If your tyres are over or under-inflated, it affects their contact with the road.They’ll also wear out more quickly and may increase your vehicle’s fuel consumption.

 

So to save money and protect yourself and your passengers, it’s very important that you check your tyre pressure regularly.

 

To find out how much air pressure your tyres need, check in your owner’s manual. It can vary depending on load, speed and type of tyres, so if you're not sure, just ask your Ford Dealer.

 

Take a few moments to check your tyres’ air pressure regularly, and at least every month if you’re a high mileage driver. Never wait for it to get too low.

 

Make sure your tyres are cold before checking, as measurements aren't accurate after long journeys at high speed. Tighten the valve cap securely and replace lost caps immediately, otherwise the valves may begin to leak air. You should also regularly check rubber valves and valve seats for damage.

  

Always fill your spare tyre with 0.1 – 0.3 bar extra air. However, pressure should never exceed the maximum level for driving with a full load. You’ll find the figure for the maximum level in your owner’s manual.

You can easily damage your tyres by driving up on to the curb, for example. This can lead to loss of air or corrosion in the tyre belt. Tread flaking can also occur and is very dangerous, especially when driving at high speed.

 

This is why you should check your tyres for damage regularly or take them to a Ford Dealer. Suspect signs are cracks, buckling, or pieces of tread sticking out. And, of course, look out for foreign bodies such as nails.

 

Uneven tread wear can be an indication of interior damage, so if you notice any, ask one of our technicians to take a look. The problem often lies in the chassis or steering, but brakes or an out of balance wheel can also be the cause. 

 

Your car has been built to take a certain amount of weight -you’ll find the maximum in your owner’s manual.

 

If you overload your car, you can affect its performance. If you stack your roof rack too highly, for example, your car will be more exposed to side winds and it can also put extra strain on your brakes. 

 

But it will be your tyres that will bear the brunt if your car is overloaded, which can result in them wearing out faster and becoming dangerous. It’s much safer to  stay within the stated weight limit.

Your tyres form an interconnected ‘safety triangle’ with your shock absorbers and brakes. But if any element is not functioning correctly, your safety triangle becomes a warning triangle that’s not to be ignored.

 

It’s easy to overlook shock absorbers, but they’re absolutely crucial for safety.

 

Of course, they do wear out though. Signs of worn shock absorbers include longer braking distances, bouncing at the front of the vehicle when you brake hard, ‘swinging’ as you corner, and uneven tyre wear.

 

Shock absorbers that are 50% worn can increase your stopping distance at 30mph by half a vehicle’s length, while ABS and ESP won’t work properly either. And since tyres, brakes, wheel bearings, steering components, engine mounts and drive shafts are linked together, one worn component can result in all the others being affected.

 

If you suspect that your shock absorbers are worn, take your vehicle straight to your Ford Dealer.

 

If your brakes have become worn, tell-tale signs include: your brakes feeling soft; your wheels locking more quickly than usual; having to press the pedal down further than usual for the brakes to work; your brakes being noisy when you apply them; and the brake fluid level dropping in the reservoir.

 

Again, if your vehicle shows any of these warning signs, take it to your Ford Dealer immediately. 

 

For some common reasons for brake and tyre damage, download our PDF.