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Tools you need for tire rotation on a 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla

Easy · 30-60 minutes · Updated 2026-09-28
Must-have tools
  1. 21 mm socket, 1/2 in drive
  2. Breaker bar or lug wrench
  3. Floor jack, 2 ton
  4. Jack stands (2-4)
  5. Torque wrench, 1/2 in drive

On the E170 Corolla this is about as simple as car work gets. Every trim uses 21 mm lug nuts on M12x1.5 studs with a 5x100 bolt pattern, so one socket covers the whole generation. The only difference between trims is cosmetic: L and LE steel wheels wear plastic covers you pop off first, while LE Eco, S and SE alloys are exposed.

Two things people get wrong. First, torque: 76 ft-lb with a torque wrench, in a star pattern, after the car is back on the ground. Rattling them on with an impact gun is the number one cause of steering-wheel shimmy on these cars. Second, the jack point. The Corolla lifts on a thin pinch-weld seam, and using a bare steel jack saddle folds it over and starts a rust spot. A cheap slotted rubber puck solves it.

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Complete tool and parts list

ItemType
Wheel chocks
Pair
Block the wheels that stay on the ground before lifting.
Safetyshop
Lug wrench or breaker bar
1/2 in drive breaker bar, 18-24 in
Break the 21 mm lug nuts loose while the tires are still on the ground.
Requiredshop
Lug nut socket
21 mm 6-point, 1/2 in drive (thin-wall for alloy wheels)
Fits every E170 Corolla lug nut, steel or alloy wheel.
Requiredshop
Floor jack
2 ton minimum, with rubber pad or pinch-weld adapter
Raises the car at the pinch-weld jack points.
Requiredshop
Jack stands
2 ton, pair (4 if lifting the whole car)
Supports the car safely once lifted; never rely on the jack.
Requiredshop
Pinch weld jack pad
Slotted rubber puck for unibody pinch weld
Keeps the jack from crushing or bending the thin pinch-weld seam.
Recommendedshop
Trim/pry tool or flat screwdriver
Plastic pry tool
Pops the plastic wheel covers off L/LE steel wheels without scratching them.
Recommendedshop
Torque wrench
1/2 in drive, 20-150 ft-lb range
Sets lug nuts to the 76 ft-lb spec so rotors do not warp.
Requiredshop
Tire pressure gauge
Digital or dial, 0-60 psi
Rear and front pressures should be checked and set after rotating (door placard, typically 32-35 psi).
Requiredshop
Wire brush
Small hand brush
Cleans rust and scale off the hub face so the wheel seats flat.
Recommendedshop
Tread depth gauge
0-1 in / 0-25 mm
Lets you check wear differences and decide the best rotation pattern.
Recommendedshop
Anti-seize or brake lubricant
Nickel anti-seize, hub face only
A thin film on the hub center bore stops the wheel from rusting to the hub; keep it off studs and nut seats.
Consumablesshop
Mechanic's gloves

Wheels and brake dust are dirty and edges are sharp.
Safetyshop

Differences within the 2014-2019 generation

No difference. The 1.8 L 2ZR-FE and the 2ZR-FAE Valvematic (LE Eco) use identical hubs, 5x100 bolt pattern, 21 mm lug nuts and the same 76 ft-lb torque spec.

Torque specs

Wheel lug nuts (M12 x 1.5)76 ft-lb (103 Nm)

How the job goes

  1. Park on level pavement, set the parking brake, and chock the wheels at the opposite end of the car from where you are lifting.
  2. Pop off the plastic wheel covers on steel-wheel L/LE models. On alloy wheels, nothing needs to come off.
  3. With the tires still on the ground, loosen each 21 mm lug nut about half a turn using the breaker bar or the factory lug wrench.
  4. Lift the car at the reinforced pinch-weld jack points behind the front wheels and ahead of the rear wheels, then set jack stands under the pinch weld or the frame rail. Lift two wheels at a time (one side or one axle) or the whole car if you have four stands.
  5. Remove the lug nuts and pull the wheels off. If a wheel is rust-stuck to the hub, tap the tire sidewall with a rubber mallet.
  6. Wire-brush rust and scale off the hub mating face and check the brake pads and rotor faces while the wheel is off.
  7. Rotate non-directional tires forward-cross: each front wheel moves straight back on the same side, and each rear wheel moves to the opposite front corner. If the tires are directional (arrow on the sidewall), swap front to rear on the same side only.
  8. Apply a thin smear of anti-seize to the hub center hub only, not the studs or nut seats, then hang the wheel and start all five nuts by hand.
  9. Snug the nuts in a star pattern by hand while the wheel is off the ground, just enough to seat the wheel flat.
  10. Lower the car onto the ground and torque all five nuts to 76 ft-lb in a star (criss-cross) pattern, going around twice.
  11. Set tire pressures to the door-jamb placard value (typically 32 psi front and rear on most E170 trims) and refit the wheel covers.
  12. Reset the tire pressure warning system if the light is on: with the ignition on and the car stopped, hold the TPMS reset button (below the steering column or in the glove-box area, by year/trim) until the light blinks three times.
  13. Drive 25-50 miles and re-check the lug nut torque.

Watch out

The 21 mm lug nut size, 5x100 pattern, M12x1.5 studs and 76 ft-lb torque are correct for all 2014-2019 Corollas; double-check the door-jamb placard for your exact tire pressure and the sidewall for directional arrows.

Frequently asked

What size socket are the lug nuts on a 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla?

21 mm. Use a 6-point 21 mm socket on a 1/2 in drive; a thin-wall socket is better on alloy wheels so you do not scuff the lug pockets.

What is the lug nut torque for a 2014-2019 Corolla?

76 ft-lb (103 Nm) for all trims. Tighten in a criss-cross star pattern with the car on the ground, then re-check after 25-50 miles.

Which rotation pattern should I use?

For standard non-directional tires on this front-wheel-drive car, use forward-cross: fronts go straight back, rears cross to the opposite front. If the tires are directional, keep each tire on its own side and swap front to rear only.

Do I have to reset the TPMS after rotating the tires?

No, the E170 uses a simple indirect/low-pressure warning system that does not need to learn wheel positions. Just set the correct pressures, and if the light is on, hold the TPMS reset button with the ignition on until the light blinks three times.

Other jobs on the 2014-2019 Toyota Corolla

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 Camry2020-2024 Toyota Corolla2013-2018 Toyota RAV42019-2024 Toyota RAV42005-2015 Toyota Tacoma2016-2023 Toyota Tacoma2016-2021 Honda Civic2022-2024 Honda Civic2013-2017 Honda Accord2018-2022 Honda Accord2012-2016 Honda CR-V2017-2022 Honda CR-V