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Tools you need for tire rotation on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic

Easy · 45-60 minutes · Updated 2026-09-28
Must-have tools
  1. 19 mm lug nut socket, 1/2 in drive
  2. Floor jack, 2 ton minimum
  3. Jack stands, pair or four
  4. Torque wrench, 1/2 in drive, 80 ft-lb

Tire rotation on the 10th-gen Civic is about as simple as car work gets: four 19 mm lug nuts per wheel, marked pinch-weld jack points, and one torque spec across the whole range including the Si. If you have a center jack point handy you can lift the front or rear as a pair and swap two wheels at a time. The only trim-specific wrinkles are the low ride height on Si and Type R, which usually needs a low-profile jack or ramps to get under, and the missing spare tire on most trims.

The thing people get wrong is the TPMS. This generation uses an indirect system on most trims, so the light will come back unless you run the calibration in the infotainment menu after the rotation. Second most common mistake is jacking on the flat rocker panel instead of the reinforced notch, which folds the pinch weld. And skip the impact gun on the final tightening - hit 80 ft-lb with a torque wrench in a star pattern.

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Complete tool and parts list

ItemType
Lug nut socket
19 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive (thin-wall for alloy wheels)
Removes all four lug nuts per wheel on every 10th-gen Civic trim.
Requiredshop
Breaker bar or 1/2 in ratchet
1/2 in drive, 18-24 in
Loosens lug nuts while the car is still on the ground.
Requiredshop
Floor jack
2 ton minimum, low-profile helps on Si/Type R
Lifts the car at the pinch welds or center subframe points.
Requiredshop
Jack stands
2 ton, pair (four if lifting the whole car)
Supports the car safely while wheels are off.
Requiredshop
Pinch weld jack pad
Slotted rubber puck for pinch weld
Keeps the jack or stand from crushing the Civic's thin pinch weld seam.
Recommendedshop
Torque wrench
1/2 in drive, 20-150 ft-lb range
Final tightening of lug nuts to 80 ft-lb in a star pattern.
Requiredshop
Wheel chocks
Pair
Blocks the wheels remaining on the ground.
Safetyshop
Wheel lock key socket
Honda accessory wheel lock key (in glovebox or trunk kit)
Needed only if dealer-installed wheel locks are fitted; one per wheel.
Requiredshop
Tire pressure gauge
Digital or dial, 0-60 psi
Sets pressures after rotation; front and rear specs can differ.
Requiredshop
Tread depth gauge
0-25/32 in
Confirms wear is even and whether rotation is still worthwhile.
Recommendedshop
Anti-seize or wheel paste
Nickel anti-seize, hub face only
Thin smear on the hub register stops wheels seizing to the hub; keep it off the studs and seats.
Consumablesshop
Wire brush
Hand brush
Cleans rust and scale off the hub mating face.
Consumablesshop
Torx bit
T50 (only if removing brake discs is needed)
Not part of a rotation, but handy if a seized wheel needs the disc retaining screw addressed.
Recommendedshop

Differences within the 2016-2021 generation

Lug nut size is 19 mm on every 2016-2021 Civic regardless of engine, wheel size, or trim, from 2.0 LX steel wheels through 1.5T Si and Type R alloys. Only the jack clearance and tire pressures change: Si and Type R sit low enough to want a low-profile jack or ramps, and the Type R's 245/30ZR20 tires run their own placard pressures.

Torque specs

Wheel lug nuts (all 10th-gen Civic trims, incl. Si)80 ft-lb (108 Nm)
Wheel lug nuts, Type R FK880 ft-lb (108 Nm) - verify in the service manual

How the job goes

  1. Park on level pavement, set the parking brake (electric on Si/Touring/Type R, cable on lower trims), and chock the wheels that stay on the ground.
  2. Note the tire pressures and check for directional arrows or 'outside' markings on the sidewalls before planning the rotation pattern.
  3. With the car still on the ground, break each lug nut loose about a quarter turn using the 19 mm socket and breaker bar.
  4. Lift the front at the center front subframe jack point or one pinch weld notch at a time, and set jack stands under the reinforced pinch weld notches. Repeat at the rear, or lift one corner at a time if you only have two stands.
  5. Remove all four lug nuts per wheel and pull the wheels off. Tap with a rubber mallet if a wheel is stuck to the hub.
  6. Wire-brush the hub faces and put a very thin smear of anti-seize on the hub register only, never on the studs, cone seats, or brake friction surfaces.
  7. Rotate the tires: non-directional tires on this FWD car go rear-to-front on the same side and front-to-rear crossed. Directional tires stay on the same side, front and back only. Staggered fitments (rare on Civic) cannot be rotated front to rear.
  8. Hand-thread all lug nuts and snug them in a star pattern with the wheel off the ground.
  9. Lower the car and torque the lug nuts to 80 ft-lb (108 Nm) in a star pattern.
  10. Set tire pressures to the door jamb placard (commonly 32-35 psi; Type R runs higher), then reset the TPMS: on the touchscreen go to Settings > Vehicle > TPMS Calibration > Calibrate, or press the TPMS button on cars without the screen.
  11. Re-check lug nut torque after 50-100 miles.

Watch out

The 19 mm lug nut size and 80 ft-lb (108 Nm) torque apply across the 2016-2021 Civic range including Si; verify the Type R figure and your exact door-jamb tire pressures for your trim and wheel size.

Frequently asked

What size socket are the lug nuts on a 2016-2021 Honda Civic?

19 mm, and it is the same on every trim from LX to Type R. Use a 6-point thin-wall socket so you do not scuff alloy wheel pockets.

What is the lug nut torque on a 10th-gen Civic?

80 ft-lb (108 Nm), tightened in a star pattern with the car on the ground. Re-check after 50-100 miles of driving.

Where are the jack points on a 2016-2021 Civic?

Each corner has a notched, reinforced pinch weld section just inboard of the wheel; use a slotted jack pad there. There are also center jack points on the front subframe and rear beam if you want to lift two wheels at once.

Do I need to reset the TPMS after rotating tires?

Yes. Most 10th-gen Civics use an indirect system, so go to Settings > Vehicle > TPMS Calibration > Calibrate on the touchscreen, or press the TPMS button on cars without the screen, then drive normally for about 30 minutes to relearn.

Other jobs on the 2016-2021 Honda Civic

Oil ChangeFront Brake Pads and RotorsRear Brake Pads and RotorsBattery ReplacementSpark Plug ReplacementAlternator ReplacementStarter ReplacementCoolant FlushSerpentine Belt ReplacementHeadlight Bulb ReplacementWiper Blade ReplacementThermostat ReplacementFront Strut ReplacementCabin Air Filter ReplacementEngine Air Filter ReplacementTransmission Fluid ChangeFront Wheel Bearing ReplacementOxygen Sensor ReplacementWater Pump Replacement

Tire Rotation on other vehicles

2015-2020 Ford F-1502021-2024 Ford F-1502014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 15002019-2024 Chevrolet Silverado 15002009-2018 Ram 15002019-2024 Ram 15002012-2017 Toyota Camry2018-2024 Toyota Camry2014-2019 Toyota Corolla2020-2024 Toyota Corolla2013-2018 Toyota RAV42019-2024 Toyota RAV42005-2015 Toyota Tacoma2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma2022-2024 Honda Civic2013-2017 Honda Accord2018-2022 Honda Accord2012-2016 Honda CR-V2017-2022 Honda CR-V