Raptor Tire Rotation and TPMS Sensor Relearn (Gen 2 & Gen 3)
Rotating the tires is the easy part. Skipping the TPMS reset afterward is the mistake that leaves your dash lit up for no reason.
Video: Reset Tire Pressure Sensor on Ford F150 Without Tools - TPMS Relearn Guide by Reviews and How To's! on YouTube.
RaptorCentral isn't affiliated with the creator; the steps below are our own write-up.
Who this is for
This covers both halves of a job Raptor owners tend to split up and shouldn't: rotating the tires, and relearning the TPMS sensors afterward. The reset portion of the video on this page is filmed on a regular F-150, not a Raptor specifically, but Ford's TPMS relearn procedure is the same across the lineup — the rotation guidance below is what makes this page Raptor-specific. It applies to both the Gen 2 (2017–2020) and Gen 3 (2021+).
Tools
- Jack and rated jack stands, or a way to safely access all four wheels
- Torque wrench rated for wheel lug nuts
- An air pump, for the TPMS relearn steps that call for letting air out of each tire
Parts
No parts required for this job.
Steps
Rotate on your scheduled oil-change interval
Ford calls for rotating the tires every scheduled oil change on this truck. If you're already doing an oil change, this is the natural time to knock the rotation out too, rather than tracking two separate schedules.
Jack the truck at the correct points
Use rated jack stands and the manufacturer's lift points — never trust a jack alone for anything you're reaching under the truck for. On the Gen 3, the front jacking point is marked with an arrow on the frame rail rather than the control arm; confirm you've got the right spot before you lift.
Follow the rotation pattern in your owner's manual
Ford shows a specific rotation diagram in the owner's manual, and we're not going to describe a pattern here that might not match your exact tire setup — check your manual's diagram rather than assuming a generic front-to-back-and-cross pattern applies.
Leave the full-size spare out of the rotation
On the Gen 2, the LT315/70R17 spare has no TPMS sensor, and Ford doesn't include a dissimilar spare in the rotation pattern anyway. We don't have a verified answer on whether the Gen 3's spare carries a sensor, so if you're not sure about yours, treat it the same way: leave it out of the rotation unless you've confirmed otherwise.
Check for uneven tread wear before you button it up
Uneven tread depth between the front and rear axles can degrade how well the 4WD system engages, per Ford's own guidance. If you notice a meaningful difference while the wheels are off, that's worth addressing rather than ignoring just because the rotation itself went fine.
Torque the wheels and plan a retorque
Torque the lug nuts to 150 lb-ft (204 Nm) on the M14 x 1.5 studs, with clean, dry threads. Ford calls for retightening within 100 miles (160 km) of any wheel disturbance — rotation included — so put that on your calendar rather than assuming the initial torque is the last word.
Start TPMS learn mode
With the truck parked somewhere you can reach all four tires and have an air pump handy, drive above 20 mph for at least two minutes first, then park. Turn the ignition off, then on with the engine off, and cycle the hazard flashers on and off three times within 10 seconds. A single horn chirp and a flashing TPMS light confirm you're in learn mode; if that doesn't happen, turn the ignition off and try the sequence again from the start.
Jump to 0:00 in the video →Train the front tires
Starting at the left front, remove the valve cap and let air out until you hear the horn sound once — that single chirp means the sensor's been learned. A double chirp means it failed; let the tire finish, then repeat that wheel. Move to the right front next.
Jump to 0:32 in the video →Train the rear tires
Continue to the right rear, then the left rear, using the same method — let air out until you hear the single confirming chirp at each wheel. Don't wait more than two minutes between tires or the system times out and you'll have to start over. If another Ford nearby is doing the same procedure, stay at least three feet away from it while you work.
Jump to 1:23 in the video →Finalize the pressure setting
Once all four sensors are learned, turn the ignition off — two short beeps means the relearn wasn't successful and you'll need to repeat it. With a successful relearn confirmed, set all four tires to the pressure on the placard on the driver's door B-pillar. Check pressures cold for an accurate reading — Ford's definition of cold is parked more than three hours — which means the numbers you set right after the relearn drive will read a little high, and are worth confirming again the next morning.
Jump to 2:46 in the video →Know what the TPMS light will do off-road
If you air down for sand or rocks, the TPMS light will come on, and that's the system working rather than a fault you've introduced with the rotation. It's worth separating the two in your head before you go out, because a light that appeared the same week you rotated the tires is easy to blame on the relearn. One more thing to keep off the list while you're here: Ford says the Raptor shouldn't go through car washes with mechanical tracks, so plan the post-rotation cleanup accordingly.
Specs
| Wheel lug nut torque | 150 lb-ft (204 Nm), M14 x 1.5, clean dry threads Source: Ford 2019 F-150 Owner's Manual; Ford 2022 F-150 Owner's Manual |
|---|---|
| Retorque interval | Within 100 mi (160 km) of any wheel disturbance, including rotation Source: Ford 2019 F-150 Owner's Manual; Ford 2022 F-150 Owner's Manual |
Safety notes
- Never get under a truck supported only by a jack — use rated stands at the correct lift points.
- Always perform the TPMS reset after a rotation, especially if your front and rear tire pressures differ — Ford calls this out as a warning, not a suggestion.
- Don't wait more than two minutes between training each tire during the TPMS relearn, or the system will time out.
- Retorque the wheels within 100 miles of the rotation.
Owner questions
- Do I need to reset the TPMS after every rotation?
- Yes — Ford specifically warns to always perform the TPMS system reset after a tire rotation, particularly on trucks with different front and rear tire pressures.
- Should I rotate the spare tire into the pattern?
- No, on the Gen 2 — the full-size LT315/70R17 spare has no TPMS sensor, and a dissimilar spare isn't included in the rotation anyway. We don't have a verified answer for whether the Gen 3 spare has a sensor, so treat it the same way if you're unsure.
- What rotation pattern should I use?
- Follow the diagram in your owner's manual rather than a generic pattern — Ford publishes a specific one, and it's worth matching rather than guessing.
- What's the wheel lug nut torque?
- 150 lb-ft (204 Nm) on the M14 x 1.5 studs, with a retorque within 100 miles of any wheel disturbance.
- Why does the video on this page show a regular F-150 instead of a Raptor?
- The TPMS relearn procedure itself is identical across the F-150 lineup, including the Raptor — Ford doesn't have a Raptor-specific version of that sequence. The rotation-specific guidance in this write-up is what makes the page apply to the Raptor.