flat tire FORD E SERIES 2018 User Guide

The tire suppliers may haveadditional markings, notes orwarnings such as standard loador radial tubeless.
Additional InformationContained on the Tire Sidewallfor LT Type Tires
Note:Tire Quality Grades do notapply to this type of tire.
LT type tires have some additionalinformation beyond those of Ptype tires. These differences aredescribed below.
A.LT: Indicates a tire, designatedby the Tire and Rim Association,that is intended for service on lighttrucks.
B.Load Range and LoadInflation Limits: Indicates thetire's load-carrying capabilitiesand its inflation limits.
C.Maximum Load Dual lb (kg)at psi (kPa) cold: Indicates themaximum load and tire pressurewhen the tire is used as a dual;defined as four tires on the rearaxle (a total of six or more tires onthe vehicle).
D.Maximum Load Single lb(kg) at psi (kPa) cold: Indicatesthe maximum load and tirepressure when the tire is used asa single; defined as two tires(total) on the rear axle.
Information on T Type Tires
T145/80D16 is an example of atire size.
Note:The temporary tire size foryour vehicle may be different fromthis example. Tire Quality Gradesdo not apply to this type of tire.
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T type tires have some additionalinformation beyond those of Ptype tires. These differences aredescribed below:
A.T: Indicates a type of tire,designated by the Tire and RimAssociation, that is intended fortemporary service on cars, sportutility vehicles, minivans and lighttrucks.
B.145: Indicates the nominalwidth of the tire in millimetersfrom sidewall edge to sidewalledge. In general, the larger thenumber, the wider the tire.
C.80: Indicates the aspect ratiowhich gives the tire's ratio ofheight to width. Numbers of 70 orlower indicate a short sidewall.
D.D: Indicates a diagonal type tire.
R: Indicates a radial type tire.
E.16: Indicates the wheel or rimdiameter in inches. If you changeyour wheel size, you have topurchase new tires to match thenew wheel diameter.
Location of the Tire Label
You can find a Tire Labelcontaining tire inflation pressureby tire size and other importantinformation located on the B-Pillaror the edge of the driver's door.
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 recommended
by Ford Motor Company.
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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 inflation
pressure is found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label or
Tire 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
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 shimmyceases as the vehicle speeddecreases.
Maximum Inflation Pressure isthe tire manufacturer's maximumpermissible pressure and thepressure at which the maximum
load can be carried by the tire. Thispressure is normally higher than
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the 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 onthe 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 of1 psi (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 1.0 mi(1.6 km)), never bleed or reduce airpressure. The tires are hot fromdriving and it is normal forpressures to increase aboverecommended cold pressures. Ahot tire at or below recommendedcold inflation pressure could besignificantly under-inflated.
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.
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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 tirefrom 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, duringany procedure involving tireinflation, the technician orindividual must utilize a remoteinflation device, and ensure thatall persons are clear of thetrajectory area.
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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 appearson the tire when the tread is worndown to one sixteenth of an 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, heatcaused 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. This
information identifies and
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WARNINGS
Always inflate steel carcasstires with a remote air fill withthe person inflating standing at aminimum of 12 ft (3.66 m) awayfrom the wheel and tire assembly.
When inflating the tire formounting pressures up to20 psi (1.38 bar) greater than themaximum pressure on the tiresidewall, the followingprecautions must be taken toprotect the person mounting thetire:
•Make sure that you have thecorrect tire and wheel size.
•Lubricate the tire bead andwheel bead seat area again.
•Stand at a minimum of 12 ft(3.6 m) away from the wheeland tire assembly.
•Use both eye and earprotection.
Important: Remember to replacethe wheel valve stems when theroad tires are replaced on yourvehicle
The two front tires or two rear tiresshould generally be replaced as a
pair.
The tire pressure sensors mountedin the wheels are not designed tobe used in aftermarket wheels.
The use of wheels or tires notrecommended by Ford MotorCompany may affect theoperation of your tire pressuremonitoring system.
If the tire pressure monitoringsystem indicator is flashing, thesystem is malfunctioning. Yourreplacement tire might beincompatible with your tirepressure monitoring system, orsome component of the systemmay be damaged.
Replacing a Tire That isGreenhouse Gas Certified
The tires installed on this vehicleat the factory as originalequipment are certified forGreenhouse Gas and FuelEfficiency regulations.Replacement tires must be ofequal or lower rolling resistancelevel (TRRL or Crr). Consult withyour tire supplier(s) forappropriate replacement tires.
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck insnow, mud or sand, do notrapidly spin the tires; spinning thetires can tear the tire and causean explosion. A tire can explode inas little as three to five seconds.
Do not spin the wheels atover 34 mph (55 km/h). Thetires may fail and injure a
passenger or bystander.
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Driving habits have a great dealto do with your tire mileage andsafety.
*Observe posted speed limits
*Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
*Avoid potholes and objects onthe road
*Do not run over curbs or hit thetire against a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drivethere’s always the possibility thatyou may eventually have a flat tireon the highway. Drive slowly to theclosest safe area out of traffic.This may further damage the flattire, but your safety is moreimportant.
If you feel a sudden vibration orride disturbance when driving, oryou suspect your tire or vehiclehas been damaged, immediatelyreduce your speed. Drive withcaution until you can safely pulloff the road. Stop and inspect thetires for damage. If a tire isunder-inflated or damaged,deflate it, remove wheel andreplace it with your spare tire andwheel. If you cannot detect acause, have the vehicle towed tothe nearest repair facility or tiredealer to have the vehicleinspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb orpothole can cause the front endof your vehicle to becomemisaligned or cause damage toyour tires. If your vehicle seems topull to one side when you’redriving, the wheels may be out ofalignment. Have an authorizeddealer check the wheel alignmentperiodically.
Wheel misalignment in the frontor the rear can cause uneven andrapid treadwear of your tires andshould be corrected by anauthorized dealer. Front-wheeldrive vehicles and those with anindependent rear suspension mayrequire alignment of all fourwheels.
The tires should also be balancedperiodically. An unbalanced tireand wheel assembly may result inirregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
WARNING
If the tire label showsdifferent tire pressures for thefront and rear tires and the vehiclehas a tire pressure monitoringsystem, then you need to updatethe settings for the systemsensors. Always perform thesystem reset procedure after tirerotation. If you do not reset thesystem, it may not provide a low
tire pressure warning whennecessary.
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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) helps yourtires wear more evenly, providingbetter tire performance and longertire life. Sometime irregular tirewear can be corrected by rotatingthe 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, and 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,and death. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels couldcause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase, or power transfer unit failure. It is alsostrongly advised to follow the Fordrecommended tire inflation pressure foundon the Safety 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 Labelwhich is located on the B-Pillar or the edgeof the driver door. Failure to follow the tirepressure recommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns and adverselyaffect the way your vehicle handles.
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 help prevent vehicle damage. Donot 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.
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