Five-tire rotation on a 2024 Model S Long Range AWD. Tesla recommends rotating every 6,250 miles due to instant torque and vehicle weight (~4,800 lb) accelerating tread wear, especially on staggered-capable 21" setups.

Warnings

Tools required

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 located in the front trunk (frunk) under the nose cowl panel before lifting (per Tesla service practice when the vehicle will be off the ground).
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. On the touchscreen (before disconnecting 12V if applicable), enable Controls > Service > Jack Mode to disable air suspension self-leveling (Performance/Plaid trims).
7. Inspect each tire's sidewall to confirm size and directional arrows. Note the current position of each wheel (LF, RF, LR, RR) with chalk or tape.
8. Check tire pressures cold and record values; the door-jamb placard pressures will be re-set after rotation.
9. Verify wheel type (alloy vs. steel) to select the correct lug torque spec.

Procedure

1. 1

   Loosen lug nuts on the ground
   With the vehicle still on the ground, break each lug nut loose approximately 1/4 turn using a 21mm socket. Do not remove. This prevents the wheel from spinning when lifted.
2. 2

   Install jack pad adapters
   Locate the four reinforced lift points on the underside of the rocker (marked by small triangles or pucks on the battery enclosure edge). Insert a Tesla-style hockey puck jack pad adapter at each lift point you will use. Never lift directly on the battery pan or pinch weld.
   ⚠Lifting on the aluminum rocker without a puck WILL deform it. Body repair on Model S aluminum requires specialty rivet/bonding tools and is extremely expensive.
3. 3

   Lift one corner / one side at a time
   Raise one corner (or side) using the floor jack at the puck point until the tire clears the ground, then transfer the load to a properly rated jack stand placed at the same puck location or the adjacent factory lift point. Repeat as needed to lift opposing corners for a front-to-rear rotation.
   ⚠️Never work under the vehicle supported only by a hydraulic jack.
4. 4

   Remove wheels
   Fully remove the lug nuts and pull each wheel straight off the hub. Set wheels face-down on a clean surface to protect the finish. Note original position with chalk.
5. 5

   Inspect tires and brakes
   Measure tread depth at inner, center, and outer ribs on each tire. Note any uneven wear (cupping, inner-edge wear common on Model S due to alignment drift and weight). Visually inspect rotors and pad thickness through the caliper. Record findings — this is a good opportunity since wheels are off.
   ℹ️Heavy inner-edge wear on a Model S is typically a camber/toe issue — recommend an alignment if wear exceeds 2/32" difference inner-to-outer.
6. 6

   Determine rotation pattern
   For non-directional, non-staggered tires (typical 19" Tempest or matched 21" setups on Long Range): use a rearward cross pattern — rear tires move straight to the front on the same side; front tires cross to the opposite-side rear. For directional tires: front-to-rear on the same side only. For staggered (different front/rear sizes): rotation across the axle is not possible; do not rotate or only side-to-side per tire manufacturer guidance.
7. 7

   Clean hub mating surface
   Wire-brush or wipe the hub face and wheel center bore to remove rust scale or brake dust. A clean mating surface prevents lug nuts from loosening and prevents wheel-to-hub corrosion seizure (a common Model S problem in salt regions).
8. 8

   Mount wheels in new positions
   Hang each wheel on the hub, ensuring it seats flush on the hub face. Hand-thread all lug nuts at least 3-4 turns before applying any tool — this prevents cross-threading the aluminum-friendly studs.
9. 9

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

    Lower vehicle and final torque
    Lower the vehicle until the tires bear full weight. Using a calibrated torque wrench, torque each lug nut in a star pattern to the manufacturer specification for the wheel type installed. For alloy wheels: 130 Nm (96 lb-ft). For steel wheels (rare on Model S): 140 Nm (103 lb-ft). If unsure of wheel type, use the general Tesla wheel lug spec of 136 Nm (100 lb-ft) per the verified data, but verify against wheel documentation.
    ⚠Do NOT use an impact gun for final torque. Tesla aluminum wheels are easily over-torqued, which can stretch studs and warp rotors.
    Torque spec

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

    Lug Nuts - Steel Wheels140 Nm (103 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Set tire pressures
    Adjust each tire to the cold pressure listed on the driver's door-jamb placard (typically 42 psi front and rear on most 2024 Model S Long Range fitments — verify on the placard for the specific wheel/tire size on this vehicle).

Reassembly

1. Remove jack pad adapters and store them.
2. Reconnect the 12V battery in the frunk; reinstall the cowl panel.
3. Exit Jack Mode by driving above ~4 mph (air suspension trims) — the system will resume auto-leveling automatically.
4. Allow the touchscreen to fully boot; verify no error messages appear regarding suspension or TPMS.

Verification

• Drive the vehicle at low speed in a safe area and confirm no vibration, pulling, or unusual noise.
• After a short drive, verify TPMS sensor IDs auto-relearn (Tesla uses auto-locating TPMS — no manual relearn required, but each sensor's position should update within ~10 minutes of driving). Confirm correct PSI per corner displays on Controls > Service > Tire Pressure.
• Re-torque all lug nuts in a star pattern to the wheel-type specification after approximately 50 miles — this is critical and is called out in Tesla's owner documentation.
• Note the next tire rotation interval: every 6,250 miles per Tesla's recommendation, or sooner if a tread-depth differential of 2/32" or greater develops between any two tires.
• While wheels were off, if pad thickness was below ~3 mm or rotors showed heavy lipping, schedule brake service. Also note that brake fluid is due every 2 years on this vehicle — check service records.
• Record mileage and date of rotation in the service log.

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