What jack should I use for tire rotations?

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Just curious what longevity does a 5 tire rotation create?

Impossible to answer. Because it depends on each person's usage. Closest possible answer is: most likely longer than rotating between just 4 tires. Having full size spare comes with other benefits. As with everything else, it comes with disadvantages too (cost and additional weight). You pick your poison and make the best of it.

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[teartags]

It's a reasonable question. I use two HF floor jacks and lift from right front and left rear, to a point high enough to place the jack stands in the other locations.

Yeah, but.... if you have to jack it up in a very specific location with one of your jack pucks, how do move quick enough to swap the jack and the stand in that very specific spot?!?
Thanks for asking this question. I've been wondering too and I'm VERY mechanically inclined. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to rotate my own tires....

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I respect a man that likes extreme risks....

/jk ?

.....I then use the floor jacks in the other locations with my beautiful Rivian Yellow Magnetic Jack Pucks

Bottle Jack Tire Change (even more no risk-it, no biscuit)

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

Yeah, but.... if you have to jack it up in a very specific location with one of your jack pucks, how do move quick enough to swap the jack and the stand in that very specific spot?!?
Thanks for asking this question. I've been wondering too and I'm VERY mechanically inclined. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to rotate my own tires....

I have Bottle Jacks in the other two locations already in place for support.....

 

[SparkyR1t]

Wow, this is nice but pricey.

Just had mobile service out and to lift one side of the truck at rear they use the jack stand with a 3t jack to raise and position the stand and then just the jack with the height extension at the front. We learned if you have running boards you will need at least one additional puck to get needed clearance at the jack stand location

 

[teartags]

I have Bottle Jacks in the other two locations already in place for support.....

That still doesn't explain it, but ok.

 

[Grabs10]

This is what I use. Works great. Rated for just enough to do the job. Prefer to do it myself cause then I know it’s done correctly. I’ve just seen tire people mess up to much stuff. Can also drink beer while doing it and not have to worry about getting a dui if I had a rotation at a tire store

 

[SparkyR1t]

It's a reasonable question. I use two HF floor jacks and lift from right front and left rear, to a point high enough to place the jack stands in the other locations.

Rivian uses this expensive take apart jack stand that it raised into position by a 3 t jack and the you set the pins into the height holes n the stand legs and remove the jack from under the stand

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

That still doesn't explain it, but ok.

Someone had asked if anyone had used a jack stand, because most jack stands didn't have a flat top to put a puck on, so I sourced some. * My standard change is two floor jacks and two bottle, jacks, but I wanted to test the jack stand method, which I used the procedure below.

1. I use the two floor jacks to lift the entire R1 off the ground (wheels still on, lugs loosened). 2. I then place the jack stands in the two open positions (not secured to chassis yet, but close) with jack pucks in place.
3. I slowly lower the vehicle until support from jack stands is there
4. Option A: Leave floor jacks in place (as support) and rotate the tires.
Option B: Replace floor jack with bottle jacks and pucks (as support) and rotate.

 

[beyondgravity]

I wonder what people charge for rotations in various areas. Here, for my R1T, they charge $35 for a rotation.

People are always linking those $300+ jacks, you need 2 I think to do it well (they use 2 on my R1T), then a torque wrench, etc. I have a torque wrench now (thanks to my running boards) but not the jacks. $600 in jacks is 17 rotations which is 85,000 miles of driving just to break even. And it would take me longer to do the rotation than the shop does.

Perhaps people like doing this sort of thing but it doesnt make sense to me.

I agree with you. I do love to do it; but, for me, it is easier to schedule around my Costco shopping time and get it done.

 

[teartags]

Someone had asked if anyone had used a jack stand, because most jack stands didn't have a flat top to put a puck on, so I sourced some. * My standard change is two floor jacks and two bottle, jacks, but I wanted to test the jack stand method, which I used the procedure below.

1. I use the two floor jacks to lift the entire R1 off the ground (wheels still on, lugs loosened). 2. I then place the jack stands in the two open positions (not secured to chassis yet, but close) with jack pucks in place.
3. I slowly lower the vehicle until support from jack stands is there
4. Option A: Leave floor jacks in place (as support) and rotate the tires.
Option B: Replace floor jack with bottle jacks and pucks (as support) and rotate.

OK, so you're jacking it up from a different location than the 4 jack puck points it seems. I figured that must be the case.

 

[Fmc]

This is what I use. Works great. Rated for just enough to do the job. Prefer to do it myself cause then I know it’s done correctly. I’ve just seen tire people mess up to much stuff. Can also drink beer while doing it and not have to worry about getting a dui if I had a rotation at a tire store

Can you provide a link to this?

 

[R1Thor]

Just curious what longevity does a 5 tire rotation create?

Not just longevity bias, but another thing to consider: on *typical* vehicles that use differentials and transfer cases, having tires that are more than 2-3/32" difference in treadwear causes wear and potentially failure if used for an extended period of time (the difference in speed and ergo power requirements to achieve the same amount of work from side to side). So, if you had a tire go on an AWD vehicle, historically, the spare was VERY temporary (they really mean it when they say 50 miles max range at 50 mph) and if you had one tire unrepairable for any real reason that wasn't almost brand new, you were replacing all 4 so you could start 'fresh' with even wear. (I can speak to this from experience, unfortunately...)

I've no clue if Rivian does compensate for differential OD due to tire wear (I'm sure they can IF they're looking for it).

Point being: making sure to rotate 'in' your 5th tire means you won't have an 'emergency' in the future where you're swapping in your spare, but then are increasing risk that this isn't compensated for and then puts undue stress on the drivetrain. In other words: if I had a flat today, and swapped in my 5th (spare), I wouldn't have to rush to get my flat patched so I could put it back into service. I could leave the 5th wheel on, as it's already being rotated in and will (theoretically) maintain the same amount of wear as the rest of the wheels and tires.

Notwithstanding, tires do eventually 'go bad' from sitting idly, so you're going to have to replace that tire eventually anyway. Though, whoever really thought to and bothered to replace their spare tire?

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Rivian uses this expensive take apart jack stand that it raised into position by a 3 t jack and the you set the pins into the height holes n the stand legs and remove the jack from under the stand

It's made by Rennstand. Where it is different from other other offerings is that this one has the puck adapter built-in. Cost more than a jack. Might as well buy a second jack. However, this is less likely to drop unintentionally.

 

[SlaterGS]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned this yet. I haven't used it yet but others have mentioned it on the forum and it seems like a good solution at a good price unless someone can say why it would not work?
Powerbuilt 3 Ton, Bottle Jack and Jack Stands

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