Owners of any cars, like the happy owners of a Ford Focus 3, are always interested in various issues related to the operation of their cars, including the issue of installing tires.
Usually the euphoria from buying a car ends after a few months, and the happy car owner begins to realize that something is not working for him.
Some drivers want a stronger engine, others are not satisfied with the quality of the music, and still others want to change tires for a more comfortable ride. And even with complete idyll, the time will still come to change the tires due to inevitable wear.
What tires are suitable for Ford Focus
There will be no definite answer, since everything depends on several factors:
- Design features of the car - is it a sedan, hatchback or station wagon, diesel engine or gasoline
- Wheel rim type – stamped iron or cast light alloy
- Wheel installation location - front or rear wheel
- Wheel load - normal vehicle load or maximum weight with cargo and passengers
- Using standard sizes recommended by the manufacturer, or tuning, which includes replacing standard disks, and possibly making changes to the suspension design.
These technical features will contribute to the correct choice of tire and wheel sizes, but the work on selecting tires will not end there, since the choice of the manufacturer remains. Here you will have to rely on reviews, brand popularity and the financial capabilities of the buyer.
Standard sizes of wheels of the third Focus
When purchasing a car at a dealership, a potential car owner will be faced with a minimum of options for installing wheels. This is due to the fact that car dealers do not specialize in selling tires, and the main task facing them is selling a car!
Most often, the salon will offer only two options:
- 205/55R16, if the wheels are stamped steel
- 215/55R16, if the buyer agreed to fork out for light alloy wheels
At the same time, the manufacturer allows the installation of alloy wheels with 215/50/17 tires. However, for each type of model there are specific dimensions, a table with which is usually glued to the driver’s door pillar.
But drivers may get different tires depending on the time of purchase. Apparently car factories buy large quantities of tires, and therefore cars roll off the assembly line for a long time on the same tires. Then, for some reason, for example, due to an increase in the cost of the usual rubber, the plant switches to another! So you can buy a Ford Focus 3 with both Continental tires and Bridgestone tires.
Tire pressure for Ford Focus 2 hatchback, about tire pressure for Transit and Mondeo 4
It is always necessary to maintain the correct tire pressure in your vehicle. But not all drivers pay enough attention to this procedure. Most car enthusiasts don’t even look at the condition of the tires. Just like they pump up the tires at a tire shop, they drive at that pressure. And there they usually don’t bother too much, and pump 2.0 Bar on all wheels of the car. And such indicators may be completely unsuitable for a particular brand of car. Therefore, it is simply necessary to know and maintain the correct parameters for the tires of your own car.
Tire pressure "Ford Focus 2"
Car enthusiasts who prefer the Ford Focus 2 should be aware that tire pressure may vary slightly depending on the time of year. For example, in the summer, when it is very hot outside, the air in the tire can heat up and there is more of it. That is, the indicators of the atmospheres that were originally there will change. They will increase by about 0.3 Bar. The same thing happens in winter, only in reverse. When it's cold, the pressure inside the tires drops, so before leaving, they should be inflated by 0.3 atmospheres. But the time of year is not the only thing that can affect blood pressure.
Inflating tires at a tire shop
Such circumstances include the following:
- quality of road surface;
- vehicle load;
- movement speed;
- car make and model;
- tire size.
Based on all the above conditions, the amount of air in the tire may increase or decrease. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly know what the optimal pressure should be in the tires of your own car, and how it should change in connection with certain circumstances.
Important!
You need to measure the pressure on cold tires, otherwise the result will be unreliable. In heated tires, the amount of atmosphere inside increases, which affects the accuracy of the readings.
But some drivers do not even know the standards specified by the manufacturer. The warning sign is most often located on the driver's side door or on the gas tank cap. There, the manufacturer prescribes all the pressure parameters specific to this car. These are the standards that every car enthusiast should adhere to. But there may still be some deviations from them. Indicators vary depending on the wheel size suitable for the car.
