2003 FORD FOCUS spare wheel

The use of tire sealants is not recommended and may
compromise the integrity of your tires.
Temporary spare tire information
The temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller
than a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Replace the
temporary spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as possible.
If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow
these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose control
of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or others.
When driving with the temporary spare tiredo not:
•use more than one temporary spare tire at a time
•exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
•load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
•tow a trailer
•use tire chains
•drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle’s reduced
ground clearance
•try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel
•use the wheel for any other type of vehicle
Use of a temporary spare tire at any one wheel location can lead to
impairment of the following:
•handling, stability and braking performance
•comfort and noise
•ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter driving capability
Roadside Emergencies
135

Tire change procedure
1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and set the parking
brake.
When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the transaxle
alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the
jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or R
(Reverse) (manual transaxle).
To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire, be
sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions) the
wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to
the tire being changed.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park) (automatic transaxle) or R (Reverse)
(manual transaxle), turn engine OFF, and block the diagonally opposite
wheel.
3. Remove the spare tire and jack by
turning their tie-down bolts
counterclockwise. The lug wrench is
located in a bag next to the spare
tire (coupe and 5–door models) or
on top of the spare tire (sedan and
wagon models).
Roadside Emergencies
136

6. The vehicle jacking points are
depicted on the yellow warning label
on the jack shown here. Depending
on which tire is to be changed,
locate the jack at the half-moon
cutout located approximately 15 cm
(6 inches) from the front wheel
opening (1) or approximately 38 cm
(15 inches) from the rear wheel
opening (2).
Jack at the specified locations
to avoid damage to the vehicle.
7. Remove the lug nuts with the lug wrench.
8. Replace the flat tire with the spare tire, making sure the valve stem is
facing outward. Reinstall the lug nuts until the wheel is snug against the
hub. Do not fully tighten the lug nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
9. Lower the wheel by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
10. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts in the order
shown.
11. Put flat tire, jack and lug wrench
away. Make sure the jack is fastened
so it does not rattle when you drive.
Unblock the wheels.
JUMP STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
The gases around the battery can explode if exposed to flames,
sparks, or lit cigarettes. An explosion could result in injury or
vehicle damage.
Batteries contain sulfuric acid which can burn skin, eyes and
clothing, if contacted.
1
4 3
2
Roadside Emergencies
138

SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS
Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.
The tires on your vehicle have all weather treads to provide traction in
rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use chains, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and specifications) be used, as chains may chip
aluminum wheels.
Vehicles with Traction Control or AdvanceTrac
(if equipped) may
exhibit some unusual driving characteristics, when using snow chains,
which can be avoided by switching AdvanceTrac
off.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
Snow chains should only be fitted to size P 185/65 R14 tires.
Snow chains should never be used on the spare tire.
•Use only SAE Class S chains.
•Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or bang against your
vehicle, stop and re-tighten the chains. If this does not work, remove
the chains to prevent damage to your vehicle.
•If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
•Remove the tire chains when they are no longer needed. Do not use
tire chains on dry roads.
•The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.
Maintenance and Specifications
195