Inflating Your Tires
Safe operation of your vehiclerequires that your tires areproperly inflated. Remember thata tire can lose up to half of its airpressure without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, checkyour tires. If one looks lower thanthe others, use a tire gauge tocheck pressure of all tires andadjust if required.
At least once a month and beforelong trips, inspect each tire andcheck the tire pressure with a tiregauge (including spare, ifequipped). Inflate all tires to theinflation pressure recommendedby Ford Motor Company.
You are strongly urged to buy areliable tire pressure gauge, asautomatic service station gaugesmay be inaccurate. Fordrecommends the use of a digitalor dial-type tire pressure gaugerather than a stick-type tirepressure gauge.
Use the recommended coldinflation pressure for optimum tireperformance and wear.Under-inflation or over-inflationmay cause uneven treadwearpatterns.
WARNING
Under-inflation is the mostcommon cause of tire failuresand may result in severe tirecracking, tread separation orblowout, with unexpected loss ofvehicle control and increased riskof injury. Under-inflation increasessidewall flexing and rollingresistance, resulting in heatbuildup and internal damage tothe tire. It also may result inunnecessary tire stress, irregularwear, loss of vehicle control andaccidents. A tire can lose up tohalf of its air pressure and notappear to be flat!
Always inflate your tires to theFord recommended inflationpressure even if it is less than themaximum inflation pressureinformation found on the tire. TheFord recommended tire inflationpressure is found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label orTire Label (affixed to either thedoor hinge pillar, door-latch post,or the door edge that meets thedoor-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), or TireLabel located on the B-pillar orthe edge of the driver's door.Failure to follow the tire pressurerecommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns andadversely affect the way yourvehicle handles.
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Note:Do not reduce tire pressureto change the ride characteristicsof the vehicle. If you do notmaintain the inflation pressure atthe levels specified by Ford, yourvehicle may experience a conditionknown as shimmy. Shimmy is asevere vibration and oscillation inthe steering wheel after the vehicletravels over a bump or dip in theroad that does not dampen out byitself. Shimmy may result fromsignificant under-inflation of thetires, improper tires (load range,size, or type), or vehiclemodifications such as lift-kits. Inthe event that your vehicleexperiences shimmy, you shouldslowly reduce speed by either liftingoff the accelerator pedal or lightlyapplying the brakes. The shimmywill cease as the vehicle speeddecreases.
Maximum Inflation Pressure isthe tire manufacturer's maximumpermissible pressure and thepressure at which the maximumload can be carried by the tire. Thispressure is normally higher thanthe manufacturer’s recommendedcold inflation pressure which canbe found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the dooredge that meets the door-latchpost, next to the driver's seatingposition), or Tire Label located on
the B-pillar or the edge of thedriver's door. The cold inflationpressure should never be set lowerthan the recommended pressureon the Safety ComplianceCertification Label or Tire Label.
When weather temperaturechanges occur, tire inflationpressures also change. A 10°F(6°C) temperature drop cancause a corresponding drop of 1psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure.Check your tire pressuresfrequently and adjust them to theproper pressure which can befound on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label or Tire Label.
To check the pressure in yourtire(s):
1. Make sure the tires are cool,meaning they are not hot fromdriving even a mile.
Note:If you are checking tirepressure when the tire is hot, (forexample, driven more than 1 mile[1.6 kilometers]), never bleed orreduce air pressure. The tires arehot from driving and it is normal forpressures to increase aboverecommended cold pressures. Ahot tire at or below recommendedcold inflation pressure could besignificantly under-inflated.
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Note:If you have to drive adistance to get air for your tire(s),check and record the tire pressurefirst and add the appropriate airpressure when you get to thepump. It is normal for tires to heatup and the air pressure inside to goup as you drive.
2. Remove the cap from the valveon one tire, then firmly press thetire gauge onto the valve andmeasure the pressure.
3. Add enough air to reach therecommended air pressure.
Note:If you overfill the tire, releaseair by pressing on the metal stemin the center of the valve. Thenrecheck the pressure with your tiregauge.
4. Replace the valve cap.
5. Repeat this procedure for eachtire, including the spare.
Note:Some spare tires operate ata higher inflation pressure than theother tires. For T type mini-sparetires, (see the Dissimilar sparewheel and tire assemblyinformation for a description. Storeand maintain at 60 psi (4.15 bar).For full-size and dissimilar sparetires, see the Dissimilar spare wheeland tire assembly information fora description. Store and maintainat the higher of the front and rearinflation pressure as shown on theSafety Compliance CertificationLabel or Tire Label.
