2005 FORD FOCUS spare wheel

Note:If your tires show uneven wear ask a qualified technician at a
Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealership to check for and correct any wheel
misalignment, tire imbalance or mechanical problem involved before tire
rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equipped with a dissimilar spare tire/wheel. A
dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that is
different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels. If
you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel it is intended for temporary use
only and should not be used in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
Tire wear
Measure and inspect the tire tread on all your tires periodically.
Advanced and unusual tire wear can reduce the ability of tread to grip
the road in adverse (wet, snowy, etc.) conditions. Visually check your
tires for uneven wear, looking for high and low areas or unusually
smooth areas. Also check for signs of tire damage.
When the tread is worn down to
1/16th of an inch (2 mm), tires must
be replaced to prevent your vehicle
from skidding and hydroplaning.
Built-in treadwear indicators, or
“wear bars”, which look like narrow
strips of smooth rubber across the
tread will appear on the tire when
the tread is worn down to 1/16th of an inch (2 mm). When you see these
“wear bars”, the tire is worn out and should be replaced.
Inspect your tires frequently for any of the following conditions and
replace them if one or more of the following conditions exist:
•Fabric showing through the tire rubber
•Bulges in the tread or sidewalls
•Cracks or cuts on the sidewalls
•Cracks in the tread groove
•Impact damage resulting from use
•Separation in the tread
•Separation in the sidewall
•Severe abrasion on the sidewall
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
199

If your vehicle has a leak in the exhaust system, a road tire or the spare
tire may be exposed to hot exhaust temperatures requiring the tire to be
replaced.
Tire Replacement Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tires designed to provide safe ride and
handling capability.
Only use replacement tires and wheels that are the same size
and type (such as P-metric versus LT-metric or all-season versus
all-terrain) as those originally provided by Ford. Use of any tire or
wheel not recommended by Ford can affect the safety and
performance of your vehicle, which could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death.
Additionally the use of non-recommended tires and wheels could cause
steering, suspension, axle or transfer case/power transfer unit failure. If
you have questions regarding tire replacement, see an authorized Ford
or Lincoln/Mercury dealer.
Make sure all tires and wheels on the vehicle are of the same size, type,
tread design, brand, load-carrying capacity and speed rating because it
can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could result
in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
You should replace the spare tire when you replace the other road tires
due to the aging of the spare tire.
Safety practices
Driving habits have a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety.
•Observe posted speed limits
•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
•Avoid potholes and objects on the road
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against a curb when parking
If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,do notrapidly spin the
tires; spinning the tires can tear the tire and cause an explosion. A tire
can explode in as little as three to five seconds.
Tire explosions can cause death, personal injury or property
damage. Do not allow anyone to stand near, directly ahead or
behind the spinning tire.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
200

Never spin the tires in excess of the 35 mph (55 km/h) point
indicated on the speedometer.
Highway hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If
you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
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 (if equipped) may exhibit some unusual
driving characteristics, when using snow chains, which can be avoided by
switching Traction Control off.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
A snow tire as original equipment is not offered. Please contact
your dealer to fit an appropriate sized snow tire (P185/60R15).
Snow chains should never be used on the spare tire.
•Use only cable type chains for snow traction. Using SAE class S or
other conventional link type chains may cause damage to the vehicle’s
wheel house and/or body. Snow cable type chains should only be fitted
to size P185/60 R15 tires. P185/60R15 tires are not offered by Ford as
original equipment. To operate the vehicle with snow chains these
tires must be purchased and mounted separately.
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Maintenance and Specifications
201

Spare tire
(see Changing the Tire) ...........134
Spark plugs,
specifications .....................202, 206
Specification chart,
lubricants ...........................205–206
Speed control ..............................45
Starting your vehicle .......103–104,
106
jump starting ..........................139
Steering wheel
tilting .........................................41
Sunroof (moonroof) ...................48
T
Temperature control
(see Climate control) .................26
Tilt steering wheel ......................41
Tires ...................................188–190
alignment ................................197
care ..........................................195
changing ..........................134, 136
checking the pressure ............195
label .........................................195
replacing ..................................200
rotating ....................................197
safety practices .......................200
sidewall information ...............191
snow tires and chains ............201
spare tire .................................135
terminology .............................190
tire grades ...............................189
treadwear ........................189, 199
Towing .......................................121
recreational towing .................124
trailer towing ..........................121
wrecker ....................................146
Traction control ........................108Transaxle
lubricant specifications ..........206
Transmission
automatic operation ...............110
brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....110
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................186
fluid, checking and adding
(manual) .................................188
fluid, refill capacities ..............203
lubricant specifications ..........205
manual operation ....................113
Trunk ...........................................54
remote release ..........................57
Turn signal ..................................32
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................206
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................210
Vehicle loading ..........................115
Ventilating your vehicle ...........106
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................165
Water, Driving through .............115
Windows
power .........................................44
rear wiper/washer .....................40
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers
checking and adding fluid .....165
operation ...................................40
replacing wiper blades .............41
Wrecker towing .........................146
2005 Focus(foc)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA English(fus)
Index
219