Wheels and Tires: Service Precautions

Wheels And Tires

Safety Precautions

WARNING: Never run the engine with one wheel of the ground, for example, when changing a tire. The wheel(s) resting on the ground can 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 adhere to these instructions can result in an explosive separation. 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 vehicles. Aftermarket wheels or wheel nuts may not fit or function correctly, and can damage the vehicle. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

WARNING: Always wear safety goggles or a face shield when performing any work with tire and wheel assemblies. Failure to follow these instructions may result in personal injury.

WARNING: 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.

CAUTION: When removing adhesive stick-on weights from wheels, use a plastic scraper to prevent damaging the wheel's protective finish.

CAUTION: Do not clean aluminum wheels with steel wool, abrasive-type cleaners or strong detergents. Use custom bright metal cleaner.

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.

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 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 vehicle has been driven far enough to warm the tires.