Ford Escape 2013 Owner's Manual page 251

WARNING
Under-inflation is the most common
cause of tire failures and may result
in severe tire cracking, tread
separation or blowout, with unexpected
loss of vehicle control and increased risk
of injury. Under-inflation increases sidewall
flexing and rolling resistance, resulting in
heat buildup and internal damage to the
tire. It also may result in unnecessary tire
stress, irregular wear, loss of vehicle
control and accidents. A tire can lose up
to half of its air pressure and not appear
to be flat!
Always inflate your tires to the Ford
recommended inflation pressure even if it
is less than the maximum inflation
pressure information found on the tire. The
Ford recommended tire inflation pressure
is found on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label (affixed to either the
door hinge pillar, door-latch post, or the
door edge that meets the door-latch post,
next to the driver's seating position), or Tire
Label which is located on the B-Pillar or
the edge of the driver's door. Failure to
follow the tire pressure recommendations
can cause uneven treadwear patterns and
adversely affect the way your vehicle
handles
Wheels and Tires
Maximum Permissible Inflation
Pressure is the tire manufacturer's
maximum permissible pressure and the
pressure at which the maximum load can
be carried by the tire. This pressure is
normally higher than the manufacturer's
recommended cold inflation pressure
which can be found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label (affixed to
either the door hinge pillar, door-latch post,
or the door edge that meets the door-latch
post, next to the driver's seating position),
or Tire Label which is located on the
B-Pillar or the edge of the driver's door. The
cold inflation pressure should never be set
lower than the recommended pressure on
the Safety Compliance Certification Label
or Tire Label.
When weather temperature changes
occur, tire inflation pressures also change.
A 10°F (6°C) temperature drop can cause
a corresponding drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in
inflation pressure. Check your tire pressures
frequently and adjust them to the proper
pressure which can be found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label or Tire
Label.
To check the pressure in your tire(s):
1.
Note: If you are checking tire pressure when
the tire is hot, (i.e. driven more than 1 mile
[1.6 km]), never bleed or reduce air pressure.
The tires are hot from driving and it is normal
for pressures to increase above
recommended cold pressures. A hot tire at
or below recommended cold inflation
pressure could be significantly
under-inflated.
Note: If you have to drive a distance to get
air for your tire(s), check and record the tire
pressure first and add the appropriate air
pressure when you get to the pump. It is
normal for tires to heat up and the air
pressure inside to go up as you drive.
251
Make sure the tires are cool, meaning
they are not hot from driving even a
mile.