In a Ford car, the optimal amount of atmosphere is 2.1 Bar for 15-inch tires. If there will be more than 4 people and luggage in the car, then it should be increased to 2.4 atmospheres. 16-inch tires also need to be inflated to 2.1 Bar, but only on gasoline versions of the car. For a diesel car, 2.4 Bar is suitable for all tires. Tires measuring 17 and 18 inches require inflation to 2.3 atmospheres at minimum load. The maximum provides for an increase in the norm to 2.5 Bar.
Pressure rating plate from the manufacturer
Tire pressure for Ford Transit and Mondeo 4
The Transit Van model has fairly high pressure standards, which are not very often used in such vehicles. Tire air performance is directly affected by tire size. Tires 195/70 R15 must be adjusted to 3.1 Bar on all tires. And the Combi model with 195/65 R16 tires needs to be inflated to 3.4, and on 195/70 R15 tires it requires 3.7 bar on the front axle and 4.3 on the rear. But on 195/70 R15 tires - as much as 3.9 in the front and 4.5 in the rear. Such standards are quite high, and many motorists do not adhere to them, deliberately underestimating them. A car with such indicators drives harshly, and some discomfort is felt while moving.
Fans of the Ford Mondeo should know that such a car requires lower pumping parameters than the Transit. Tires measuring 16 and 17 inches must be inflated to 2.1 bar on all tires. Users do not complain of any discomfort when riding and consider such pressure to be completely justified.
About the pressure in Ford Fusion, Focus and Kuga 2 tires
Based on the recommendations, you need to maintain 2.0 Bar for all tires. These parameters are typical for tires measuring 14, 15 and 16 inches. But this takes into account the fact that less than three people will travel in the car. As the load increases, it is necessary to pump up to 2.5 atmospheres. But many owners note that the most suitable pressure for such a car is 2.0 Bar. The car drives smoothly, and bumps and potholes are almost unnoticeable.
Heavy car load
The Focus 3 hatchback requires 2.1 bar for tires measuring 16, 17 and 18 inches. With increasing load on the front axle, the figures increase to 2.4 atmospheres, and on the rear axle - to 2.8. But we should not forget about weather conditions, which can affect pressure to varying degrees. In summer, tires need to be slightly under-inflated, but in winter, on the contrary, over-inflated. But if you don’t control the indicators at all, this can lead to very unpleasant consequences. The most important ones include the following:
- rapid wear of tire treads;
- deterioration in controllability;
- wear of the car chassis;
- discomfort when driving;
- unsafe movement.
On a note!
To avoid the above problems, you should monitor your blood pressure at least once every 2 weeks. And then you can save a lot on new tires and car parts.
On Kuga cars, the optimal tire atmosphere is 2.4 Bar. As the load increases, they change only on the rear axle to 2.8 atmospheres. These figures are typical for 17-inch tires. For sizes 18 and 19, tires swing up to 2.3 bar at minimum load, at maximum there will be 2.4 atmospheres on the front axle, and 2.8 on the rear axle.
Some vehicles come from the factory with a built-in TPMS system.
It is quite complex, but shows reliable data. It consists of a set of sensors that are installed inside each tire, and an electronic panel. The sensors read information regarding tire pressure and transmit it to the panel. If any problems occur, the system notifies you by flashing the light. If there is no such device in the factory assembly, then it can be purchased separately and installed in a car repair shop. But only a professional should set it up.
Pressure control sensors
Note!
If an error occurs in the system, you just need to reboot it by pressing the button below the steering wheel.
If you don’t have the money for such a device, then don’t worry. A regular pressure gauge can help with measurements. They come in several types:
- electronic,
- switches,
- rack and pinion
When choosing such an assistant, you should take into account how accurate the result it can produce. Some models have a low accuracy class, so it is better not to buy them. They are cheap, which is why they have errors in measurements. It is better to buy a more expensive pressure gauge, but then know for sure that it shows the correct pressure.
Do not neglect checking the tire pressure, as this can even save your life in some situations. Therefore, systematic measurements will help prevent not only wear and tear on car components, but also protect you from troubles on the road.
