2013 FORD ESCAPE warning

When the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm), tires must be
replaced to help 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 one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm)
When the tire tread wears down to the
same height as these wear bars, the tire is
worn out and must be replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads and
sidewalls for damage (such as bulges in
the tread or sidewalls, cracks in the tread
groove and separation in the tread or
sidewall). If damage is observed or
suspected have the tire inspected by a tire
professional. Tires can be damaged during
off-road use, so inspection after off-road
use is also recommended.
Age
WARNING
Tires degrade over time depending
on many factors such as weather,
storage conditions, and conditions
of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, etc.)
the tires experience throughout their lives.
In general, tires should be replaced after
six years regardless of tread wear.
However, heat caused by hot climates or
frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process and may
require tires to be replaced more
frequently.
You should replace your spare tire when
you replace the road tires or after six years
due to aging even if it has not been used.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
Both U.S. and Canada Federal regulations
require tire manufacturers to place
standardized information on the sidewall
of all tires. This information identifies and
describes the fundamental characteristics
of the tire and also provides a U.S. DOT
Tire Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case of a
recall.
This begins with the letters DOT and
indicates that the tire meets all federal
standards. The next two numbers or letters
are the plant code designating where it
was manufactured, the next two are the
tire size code and the last four numbers
represent the week and year the tire was
built. For example, the numbers 317 mean
the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the
numbers go to four digits. For example,
2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The
numbers in between are identification
codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers
if a tire defect requires a recall.
Tire Replacement Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide a safe ride and
handling capability.
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires and
wheels that are the same size, load
index, speed rating and type (such
as P-metric versus LT-metric or all-season
versus all-terrain) as those originally
provided by Ford. The recommended tire
and wheel size may be found on either the
Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or the Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or edge of
the driver ’s door. If this information is not
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WARNINGS
found on these labels then you should
contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. 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,
transfer case or power transfer unit failure.
If you have questions regarding tire
replacement, contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
When mounting replacement tires
and wheels, you should not exceed
the maximum pressure indicated on
the sidewall of the tire to set the beads
without additional precautions listed
below. If the beads do not seat at the
maximum pressure indicated, re-lubricate
and try again
When inflating the tire for mounting
pressures up to 20 psi (1.38 bar) greater
than the maximum pressure on the tire
sidewall, the following precautions must
be taken to protect the person mounting
the tire:
1. Make sure that you have the correct tire
and wheel size.
2. Lubricate the tire bead and wheel bead
seat area again.
3. Stand at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)
away from the wheel and tire assembly.
4. Use both eye and ear protection.
For a mounting pressure more than 20 psi
(1.38 bar) greater than the maximum
pressure, a Ford dealer or other tire service
professional should do the mounting.
WARNINGS
Always inflate steel carcass tires with a
remote air fill with the person inflating
standing at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)
away from the wheel and tire assembly
Important: Remember to replace the
wheel valve stems when the road tires are
replaced on your vehicle
It is recommended that the two front tires
or two rear tires generally be replaced as
a pair.
The tire pressure sensors mounted in the
wheels (originally installed on your vehicle)
are not designed to be used in aftermarket
wheels.
The use of wheels or tires not
recommended by Ford Motor Company
may affect the operation of your tire
pressure monitoring system.
If the TPMS indicator is flashing, your
TPMS is malfunctioning. Your replacement
tire might be incompatible with your TPMS,
or some component of the TPMS may be
damaged.
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud,
sand, etc., do not rapidly 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.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35
mph (56 km/h). The tires may fail
and injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal to do with
your tire mileage and safety.
• Observe posted speed limits
• Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
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Sometimes irregular tire wear can be
corrected by rotating the tires.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING
Snow tires must be the same size,
load index, speed rating 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, transfer
case or power transfer unit failure.
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 cables. If you need
to use cables, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and
specifications) be used, as cables may chip
aluminum wheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snow
tires and traction devices •
If possible, avoid fully loading your
vehicle
• Purchase chains or cables from a
manufacturer that clearly labels body
to tire dimension restrictions.
