maintenance
Tire Rotation
for 2024 Tesla Model X Long Range Dual Motor AWD · AWD
Difficulty
Easy
Time
18 min
Tools
9
Steps
9
Five-tire rotation on a 2024 Model X Long Range AWD. Tesla recommends rotation every 6,250 miles due to instant torque and curb weight; uneven wear is common, especially on staggered-fitment performance setups (verify your wheels are non-directional and same size front/rear before rotating).
Warnings
⚠Model X is heavy (~5,400+ lb). Use a jack and stands rated accordingly. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack.
⚠Lift only at the manufacturer-specified jack points. The HV battery floor pan runs nearly the full length of the vehicle — lifting in the wrong location can puncture the pack or crush battery modules.
⚠Falcon doors have ultrasonic/capacitive sensors along the upper edges. Avoid raising the vehicle in tight quarters where an opening door could strike a lift, ceiling, or stand.
ℹ️Verify wheel/tire fitment before rotating. Some Model X trims ship with staggered front/rear sizing or directional tires — these CANNOT be cross-rotated.
ℹ️Aluminum body and forged/cast wheels — do not strike with steel hammer. Use a dead-blow if a wheel is stuck to the hub.
Tools required
Floor jack rated for EV curb weight (5500+ lb)Essential
Jack pads compatible with Tesla pinch-weld lift points (puck-style)Essential
Jack stands (4), 3-ton minimumEssential
21mm socket for lug nutsEssential
Calibrated torque wrench (range covering 130 Nm)Essential
Breaker bar
Tire tread depth gauge
Tire pressure gaugeEssential
Anti-seize-free wire brush (for hub face cleaning)
Parts
- Lug nut covers (aero/decorative) — replace if damaged on removal × 4 — Tesla Model X aero lug cover
Preparation
- Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
- 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.
- Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (located in the frunk on Model X — refer to Tesla Service Manual for the current frunk access procedure on 2024 vehicles, as manual frunk release routing differs from earlier years).
- DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
- 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.
- In the touchscreen (before disconnecting 12V), enable Jack Mode / Service Mode if available on your firmware. This disables air suspension self-leveling so the vehicle does not fight the jack. On 2024 Model X, this is found under Controls > Service > Jack Mode.
- Confirm tires are non-directional and same size at all four corners. If staggered or directional, STOP — rotation pattern must be modified or skipped.
- Mark each tire's original position (e.g. LF, RF, LR, RR) with chalk before removal.
Procedure
- 1Engage Jack Mode and break lug nuts looseWith the vehicle still on the ground, use a 21mm socket and breaker bar to break each lug nut loose by approximately 1/4 turn. Do not fully remove. If aero covers are present, pull them off first using the manufacturer-specified plastic pry tool to avoid scratching.
- 2Lift the vehicle at factory jack pointsPosition a jack pad at the manufacturer-specified front or rear lift point. Raise one end of the vehicle and place jack stands at the corresponding factory lift points. Repeat for the opposite end so all four wheels are off the ground. Confirm the vehicle is stable before continuing.⚠️Lifting at any point other than the designated jack points risks puncturing the HV battery enclosure floor — which can cause thermal runaway.
- 3Remove all four wheelsFully remove lug nuts and pull each wheel straight off the hub. If a wheel is stuck due to corrosion at the hub-centric ring, tap the inside of the tire (not the wheel face) with a dead-blow hammer. Set wheels down face-up to protect finish.
- 4Inspect tires and brake componentsMeasure tread depth at inner, center, and outer ribs of each tire. Note any uneven wear (inner-edge wear is common on Model X due to negative camber and weight). Inspect brake pads, rotor surface, and check for any leaking shock or air strut at each corner — Model X air suspension struts are a known wear item.ℹ️If inner-edge wear exceeds outer-edge wear by more than ~2/32", recommend an alignment after rotation — rotating worn tires alone won't correct the cause.
- 5Clean hub mating surfacesUse a wire brush to remove rust or debris from the wheel hub face and the centering bore. A clean, flat mating surface is required to prevent lug nuts from loosening and to avoid brake rotor runout.
- 6Rotate tires per patternFor non-directional, same-size tires on AWD: use the rearward cross pattern — rear tires move straight forward to the front; front tires cross to the opposite rear (LF→RR, RF→LR). If a non-directional full-size spare is in the rotation, follow the manufacturer-specified 5-tire pattern instead.
- 7Mount wheels and hand-snug lug nutsLift each wheel onto the hub, ensuring it seats fully on the hub-centric pilot. Thread all lug nuts by hand to avoid cross-threading, then snug them in a star pattern. Do not final-torque while the wheel is off the ground.⚠Do not apply anti-seize, oil, or grease to lug studs or seats. Tesla torque specs assume dry threads; lubricated threads will over-clamp and can yield the stud.
- 8Lower vehicle and final-torque lug nutsLower the vehicle so tires just contact the ground (still partially supported). Using a calibrated torque wrench, torque each lug nut to spec in a star pattern. Repeat the star pattern a second time to confirm. Fully lower the vehicle and remove jack stands.⚠️CRITICAL: Under-torqued lugs can back out and cause wheel separation. Over-torqued lugs can stretch studs and fail later. Use a calibrated torque wrench, not an impact.Torque specLug Nuts - Alloy Wheels130 Nm (96 lb-ft)
- 9Set tire pressuresSet all tires to the cold pressure listed on the door-jamb placard (typically 42–45 psi on Model X depending on wheel size and load — verify the placard for your specific vehicle). Reinstall valve caps and any aero covers removed earlier.
Reassembly
- Reconnect the 12V battery in the frunk. Close the frunk fully.
- Power the vehicle on. Exit Jack Mode / Service Mode via the touchscreen so air suspension resumes normal operation.
- Allow the air suspension to self-level — observe that all four corners settle to the same ride height.
- Reset the TPMS / tire learn via the touchscreen if your firmware requires it (Controls > Service > Tire Configuration). Sensors are auto-locating on 2024 Model X but may take a short drive to re-pair to corner positions.
Verification
- After driving 50 miles, recheck lug nut torque to spec in a star pattern — this is a CRITICAL re-torque, especially on alloy wheels which can settle.
- Confirm no TPMS warnings on the touchscreen and that each corner reports a plausible pressure within a few minutes of driving.
- Verify air suspension levels equally at all four corners; uneven settling can indicate a strut was disturbed or has a pre-existing leak.
- Verify no vibration through the steering wheel between 50–75 mph — if present, suspect an unbalanced wheel or a hub face that wasn't fully cleaned.
- Log the rotation in your service records. Tesla recommends tire rotation every 6,250 miles on Model X due to the vehicle's weight and instant torque; schedule the next rotation accordingly.
- While you're at it, check service intervals you may be due for: brake fluid (every 2 years), cabin air filter (every 2 years, or 3 years if HEPA/Bioweapon Defense equipped), and drive unit gear oil (Tesla now recommends inspection at 12,500 mi then every 25,000–50,000 mi — not 'lifetime').