Ford Escape: Wheels and Tires / General Procedures - Wheel to Tire Runout Minimization

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NOTICE: Non-Hunter brand balancers will not include the Ford-approved procedure for match-mounting in their software.

NOTICE: Other balancing procedures that exist on non-Hunter brand equipment are not Ford approved and should not be used.

NOTE: Road Force® values in illustrations are shown in pounds.

NOTE: Match mounting is a technique used to reduce radial runout or road force on wheel and tire assemblies. Excessive runout is a source of ride quality complaints and match mounting can be used to minimize the runout. Match mounting can be accomplished by changing the position of the tire on the wheel.

NOTE: Diagnosis of tire/wheel vibration should not be performed on tires with less than 200 mi (322 km).

NOTE: Possible short-term tire flat-spotting should be eliminated by driving the vehicle 20 or more miles just prior to taking Road Force® measurements.

1. To ensure a tire/wheel vibration is the cause of the customer concern.
   Refer to: Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) (100-04) .
   

1. To eliminate possible short-term tire flat-spotting drive the vehicle 20 or more miles just prior to taking Road Force® measurements.
   

1. Before a warranty claim can be made on tire(s) with out-of-spec Road Force® or runout measurements, the Wheel to Tire Runout Minimization procedure (sometimes referred to as “match-mounting”, “re-indexing”, or “Road Force® balancing”) found below must be performed. This procedure is designed to optimize a tire’s mounting position on a wheel in order to reduce the total Road Force® or runout of the assembly. The procedure can be performed using either Road Force® measurements (the preferred method). Road Force® measurements are taken using a Road Force® balancer machine. The manner in which the Wheel to Tire Runout Minimization procedure is carried out will sometimes vary depending on the model of equipment used. Use the information below to help identify the equipment type used at your dealership, then follow the instructions outlined for that equipment. If your equipment software does not include the Ford-approved procedure, it may be available through hardware/software upgrades. Contact your local Hunter representative for more details.
   

1. Determine the equipment type used at dealership or tire/wheel balancing. Refer Hunter Equipment Model Identification for identifying equipment type.
   

1. GEN I and GEN II
   
   • Gen I and Gen II balancer models do not include software that follows the Ford Workshop Manual methodology.
     
   • The match-mounting procedures in the software of these models should not be used. Instead, only the Wheel to Tire Runout Minimization Procedure found above, should be used.
     
   • Use these machines only to gather the necessary Road Force® measurements. Do not follow the prompts that appear for match-mounting.
     

1. GEN III
   
   • Gen III model balancer may include a procedure for “Match Without Rim Runout” on the balancer display. If this procedure is not included, then the Wheel to Tire Runout Minimization Procedure above should be followed.
     
   • Another balancing procedure likely exists on Gen III equipment. Do not use that procedure, only the Hunter “Match Without Rim Runout” and Ford WSM Wheel to Tire Runout Minimization Procedure are approved for use on Ford tire/wheel assemblies.
     
   • The “Match Without Rim Runout” procedure should become the machine default setting after the first usage. If it does not become the default than you will need to select it each time.
     

1. GEN IV and GEN V
   
   • Gen IV and GEN V balancer models include a procedure for “180 Matching” on the balancer display. This is the only Hunter procedure that matches the Wheel to Tire Runout Minimization Procedure.
     
   • A second balancing procedure (it may be the default) likely exists on your equipment. Do not use that procedure. If you cannot default your machine to the 180 Matching Procedure, then it will need to be selected each time.
     
   • The 180 Matching Procedure can be launched by selecting the following buttons: Road Force® - Procedures - 180 Matching.
     

1. The 180 Matching Procedure can be launched by selecting the following buttons:
   
   1. Road Force®
      
   2. Procedures
      
   3. 180 Matching
      

1. NOTE: Position the wheel and tire assembly on a tire machine and put a reference mark on the tire sidewall at the valve stem position.

   1. Valve stem
      
   2. Reference mark
      

1. NOTICE: For vehicles equipped with a TPMS , the sensor may be damaged by incorrect tire mounting or dismounting. Dismount the tire from the wheel as instructed in the procedure. Failure to follow these instructions may result in TPMS component damage.

   NOTE: Always make sure that the final high spot and measurement values are permanently marked on the inward sidewall of the tire for reference during future wheel and tire service.

   Using a suitable tire machine, separate the tire beads from the wheel.
   

1. Lubricate the tire beads using a suitable fast drying, corrosion inhibiting tire bead lubricant. Position the tire 180 degrees (half-way around) on the rim so the valve stem reference mark is now opposite the valve stem.
   

1. Re-inflate the wheel and tire assembly to the specified air pressure and measure the assembly again using a suitable dial indicator or Hunter Road Force® 9700 Series Wheel Balancer. Mark the second high spot on the tire.
   

1. If the runout or Road Force is reduced to within specifications, the concern has been resolved. Balance the assembly and install on the vehicle using the Wheel-to-Hub Optimization procedure.
   

1. If the second runout or Road Force® measurement is still not within specification and both high spots are close to each other (within 101.6 mm [4 in]), the root cause is probably the tire (the high spot followed the tire).
   

1. 1. First high spot on the tire
      
   2. Second high spot on the tire
      

1. To be SURE that the tire is causing the high runout, it is necessary to have 2 runout or Road Force® measurements that are not within specification and the high spots must be in approximately the same location on the tire's sidewall. If the tire is the cause, install a new tire, balance the assembly and install on the vehicle using the Wheel-to-Hub Optimization procedure. If the second high spot is not within 101.6 mm (4 in) of the first high spot, proceed to the next step.
   

1. If the second high spot is still above specification and is within 101.6 mm (4 in) of being opposite the first high spot on the wheel, the root cause is probably the wheel (the high spot followed the wheel). Dismount the tire from the wheel, mount the wheel on a balancer and check the wheel runout. If the wheel runout exceeds 1.14 mm (0.0449 in), install a new wheel, balance the assembly and install on the vehicle using the Wheel-to-Hub Optimization procedure.
   Refer to: Wheel to Hub Runout Minimization (204-04A Wheels and Tires, General Procedures).
   

1. 1. First high spot on the tire
      
   2. Second high spot on the tire
      

1. NOTE: If the second high spot did not follow the wheel or the tire and the runout is still not within specification, improvements may be made by rotating the tire 90 degrees (one-fourth turn).

   Draw an arrow on the tire sidewall from the second high spot towards the first high spot (in the shortest direction).
   

1. 1. First high spot on the tire
      
   2. Second high spot on the tire
      

1. Separate the tire beads from the wheel and rotate the tire 90 degrees (one-fourth turn) in the direction of the arrow.