2012 Ford Escape Owner Guide 2nd Printing - Page 183

Tires, Wheels and Loading Tire and wheel alignment A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your vehicle seems to pull to one side when you're driving, the wheels may be out of alignment. Have an authorized dealer check the wheel alignment periodically. Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by an authorized dealer. Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles and those with an independent rear suspension (if equipped) may require alignment of all four wheels. The tires should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear. Tire rotation Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the Scheduled Maintenance chapter) will help your tires wear more evenly, providing better tire performance and longer tire life. • Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles (front tires at top of diagram) • Four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles (front tires at top of diagram) Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires. 183 2012 Escape (204) Owners Guide, 1st Printing USA (fus)