6. Visually inspect the tires tomake sure there are no nails orother objects embedded thatcould poke a hole in the tire andcause an air leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to makesure there are no gouges, cuts orbulges.
Tire Inflation Information
WARNING
An inflated tire and rim canbe very dangerous ifimproperly used, serviced ormaintained. To reduce the risk ofserious injury, never attempt tore-inflate a tire which has been runflat or seriously under-inflatedwithout first removing the tire
from the wheel assembly forinspection. Do not attempt to addair to tires or replace tires orwheels without first takingprecautions to protect personsand property.
All tires with Steel Carcass Plies(if equipped):
This type of tire utilizes steel cordsin the sidewalls. As such, theycannot be treated like normal lighttruck tires. Tire service, includingadjusting tire pressure, must beperformed by personnel trained,supervised and equippedaccording to Federal OccupationalSafety and Health Administrationregulations. For example, during
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Tire Wear
When the tread is worn down toone sixteenth of an inch (2millimeters), tires must bereplaced to help prevent yourvehicle from skidding andhydroplaning. Built-in treadwearindicators, or wear bars, whichlook like narrow strips of smoothrubber across the tread willappear on the tire when the treadis worn down to one sixteenth ofan inch (2 millimeters).
When the tire tread wears downto the same height as these wearbars, the tire is worn out and mustbe replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treadsand sidewalls for damage (suchas bulges in the tread or sidewalls,cracks in the tread groove andseparation in the tread orsidewall). If damage is observed
or suspected have the tireinspected by a tire professional.Tires can be damaged duringoff-road use, so inspection afteroff-road use is alsorecommended.
Age
WARNING
Tires degrade over timedepending on many factorssuch as weather, storageconditions, and conditions of use(load, speed, inflation pressure)the tires experience throughouttheir lives.
In general, tires should bereplaced after six years regardlessof tread wear. However, heat
caused by hot climates orfrequent high loading conditionscan accelerate the aging processand may require tires to bereplaced more frequently.
You should replace your spare tirewhen you replace the road tires orafter six years due to aging even ifit has not been used.
U.S. DOT Tire IdentificationNumber
Both United States and CanadaFederal regulations require tiremanufacturers to placestandardized information on thesidewall of all tires. Thisinformation identifies and
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Note:If your tires show unevenwear ask an authorized dealer tocheck for and correct any wheelmisalignment, tire imbalance ormechanical problem involvedbefore tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may beequipped with a dissimilar sparewheel and tire assembly. Adissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly is defined as a sparewheel and tire assembly that isdifferent in brand, size orappearance from the road tires andwheels. If you have a dissimilarspare wheel and tire assembly it isintended for temporary use onlyand should not be used in a tirerotation.
Note:After having your tiresrotated, inflation pressure must bechecked and adjusted to thevehicle requirements.
Rotating your tires at therecommended interval (asindicated in the ScheduledMaintenance chapter) will helpyour tires wear more evenly,providing better tire performanceand longer tire life. Sometimeirregular tire wear can becorrected by rotating the tires.
Rear-wheel drive vehicles andfour-wheel drive vehicles (fronttires at left of diagram).
Dual rear wheel drive vehicle - six
tire rotation (front tires at top ofdiagram).
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If your vehicle is equipped withdual rear wheels it isrecommended that the front andrear tires (in pairs) be rotated onlyside to side. We do notrecommend splitting up the dualrear wheels. Rotate them side toside as a set. After tire rotation,inflation pressures must beadjusted for the tires newpositions in accordance withvehicle requirements.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING
Snow tires must be the same size,load index, speed rating as thoseoriginally provided by Ford. Use ofany tire or wheel not recommended byFord can affect the safety andperformance of your vehicle, which couldresult in an increased risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injury anddeath. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels couldcause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase or power transfer unit failure.
Note:Do not use snow chains on vehicleswith 20 inch wheels and tires.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weathertreads to provide traction in rain and snow.However, in some climates, you may needto use snow tires and cables. If you needto use cables, it is recommended that steelwheels (of the same size andspecifications) be used, as cables may chipaluminum wheels.
Note:The suspension insulation andbumpers will help prevent vehicle damage.Do not remove these components from yourvehicle when using snow tires and chains.
Follow these guidelines when using snowtires and chains:
•If possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle
•Use only SAE Class S chains.
•Install chains securely, verifying thatthe chains do not touch any wiring,brake lines or fuel lines.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the chainsrub or bang against your vehicle, stopand retighten the chains. If this doesnot work, remove the chains to preventdamage to your vehicle.
•Remove the tire chains when they areno longer needed. Do not use tirechains on dry roads.
