Wheels and Tires: Service Precautions
Wheels And TiresWARNING: Do not mix different types of tires, such as radial, bias or bias-belted, on the same vehicle except in emergencies. Vehicle handling can be seriously affected and can result in loss of control. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
Factory-installed tires and wheels are designed to operate satisfactorily with loads up to and including full-rated load capacity when inflated to recommended inflation pressures.
Tire Inflation Information
WARNING: An inflated tire and rim can be very dangerous if improperly used, serviced or maintained. To avoid serious injury, never attempt to 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. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
The F-450 and F-550 vehicles are equipped with a tire that is an all-steel radial. All-steel radial tires utilize steel cords in the sidewalls and also require increased inflation pressures of up to 95 psi. 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 make sure that all persons are at a safe distance.
Tire and Wheel Runout
Excessive radial and lateral runout of a wheel and tire assembly can cause roughness, vibration, wheel tramp, tire wear and steering wheel tremor.
Before checking runout, and to avoid false readings caused by temporary flat spots in the tires, check runout only after the vehicles has been driven far enough to warm the tires. For additional information, refer to Vehicle/Testing and Inspection.
Safety Precautions - F-250, F-350
WARNING: Never run the engine with one wheel off the ground, for example, when changing a tire. The wheel(s) resting on the ground could cause the vehicle to move. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: The tire and wheel must always be correctly matched. It is very important to determine the size of each component before any assembly operations commence. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Aftermarket aerosol tire sealants are extremely flammable. Always question the customer to make sure these products have not been used. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Aftermarket wheel assemblies may not be compatible with the vehicle. Use of incompatible wheel assemblies can result in equipment failure. Use only approved wheel assemblies. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Use only wheels and wheel nuts that have been designed for current model year Ford trucks. Aftermarket wheels or wheel nuts may not fit or function correctly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Always wear safety goggles or a face shield when carrying out any work with tire and wheel assemblies. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
CAUTION: Do not clean aluminum wheels with steel wool, abrasive-type cleaners or strong detergents. Use Custom Bright Metal Cleaner ZC-15 or equivalent meeting Ford specifications ESR-M5B194-B.
CAUTION: Reduce the air pressure as much as possible by pushing the valve core plunger in prior to removing the valve core. Avoid working in a position in which the face or body is directly over a tire in which there is pressure.
When carrying out any inspection or repair procedures on wheels and tires, follow the preceding safety precautions.
Safety Precautions - F-450, F-550 with 19.5 Inch and Larger Tires
CAUTION and SAFETY FIRST are bywords when handling truck tires. Careful attention to the safety precautions that follow can prevent crippling injuries or even death. Make it a rule to respect the terrific force contained in an inflated tire.
Wheels must be correctly maintained. Incorrectly maintained wheels can adversely affect the life of the tire and the wheel. When inflated, a tire is potentially very destructive. Accidents are caused by careless handling and inexperience.
Follow the safety precautions in this section and obtain safety literature from your wheel and rim distributor, wheel and rim manufacturer, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or OSHA. For additional questions, consult the distributor or manufacturer directly.
The load carrying requirements of each vehicle should be determined before selecting the correct tire/wheel combination. Always remember that the weakest weight carrying component of the vehicle (tire, wheel, axle, bearings, etc.) determines the overall maximum and safe load carrying capacity for the vehicle.
WARNING: Each individual axle, wheel and tire has its own maximum weight and inflation rating. Do not overinflate or overload beyond the capacity of the lowest rated component of the system. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
Rims and wheels are designed to sustain their rated load using the maximum tire size recommended for that rim width by the Tire and Rim Association.
WARNING: An inflated tire and wheel can be very dangerous if misused or worn out. Many accidents, some fatal, have resulted from incorrect handling and operation of truck wheels and tires. It is of the utmost importance that the precautions described be carefully followed, by all persons servicing truck wheels, to avoid personal injuries and costly damage. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: The tire and wheel must always be correctly matched. It is very important to determine the size of each component before any assembly operations commence. Failure to adhere to these instructions can result in an explosive separation and cause serious bodily injury or death. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Never mount a smaller diameter tire on a larger diameter wheel. When installing new tires, always match the tire size to the wheel size. Incorrect matching can cause the tire bead to break during mounting or inflation propelling both the tire and wheel into the air with enough force to inflict property damage, serious injury or death. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
When installing new tires, use the same size, load range and construction type as originally installed on the vehicle. When installing new wheels, use original equipment manufacturer's wheels or equivalent available from the Ford dealer with equivalent capacity, width, offset and mounting configuration as those originally installed on the vehicle. Use of incorrect tires and wheels can adversely affect ride, handling, load carrying capacity, bearing life, tire clearance to body and chassis components, vehicle ground clearance, vehicle width and brake cooling.
