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
Customer action required
Possible cause
Low tire pressure
warning light
1. Make sure tires are at the proper
pressure. See Inflating your tires in
this chapter. 2. After inflating your
tires to the manufacturer’s recom-
mended 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 function-
ality. 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 function-
ality. 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
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Wheels and Tires
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
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.
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Wheels and Tires
WARNINGS
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 feet (3.66
meters) away from the wheel and tire
assembly.
4. Use both eye and ear protection. WARNINGS
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.
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.
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Wheels and Tires