This procedure rotates all four tires on a 2015 Kia Forte to promote even tire wear and extend tire life. The standard rotation pattern moves front tires to rear and rear tires to front on opposite sides.

Warnings

Tools required

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid ground and engage parking brake firmly
2. Place transmission in Park (automatic) or 1st gear (manual)
3. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels before lifting front
4. Mark each tire's current position using tire marker (LF, RF, LR, RR) to track rotation
5. Check tire tread depth on all tires - do not rotate if any tire is below 2/32 inch
6. Verify all tires are same size and type (non-directional) for standard rotation pattern

Procedure

1. 1

   Loosen all lug nuts
   With vehicle still on ground, loosen (but do not remove) all lug nuts on all four wheels approximately one full turn. This prevents wheels from spinning when vehicle is lifted.
2. 2

   Lift front of vehicle
   Position floor jack under front jacking point (reinforced area behind front center of vehicle). Lift front end until both front wheels are off ground. Immediately place jack stands under manufacturer-designated front jack points on frame rails. Lower vehicle onto jack stands.
3. 3

   Lift rear of vehicle
   Move wheel chocks to front wheels. Position floor jack under rear differential or rear subframe jacking point. Lift rear end until both rear wheels are off ground. Place jack stands under rear frame rail jack points. Lower vehicle onto jack stands. Verify all four corners are stable before proceeding.
4. 4

   Remove all four wheels
   Fully remove all lug nuts from all four wheels and set aside in organized groups (keep front and rear separate if wheel types differ). Remove all four wheels and place them near their marked positions to maintain tracking.
5. 5

   Inspect brake components and suspension
   With wheels removed, visually inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and suspension components for wear, damage, or leaks. Check for any loose or damaged components. Note any issues for future service but do not proceed if safety-critical damage is found.
6. 6

   Rotate tires using forward cross pattern
   For FWD vehicles with non-directional tires: Move left front tire to left rear position. Move right front tire to right rear position. Move left rear tire to right front position. Move right rear tire to left front position. This is the standard forward cross pattern for front-wheel drive vehicles.
7. 7

   Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts
   Mount each wheel in its new position, ensuring wheel is fully seated against hub. Install all lug nuts and hand-tighten in star pattern until wheel is snug against hub with no wobble. Do not fully torque yet.
8. 8

   Lower vehicle to ground
   Raise vehicle slightly with floor jack to unload jack stands. Remove all four jack stands. Carefully lower vehicle completely to ground. Rock vehicle gently side-to-side to settle suspension.
9. 9

   Torque lug nuts to specification
   Using torque wrench, tighten all lug nuts in star pattern (tighten opposite nuts in sequence) to proper specification based on wheel type. For alloy wheels: 130 Nm (96 lb-ft). For steel wheels: 140 Nm (103 lb-ft). Make at least two complete passes in star pattern to ensure even torque distribution.
   Torque spec

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

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

    Verify and document rotation
    Double-check that all lug nuts are properly torqued by making final pass with torque wrench. Record mileage and date of rotation for maintenance records. Remove wheel chocks and store all tools.

Reassembly

1. If alloy wheels were rotated, recheck lug nut torque after first 50 miles of driving as specified
2. Update vehicle maintenance log with rotation date and current mileage

Verification

• Test drive vehicle at low speed and verify no vibration or unusual noises from wheels
• Check that all lug nuts remain tight after torquing - attempt to tighten each one more to confirm proper torque
• Verify tire pressure is correct in all four tires (check door jamb sticker for specifications)
• Confirm no visual wobble when spinning each wheel by hand if possible
• For alloy wheels: Plan to recheck lug nut torque after 50 miles of driving

More procedures for this vehicle