How To Change A Tire

Flat Tire
 

Whether you experience a flat tire or the treads have worn down too far, you may eventually want to replace the tires yourself. Knowing how to change a tire is an important skill, and can save you from waiting on the side of the road in Poteau, OK or riding around on dangerous tires in Greenwood, Ar. Check out this guide from Randall Ford to learn how to change a tire and how often you need to change car tires. Learn with us, and avoid the stress and hassle of being forced to wait by the roadside. 

 

 

Changing Your Ford Tires

To change the tires on a Ford, you’ll need the right tools, such as: 

  • A jack 
  • A lug wrench 
  • A spare tire or new tire(s) 
  • Wheel wedges
  • Tire pressure gauge
  • Your vehicle owner’s manual

Once you’ve gathered your tools and materials, replacing a tire on your car, truck, or SUV is a fairly simple procedure. Review the steps below, and reach out to us if you have questions:

  1. If you’re on the side of the road near Van Buren, Ar, move to a safe place and turn on your hazard lights.
  2. Wherever you are, engage the parking brake and place wheel wedges behind/in front of the other tires to prevent rolling.
  3. Remove the wheel cover or hubcap from the tire, then loosen the lug nuts. Don’t fully remove the lug nuts yet.
  4. Use the jack to raise your vehicle and fully remove the lug nuts.
  5. Remove the current tire and mount the new or spare tire.
  6. Hand-tighten the lug nuts, then lower your vehicle so it sits just above the ground.
  7. Use your lug wrench to tighten the lug nuts some more. At this point, the lug nuts should be firmly, but not fully, tightened. 
  8. Fully lower your vehicle to the ground, and give the lug nuts a final tightening. 
  9. Remove the jack, replace your hubcap, and check your tire pressure. 
  10. If all looks good, you can be on your way! Just make sure you don’t forget your tools. 

If you’re caught in an emergency situation, and you have to use your spare tire,make sure you replace it with a permanent one as soon as possible. Spare tires are not designed for extended use, and using them for that purpose can lead to a tire blowout and damage to your vehicle. Do not drive faster than 50 mph or further than 50-70 miles on a spare. Check the sidewall of your spare tire for speed and mileage restrictions. 

How Often Should You Change Car Tires?

How often you need to replace car tires depends on how often you rotate them and on the quality of the tires. If you rotate your tires regularly, you should be able to get the full mileage promised, but you should still check your tire pressure and check the tread regularly just to be safe. If the tread wear is too significant, you’ll need new tires. To ensure your tires last for as long as possible, it’s a good idea to schedule a tire rotation when you get your oil changed.

How To Put Air In Your Tires

Perhaps it’s not time to change your tire just yet, and you are simply wondering how to put air in your tires. If you don’t own an air pump or are on the road, you can typically stop at a local gas station to use theirs. Here’s how to put air in your tires:

  1. Park your vehicle by the air dispenser and ensure the hose can reach each tire.
  2. Remove the cap on the tire valve of the first tire you want to fill.
  3. Check the tire pressure with your tire gauge. It’s helpful to do this at home, even if you head to the gas station to fill your tires, because tires heat up as you drive, causing the air inside to expand. This can provide a false reading. It is best to get a reading when your tires are cold.
  4. Use the air hose to add air in short bursts while checking the tire gauge each time.

Remember to keep checking the tire gauge until you reach the right pressure! It can be difficult to get it right on the first attempt, so take your time.

The Randall Ford Service Center Helps With Your Tire Needs

If you don’t feel comfortable changing tires yourself or aren’t sure which tires to purchase, we’re happy to help. Contact us with any tire-related questions, or bring your vehicle to our service department in Fort Smith, and we can change the tires or do a tire rotation for you.

Ford Employees and Retirees - Get four $50 instant service discounts to use or share.*

Eligible Services Include: The Works® Package, Tires, Brakes, Batteries, and More!

*Active U.S. Ford Employees and Retirees only. Generate up to 4 PINs at FordServiceDiscount.com from 4/15/26-9/7/26 for personal use or to share. Limit 1 PIN per VIN. Receive a $50 instant discount on eligible maintenance services with a minimum $100 customer-pay repair order. Eligible services include oil changes, The Works®, brakes, batteries, tires, wipers, and filters. Requires purchase and installation of genuine Ford/Motorcraft® Parts or select name-brand tires. Valid only on Ford and Lincoln vehicles at participating U.S. Ford Dealer, Lincoln Dealer, or Quick Lane® Store. Present PIN at write-up; prior authorization required. PINs expire 60 days after generation. See Service Advisor for full details through 9/7/26. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Quick Lane®, Motorcraft®, and The Works® are registered trademarks of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 09/07/2026

Get a $20 rebate or earn 5,000 Ford Rewards bonus Points on The Works® Package.*

• Synthetic Blend Oil and Filter Change
• Tire Rotation and Pressure Check
• Brake Inspection
• Vehicle Checkup
• Fluid Top-Off
• Battery Test
• Filter Check
• Belts and Hoses Check

Submit rebate online or by mail; rebate payment will be sent by mail.

