2003 Ford Taurus Owner Guide 3rd Printing - Page 136

Roadside Emergencies If you use the temporary spare tire continuously or do not follow these precautions, the tire could fail, causing you to lose control of the vehicle, possibly injuring yourself or others. When driving with the temporary spare tire do not: • use more than one temporary spare tire at a time • exceed 80 km/h (50 mph) • load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the Safety Compliance Label • tow a trailer • use tire chains • drive through an automatic car wash, because of the vehicle's reduced ground clearance • try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its wheel • use the wheel for any other type of vehicle Use of a temporary spare tire at any one wheel location can lead to impairment of the following: • handling, stability and braking performance • comfort and noise • ground clearance and parking at curbs • Winter driving capability Tire change procedure 1. Park on a level surface, activate hazard flashers and set parking brake. When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the transaxle alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or slipping off the jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park). To prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire, be sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions) the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the vehicle) to the tire being changed. 136