tire pressure FORD GT 2005 1.G Owners Manual

The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the
tire ’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
TIRES
Tires are designed to give many thousands of miles of service, but they
must be maintained in order to get the maximum benefit from them.
Glossary of tire terminology
• Tire label: A label showing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure and the maximum weight the vehicle
can carry.
• Tire Identification Number (TIN): A number on the sidewall of
each tire providing information about the tire brand and
manufacturing plant, tire size and date of manufacture.
• Inflation pressure: A measure of the amount of air in a tire.
• Standard load: A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a
maximum load at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing
the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase the tire ’s
load carrying capability.
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•Extra load: A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires].
Increasing the inflation pressure beyond this pressure will not increase
the tire ’s load carrying capability.
• kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure.
• PSI: Pounds per square inch, a standard unit of air pressure.
• Cold inflation pressure: The tire pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven for 1 mile (1.6 km).
• Recommended inflation pressure: The cold inflation pressure found
on the tire label located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver ’s
door.
• B-pillar: The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the
front door.
• Bead area of the tire: Area of the tire next to the rim.
• Sidewall of the tire: Area between the bead area and the tread.
• Tread area of the tire: Area of the perimeter of the tire that
contacts the road when mounted on the vehicle.
• Rim: The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated.
INSPECTING AND INFLATING YOUR TIRES
Safe operation of your vehicle requires that your tires are properly
inflated. Remember that a tire can lose up to half of its air pressure
without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, check
your tires. If one looks lower than
the others, use a tire gauge to check
pressure of all tires, and adjust if
required.
At least once a month and before
long trips, inspect each tire and
check the tire pressure with a tire
gauge (including spare, if equipped).
Inflate all tires to the inflation
pressure recommended by Ford
Motor Company.
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Inspecting your tires
Periodically inspect the tire treads for uneven or excessive wear and
remove stones, nails, glass or other objects that may be wedged in the
tread grooves. Check for holes or cuts that may permit air leakage from
the tire and make necessary repairs.
Also inspect the tire sidewalls for cuts, bruises and other damage. If
internal damage to the tire is suspected, have the tire demounted and
inspected in case it needs to be repaired or replaced. For your safety,
tires that are damaged should not be used because they are more likely
to blow out or fail. Tires can be damaged during off-road use, so
inspection after off-road use is also recommended.
Inflating your tires
Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare
(if equipped), at least monthly and before long trips. You are strongly
urged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as automatic service station
gauges may be inaccurate. Ford recommends the use of a digital or dial
type tire pressure gauge rather than a stick type tire pressure gauge.
Use the recommended cold inflation pressure for optimum tire
performance and wear. Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause
uneven treadwear patterns.
Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failures and
may result in severe tire cracking, tread separation orblowout ,
with unexpected loss of vehicle control and increased risk of injury.
Under-inflation increases sidewall flexing and rolling resistance,
resulting in heat buildup and internal damage to the tire. It also may
result in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of vehicle control
and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not
appear to be flat!
Always inflate your tires to the Ford recommended inflation pressure
even if it is less than the maximum inflation pressure information found
on the tire. The Ford recommended tire inflation pressure is found on
the tire label or certification label which is located on the B-Pillar or the
edge of the driver ’s door. Failure to follow the tire pressure
recommendations can cause uneven treadwear patterns and adversely
affect the way your vehicle handles.
Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure is the tire manufactures’
maximum permissible pressure and/or the pressure at which the
maximum load can be carried by the tire. This pressure is normally
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higher than the manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation pressure
which can be found on either the tire label or certification label which is
located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver ’s door. The cold inflation
pressure should never be set lower than the recommended pressure on
the tire label or certification label.
When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also
change. A 10 °F(6 °C) temperature drop can cause a corresponding
drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check your tire pressures
frequently and adjust them to the proper pressure which can be found
on the tire label or certification label.