*Includes up to 6 quarts of Motorcraft® oil and Motorcraft oil filter. Excludes hybrid battery test. Limit 1 offer per vehicle. Not valid on prior purchases. Valid 7/7/26-8/31/26. Submit by 9/30/26 at Ford.com/Service-Rebates or by mail. To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of purchase. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Allow 8 weeks for Points. See U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 08/31/2026

We'll beat your best price on a set of four tires,* plus get up to a $125 rebate.**

On these name brands: Goodyear®, Bridgestone, Yokohama®, Hankook, Firestone, Pirelli, Toyo®, Nitto®, Cooper®, Falken, and Kelly®.

Submit rebate online or by mail; rebate payment will be sent by mail.

*Dealer-installed retail/fleet purchases only. Must present competitor's current ad for the exact tire within 30 days of purchase. Online quotes must be for new tires from direct retailer sites (excludes marketplaces/third-party resellers). See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. **Dealer-installed purchases only. Limit 1 tire rebate per retail vehicle (15 per fleet). $125 rebate or 27,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Goodyear® Assurance WeatherReady 2, Wrangler DuraTrac RT, Eagle F1 All-Season, and Wrangler Steadfast HT; Bridgestone Alenza Prestige and Dueler A/T Ascent; and Yokohama® Geolandar X-AT, Geolandar M/T, and Geolandar X-MT. $100 rebate or 22,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Hankook, Bridgestone (excludes Alenza Prestige and Dueler A/T Ascent product lines), Firestone Destination A/T2, Destination X/T, and Destination M/T2; Pirelli, Toyo® (excludes medium and commercial/Motorsport), and Yokohama (excludes Geolandar X-AT, Geolandar M/T, and Geolandar X-MT product lines). $80 rebate or 18,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Nitto Motivo 365, NT555 G2, Invo, Neo Gen, NT05, NT420V, EXO Grappler AWT, Dura Grappler, Nomad Grappler, Ridge Grappler, Recon Grappler A/T, Trail Grappler M/T, Terra Grappler G3, and Mud Grappler (excludes 37" and larger sizes). $70 rebate or 16,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Goodyear (excludes Assurance WeatherReady 2, Wrangler DuraTrac RT, Eagle F1 All-Season, and Wrangler Steadfast HT product lines), Cooper®, and Firestone (excludes Destination A/T2, Destination X/T, and Destination M/T2 product lines). $60 rebate or 14,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Falken WILDPEAK A/T4W. $50 rebate or 12,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Falken AKLIMATE, WILDPEAK A/T Trail, and ZIEX CT60 A/S. $40 rebate or 10,000 Ford Rewards Points on a set of 4 Kelly. Valid 7/7/26-8/31/26. Submit by 9/30/26 at Ford.com/Service-Rebates or by mail. To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of purchase. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Allow 8 weeks for Points. See U.S. dealer for details.

Expires: 08/31/2026

Military and First Responders - Receive an $80 instant discount with the purchase and installation of four select tires.*

On these name brands: Goodyear®, Michelin, BFGoodrich®, Continental, General, Pirelli, Hankook, Bridgestone, Falken, and Toyo®.

*Available to active and retired Military and First Responders. Receive an $80 instant discount on a set of four qualifying tires from participating brands (Goodyear®, Michelin, BFGoodrich®, Continental, General, Pirelli, Hankook, Bridgestone, Falken, and Toyo®). Excludes Toyo medium and commercial/Motorsport patterns. Combinable with other eligible offers. Dealer-installed purchases only at participating U.S. Ford Dealer, Lincoln Dealer, or Quick Lane® Store. Present nontransferable Hero Code at purchase (requires ID.me validation). Limit 2 Hero Codes per calendar year per customer. Valid for tires purchased and installed 1/1/26-12/31/26. Unused codes expire 12/31/26. See Military and First Responders Tire Discount for details. Quick Lane® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Get a $20 rebate or earn 5,000 Ford Rewards Points with purchase and installation of a Motorcraft® Tested Tough® PLUS or MAX Battery.*

Submit rebate online or by mail; rebate payment will be sent by mail.

