Rotate tires on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 4WD to promote even tire wear and extend tire life, following the recommended rotation pattern for this vehicle.

Warnings

Tools required

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels before beginning work
3. Verify tire rotation pattern: For 4WD F-150, use rearward cross pattern (front left to rear right, front right to rear left, rear left to front left, rear right to front right)
4. Mark tires with chalk to track their original positions (FL, FR, RL, RR)
5. Check that you have the correct lug nut torque specification for your wheel type (alloy vs steel)

Procedure

1. 1

   Loosen all lug nuts
   With vehicle still on the ground, loosen (but do not remove) all lug nuts on all four wheels approximately one full turn using the lug wrench or breaker bar. This prevents wheels from spinning when vehicle is raised.
2. 2

   Raise front of vehicle
   Position floor jack under front jacking point (center of front crossmember). Raise front of vehicle until wheels are off the ground. Immediately place jack stands under the front frame rails near the jacking points. Lower vehicle onto jack stands.
3. 3

   Raise rear of vehicle
   Position floor jack under rear axle housing near the differential. Raise rear of vehicle until wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under the rear frame rails or axle housing. Lower vehicle onto jack stands so all four wheels are suspended.
4. 4

   Remove all wheels
   Completely remove all lug nuts from all four wheels and set aside in groups to keep track of which wheel they came from. Remove all four wheels and lay them down flat in your work area, maintaining awareness of their original positions based on your chalk markings.
5. 5

   Inspect tires and wheels
   Before rotating, inspect each tire for uneven wear patterns, damage, cuts, bulges, or embedded objects. Check tread depth across all tires. Inspect wheel mounting surfaces for corrosion or damage. Address any issues before continuing with rotation.
6. 6

   Rotate tires to new positions
   Following the rearward cross pattern for 4WD: Move front left tire to rear right position, front right tire to rear left position, rear left tire to front left position, and rear right tire to front right position. Ensure tires are oriented correctly if they are directional tires.
7. 7

   Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts
   Mount each tire to its new position. Thread all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Hand-tighten all lug nuts in a star pattern to draw the wheel evenly against the hub. Ensure wheel is seated flush against the hub surface.
8. 8

   Lower vehicle to ground
   Raise vehicle slightly with floor jack to remove tension from jack stands. Remove all four jack stands. Carefully lower vehicle completely to the ground. Keep jack in place but with no weight on it.
9. 9

   Torque lug nuts to specification
   Using a torque wrench and working on one wheel at a time, torque all lug nuts in a star pattern (not in a circle). For alloy wheels, torque to 130 Nm (96 lb-ft). For steel wheels, torque to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft). Make multiple passes in the star pattern, gradually increasing torque until final specification is reached on all lug nuts.
   Torque spec

   Lug Nuts - Alloy Wheels130 Nm (96 lb-ft)

   Lug Nuts - Steel Wheels140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Verify torque and adjust tire pressures
    Go around to each wheel a second time and verify all lug nuts are torqued to specification. Check and adjust tire pressures to the recommended PSI shown on the driver door jamb sticker, as pressures may differ between front and rear on 4WD models.

Reassembly

1. Remove wheel chocks and store all tools
2. If alloy wheels are installed, note that lug nuts must be rechecked after 50 miles of driving

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and listen for any unusual noises or vibrations
• After 50 miles of driving (alloy wheels only), recheck lug nut torque to ensure they remain at proper specification
• Monitor tire wear patterns over the next few thousand miles to ensure rotation was successful in promoting even wear

More procedures for this vehicle