If you have any questions regarding snowchains or cables, please contact yourauthorized dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING
The tire pressure monitoring systemis not a substitute for manuallychecking the tire pressure. The tirepressure should be checked periodically(at least monthly) using a tire pressuregauge. Failure to properly maintain yourtire pressure could increase the risk of tirefailure, loss of control, vehicle rollover andpersonal injury.
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Each tire, including the spare (ifprovided), should be checkedmonthly when cold and inflatedto the inflation pressure recommended bythe vehicle manufacturer on the vehicleplacard or tire inflation pressure label. (Ifyour vehicle has tires of a different sizethan the size indicated on the vehicleplacard or tire inflation pressure label, youshould determine the proper tire inflationpressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehiclehas been equipped with a Tire PressureMonitoring System (TPMS) thatilluminates a low tire pressure telltalewhen one or more of your tires issignificantly under-inflated. Accordingly,when the low tire pressure telltaleilluminates, you should stop and checkyour tires as soon as possible, and inflatethem to the proper pressure. Driving on asignificantly under-inflated tire causes thetire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiencyand tire tread life, and may affect thevehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not asubstitute for proper tire maintenance, andit is the driver’s responsibility to maintaincorrect tire pressure, even if under-inflationhas not reached the level to triggerillumination of the TPMS low tire pressuretelltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped witha TPMS malfunction indicator to indicatewhen the system is not operating properly.The TPMS malfunction indicator iscombined with the low tire pressuretelltale. When the system detects amalfunction, the telltale will flash forapproximately one minute and then remaincontinuously illuminated. This sequencewill continue upon subsequent vehiclestart-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator isilluminated, the system may not be ableto detect or signal low tire pressure asintended. TPMS malfunctions may occurfor a variety of reasons, including theinstallation of replacement or alternatetires or wheels on the vehicle that preventthe TPMS from functioning properly.Always check the TPMS malfunctiontelltale after replacing one or more tires orwheels on your vehicle to ensure that thereplacement or alternate tires and wheelsallow the TPMS to continue to functionproperly.
The tire pressure monitoring systemcomplies with part 15 of the FCC rules andwith RSS-210 of Industry Canada.Operation is subject to the following twoconditions: (1) This device may not causeharmful interference, and (2) This devicemust accept any interference received,including interference that may causeundesired operation.
This device complies with part 15 of theFCC Rules and with Licence exempt RSSStandards of Industry Canada. Operationis subject to the following two conditions:
•This device may not cause harmfulinterference.
•This device must accept anyinterference received, includinginterference that may cause undesiredoperation.
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When Inflating Your Tires
When putting air into your tires (such as ata gas station or in your garage), the tirepressure monitoring system may notrespond immediately to the air added toyour tires.
It may take up to two minutes of drivingover 20 mph (32 km/h) for the light to turnoff after you have filled your tires to therecommended inflation pressure.
How Temperature Affects Your TirePressure
The tire pressure monitoring systemmonitors tire pressure in each pneumatictire. While driving in a normal manner, atypical passenger tire inflation pressuremay increase about 2 to 4 psi (14 to 28kPa) from a cold start situation. If thevehicle is stationary overnight with theoutside temperature significantly lowerthan the daytime temperature, the tirepressure may decrease about 3 psi (21kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C) in ambienttemperature. This lower pressure valuemay be detected by the tire pressuremonitoring system as being significantlylower than the recommended inflationpressure and activate the system warninglight for low tire pressure.
If the low tire pressure warning light is on,visually check each tire to verify that no tireis flat. If one or more tires are flat, repair asnecessary. Check the air pressure in theroad tires. If any tire is under-inflated,carefully drive the vehicle to the nearestlocation where air can be added to thetires. Inflate all the tires to therecommended inflation pressure.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ResetProcedure
WARNING
To determine the requiredpressure(s) for your vehicle, see theSafety Compliance CertificationLabel (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), or Tire Labellocated on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver's door.
Note:You need to perform the tire pressuremonitoring system reset procedure aftereach tire rotation on vehicles that requiredifferent recommended tire pressures in thefront tires as compared to the rear tires.
Overview
To provide the vehicle's load carryingcapability, some vehicles require differentrecommended tire pressures in the fronttires as compared to the rear tires. The tirepressure monitoring system equipped onthese vehicles is designed to illuminate thelow tire pressure warning light at twodifferent pressures; one for the front tiresand one for the rear tires.
Since tires need to be rotated to provideconsistent performance and maximum tirelife, the tire pressure monitoring systemneeds to know when the tires are rotatedto determine which set of tires are on thefront and which are on the rear. With thisinformation, the system can detect andproperly warn of low tire pressures.
System reset tips:
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