A dually truck has a total of six tires because of having dual rear wheels on both sides. Keeping those tires properly rotated is super important for a few key reasons. With all that weight being carried, you can get some pretty uneven wear over time if you don’t switch things up back there. Those outside rear tires especially tend to wear down quicker.
How to rotate tires on a dually? The rotation process may seem a bit intimidating with all those tires. But we’re gonna break it down step-by-step for you.
Rotating Tires on a Dually: Why It’s Important?
Dually tire rotation is a must for minimizing damage and stretching their life. These trucks are known for hauling heavy trailers or equipment from one place to another. Without regular rotation, that kind of heavy loading causes uneven tire wear over time.
By giving each tire a turn in the different positions, you spread that wear around more evenly. It will prevent premature damage on some tires.
Also, by rotating, you’ll help stretch the life of your expensive tires for as long as possible. We all know dually tires are not inexpensive. So, if you can get the most miles out of them, you will save a good amount of money.
In the end, it comes down to saving money and keeping your ride safe down the road. So, you must learn how to rotate dually tires to keep them in good condition.
How to Rotate Tires on a Dually: A Complete Guide
How do you rotate dually tires? You don’t need much to tackle this job yourself. Just collect some basic tools and follow our guideline to do a hassle-free job
Tools you need are:
- Jack and jack stands
- Lug wrench/impact wrench
- Grease (optional)
Want to follow a safe way of how to rotate tires on a dually? Check these steps:
Step 1: Park on level surface and chock wheels
When rotating dually tires, safety should be your top priority. Park the truck on a nice flat, level surface like a driveway or garage floor. That way you don’t have to worry about the truck rolling or shifting while you work.
You should also slide a few chocks behind the wheels that will remain on the ground. This acts as another barrier to keep the truck from moving when you’ll get her front end in the air.
Step 2: Jack up front of vehicle
To lift the truck up, you’ll need a couple of heavy-duty jacks, one for each side of the front end. Carefully position and raise the jacks until the front tires are clearly off the ground.
You can repeat the same process for the rear end. Just park two more jack stands under the back. You don’t need to lift the back wheels fully off the pavement, just high enough to fit the tire rack underneath. Now the dually is prepped and ready for a fresh rotation.
Step 3: Remove lug nuts and tires
Loose the front passenger tire by removing the lug nuts with the impact wrench. Detach the tire with a firm pull and lean against somewhere safely.
The tires on the driver’s side may take a bit more muscle due to years of overtightening. So, get assistance from a friend if needed.
Step 4: Rotate the tires
How do you rotate tires on a dually? You’ll actually rotate the tires in this step.
Start by removing that front tire and wheel. Roll it on the back and mount it on the outer rear axle. Next, take that tire that had been on the outer rear position. Lift it off, carry it forward, and mount it onto the inner rear axle instead.
The final part is removing the tire from the inner rear mount point and attaching it to the recently vacated front position.
Step 5: Alternative ways to rotate the tires
So, the simplest way of how to rotate tires on a dually is swapping the front tire to the outer rear and moving the existing rear tires forward and in. but you can also do the rotation by removing all four wheels at once.
After removing the wheels, reverse the position of the inner rear tires, moving them from one side to the other. This ensures they both wear evenly since they see identical conditions on both rims over time.
Finish the rotation by attaching the front tires to the rear axles.
Step 6: Don’t forget some special considerations
If your dual rear wheels happen to be the old-school steel variety, take a minute to spread some grease on those contacting surfaces before you reinstall them. It’ll help prevent them from sticking or corroding the next time you need to swap those tires.
Truck tires with a directional tread pattern can only spin one way to work right. So, be sure to mount them accordingly to keep the correct dually tire rotation pattern. You may need to flip that front tire around to the opposite rear side rather than crossing left to right. As long as the tread keeps pointing the same direction, everything’s alright.
Step 7: Complete the finishing touches
Carefully operate those jacks in reverse to lower your truck back once the tires are mounted. Remove the jacks and give each wheel lug nut a final tighten with your wrench.
Lastly, don’t forget to remove those chocks from behind the rear wheels before attempting to drive away.