*Dealer-installed retail purchases only. Visually inspect and test battery using tester. Excludes hybrid battery test. Limit 1 rebate per vehicle. Not valid on prior purchases. Valid 7/7/26-8/31/26. Submit by 9/30/26 at Ford.com/Service-Rebates or by mail. To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of purchase. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Allow 8 weeks for Points. See Service Advisor for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 08/31/2026

Low Price Tire Guarantee*

Find a better price within 30 days, and we'll beat it on over a dozen major tire brands for all makes and models.

*Dealer-installed retail/fleet purchases only. Must present competitor's current ad for the exact tire within 30 days of purchase. Online quotes must be for new tires from direct retailer sites (excludes marketplaces/third-party resellers). See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time.

Expires: 12/31/2026

The Works® Package Synthetic Blend Oil Change and More*

• Tire Rotation and Pressure Check
• Brake Inspection
• Vehicle Checkup
• Fluid Top-Off
• Battery Test
• Filter Check
• Belts and Hoses Check

*Includes up to 6 quarts of Motorcraft® oil and Motorcraft oil filter. Excludes hybrid battery test. See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Lifetime Brake Pad Guarantee*

*Available for Motorcraft® brake pads purchased after 7/1/14. Nontransferable. Requires copy of original repair order and completion of any necessary brake service (e.g., rotor service). Pads must be installed by a U.S. Ford Dealer, Lincoln Dealer, or Quick Lane® technician. Covers pads only; labor costs excluded. Excludes commercial delivery, taxi, limousine, postal, police, tow, racing, and emergency vehicles. See Service Advisor for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Quick Lane® and Motorcraft® are registered trademarks of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Complimentary Brake Inspection*

Performed by an expert technician.

*Inspect brake friction material, caliper operation, rotors, drums, hoses, and connections. Inspect parking brake for damage and proper operation. See Service Advisor for details. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Motorcraft® Tested Tough® PLUS Batteries, $149.95 MSRP, or redeem 30,000 Ford Rewards Points.*

With 24-Month Battery Replacement Warranty

*With exchange. Taxes and installation extra. Warranty includes complimentary towing on dealer-installed batteries. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. See Service Advisor for vehicle applications and limited-warranty details. Expires 7/6/26. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Have your battery tested at no charge.*

Be sure you have the starting power you need.

*Visually inspect and test battery using tester. Hybrid battery test excluded. See Service Advisor for details. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Earn and redeem Points on Ford Service with Ford Rewards.*

Ford Rewards members can redeem Points for service and earn 10 Points per $1 spent on eligible Ford Service.**
Join and activate Ford Rewards by downloading the Ford app or visiting FordRewards.com.

*To earn Points, activate Ford Rewards account within 60 days of qualifying activity. Points have no cash value; see FordRewards.com for terms, including Points expiration. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time. **Limitations apply. Earn Points for the purchase of Ford, Motorcraft®, or Omnicraft™ Parts and associated labor at participating Ford Dealers. See FordRewards.com for terms and FAQ. Motorcraft® and Omnicraft™ are trademarks of Ford Motor Company. The Ford app is compatible with select smartphone platforms and available via download. Message and data rates may apply. Visit Ford.com for privacy notice.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Ford Pickup & Delivery

When you need service, your dealer will pick up your vehicle, service it at the dealer, and deliver it back to you. It's complimentary and available at participating dealers.*

*Offered by participating dealers. May be limited based on availability, distance, or other dealer criteria. Excludes parts and repair charges. Nonoperational vehicles are not eligible and require Roadside Assistance. See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Ford Mobile Service

Let your dealer come to you at your home or office to perform routine vehicle maintenance there on the spot. It's complimentary and available at participating dealers.*

*Offered by participating dealers. May be limited based on availability, distance, or other dealer criteria. Excludes parts and repair charges. See participating U.S. dealer for details. Ford may change or discontinue this program at any time.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Motorcraft® Warranty: Two years. Unlimited mileage. Includes labor.*

Motorcraft parts are covered for a full two years with unlimited mileage. Even limited labor costs are included.*

*See your U.S. dealer for a copy of the limited warranty. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time. Motorcraft® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.

Expires: 12/31/2026

Ford Parts Warranty: Two years. Unlimited mileage. Includes labor.*

Ford Parts are covered for a full two years with unlimited mileage. Even limited labor costs are included.*

*See your U.S. dealer for a copy of the limited warranty. Ford reserves the right to change, modify, or discontinue this program at any time.

Expires: 12/31/2026

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5500 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith, AR, 72903
Randall Ford 35.362191, -094.371465.