Tire Rotation

Rotate all four tires on a 1992 Dodge Viper to promote even wear, following the appropriate rotation pattern for rear-wheel drive vehicles with directional or non-directional tires.

Warnings

Tools required

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, paved surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels
3. Verify whether tires are directional (arrows on sidewall indicating rotation direction) or non-directional to determine correct rotation pattern
4. Loosen all lug nuts on all four wheels approximately one full turn while vehicle is still on the ground—do not remove
5. Identify proper jacking points: front jacking point is on the front crossmember; rear jacking point is on the rear differential housing or designated lift points on the frame rails

Procedure

1. 1

   Raise front of vehicle
   Position floor jack under the front crossmember jacking point. Raise the front of the vehicle until both front wheels are off the ground. Immediately place jack stands under the front frame rails at the reinforced jacking points near each front wheel. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and verify stability before proceeding.
2. 2

   Raise rear of vehicle
   Position floor jack under the rear differential housing or rear crossmember jacking point. Raise the rear of the vehicle until both rear wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under the rear frame rails at the reinforced jacking points near each rear wheel. Lower the vehicle onto the jack stands and verify all four corners are stable.
3. 3

   Remove all four wheels
   Remove the lug nuts from all four wheels completely and set them aside in a clean area. Remove all four wheels from the vehicle. If marking wheels for tracking, use chalk to note original position (LF, RF, LR, RR) on the inner barrel or tire sidewall.
4. 4

   Inspect tires and brake components
   With wheels removed, inspect each tire for uneven wear patterns, damage, embedded objects, or sidewall bulges. Check tread depth across all tires—minimum safe tread depth is 2/32 inch. Visually inspect brake rotors for scoring or excessive wear, brake pads for remaining thickness, and check for any fluid leaks around wheel hubs or brake calipers.
5. 5

   Rotate tires per appropriate pattern
   IMPORTANT: The 1992 Viper uses staggered tire sizes (front and rear tires are different widths), so front-to-rear rotation is not possible. If tires are non-directional and same-size per axle, only a left-to-right swap on the same axle may be possible. If tires are directional or sizes differ across the vehicle, rotation cannot be performed—inspect and reinstall in original positions.ure directional tread arrows point forward in the direction of travel.
6. 6

   Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts
   Mount each wheel in its new position onto the hub. Thread all lug nuts by hand until seated against the wheel to avoid cross-threading. The 1992 Viper uses alloy wheels with 5 lug nuts per wheel. Hand-tighten all lug nuts on all four wheels before proceeding to torquing.
   Torque spec

   Lug Nuts - Alloy Wheels183 Nm (135 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Lower vehicle and torque lug nuts
   Raise the vehicle slightly with the floor jack to remove load from the jack stands. Remove all four jack stands. Carefully lower the vehicle completely to the ground. Using a torque wrench, tighten the lug nuts on each wheel to 135 Nm (100 lb-ft) in a star pattern (tighten opposite lug nuts in sequence, not adjacent ones). Go around the star pattern at least twice to ensure even seating and proper torque.
   Torque spec

   Lug Nuts - Alloy Wheels183 Nm (135 lb-ft)
8. 8

   Verify tire pressures
   Check and adjust tire pressure on all four tires to the specification listed on the driver's door jamb placard. Tire pressures for the 1992 Viper differ front to rear due to staggered tire sizes; consult the placard or factory service manual for exact front and rear cold pressures rather than assuming a single value. Adjust pressures as needed using an air compressor or by releasing air.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly was required beyond wheel removal

Verification

• Verify all lug nuts are torqued to 130 Nm (96 lb-ft) in a star pattern on all four wheels
• Verify tire pressures match door jamb specifications on all four tires
• Test drive the vehicle at low speed and listen for any unusual noises or vibrations that could indicate improper wheel installation
• Re-torque all lug nuts to specification after 50 miles of driving to ensure proper seating

More procedures for this vehicle