Safety Precautions

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 Ford F-550 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-450 Super Duty, 2013 Ford F-350 Super Duty, and 2013 Ford F-250 Super Duty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

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 article and obtain safety literature from the 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 and bearings) determines the overall maximum and safe load carrying capacity for the vehicle.

WARNING: Do not overload beyond the capacity of the lowest rated wheel/tire assembly on the vehicle. Tire failure could result. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious injury to vehicle occupant(s).

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: Never inflate a tire that has been run flat without first removing the tire from the wheel to inspect for damage. A damaged tire can fail during inflation. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: Always match the tire size to the wheel size during assembly. Incorrect matching can result in tire bead damage or tire separation from the wheel. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury to technician or vehicle occupant(s).

When installing new tires, use the same size, load range and construction type as originally installed on the vehicle. When installing new wheels, use OEM 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.

Fig 1: Identifying Rotunda Heavy Duty Wheel Dolly

Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

WARNING: Cracked wheels can be dangerous. Deflate tires on cracked wheels prior to removal of wheels from the vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: Keep eyes away from valve stem when deflating tires. Reduce air pressure in tire as much as possible by pushing in valve core plunger prior to removing the core. Escaping air can carry particles that can injure the eyes. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious 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 make sure of correct sealing of the tire beads on the rim. Lubricate the tire beads using a suitable, fast-drying, corrosion-inhibiting tire bead lubricant.

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: Wear eye protection when servicing a vehicle. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: Do not hit the wheel or tire with a metallic hammer. This action may damage the wheel or tire, resulting in tire or wheel failure. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury to the technician or vehicle occupant(s).

WARNING: Always inflate steel carcass tires and/or split rim wheels using an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approved tire safety cage. Use a clip-on air chuck with remote valve and pressure gauge for inflation. Stand as far away as possible while using the remote valve. Split rims can come apart under great force if not correctly assembled. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.

Place the wheel and tire assembly in the safety cage and inflate to a maximum of 10 lb. Check to see 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: Block all wheels, set the parking brake and firmly apply the service brake to reduce the risk of vehicle movement during this procedure. Failure to follow these instructions may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: Inflating tires to pressures that exceed maximum tire inflation rating on tire sidewall may result in tire failure and serious personal injury to the technician or vehicle occupant(s).

WARNING: Do not operate a vehicle equipped with dual rear wheels (DRW) and tires on a single rear wheel and tire. The increased load on the remaining rear wheel and tire assembly could result in tire failure. Always operate vehicle with all rear wheels installed. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious injury to vehicle occupant(s).

WARNING: Vehicle may have multiple drive wheels. Do not use engine to power the driveline unless all drive wheels are elevated off the ground. Drive wheels in contact with ground could cause unexpected vehicle movement. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: Before servicing any tire, ask the customer if anyone injected a tire sealant into the tire. Tire sealants may be flammable and can burn or explode if exposed to an ignition source. Failure to follow this instruction may result in serious personal injury.

WARNING: Replacement wheels must be equivalent to the original equipment wheels in:

load carrying capacity.
diameter, width and offset.
pilot hole and bolt circle.

Combined load carrying capacity of replacement wheels for a given axle, must be equal to or greater than that axle's gross axle weight rating (GAWR) identified on the vehicle's Safety Compliance Certification label. All other specifications should be evaluated by measurement of both the original wheel and the replacement wheel. If specifications are not equivalent, the safety and handling of the vehicle may be degraded, which may result in serious injury to the vehicle occupant(s).

WARNING: Never use wheels different than the original equipment. Additionally, never use wheel nuts different than the original equipment. Failure to follow these instructions may result in damage to the wheel or mounting system. This damage could cause the wheel to come off while the vehicle is being driven, which could result in serious personal injury or death to vehicle occupant(s).

NOTE: Thumping or simply looking at the tire does not give an accurate pressure reading. Periodically check the 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.