maintenance
Tire Rotation
for 2017 Ford F-150 3.5L V6 EcoBoost · RWD
Editorial review:Chris Hackleman — Master Technician · 20+ years · Jeff Moore — Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years
Difficulty
Easy
Time
24 min
Tools
7
Steps
9
✓Expert-verified. Personally reviewed and approved by OLP's master technicians (Chris Hackleman & Jeff Moore — 20+ years each). Always follow the vehicle's factory service information and torque specs.
This procedure rotates the tires on a 2015-2020 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine to promote even tire wear and extend tire life.
Warnings
⚠️Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Always use properly rated jack stands on a level, solid surface.
⚠Ensure parking brake is engaged and transmission is in Park before lifting vehicle.
ℹ️Check owner's manual for correct tire rotation pattern. Standard RWD pattern is forward cross: rear tires move straight forward, front tires cross to opposite rear positions.
Tools required
Floor jack (3-ton minimum)Essential
Jack stands (4 required, rated for vehicle weight)Essential
Torque wrench (50-200 lb-ft range)Essential
Lug wrench or 21mm deep socketEssential
Tire pressure gaugeEssential
Wheel chocksEssential
Tire chalk or masking tape for marking
Preparation
- Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
- Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels if lifting front first, or front wheels if lifting rear first
- Mark each tire position (LF, RF, LR, RR) with chalk or tape before removal to track rotation
- Loosen all lug nuts approximately 1/2 turn while vehicle is still on the ground - do not remove yet
- Verify you have the correct tire rotation pattern for your vehicle configuration (RWD forward cross pattern)
Procedure
- 1Lift and secure front of vehiclePosition floor jack under the front jacking point at the center of the front crossmember. Lift the front of the vehicle until both front wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under the front frame rail jacking points on both sides. Lower vehicle onto jack stands and verify stability before proceeding.
- 2Remove front wheelsFinish removing the loosened lug nuts from both front wheels, keeping left and right sets separate. Remove both front wheels and set aside in a clean area, maintaining left/right identification.
- 3Lift and secure rear of vehiclePosition floor jack under the rear differential housing or rear axle tube. Lift the rear of the vehicle until both rear wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under the rear frame rail jacking points on both sides. Lower vehicle onto jack stands and verify all four corners are securely supported.
- 4Remove rear wheelsFinish removing the loosened lug nuts from both rear wheels, keeping left and right sets separate. Remove both rear wheels and set aside, maintaining left/right identification.
- 5Inspect tires and brake componentsWith all wheels removed, inspect each tire for irregular wear patterns, cuts, bulges, or embedded objects. Check tread depth across all tires to ensure they meet minimum requirements (2/32 inch minimum, 4/32 inch recommended). Visually inspect brake pads, rotors, and brake lines for wear or damage while accessible.
- 6Rotate tires to new positionsFor RWD F-150, use forward cross pattern: move rear tires straight forward to front positions (left rear to left front, right rear to right front). Move front tires diagonally to opposite rear positions (left front to right rear, right front to left rear). Ensure directional tires maintain correct rotation direction if applicable.
- 7Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nutsMount each tire in its new position. Thread all lug nuts by hand to ensure proper thread engagement. Hand-tighten in a star/cross pattern to seat the wheel evenly against the hub. Do not torque yet.
- 8Lower vehicle and perform final torqueRaise vehicle slightly with floor jack to remove weight from jack stands. Remove all four jack stands. Carefully lower vehicle completely to the ground. Using a torque wrench, torque lug nuts to specification based on wheel type (130 Nm/96 lb-ft for alloy wheels, 140 Nm/103 lb-ft for steel wheels) in a star pattern. Go around twice to ensure even torque distribution.Torque specLug Nuts - Alloy Wheels130 Nm (96 lb-ft)Lug Nuts - Steel Wheels140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
- 9Verify tire pressuresCheck and adjust tire pressure on all four tires to the specifications listed on the driver's door jamb placard. Tires should be cold for accurate readings. Front and rear pressures may differ based on load rating.
Reassembly
- Install center caps on wheels if removed during the procedure
- Clean wheel lug nut surfaces of any debris or corrosion to ensure accurate torque readings
Verification
- Verify all lug nuts are properly torqued in star pattern using torque wrench
- Recheck lug nut torque after driving 50 miles if vehicle has alloy wheels
- Test drive vehicle at low speed and listen for any unusual vibrations or noises
- Confirm all tire pressures match door jamb specifications
- Document rotation mileage for maintenance records and plan next rotation in 5,000-7,500 miles