Prepare for any tire repair operation in a safe and efficient way. In servicing all tires, use caution not to drop them (or the wheels) on the feet, hands, body or heavily on the floor. Truck tires are heavy and a wheel jack such as Rotunda Heavy Duty Wheel Dolly 014-00030 or equivalent should be used to maneuver tires.
WARNING: Excessively corroded or cracked wheels can be dangerous. Deflate tires on corroded or cracked wheels prior to removal of wheels from the vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Never position body in front of the wheel during deflation. Always keep eyes away from the valve when deflating tires. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
Deflating a tire correctly is very important for safety. First, reduce the pressure as much as possible by depressing the valve core plunger. Only then should the valve core be removed to completely deflate the tire before removal from the vehicle or disassembly. On dual wheels, deflate both tires completely.
Demounting tires from the wheels requires special care. Use only standard tire mounting tools and equipment. The use of makeshift tools to force tires on or off the wheels is dangerous and must be avoided.
Always lubricate tire beads to ensure sealing of the tire beads on the rim. Use a rubber lubricant meeting Ford specifications ESR-M13P4-A.
Make sure all the air is out before removing the tires from the wheels. Use special care when using tire irons. Grip the tire irons firmly and keep them free of oil and grease. They can slip and fly with tremendous force.
WARNING: When painting used wheels, do not use excessive amounts of paint. This can cause the wheel nuts to loosen, which can lead to premature failure or loose wheels. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: When painting any wheel, always allow the paint to dry thoroughly. If the paint is not dry when the wheels are mounted, torque values will not be maintained because of the paint being forced out. Excess paint thickness will cause the wheels to loosen. Retighten the wheel nuts after 80-160 km (50-100 miles) when newly painted wheels are installed on the vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Always wear safety goggles or a face shield when carrying out any work with tire and wheel assemblies. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Avoid hammering on a wheel or tire with a steel hammer; you can damage the rim. Any hammering can dislodge particles. Never hammer on an inflated assembly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Always inflate the tire in Rotunda Inflation Chamber 104-00104 or equivalent, or use an OSHA-approved portable tire safety cage. This is an important safeguard against incorrect assembly, inadvertently mismatched parts and other assembly errors. Remember, an inflated tire contains potentially explosive energy and assemblies can be propelled if there is a sudden release of air. In emergency situations, where a safety cage or a portable safety device is not available, use the vehicle's spare wheel and tire assembly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Stand clear when using a safety cage or an OSHA-approved restraining device. Always use a clip-on air chuck with a remote valve and pressure gauge. Do not rest any part of the body against the device during inflation. If the components are not seated correctly, an explosive separation can occur. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
Place the wheel and tire assembly in the safety cage and inflate to a maximum of 10 pounds. Check to ensure that the beads are correctly seated. Continue to inflate to recommended pressure.
Use only accurate, tested gauges to make sure of correct air pressure. Check all gauges regularly with a master gauge.
Never attempt to short-cut the above procedures.
WARNING: Correct precautions should always be taken when jacking a vehicle up to prevent personal injury or damage to the vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
a. Always block one axle with wheel chocks to prevent unexpected movement.
b. Always use correct heavy-duty jack stands.
c. Manually cage parking brake chambers when working on the rear axle.
d. Apply the parking brake when working on the front axle.
WARNING: Do not exceed maximum tire inflation pressures. This is determined by the size and ply rating of the tire, but is not to exceed the maximum cold inflation pressure listed for the wheel even if the tire is approved for a higher load or inflation. It is also important to maintain uniform inflation so that weight is equally sustained. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Do not run the vehicle on one tire of a dual assembly. When there is loss of air in a dual tire, the carrying capacity is reduced and the load must be sustained by the other tire. Inflate both tires to balanced, recommended pressures before further operation. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Never run the engine with one wheel off the ground, for example, when changing a tire. The wheel(s) resting on the ground could cause the vehicle to move. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Aftermarket aerosol tire sealants are extremely flammable. Always question the customer to make sure these products have not been used. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Aftermarket wheel assemblies may not be compatible with the vehicle. The use of incompatible wheel assemblies can result in equipment failure and possible injury. Use only approved wheel assemblies. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
WARNING: Use only wheels and wheel nuts that have been designed for current model year Ford vehicles. Aftermarket wheels or wheel nuts may not fit or function correctly. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.
NOTE: Thumping or simply looking at the tire does not give an accurate pressure reading. Periodically check your air pressure gauge for accuracy and use it to check tire pressure.
When carrying out any inspection or repair procedures on wheels and tires, follow the preceding safety precautions.