How to Rotate Tires on a Dually: A Comprehensive Guide

Rotating the tires on your dually truck is essential for maintaining even tread wear, maximizing tire lifespan, and ensuring a smoother ride. This guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, providing you with the knowledge and confidence to tackle this important maintenance task yourself.

Why Rotate Tires on a Dually?

Dually trucks, with their extra rear wheels, experience unique tire wear patterns. The dual tires on the rear axle often wear differently than the single tires on the front, leading to uneven wear. Rotating your tires helps to distribute the wear more evenly, prolonging their lifespan and improving overall performance.

The Different Rotation Patterns for Dually Trucks

There are two common rotation patterns for dually trucks:

1. X-Pattern Rotation

This pattern involves moving the front tires to the rear, the rear duals to the front, and swapping the inner and outer rear tires. This pattern helps to equalize wear across all tires and is suitable for most dually trucks.

2. Front-to-Rear Rotation

This pattern only moves the front tires to the rear and the rear tires to the front, leaving the dual tires in their original positions. This method is less effective in distributing wear but is simpler to execute.

Steps to Rotate Tires on a Dually

1. Gather Your Tools

  • Jack: Ensure it’s rated for the weight of your truck.
  • Lug wrench: A sturdy lug wrench is essential for loosening and tightening lug nuts.
  • Torque wrench: A torque wrench helps ensure proper tightness of the lug nuts.
  • Chocks: Place chocks behind the front and rear wheels to prevent the truck from rolling.
  • Tire pressure gauge: Check the tire pressure before and after the rotation.

2. Prepare the Truck

  • Park on a level surface: This ensures stability and safety during the tire rotation.
  • Engage the parking brake: This further prevents the truck from moving.
  • Chock the wheels: Place chocks behind the front and rear wheels to prevent the truck from rolling during jacking.

3. Loosen the Lug Nuts

  • Use the lug wrench to loosen the lug nuts: Don’t remove them completely at this stage.
  • Loosen each lug nut by a half to a full turn: This allows you to lift the truck safely without the lug nuts spinning.

4. Jack Up the Truck

  • Position the jack under the designated jack point: Consult your owner’s manual for the correct jacking points on your truck.
  • Gradually lift the truck until the tire is off the ground: Ensure the truck is supported securely.

5. Remove the Tire

  • Remove the lug nuts completely: Now you can remove the tire.
  • Set the tire aside: Place the tire safely out of the way.

6. Install the New Tire

  • Place the new tire onto the hub: Ensure the tire is centered and seated properly.
  • Install the lug nuts: Hand-tighten them before using the torque wrench.

7. Lower the Truck

  • Lower the truck slowly: Make sure the tire touches the ground before fully lowering the truck.
  • Tighten the lug nuts: Use the torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts to the manufacturer’s specified torque.

8. Repeat for Other Tires

  • Follow the steps above for each tire: Remember to follow the chosen rotation pattern for your dually truck.

9. Check Tire Pressure

  • Use a tire pressure gauge to check the tire pressure: Adjust the pressure as necessary to match the manufacturer’s recommendations.

10. Test Drive

  • Take your truck for a short test drive: Ensure the tires are properly balanced and that there are no vibrations or unusual sounds.

Safety Precautions for Rotating Dually Tires

  • Never work under a truck that is not supported: Use a jack and jack stands to ensure the truck is safely supported.
  • Wear appropriate safety gear: Wear gloves and eye protection to avoid injury.
  • Be aware of your surroundings: Ensure the area around the truck is clear before lifting it.
  • Use proper lifting techniques: Never lift or move tires or wheels alone.

Conclusion

Knowing how to rotate tires on a dually is an important maintenance skill that can help you keep your truck running smoothly and efficiently. By following these steps and taking necessary safety precautions, you can confidently perform tire rotations yourself. Remember to check your owner’s manual for specific instructions and recommended rotation patterns for your truck model.

Article By Fr4nk