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Custom Ford Focus 3 tire sizes
The possibility of installing non-standard tires and wheels depends entirely on technical conditions. The discs should not touch the brake discs and calipers, the bolt pattern should remain standard 5x108, the central hole with a diameter of 63.3 mm. And the holes for the studs should be 14.5 mm in diameter. The rubber should not touch the car body even when the strut is fully rotated or fully compressed.
What non-standard tire size do Focus owners usually choose?
If size 16, then it is 205/60/16, so that due to the higher profile there is no breakdown in the pits.
If the diameter is 17, put 215/55/17
On 18 wheels you can put 235/40/18, although on most bad roads with such tires it is easy to break a cast wheel!
Tire pressure Ford Focus 3
On the door pillar, in the same place as the wheel sizes, the manufacturer indicates the nominal pressure that should be in the front and rear wheels. These values may differ depending on the model type, as well as the wheel size recommended for use on this vehicle.
But often car enthusiasts deviate from these standards more when fully loaded or less for a softer ride.
For those who don’t like to bother, we can recommend setting the tire pressure to around 2.2 atmospheres, and this will be fine.
For particularly scrupulous drivers, there is more accurate data, such as in this table:
Although it is best to use the data that is pasted on the car itself.
The characteristics of the rims and wheel sizes are set by the factory, taking into account the technical features of the car, while the choice of tires based on the manufacturer will still have to be made by the car owner himself! And this can be influenced by price, reviews from car enthusiasts, your experience or someone else’s recommendations! And you also have to use different tires in winter and summer!
Pressure check
This process requires the use of a special device called a pressure gauge. It can be of several types, including:
- Mechanical.
- Electronic.
- Switch.
Pointer pressure gauges are the simplest and are based on a spring. The latter have a similar principle of operation, except that they use a cylindrical spring. The most convenient and modern is the electronic pressure gauge, since it has a screen that displays the tire pressure. The last option has a rather complicated structure, and therefore we will not dwell on this issue.
In order to decide which pressure gauge is better, you need to know about their advantages and disadvantages. The switch version has a low price, but is characterized by high accuracy. Its disadvantages are its fragility, since when dropped or hit it quickly breaks and cannot be repaired.
The procedure for replacing brake fluid on a Ford Focus 2
If you need a more durable and reliable option, then you should pay attention to a mechanical pressure gauge. In most cases, it has the shape of a pen, but its significant disadvantage is low accuracy. As for the electronic pressure gauge, it has the highest cost and accuracy. Its error is 0.05 bar, which is an excellent result compared to other types. Base your choice on your needs. The experience of many car enthusiasts suggests that if you need a pressure gauge for domestic use for your Ford Focus 2, then the simplest option will do.
Checking the pressure should be done on cold tires, since it is in this state that they will correspond to the outside temperature. If you measured this indicator immediately after a long trip by car, it will be incorrect. Also, do not forget that you need to check each wheel, and it is wrong to draw conclusions based on the results of one measurement.
It should also be noted that if you don’t have time, then you can trust tire service professionals who will check the pressure for pennies and, if necessary, pump up the tires. Carrying out such actions should be a habit, since it affects the safety and comfort of movement.
Summer tires for Ford Focus 3
- Continental Conti Premium Contact Run Flat 205/55 R16 belongs to the premium class and is distinguished by a special rubber composition and design features of the frame, which allow you to get to a car service station even with a flat tire without destroying the cord and maintaining the tread. Its pattern is also special, which increases the contact area with the road surface and prevents hydroplaning.
- Michelin Pilot Sport 4 205/55 R16 - this premium tire is distinguished not only by an improved tread pattern and the quality of the rubber compound, but also by the presence of an additional nylon layer that strengthens the working part of the tire against breaking. That is why such tires are suitable for sports cars with strong engines and good dynamics. At the level of an ordinary car owner, this is a reliable tire with strong position fixation on the track. An excellent option for those who value safety.
- Bridgestone Potenza S001 205/55 R16 are a symbiosis of a special rubber compound and asymmetrical projector design, providing amazing braking performance, giving confidence in safety even in the most extreme situations, where the Bridgestone Potenza tread copes well with critical loads.
