2004 Ford Focus Owner Guide 2nd Printing - Page 137

Roadside Emergencies CHANGING A FLAT TIRE If you get a flat tire while driving: • do not brake heavily. • gradually decrease the vehicle's speed. • hold the steering wheel firmly. • slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road. The use of tire sealants may damage your tires. Temporary spare tire information The temporary spare tire for your vehicle is labeled as such. It is smaller than a regular tire and is designed for emergency use only. Replace the temporary spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as possible. 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 137 2004 Focus (foc) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA English (fus)