Tire Service, Rotation, & Sales in Dallas, TX Ford Service & Quick Lane | Planet Ford Dallas

Tire Inspection Helps You Keep on Top of Your Tires' Condition

When you buy a br&-new Ford, the tires that come with the car will stay there for a few years, if not longer. However, tires are prone to wear & tear loss over that time. You'll notice that the tread isn't as crisp as it was when you bought the car after a couple of years, & you might start seeing a little traction loss toward the end of your tires' lifespan.

You can ask our service center to inspect your tires when you come in for a service special or routine maintenance. Our technicians will look for issues like under-inflated tires, slow leaks, rim condition, & tread levels. The technician will subsequently review their findings with you & provide recommendations on how to take care of your tires.

The Importance of Balanced Tires

Tires never leave the factory in a perfectly round shape. It's simply not possible. That means your tires require balancing after the technician puts them on the rim & before they go onto your car. Tire balancing consists of putting small weights around the rim, & making the tire roll as roundly as possible. You won't notice when a tire is balanced because it delivers a smooth ride with no noise or vibration.

Engineers perform tire balancing during car manufacture, when you get a new set of tires, or during a rotation. Wear & tear can make a tire go out of round, as can puncture repairs & aging.

You'll notice when a tire is out of round because you'll hear a wobbly noise or feel a vibration that lessens when you pick up speed. If you notice these issues or your Ford seems to be h&lin strangely, come & see us at Planet Ford Dallas for an inspection & tire balancing service.

How Often Should You Rotate the Tires on Your Ford?

Tire manufacturers recommend rotating the tires on your Ford between 5,000 & 8,000 miles. This is about once a year, depending on how many miles you drive. If you drive regularly, you should rotate your tires twice yearly to keep them wearing evenly.

The best way to remember to get your tires rotated is to book the service at the same time as your oil change. Our technicians can perform both services during the same appointment, & you can keep on top of both maintenance items easily. Our service center can provide these services during the same visit, & we can take care of any other maintenance needs while you're here.

Knowing When It's Time To Replace the Tires on Your Ford

Tires reaching the end of their lifespan show visible signs that they need replacement. A tread that looks close to the tire's surface means the tread has worn down to the point that your tires are about to go bald. If you fill your tires up more frequently, your tires may be dry, rotting & losing air through the cracks. Tires that have been patched more than two or three times are weaker than other tires & more prone to air loss.

Another sign is poor traction on wet pavement surfaces, even if the tread looks fine. Even if your tread looks acceptable, it may not be making sufficient contact with the road, causing you to hydroplane. Bring your car to Planet Ford Dallas the moment you notice a lack of traction or slipping when you're driving. This is a serious safety issue, & replacing your tires returns your car to its normal & predictable operation.

Tires that have reached the end of their life are, as a general rule, unsafe. They make it harder to control your car in acceleration, braking, & turning. There's no sense in waiting to replace your tires because the problem isn't one that resolves itself. Replacing your tires as soon as possible is the best plan of action.

Why You Should Let Planet Ford Dallas Maintain Your Tires

Factory-trained technicians staff the service center at Planet Ford Dallas, & each one is an expert in all things Ford. Our service staff is ready to inspect your tires, perform the right service to keep them in good condition & let you know if a replacement is necessary. Our technician can also recommend which tires work best for your Ford model, enabling you to enjoy optimum performance & h&ling with a fresh set of tires.

We're here to help you keep your Ford vehicle in the best possible condition, & we offer service specials to help you save money. Check out our website for the latest service special, or make an appointment to bring your car in on a day & time that works for you. We want to make it as easy as possible for you to keep your Ford running right.

Tire Care Advice in Dallas, Texas

Wear & tear on your car's tires is inevitable, but with the correct maintenance schedule, you can make sure you get the best out of them. And by paying attention to signs that your tires are reaching the end of their life, you can get them changed before they start causing you problems. Let's take a look at the most important things you need to know about tire repair & replacement.

What Kind of Roads Are You Traveling On?

Your tires are the connection between your vehicle & the road, so it's critical that they are in great working order. If you're like a majority of U.S. motorists, you've experienced very challenging road conditions lately. A study from TRIP, a national transportation research group, shows that 33 percent of major U.S. roads are in poor condition. Driving on these roads costs motorists an average of $377 in extra vehicle repairs. Defective or damaged tires combined with less-than-perfect roads can add additional risks both to you & other drivers. For example, a flat tire can make your vehicle much more difficult to handle safely.

Knowing this, you want to make sure your vehicle's tires are in optimum condition to handle the roads. The experts at Planet Ford Dallas are here to help.

