Tire Rotation

Five-tire rotation on a 2024 Model 3 Performance with staggered or square setup. Performance tires wear quickly due to instant torque and ~4,000 lb curb weight — Tesla recommends rotation every 6,250 miles.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Anti-seize compound (light application on hub face only, NOT on threads or seat) × 1 — generic nickel anti-seize

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery is NOT required for a tire rotation; however if you choose to do so for safety, the 2024 Model 3 12V/Li-ion battery is located behind the right rear seat back panel or under the rear floor depending on build — consult the in-car service manual for your specific VIN.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Enable Jack Mode on the touchscreen: Controls > Service > Jack Mode.
7. Record current tire pressures and tread depths at each corner before removal.
8. Identify tire configuration: confirm whether the vehicle has square (same size all four corners) or staggered (different front/rear) setup. Staggered setups can only be rotated side-to-side, not front-to-back.

Procedure

1. 1

   Break lug nuts loose on ground
   With wheels still on the ground, use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to break each lug nut loose by 1/4 turn. Do not remove. This prevents the wheel from spinning once lifted.
2. 2

   Locate Tesla jack points
   Identify the four manufacturer-specified jack pad locations on the underside of the vehicle. On the Model 3 these are reinforced pads in the rocker pinch-weld area. Place a hockey-puck style jack pad at each lift point to protect the underbody and avoid contact with the HV battery pack edge.
   ⚠️Lifting at any point other than the designated jack pads can damage the HV battery enclosure.
3. 3

   Lift vehicle and place on jack stands
   Lift one corner (or one side) at a time and transfer to jack stands rated for the vehicle weight. For a full rotation, all four corners must be safely supported. Never rely solely on the floor jack.
4. 4

   Remove all four wheels
   Fully unthread lug nuts and remove each wheel. Tesla wheels are hub-centric; pull straight off. If the wheel is stuck due to corrosion at the hub face, gently rock by hand or strike the tire (not the wheel) with a rubber mallet.
   ⚠Do not strike alloy wheels with a steel hammer — wheel damage and runout will result.
5. 5

   Inspect tires, brakes, and hardware
   With wheels off, inspect: tread depth (replace if <4/32 for Performance use, <2/32 minimum legal), uneven wear patterns indicating alignment issues, brake pad thickness through caliper opening, rotor surface condition, and any signs of fluid leaks at the caliper or hub. Note: regenerative braking means Tesla brakes wear slowly but rotors can rust — inspect rotor edges for scaling.
6. 6

   Clean hub mounting surfaces
   Wire-brush the hub face on each corner to remove rust and debris. A clean, flat mounting surface is critical — debris between the hub and wheel causes wheel runout and lug nut loosening. Apply a very light film of anti-seize to the hub center bore and hub face ONLY. Do NOT apply anti-seize to lug nut threads or the conical seat — this will alter torque-to-clamp-load and can cause over-clamping.
7. 7

   Determine and execute rotation pattern
   For square (non-directional) setup: front-to-back swap on the same side, OR X-pattern (cross) — verify tire sidewall does not show a directional arrow. For directional tires: same-side front-to-back only. For staggered setup (different front/rear sizes on Performance with 20" Warp wheels): side-to-side swap only on each axle, or do not rotate. Confirm tire size markings before proceeding.
   ⚠Rotating directional tires across the vehicle reverses their rotation and degrades wet performance and tread life.
8. 8

   Mount wheels and hand-thread lug nuts
   Mount each wheel onto its new position. Hand-thread all five lug nuts to seat the wheel flush against the hub. Never use an impact to seat a wheel.
9. 9

   Snug lug nuts in star pattern
   With wheel still off the ground (or just touching), snug each lug nut in a star (cross) pattern to approximately 30-40 Nm to evenly seat the wheel against the hub.
10. 10

    Lower vehicle and final torque
    Lower the vehicle so tires bear weight (but not full weight if possible — partial contact prevents wheel rotation while torquing). Final-torque all lug nuts to the alloy wheel specification in a star pattern using a calibrated torque wrench. The 2024 Model 3 Performance uses alloy wheels.
    ⚠️Do not use an impact wrench for final torque. Wheel separation is a known failure mode when lug nuts are over- or under-torqued.
    Torque spec

    Lug Nuts - Alloy Wheels130 Nm (96 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Set tire pressures
    Set cold tire pressures to the values printed on the driver-side B-pillar placard for the 2024 Model 3 Performance. Pressures may differ front-to-rear on staggered setups. Verify each corner with a calibrated gauge.
12. 12

    Exit Jack Mode
    On the touchscreen, exit Jack Mode (Controls > Service). The vehicle will return to normal driving mode.

Reassembly

1. Confirm all four wheels fully torqued in star pattern to alloy wheel spec.
2. Confirm Jack Mode disabled.
3. Stow tools and remove jack stands from work area.
4. Reset TPMS learning if pressures or sensor positions changed — the Model 3 typically auto-relearns within 10-20 minutes of driving above 15 mph; no scan tool required.

Verification

• Drive a short test loop (5-10 minutes above 25 mph). Listen for any clunking or vibration that would indicate an unseated wheel or unbalanced tire.
• Confirm TPMS pressures display correctly on the touchscreen for all four corners after the drive.
• RECHECK lug nut torque after 50 miles of driving — this is critical and listed on the verified torque spec. Re-verify all 20 lug nuts to alloy wheel spec in star pattern.
• Log the rotation mileage. Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6,250 miles on Model 3 Performance due to instant torque and vehicle weight accelerating tire wear.
• While the wheels are off is also a good opportunity to note: brake fluid service is due every 2 years regardless of mileage, and cabin air filter every 2 years — check service history if approaching those intervals.

More procedures for this vehicle