Ford Focus (2017 year). Manual — part 64

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 cause damage to
your tires. If your vehicle seems to
pull to one side when you are
driving, the wheels may be out of
alignment. Have an authorized
dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.

Wheel misalignment in the front
or the rear can cause uneven and
rapid treadwear of your tires and
should be corrected by an
authorized dealer. Front-wheel
drive vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension (if
equipped) may require alignment
of all four wheels.

The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire
and wheel assembly may result in
irregular tire wear.

Tire Rotation

WARNING

If the tire label shows
different tire pressures for the

front and rear tires and the vehicle
is equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system, then the
settings for the system sensors
need to be updated. Always
perform the system reset
procedure after tire rotation. If the
system is not reset, it may not
provide a low tire pressure
warning when necessary. See Tire
Pressure Monitoring System
(page 261).

Note: If your tires show uneven
wear ask an authorized dealer to
check for and correct any wheel
misalignment, tire imbalance or
mechanical problem involved
before tire rotation.

Note: Your vehicle may be
equipped with a dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly. A
dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly is defined as a spare
wheel and tire assembly that is
different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and
wheels. If you have a dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly it is
intended for temporary use only
and should not be used in a tire
rotation.

Note: After having your tires
rotated, inflation pressure must be
checked and adjusted to the
vehicle requirements.

Rotating your tires at the
recommended interval (as
indicated in the Scheduled
Maintenance chapter) will help
your tires wear more evenly,
providing better tire performance
and longer tire life.

Front-wheel drive vehicles (front
tires on the left side of the
diagram).

E142547

Sometimes irregular tire wear can
be corrected by rotating the tires.

USING SNOW CHAINS

WARNING

Snow tires must be the same size,
load index, speed rating as those
originally provided by Ford. Use of

any tire or wheel not recommended by
Ford can affect the safety and
performance of your vehicle, which could
result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and
death. Additionally, the use of
non-recommended tires and wheels could
cause steering, suspension, axle, transfer
case or power transfer unit failure.

The tires on your vehicle have all-weather
treads to provide traction in rain and snow.
However, in some climates, you may need
to use snow tires or snow chains.

If you choose to install snow tires on your
vehicle, they must be the same size,
construction, and load range as the original
tires listed on the tire inflation pressure
label (located on the edge of the driver
door or the B-Pillar) and they must be
installed on all four wheels. Mixing tires of
different size or construction on your
vehicle can adversely affect your vehicle’s
handling and braking, and may lead to loss
of vehicle control.

If you use snow chains, we recommend
that steel wheels of the same size and
specifications are used. Snow chains may
damage aluminum wheels.

Follow these guidelines when using snow
chains:
•

Avoid fully loading your vehicle.

•

Only use small link snow chains of
approximately 10mm with 215/55R16
tires only.

•

Only use small link snow chains of
approximately 15mm with 195/65R15
tires only.

•

Only use snow chains on the tire sizes
listed above.

•

Snow chains must be mounted in pairs
on the front axle.

•

Install snow chains securely, make sure
they do not touch any wiring, brake
lines or fuel lines.

•

Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) or
the maximum speed recommended by
the chain manufacturer, whichever is
less.

•

Remove the cables when they are no
longer needed.

•

Do not use snow chains on dry roads.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM

WARNING

The tire pressure monitoring system
is not a substitute for manually
checking tire pressures. You should

periodically check tire pressures using a
pressure gauge. Failure to correctly
maintain tire pressures could increase the
risk of tire failure, loss of control, vehicle
rollover and personal injury.

Each tire, including the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated

to the inflation pressure recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If
your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)

As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. 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.

Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.

Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence
will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.

When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur
for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.

This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules and with Industry Canada
license-exempt RSS standard(s).
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
•

This device may not cause harmful
interference.

•

This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.

Changing Tires With a Tire
Pressure Monitoring System

E142549

Note: Each road tire is equipped with a tire
pressure sensor located inside the wheel
and tire assembly cavity. The pressure
sensor is attached to the valve stem. The
pressure sensor is covered by the tire and is
not visible unless the tire is removed. Take
care when changing the tire to avoid
damaging the sensor

You should always have your tires serviced
by an authorized dealer.

Check the tire pressure periodically (at
least monthly) using an accurate tire
gauge. See Inflating Your Tires in this
chapter.

Understanding Your Tire Pressure
Monitoring System

The tire pressure monitoring system
measures pressure in your four road tires
and sends the tire pressure readings to
your vehicle. The low tire pressure warning
light will turn on if the tire pressure is
significantly low. Once the light is
illuminated, your tires are under-inflated
and need to be inflated to the
manufacturer’s recommended tire
pressure. Even if the light turns on and a
short time later turns off, your tire pressure
still needs to be checked.

When Your Temporary Spare Tire is
Installed

When one of your road tires needs to be
replaced with the temporary spare, the
system will continue to identify an issue to
remind you that the damaged road wheel
and tire assembly needs to be repaired and
put back on your vehicle.

To restore the full function of the tire
pressure monitoring system, have the
damaged road wheel and tire assembly
repaired and remounted on your vehicle.

When You Believe Your System is Not
Operating Properly

The main function of the tire pressure
monitoring system is to warn you when
your tires need air. It can also warn you in
the event the system is no longer capable
of functioning as intended. See the
following chart for information concerning
your tire pressure monitoring system: