2006 FORD GT wheel alignment

Tires
Your Ford GT is equipped with low profile, high performance tires that
are designed to optimize handling, steering and braking. These tires are
not designed for off-road or winter performance, and their ride, noise
and wear characteristics are different than other tires. Also, because of
their lower profile, the tires are more susceptible to damage due to
potholes and rough or unpaved roads. To ensure that your tires perform
as designed, it is important that you maintain your tires properly:
•Always maintain your tire pressures according to the tire information
label on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door using an accurate
gauge.
• Tire pressures are specified “cold” and should be checked after the
vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours. Do not reduce pressure
of warm tires.
• Check your tire pressure often to maintain it properly. Tire pressure
can diminish over time and fluctuate with temperature.
• Do not overload your vehicle. Maximum vehicle and axle weights are
listed on the tire information placard.
• Extra caution should be taken when operating the vehicle near its
maximum load, including assuring proper tire pressure and reducing
speeds.
• Extra caution should be taken when operating on rough roads to avoid
impacts that could cause tire damage.
• In the event that you encounter an abnormally harsh impact, inspect
you tires for damage.
• Inspect your tires for damage on a regular basis. If a tire is damaged,
replace it immediately.
• Proper suspension alignment is critical for maximum performance and
optimal tire wear. If you notice uneven tire wear, have you alignment
checked.
• Rotate tires as recommended in this section of the Owner Guide.
• When replacing tires, the only way to assure original performance is to
use the original equipment tire.
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Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English (fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
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Wheels
Your Ford GT is equipped with unique wheels matched to the tires.
These wheels are more susceptible to damage due to their diameter,
width and low profile tires. To avoid damage to your wheels:
•Maintain proper tire pressure (see “Tires” previously listed).
• When installing wheels, always torque lug nuts to specification with a
torque wrench.
• Inspect your wheels for damage on a regular basis. If a wheel is
damaged, replace it immediately.
• In the event that you encounter an abnormally harsh impact, inspect
the outer diameter of your wheels, both inside and out, for damage
Operating a performance vehicle at higher than normal speeds
Your Ford GT is capable of operating at higher than normal speeds and is
equipped with tires rated for the vehicles’ maximum speed. However, it
is important to remember to always drive safely, obey all traffic laws and
only operate your Ford GT at higher than normal speeds at locations and
under conditions where such can be done safely. Also, before operating
your vehicle at higher than normal speeds:
• Maintain your tire pressures according to the tire information and high
speed warning labels located on the B-pillar or the edge of the driver’s
door.
• Inspect wheels and tires for wear and damage. Replace any damaged
wheels or tires.
Winter driving
The original equipment tires on your Ford GT are designed for maximum
performance in dry and wet conditions. They are not designed for winter
use on ice or snow and cannot be used with snow chains or other tire
mounted traction aids.
Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side when you’re driving, the wheels may be
out of alignment. Have a qualified technician at a Ford or
Lincoln/Mercury dealer check the wheel alignment periodically.
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USA_English (fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
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Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by a qualified technician
at a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer. Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
and those with an independent rear suspension (if equipped) may
require alignment of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle is equipped with unique larger tires on the rear
wheels, you can only rotate tires side to side. You must not rotate tire in
a crisscross pattern or front to rear. If you notice that the tires wear
unevenly, have them checked.
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
Scheduled Maintenancechapter) will help your tires wear more evenly,
providing better tire performance and longer tire life. Unless otherwise
specified, rotate the tires approximately every 5,000 miles (8,000 km).
• Tire rotation
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires.
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: After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
2006 GT (gto)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English (fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
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STEERING
To prevent damage to the power steering system:
•Never hold the steering wheel at its furthest turning points (until it
stops) for more than a few seconds when the engine is running.
• Do not operate the vehicle with a low power steering pump fluid level
(below the MIN mark on the reservoir). Refer to Checking and
adding power steering power fluid in theMaintenance and
Specifications chapter for information on checking and filling the
power steering fluid reservoir.
If the power steering system breaks down (or if the engine is turned
off), you can steer the vehicle manually, but it takes more effort.
If the steering wanders or pulls, check for:
• an improperly inflated tire
• uneven tire wear
• loose or worn suspension components
• loose or worn steering components
• improper steering alignment
A high crown in the road or high crosswinds may also make the steering
seem to wander/pull.
LIMITED-SLIP AXLE
This axle provides added traction on slippery surfaces, particularly when
one wheel is on a poor traction surface. Under normal conditions, the
limited slip axle functions like a standard rear axle.
Extended use of other than the manufacturer’s specified size tires on a
limited slip rear axle could result in a permanent reduction in
effectiveness. This loss of effectiveness does not affect normal driving
and should not be noticeable to the driver.
PREPARING TO DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE
Your vehicle has special design features, such as a decreased ground
clearance; care should be taken when driving your vehicle near curbs,
speed bumps and parking lot bump-stops.
Use extra caution while becoming familiar with your vehicle. Know the
capabilities and limitations of both you as a driver and your vehicle.
2006 GT (gto)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English (fus)
Driving
101

Keep a record for at least one month and record the type of driving (city
or highway). This will provide an accurate estimate of the vehicle’s fuel
economy under current driving conditions. Additionally, keeping records
during summer and winter will show how temperature impacts fuel
economy. In general, lower temperatures give lower fuel economy.
Driving style — good driving and fuel economy habits
Give consideration to the lists that follow and you may be able to change
a number of variables and improve your fuel economy.
Habits
•Smooth, moderate operation can yield up to 10% savings in fuel.
• Steady speeds without stopping will usually give the best fuel
economy.
• Idling for long periods of time (greater than one minute) may waste
fuel.
• Anticipate stopping; slowing down may eliminate the need to stop.
• Sudden or hard accelerations may reduce fuel economy.
• Slow down gradually.
• Driving at reasonable speeds (traveling at 55 mph [88 km/h] uses 15%
less fuel than traveling at 65 mph [105 km/h]).
• Revving the engine before turning it off may reduce fuel economy.
• Using the air conditioner or defroster may reduce fuel economy.
• Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving may reduce fuel
economy.
• Combine errands and minimize stop-and-go driving.
Maintenance
• Keep tires properly inflated and use only recommended size.
• Operating a vehicle with the wheels out of alignment will reduce fuel
economy.
• Use recommended engine oil. Refer to Lubricant specificationsin
this chapter.
• Perform all regularly scheduled maintenance items. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule and owner maintenance checks
found in the scheduled maintenance guide chapter.
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Maintenance and Specifications
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T
Tilt steering wheel ......................25
Tires .......................................66–67alignment ..................................87
care ............................................84
checking the pressure ..............69
inspecting and inflating ...........68
label ...........................................84
replacing ....................................71
rotating ......................................88
sidewall information .................80
snow tires and chains ..............89
terminology ...............................67
tire grades .................................67
treadwear ............................66, 84
Towing ...................................89, 94 recreational towing ...................94
trailer towing ......................89, 94
Transmission lubricant specifications ..........170
manual operation ....................102
Trunk remote release ..........................31 Turn signal ..................................22
V
Vehicle dimensions ...................171
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................174
Vehicle loading ............................89
Ventilating your vehicle .............98
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......10
Washer fluid ..............................147
Water, Driving through .............103
Windows
power .........................................26
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers checking and adding fluid .....147
operation ...................................24
replacing wiper blades .............24
2006 GT (gto)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA_English (fus)
Index
196