Tire Inspection And Maintenance; Wheel Inspection And Maintenance - Ford Ranger Owner's Manual

Tire inspection and maintenance

Inspect the tire treads, and remove stones, nails, glass or other
objects that may be wedged in the tread grooves. Check for
holes or cuts that may permit air to leak from the tire, and
make the necessary repairs.
Inspect the tire side walls for cuts, bruises and other damage. If
you suspect internal damage to the tire, have it demounted and
checked. You may need to repair or replace it.

Wheel inspection and maintenance

Check for damage that would affect the runout of the wheels.
Wobble or shimmy will eventually damage the wheel bearings.
Front wheel bearings require periodic repacking and adjustment
as specified in the Maintenance Schedule and Record booklet.
Loose or worn front wheel bearings tend to let the vehicle
wander or shimmy, and can eventually cause excessive tire
wear.
Whenever a wheel is removed and then re-installed, always
remove any corrosion that may be present on the mounting
surface of the wheel and/or the surface of the hub, drum or
rotor that contacts the wheel.
Installing wheels without a good metal-to-metal contact at
the wheel mounting surface can cause the wheel lug nuts
to loosen and could allow the wheel to come off while
the vehicle is in motion.
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