If you are checking tire pressure when the tire is hot, (i.e. driven more
than 1 mile [1.6 km]), never “bleed ”or reduce air pressure. The tires are
hot from driving and it is normal for pressures to increase above
recommended cold pressures. A hot tire at or below recommended cold
inflation pressure could be significantly under-inflated.
To check the pressure in your tire(s):
1. Make sure the tires are cool, meaning they are not hot from driving
even a mile.
Note: If you have to drive a distance to get air for your tire(s), check
and record the tire pressure first and add the appropriate air pressure
when you get to the pump. It is normal for tires to heat up and the air
pressure inside to go up as you drive. Never “bleed ”or reduce air
pressure when tires are hot.
2. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire, then firmly press the tire
gauge onto the valve and measure the pressure with the tire gauge.
3. Add enough air to reach the recommended air pressure
Note: If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in
the center of the valve. Then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
4. Replace the valve cap.
5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare.
Note: Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure than the other
tires. Check the tire label on the B pillar or the edge of the driver ’s door
for the recommended spare tire pressure.
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 or bulges.
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Tire inflation kit
Your vehicle is equipped with an emergency tire inflation kit (located in
the luggage compartment). The inflation kit consists of an air compressor
to reinflate the tire and a sealing compound that will effectively seal
most punctures caused by nails or similar objects. This kit will provide a
temporary seal allowing you to drive your vehicle up to 120 miles at a
maximum speed of 50 mph.
Note:The inflation kit is to be used for one tire only. See your dealer for
additional kits.
General information
It is possible that, especially with tire punctures larger than
1⁄4inch or
damage to the tire’s sidewall, a tire can not be completely sealed.
Note: Do not use the tire inflation kit if a tire has become severely
damaged by driving the vehicle with a tire that has insufficient air
pressure or is totally flat. Only punctured areas located within the tire
tread can be sealed with the tire inflation kit. For safety reasons,
damage to the sidewall must not be repaired.
Loss of air pressure may adversely affect tire performance. For this
reason:
• Do not drive the vehicle above 50 mph.
• Do not drive further than 120 miles. Drive only to the closest Ford
Motor Company dealership or tire dealer.
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•Drive carefully and avoid abrupt steering maneuvers.
• Periodically monitor tire inflation pressure in the affected tire; if the
tire is losing pressure, have the vehicle towed.
• Read the information in the Tips for use of the tire inflation kit
section to ensure safe operation of the tire inflation kit and your
vehicle.
Tips for use of the tire inflation kit
Read the following list of tips to ensure safe operation of the tire
inflation kit:
• Before operating the inflation kit, make sure your vehicle is safely off
the road and away from moving traffic.
• Always set the parking brake to ensure the vehicle doesn ’t move
unexpectedly.
• Do not remove any foreign objects, such as nails or screws, from the
tire.
• When using the inflation kit, leave the engine running (only if the
vehicle is outdoors or in a well-ventilated area) so the
compressor doesn ’t drain the vehicle ’s battery.
• Do not allow the compressor to operate continuously for more than 10
minutes; this will help prevent the compressor from overheating.
• Never leave the inflation kit unattended when it is operating.
• Keep the inflation kit away from children.
• Only use the inflation kit when the ambient temperature is above
–20 °F.
• Only use the inflation kit for sealing/inflating the tires on your vehicle.
Do not use the kit for inflating tires on motorcycles, bicycles or any
other type of tire.
• Only use the sealing compound before the expiration date. The
expiration date is labeled on the unit.
• Do not store the inflation kit inside the passenger compartment of the
vehicle as it may cause injury during a sudden stop or collision. Store
the kit in its proper location.
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What to do when a tire is punctured
A tire puncture within the tire’s tread area can be repaired in two stages
with the tire inflation kit:
• In the first stage, the tire will be reinflated with a sealing compound
and air. After the tire has been reinflated, you will need to drive the
vehicle a short distance (approximately two miles) to activate the
sealing compound inside the tire.
