flat tire FORD EXPLORER 2004 3.G Owner's Manual

6. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other
objects embedded that could poke a hole in the tire and cause an air
leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or
other irregularities.
Tire inflation information
All tires with Steel Carcass Plies (if equipped):
This type of tire utilizes steel cords in the sidewalls. As such, they
cannot be treated like normal light truck tires. Tire service, including
adjusting tire pressure, must be performed by personnel trained,
supervised and equipped according to Federal Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. For example, during any
procedure involving tire inflation, the technician or individual must
utilize a remote inflation device, and insure that all persons are clear of
the trajectory area.
WARNINGAn inflated tire and rim can be very dangerous if
improperly used, serviced or maintained. To avoid serious injury,
never attempt to re-inflate a tire which has been run flat or seriously
under-inflated without first removing the tire from the wheel assembly
for inspection. Do not attempt to add air to tires or replace tires or
wheels without first taking precautions to protect persons and
property.
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 damage to your tires. If your vehicle
seems to pull to one side, vibrate or shake when you’re driving, the
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the tread is worn down to 4mm (1/16th of an inch). When you see these
“wear bars”, the tire is worn out and should be replaced.
Inspect your tires frequently for any of the following conditions and
replace them if one or more of the following conditions exist:
•Fabric showing through the tire rubber
•Bulges in the tread or sidewalls
•Cracks or cuts on the sidewalls
•Cracks in the tread groove
•Impact damage resulting from use
•Separation in the tread
•Separation in the sidewall
•Severe abrasion on the sidewall
If your vehicle has a leak in the exhaust system, a road tire or the spare
tire may be exposed to hot exhaust temperatures requiring the tire to be
replaced.
Safety practices
Driving habits have a great deal to do with your tire mileage and safety.
•Observe posted speed limits
•Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
•Avoid potholes and objects on the road
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tire against a curb when parking
If you vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, sand, etc.,do notrapidly 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.
Tire explosions can cause death, personal injury or property
damage. Do not allow anyone to stand near, or directly ahead or
behind the spinning tire.
Never spin the tires in excess of the 55 km/h (35 mph) point
indicated on the speedometer.
Highway hazards
No matter how carefully you drive there’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the highway. Drive slowly to the
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closest safe area out of traffic. This may further damage the flat tire, but
your safety is more important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ride disturbance while driving or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tire for damage. If the tire is under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If
you cannot detect a cause, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle inspected.
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)(if equipped)
When the tire pressure monitoring
system warning light is lit, one or
more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible,
and inflate them to the proper pressure as indicated in the vehicle’s tire
information placard. 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. Each tire should be checked monthly, the
spare tire every six months. Tire pressure should be set when cold to the
recommended inflation pressure as specified in the vehicle placard and
owner’s manual.
Note:This vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) which monitors tire pressure in each pneumatic tire. The
pressure in each tire is dependent upon several factors, one of them
being the contained air temperature (temperature of the air inside the
tire). As the contained air temperature increases, the tire pressure also
increases. While driving in a normal manner, a typical passenger tire
inflation pressure may increase approximately 14 to 28 kPa (2 to 4 psi)
from a cold start situation. This increase in tire pressure is due to an
increase in the contained air temperature. Contained air temperature is
dependent upon several factors such as rate of tire rotation, tire
deflection, amount of braking, etc. In similar manner, the tire pressure
will decrease if the contained air temperature decreases. For example, if
the vehicle is stationary over night with the outside temperature
significantly lower than the daytime temperature, the tire pressure may
decrease approximately 20.7 kPa (3 psi) for a drop of 16.6° C (30° F) in
ambient temperature. This lower pressure value may be detected by the
TPMS as being significantly lower than the cold placard pressure, and
activate the TPMS warning for low tire pressure. If the low warning light
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is on, visually check each tire to verify that no tire is flat. If one or more
tires are flat, repair of fix as necessary. If all tires appear to be inflated,
carefully drive the vehicle to the nearest location where air can be added
to the tires. Turn the ignition to the “off” position. Inflate all the tires to
the recommended cold pressure.
The system uses radio-frequency to monitor the tire pressure on all tires
excluding the spare tire. The sensors transmit the tire pressure readings
to the receiver module located in the vehicle. The receiver module then
electronically transmits the status to the message center. For more tire
warning information, refer to theMessage Centerin theDriver controls
chapter.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules and with RS-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.
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
Checking the tire pressurein this chapter. Failure to properly
maintain your tire pressure could increase the risk of tire failure, loss
of control, vehicle rollover and personal injury.
Changing tires with TPMS
It is recommended that you always
have your tires serviced by a dealer
or qualified technician.Each road
tire is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor mounted on the
wheel inside the tire connected
to the valve stem. The tire
pressure sensor must be unbolted from the wheel prior to tire
removal. The sensor can be removed by loosening the nut at the
valve stem. Failure to remove the sensor may damage it.The
rubber grommet (washer) between the wheel and the tire pressure
sensor needs to be replaced when any tire is changed to minimize air
leaks.
The tire pressure should be checked periodically (at least monthly) using
a tire gauge, refer toChecking the tire pressurein this chapter.
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