The Advantages of Keeping Your Tires Properly Inflated

When your vehicle's tires are properly inflated, it can help you improve your fuel economy by 2 percent*. Proper inflation also optimizes your vehicle's performance & handling, which will help you feel safer behind the wheel

A major cause of tire damage is improper inflation. Over time, your tires lose pressure which can cause irregular tread wear & poor gas mileage. On average, tires lose air at the rate of one pound per month. In colder temperatures, a tire will lose one pound of pressure for every 10-degree drop. A simple solution: check your tire pressure at least once a month for longer performance. Your vehicle may also be equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. Displayed on your dashboard, it alerts you to sudden changes in tire pressure or low pressure in one or more of your tires.** If you're ever uncertain, stop by our Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center for experts that can make sure your tires are properly set up & keep you connected to the road.

How Often Should I Inspect My Tires?

It's a good idea to inspect your tires at least once a month. If you drive long distances often, drive regularly on rough surfaces, or live in a cold climate, you may want to inspect them even more often.

One of the main purposes of regular inspections is to make sure your tires still have enough tread. You can do this by performing the quarter test. Place a quarter into the tread with Washington's head pointing downward. If you can't see Washington's head, the tread on your tire is at least 4/32 inches & can continue to be used. If his head is visible, you should buy new tires.

You can also perform this test with a penny, using Lincoln's head in the same way. The only difference here is that if you can still see Lincoln's head, it means that the tread on your tires is shallower than the safe limit, which means you need to replace them immediately.

You also should regularly test your tires' pressure to ensure they comply with the manufacturer's recommendations. If you don't know the recommended pressure of your tires, check your owner's manual to find out.

You'll need a pressure gauge to test tire pressure, which you can obtain from a hardware store or auto store. Push the gauge firmly into the tire's valve to get a reading. It's normal for a tire to lose approximately 1 pound per square inch (PSI) of pressure every month, but this can increase if you live in a cold climate.

What Are the Signs of a Bad Tire?

There are various warning signs you should look out for when you inspect your tires. The first is any indication of a significant loss of tire pressure, which may indicate that you have a puncture. If your tire has been punctured, you may also notice a nail or other sharp item sticking in it.

When you're driving, a vibration coming from a tire or a thumping noise can mean that it's out of balance. Another possible sign of a tire problem is if you feel your vehicle pulling to one side while you're driving along a straight road. In that case, the side your car keeps pulling toward is where the problem tire is located.

You should also be concerned by uneven wear on your tires because it can cause difficulties with steering, braking, & handling. If you notice more wear in the middle of your tires, this is an indication that the pressure is too high. By contrast, excessive wear on the edges suggests that your tire pressure is too low. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports tires with low pressure as the main cause of tire-related accidents in the U.S. Underinflated tires can result in your vehicle being much more difficult to handle.

If you notice uneven wear on your tires, this could point to a problem with your car's wheel alignment, which a trained auto technician can repair. Alternatively, it may be a sign that it's time to get your tires rotated.

Tire Rotation

Your tires should be rotated every 7,000 to 10,000 miles of driving. It is important that this is done to prevent uneven wear, which occurs because each tire is impacted by braking & steering differently depending on whether it's on the front or back of your vehicle. Tire wear may also be impacted depending on whether your vehicle runs on an all-wheel-drive or front-wheel-drive system.

Due to the different tread patterns on tires, some tires can't be rotated. Others can only be moved from the back to the front, & vice versa, but need to remain on the same side of the vehicle. Your auto technician at Planet Ford Dallas can advise you about the type of tire rotation your car requires.

Wheel Alignment

Ford recommends specific settings for the wheel alignment on its vehicles. If your wheels don't conform to these specifications, it can cause problems for the handling of your vehicle & your tires can wear unevenly. Our auto technicians can measure your wheel alignment & make adjustments to prevent these problems from arising.

It's well worth having your wheel alignment checked out each time you replace your tires. In addition, if you notice your vehicle drifting or pulling to one side while you drive, this can be a sign of a wheel alignment issue that you should get checked out.

We hope you've now got a better idea of how to maintain your tires & that you feel confident about knowing when it's time to replace them. But if you still have questions, don't hesitate to contact us at Planet Ford Dallas. Our friendly team of auto experts is waiting to assist you with all of your tire queries, whether it's performing a repair, testing your tire pressure, or getting you a new set. Make a service appointment today so we can take care of your needs.

Your Expert Ford Service Technicians & Your Tires

If you are in the market for a new set of tires, turn to our expert Ford Service technicians. They have the latest equipment to make sure your tires are installed correctly & are well maintained. Choose from 13 name-brand tires & get the assurance of our Low Price Tire Guarantee(â€). Why buy tires anywhere else, when Planet Ford Dallas has all of this & more?

*Sources: fueleconomy.gov, epa.gov.
**Excludes spare tire
†Valid on dealer-installed retail purchases only. Requires presentation of competitor's current price ad/offer on exact tire sold by dealership within 30 days after purchase. See participating dealership for details.