This procedure rotates the tires on a 2019-2024 Toyota RAV4 FWD to promote even tire wear and extend tire life.

Warnings

Tools required

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level, solid surface and engage parking brake
2. Place wheel chocks behind rear wheels to prevent rolling
3. If wheels have center caps, remove them before loosening lug nuts
4. Optional: Mark tire positions with chalk (LF, RF, LR, RR) to track rotation pattern

Procedure

1. 1

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

   Raise front of vehicle
   Position floor jack under the front center jacking point and raise the front of the vehicle until both front wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under the front jacking points on each side, then lower vehicle onto jack stands. Verify stability before proceeding.
   ⚠️Confirm jack stands are properly seated and vehicle is stable before working underneath or removing wheels.
3. 3

   Raise rear of vehicle
   Position floor jack under the rear center jacking point and raise the rear of the vehicle until both rear wheels are off the ground. Place jack stands under the rear jacking points on each side, then lower vehicle onto jack stands. All four wheels should now be elevated.
   ⚠️Double-check all four jack stands are secure and vehicle is level before removing any wheels.
4. 4

   Remove all four wheels
   Completely remove the lug nuts from all four wheels and set them aside in a clean location. Remove all four wheels and place them in their current position order (front-left, front-right, rear-left, rear-right) for reference.
5. 5

   Rotate tires in forward cross pattern
   For FWD RAV4, use the forward cross pattern: Move left front to left rear. Move right front to right rear. Move left rear to right front. Move right rear to left front. This pattern accounts for front-wheel drive wear characteristics.
   ℹ️If tires are directional (arrows on sidewall indicating rotation direction), use front-to-rear pattern only, keeping tires on the same side of vehicle.
6. 6

   Install wheels and hand-tighten lug nuts
   Mount each wheel in its new position. Thread all lug nuts by hand to prevent cross-threading. Hand-tighten all lug nuts as much as possible in a star pattern before using tools.
7. 7

   Preliminary tighten lug nuts
   Using a lug wrench or impact wrench, snug all lug nuts in a star pattern (tighten opposite nuts in sequence) on all four wheels. Do not apply final torque yet. This seats the wheels properly on the hubs.
   ⚠Do not fully torque lug nuts while vehicle is on jack stands, as this can shift the vehicle on the stands.
8. 8

   Lower vehicle to ground
   Raise vehicle slightly with floor jack to unload jack stands, then remove all four jack stands. Carefully lower the vehicle completely to the ground. Vehicle weight should now be fully on all four tires.
9. 9

   Torque lug nuts to specification
   Using a torque wrench, torque all lug nuts to the correct specification in a star pattern. For alloy wheels, torque to 130 Nm (96 lb-ft). For steel wheels, torque to 140 Nm (103 lb-ft). Make multiple passes in the star pattern until all nuts reach proper torque.
   Torque spec

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

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

    Verify tire pressures
    Check and adjust tire pressures on all four tires to the specification listed on the driver's door jamb placard (typically 33-35 PSI for RAV4). Tire rotation is an ideal time to ensure all tires are properly inflated.
11. 11

    Reinstall wheel covers
    If equipped with center caps or wheel covers, reinstall them securely on all four wheels. Ensure they are properly seated and locked in place.

Reassembly

1. No disassembly required for this procedure beyond wheel removal

Verification

• Verify all lug nuts are torqued to proper specification using torque wrench
• For alloy wheels: Re-check lug nut torque after driving 50 miles as specified
• Confirm all four tires are inflated to door jamb specification
• Check that wheel covers or center caps are secure
• Test drive vehicle briefly and listen for any unusual noises or vibrations
• Record mileage and date of rotation for maintenance tracking (recommended every 5,000-7,500 miles)

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