Ford Transit Connect (2016 year). Manual — part 58

It is recommended that the two
front tires or two rear tires
generally be replaced as a pair.

The tire pressure sensors mounted
in the wheels (originally installed
on your vehicle) are not designed
to be used in aftermarket wheels.

The use of wheels or tires not
recommended by Ford Motor
Company may affect the
operation of your tire pressure
monitoring system.

If the tire pressure monitoring
system indicator is flashing, your
tire pressure monitoring system is
malfunctioning. Your replacement
tire might be incompatible with
your TPMS, or some component
of the TPMS may be damaged.

Safety Practices

WARNINGS

If your vehicle is stuck in
snow, mud, sand, etc., do not

rapidly 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.

Do not spin the wheels at
over 35 mph (56 km/h). The

tires may fail and injure a
passenger or bystander.

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.

Highway Hazards

No matter how carefully you drive
there is always the possibility that
you may eventually have a flat tire
on the highway. Drive slowly to the
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
tires for damage. If a 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 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 238).

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 WINTER TIRES

WARNING

When you use winter tires on your
vehicle, you must make sure that you
use the correct lug nuts.

If winter tires are used, you must make sure
that you use the correct tire pressures.

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 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:
•

Only certain snow chains or cables
have been approved by Ford as safe
for use on your vehicle with the
following tires; 215/55R16.

•

You should only install snow chains or
cables that have been rated as 10mm
or less in dimension as measured on
the sidewall of your tire.

•

Not all S-Class snow chains or cables
meet these restrictions. Chains of this
size restriction will include a tensioning
device.

•

Purchase snow chains or cables from
a manufacturer that clearly labels body
to tire dimension restrictions.

•

Snow chains or cables must be
mounted in pairs on the front or rear
tires only.

•

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

If you have any questions regarding snow
chains or cables, contact an authorized
Ford dealer.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM

WARNING

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
Inflating your tires in this chapter. Failure
to properly maintain your tire pressure
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.