• Use 10 mm cables or chains ONLY on
front axle with 235/55R17 tires.
• Not all S-class snow chains or cables
meet these restrictions. Chains of this
size restriction will include a tensioning
device.
• The snow chains or cables must be
mounted in pairs on the front axle.
• Do not use chains or cables on
235/50R18 and 235/45R19 tires.
• Install cables securely, verifying that
the cables do not touch any wiring,
brake lines or fuel lines.
• When driving with tire cables do not
exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) or the
maximum speed recommended by the
chain manufacturer, whichever is less.
• Drive cautiously. If you hear the cables
rub or bang against the vehicle, stop
and retighten them. If this does not
work, remove the cables to prevent
vehicle damage.
• Remove the cables when they are no
longer needed. Do not use cables on
dry roads.
If you have any questions regarding snow
chains or cables, please contact your
authorized dealer.
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TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING
The tire pressure monitoring system
is NOT a substitute for manually
checking tire pressure. The tire
pressure should be checked periodically
(at least monthly) using a tire gauge, see
Inflating your tires in this chapter. Failure
to properly maintain your tire pressure
could increase the risk of tire failure, loss
of control, vehicle rollover and personal
injury.
Each tire, including the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated
to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of
a different size than the size indicated on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, you should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle ’s handling and stopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver
’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure telltale. When
the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately one
minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur
for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
The tire pressure monitoring system
complies with part 15 of the FCC rules and
with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) This device
must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
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Wheels and Tires

Changing Tires with a Tire
Pressure Monitoring System
Note:Each road tire is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor located inside the wheel
and tire assembly cavity. The pressure
sensor is attached to the valve stem. The
pressure sensor is covered by the tire and is
not visible unless the tire is removed. Care
must be taken when changing the tire to
avoid damaging the sensor
It is recommended that you always have
your tires serviced by an authorized dealer.
The tire pressure should be checked
periodically (at least monthly) using an
accurate tire gauge, refer to Inflating your
tires in this chapter. Understanding Your Tire Pressure
Monitoring System
The tire pressure monitoring system
measures pressure in your four road tires
and sends the tire pressure readings to
your vehicle. The low tire pressure warning
light will turn on if the tire pressure is
significantly low. Once the light is
illuminated, your tires are under-inflated
and need to be inflated to the
manufacturer
’s recommended tire
pressure. Even if the light turns on and a
short time later turns off, your tire pressure
still needs to be checked. Visit
www.checkmytires.org for additional
information.
When your Temporary Spare Tire is
Installed
When one of your road tires needs to be
replaced with the temporary spare, the tire
pressure monitoring system will continue
to identify an issue to remind you that the
damaged road wheel and tire assembly
needs to be repaired and put back on your
vehicle.
To restore the full functionality of the tire
pressure monitoring system, have the
damaged road wheel and tire assembly
repaired and remounted on your vehicle.
When you Believe your System is not
Operating Properly
The main function of the tire pressure
monitoring system is to warn you when
your tires need air. It can also warn you in
the event the system is no longer capable
of functioning as intended. Please refer to
the following chart for information
concerning your tire pressure monitoring
system:
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Customer action required
Possible cause
Low tire pressure
warning light
1. Make sure tires are at the proper pres-
sure. See Inflating your tires in this
chapter. 2. After inflating your tires to the
manufacturer’s recommended pressure
as shown on the Tire Label (located on
the edge of driver ’s door or the B-Pillar),
the vehicle must be driven for at least
two minutes over 20 mph (32 km/h)
before the light turns off.
Tire(s) under-inflated
Solid warning light
Repair the damaged road wheel and tire
assembly and reinstall it on the vehicle
to restore system functionality. For a
description on how the system functions,
refer to When your temporary spare tire
is installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
If the tires are properly inflated and the
spare tire is not in use but the light
remains on, contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
TPMS malfunction
Repair the damaged road wheel and tire
assembly and reinstall it on the vehicle
to restore system functionality. For a
description on how the system functions,
refer to When your temporary spare tire
is installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
Flashing warning
light
If the tires are properly inflated and the
spare tire is not in use but the light
remains on, contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
TPMS malfunction
When Inflating your Tires
When putting air into your tires (such as at
a gas station or in your garage), the tire
pressure monitoring system may not
respond immediately to the air added to
your tires. It may take up to two minutes of driving
over 20 mph (32 km/h) for the light to turn
off after you have filled your tires to the
recommended inflation pressure
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Wheels and Tires

How Temperature Affects your Tire
Pressure
The tire pressure monitoring system
monitors tire pressure in each pneumatic
tire. While driving in a normal manner, a
typical passenger tire inflation pressure
may increase approximately 2 to 4 psi (14
to 28 kPa) from a cold start situation. If
the vehicle is stationary overnight with the
outside temperature significantly lower
than the daytime temperature, the tire
pressure may decrease approximately 3
psi (21 kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C) in
ambient temperature. This lower pressure
value may be detected by the TPMS as
being significantly lower than the
recommended inflation pressure and
activate the TPMS warning light for low
tire pressure. If the low tire pressure
warning light is on, visually check each tire
to verify that no tire is flat. (If one or more
tires are flat, repair as necessary.) Check
air pressure in the road tires. If any tire is
under-inflated, carefully drive the vehicle
to the nearest location where air can be
added to the tires. Inflate all the tires to
the recommended inflation pressure.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL
WARNINGS
The use of tire sealants may damage
your tire pressure monitoring system
and should not be used. However, if
you must use a sealant, the tire pressure
monitoring system sensor and valve stem
on the wheel must be replaced by an
authorized Ford dealer.
See Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (page 257). for important
information. If the tire pressure
monitor sensor becomes damaged, it will
no longer function.
Note: The tire pressure monitoring system
indicator light will illuminate when the spare
tire is in use. To restore the full functionality
of the monitoring system, all road wheels
equipped with tire pressure monitoring
sensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not
apply the brake heavily. Instead, gradually
decrease your speed. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe
place on the side of the road.
Have a flat serviced by an authorized
dealer in order to prevent damage to the
tire pressure monitoring system sensors.
See Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(page 257). Replace the spare tire with a
road tire as soon as possible. During
repairing or replacing of the flat tire, have
the authorized dealer inspect the tire
pressure monitoring system sensor for
damage.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire
Assembly Information
WARNING
Failure to follow these guidelines
could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel and
tire, then it is intended for temporary use
only. This means that if you need to use it,
you should replace it as soon as possible
with a road wheel and tire assembly that
is the same size and type as the road tires
and wheels that were originally provided
by Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel
is damaged, it should be replaced rather
than repaired.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
is defined as a spare wheel and tire
assembly that is different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:
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Wheels and Tires

Tire Change Procedure
WARNINGS
When one of the front wheels is off
the ground, the transmission alone
will not prevent the vehicle from
moving or slipping off the jack, even if the
vehicle is in position P.
To help 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.
Do not attempt to change a tire on
the side of the vehicle close to
moving traffic. Pull far enough off the
road to avoid the danger of being hit when
operating the jack or changing the wheel.
To lessen the risk of personal injury,
do not put any part of your body
under the vehicle while changing a
tire. Do not start the engine when your
vehicle is on the jack. The jack is only
meant for changing the tire.
Note: Passengers should not remain in the
vehicle when the vehicle is being jacked.
1. Park on a level surface, set the parking
brake and activate the hazard flashers.
2. Place the gearshift lever in position P and turn the engine off.
3. Remove the carpeted wheel cover.
4. Remove the lug wrench and jack from the foam holder. Then, remove the flat
tire retainer strap from the jack base.
5. Block the diagonally opposite wheel.
6. Loosen each wheel lug nut one-halfturn counterclockwise but do not
remove them until the wheel is raised
off the ground.
7. The vehicle jacking points are shown here, and are depicted on the yellow
warning label on the jack. Jack at the
specified locations to avoid
damage to the vehicle.
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E142551