now follow these 6 steps to rotate your tires:

Step 1: Follow steps 1 to 7 from the section on Forward Cross Pattern.

These steps are similar for both methods.

Step 2: Now, replace the right-hand side front wheel with the right-hand side rear wheel you removed in step 1.

Step 3: Afterwards, replace the left-hand side rear wheel with the wheel you removed in Step 2.

Step 4: Then replace the front left-hand side wheel with the wheel you removed in Step 3.

Step 5: The old front left-hand side wheel, which you removed in Step 4, is the new spare.

Your five-tire rotation in the rearward cross pattern is now complete.

Jeep 5 Tire Rotation With Directional Tires 

To do a Jeep 5 tire rotation with directional tires, you will first have to unmount 2 of them from your wheels. Then you have to rotate them while keeping the direction of the tires correct. 

Jeep 5 Tire Rotation With Directional Tires for RWD and 4WD Jeeps

As stated in earlier sections, for RWD and 4WD Jeeps you need to perform the rearward cross pattern. These are the steps for following the rearward cross method.

But for rearward cross patterns with directional tires, you need to unmount the right-hand side front tire and the spare wheel. Remount the tires after rotating the wheels.

Jeep 5 Tire Rotation With Directional Tires for FWD Jeeps

For FWD Jeeps, you need to follow the forward cross tire rotation pattern. Follow these steps for the forward cross method. For the forward cross pattern with directional tires, you need to first unmount the tires of the two rear wheels. After rotating the tires in the forward cross pattern remount the tires onto the wheels. Ensure that the tires are correctly oriented.

Jeep 5 tire Rotation Cost

Jeep tire rotation will cost you around $35 to 85$. Depending on the qualification of the mechanic, the cost may be as high as $120. If you have directional tires and want to do a 5-tire rotation, the cost will be much higher. This is because directional tires will need to be unmounted first.

Why Rotate The Tires of My Jeep?

You should rotate the tires of your jeep to reduce uneven wear. Uneven wear occurs due to uneven weight distribution, braking and faulty wheel alignment. Rotating tires will: improve the lifespan of your tires, increase traction, improve handling, decrease road noise and increase fuel economy.

If you’re curious about how much does a tire weigh, you’ll find the post helpful.

Why Rotate The Spare Tire of My Jeep?

You should rotate the spare tire of your jeep to improve the lifespan of all 5 tires. Tire rotation can improve the life of your tires by roughly 20%. 

Rotating your spare tire will also ensure that the drivetrain experiences less stress when you use your spare. If the spare has a much larger tread than the other tires, the drive train will suffer and may even break.

When Do I Rotate The Tires of My Jeep?

You should rotate the tires of your jeep every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. You may also check your owner’s manual to know your manufacturer’s recommended frequency of tire rotation. You could also rotate your Jeep tires if you see signs of uneven tread wear.

What Can I Check While Performing My Jeep Tire Rotation?

1. Treadwear: Check the tread wear on each tire to ensure that they are wearing evenly. Uneven tread wear can be a sign of alignment or suspension issues.

2. Tire pressure: Check the tire pressure on each tire, and adjust as necessary to match the recommended pressure listed on your vehicle’s tire placard or owner’s manual.

3. Tire damage: Inspect each tire for any signs of damage, such as cuts, punctures, or bulges. These can compromise the tire’s safety and performance.

4. Lug nuts: Check the tightness of each lug nut to ensure that they are properly torqued. Loose lug nuts can cause vibrations and potentially cause the wheel to come off.

5. Wheel bearings: While the wheels are off, you can also check the wheel bearings for any signs of wear or damage.

6. Brake pads: Inspect the brake pads for wear or damage, and replace as necessary.

7. Suspension components: Check the suspension components, including the shocks, struts, and ball joints, for any signs of wear or damage.

8. Steering components: Inspect the steering components, including the tie rods and steering linkage, for any signs of wear or damage.

9. Wheel balance: you could also check if your tires need wheel balancing. You may keep a spirit balancer in your garage for a quick check.

FAQs

Conclusion

Now you know how to do Jeep 5 Tire Rotation. If you have a matching spare with your Jeep, rotating out the spare tire can be a very good idea.

That is it for today. Hope you could rotate all 5 of  your tires easily. All the best and goodbye!