- Goodyear Eagle Sport 205/55 R16, also presented on the market as a sports tire option, is actually a budget analogue of the premium models discussed above. Excellent tires with an excellent tread pattern that provides reliable grip on the road and at the same time is 2-3 thousand rubles cheaper than Michelin, Bridgestone or Continental.
- Tunga Zodiak 2 205/55 R16 is the most budget option produced at the Omsk Tire Plant. In its new condition it does a pretty good job of keeping the car on the road. It makes relatively little noise, but with prolonged use, hernias and loss of balance may occur. This is due to the poor quality of rubber. And this is expected, since the price reduction does not happen just like that, because this tire costs three times less than a similar Michelin tire.
Pressure measurement
Whatever device you purchase, if it is not used correctly, you will not be able to obtain accurate readings.
Tire pressure Ford Focus 1 and Ford Focus 2
Tire pressure measurements on Ford Transit, Kuga, Mondeo or Focus should only be carried out with cold tires. If readings are taken immediately after the vehicle has stopped moving, the data will be incorrect.
You should also pay attention to the fact that you need to take data from all 4 wheels of the car. It is inappropriate to take into account indicators taken from only one wheel.
If you don’t have time to perform all these manipulations yourself, just entrust it to the specialists at the service station. Such services are inexpensive, but they guarantee the safe operation of your car on the road.
Ford tire pressure
Winter tires for Ford Focus 3
- Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 Run Flat 205/55 R16 is one of the most expensive tires in its segment. The high-quality rubber compound is called Special Clinch and actually ensures perfect contact with the road. The V-shaped tread and well-designed studs allow you to keep the car in a given direction even under the most unfavorable conditions of ice and wet asphalt.
- The Nokian Nordman 7 205/55 R16 is positioned as a budget analogue of the Hakkapeliitta, and this is actually true, because the cost of this tire is 2.5 times lower than that of the Nokian Hakkapeliitta, which allows us to call this model truly the tire of the people's choice, combining excellent qualities with a relatively low price.
- Yokohama IG55 205/55 R16 is truly a Siberian tire, if you believe the description from the manufacturer, since it is positioned as rubber for severe frosts. The cost is comparable to the Nordman price, so the choice is not made by price, but only by reviews and experience of use. There is a soft ride and low noise on open asphalt.
- Michelin X-Ice North 4 205/55 R16 Like all other Michelin representatives, this tire can be called a reference product in the tire industry. The increased number of studs, which has reached 250, along with a well-designed tread and soft adaptive rubber, make this product one of the most popular on the market.
- Cordiant Snow Cross 205/55 R16 is the most budget option for winter tires, its characteristics are suitable for the Ford Focus 3. When creating the tread, SNOW-COR technology was used, which allows the pattern to independently clear itself of snow when driving. When studding, a double-flange stud of a special design was used, which provides good grip on icy roads.
Consequences of incorrect pressure
Ford Focus 2 can give its owner maximum comfort and reliability if the car is in good condition and properly maintained. When tire pressure does not meet the requirements, this leads to certain consequences. Insufficient tire pressure leads to:
- To increased fuel consumption (at 70% of the stern, the car consumes 1–2 liters more).
- To the destruction of the cord, which cannot withstand and cracks.
- To poor handling, which manifests itself in the car jerking at speed and poor grip on asphalt.
- To rubber slipping off the rim or tires turning.
- To accelerated tire wear, as the contact patch and rolling resistance increase. At 80% of normal pressure, wear will accelerate by 30%.
Technical characteristics of the Ford Focus 2 station wagon
Excessive tire pressure can cause the following:
- Reducing the contact patch, which in turn leads to an increase in braking distance.
- Increased noise when driving.
- Increasing the load on the suspension as the level of rigidity increases and prematurely destroys it.
- Reducing fuel consumption by an average of 1–2 liters.
Also, do not forget that if there are passengers or additional cargo in the Ford Focus, then the pressure must be adjusted upward. In this case, the front axle requires less pumping, and the rear axle requires more (0.3–0.4 bar).