• In the second stage, you will need to check the tire pressure and, if
necessary, adjust tire inflation to its proper pressure.
First stage: Reinflating the tire with sealing compound and air
1. Remove the hose (1) and the cable with the electrical plug (2) from
the kit ’s storage compartment (3).
2. Remove the valve cap from the punctured tire, then screw the hose
firmly onto the tire ’s air valve.
3. Insert the electrical plug into the vehicle ’s dash mounted power point.
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Note:When the sealing compound
is first added into the tire, the air
pressure gauge reading (7) on the
compressor unit may increase up to
90 psi; this is normal and should be
no reason for concern. The pressure
will drop after about 30 seconds of
operation.
Do not stand next to the damaged tire while it is inflating. If you
notice any unusual bulges or deformations in the tire ’s sidewall
during inflation, stop the air compressor and deflate the tire using the
pressure release valve.
8. Inflate the tire for nine minutes or until the pressure reaches 22 psi,
then turn the air compressor off by pressing the “O ” side of the orange
button.
Note: If the damaged tire does not reach 22 psi within nine minutes, the
tire is too severely damaged and the car must not be driven. Call for
roadside assistance.
9. Once the tire pressure reaches 22 psi, quickly unscrew the hose from
the tire ’s air valve and reinstall the valve cap. Unplug the electrical plug
from the power point. Turn the sealing compound container back to its
original position and close the safety latch. Stow the inflation kit in an
easily accessible place since you will need it to check the tire ’s air
pressure again in the second stage of this operation.
10. Immediately, and cautiously, drive the vehicle a short distance
(approximately two miles) to activate the sealing compound within the
damaged tire. Do not exceed 50 mph.
Note: If you experience any unusual vibration, ride disturbance or noise
while driving, reduce your speed until you can safely pull off to the side
of the road to call for roadside assistance. Do not proceed to the
second stage of this operation.
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Second stage: Checking tire pressure
1. Stop driving after approximately two miles. Refer to theTips for use
of the tire inflation kit for safe operation of the tire inflation kit. Then
check the air pressure of the damaged tire as follows:
• Ensure the compressor is turned off by pressing the “O ” side of the
orange button.
• Remove the hose and the cable with the electrical plug from the kit ’s
storage compartment.
• Remove the valve cap from the sealed tire, then screw the hose firmly
onto the tire ’s air valve.
• Start the engine (only if the vehicle is outdoors or in a
well-ventilated area) to prevent the vehicle’s battery from draining.
• Insert the electrical plug into the vehicle ’s power point.
• Read the air pressure gauge on the inflation kit.
2. If the air pressure reads 19 psi or higher, switch the air compressor on
by pressing the “I” side of the orange button and adjust the air pressure
to the recommended pressure. This pressure can be found on a label
affixed to the B-Pillar. If the air pressure is higher than the label states,
reduce the excess pressure by pressing down on the pressure release
valve (8).
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Note:Before driving any further, adjust the tire pressure to the
recommended pressure.
3. Turn the air compressor off by pressing the “O ” side of the orange
button, then unscrew the hose from the tire ’s air valve, reinstall the tire
valve cap, unplug the electrical plug from the power point and stow the
inflation kit in its proper place.
What to do after the tire has been sealed
After using the inflation kit to seal you tire, you will need to replace the
sealing compound and hose. Sealing compound and spare parts can be
obtained and replaced at an authorized Ford Motor Company dealership
or tire dealer. Empty sealing compound bottles may be disposed of at
home; however, liquid residue from the sealing compound should be
disposed by your local Ford Motor Company dealership or tire dealer, or
in accordance with local waste disposal regulations.
Note: After the sealing compound has been used, the maximum vehicle
speed is 50 mph and the maximum driving distance is 120 miles. The
sealed tire should be replaced immediately, or at least within the 120 miles.
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