Your tires affect far more than just traction. Proper tire pressure, healthy tread depth, and good overall tire condition all play a major role in braking performance, fuel economy, ride comfort, and how safely your Ford handles Toronto roads year-round. Even a slightly underinflated tire can wear out faster and increase fuel consumption, while worn tread can reduce grip in rain, snow, and slush. The good news is that checking your tires only takes a few minutes and requires very little equipment. Here's a complete guide from the team at Downtown Ford in Toronto.

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The Importance of Checking Your Tire Condition

Tire pressure affects rolling resistance, fuel economy, handling, braking distance, and how evenly your tires wear. An underinflated tire generates excess heat and causes the outer edges of the tread to wear faster than the centre. An overinflated tire reduces the contact patch, causing centre wear and a harsher, more impact-prone ride.

How to Check Tire Pressure

Finding the Right Pressure

The correct tire pressure for your Ford is printed on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb, a white or yellow label listing the recommended front and rear pressures in kPa or PSI. This number is specific to your vehicle's weight distribution, load capacity, and ride characteristics. Note that your front and rear tires may have different recommended pressures.

Do not use the maximum pressure number printed on the tire's sidewall. That is the tire's structural limit, not the recommended operating pressure for your vehicle.

What You Need

A tire pressure gauge: A digital, dial, or stick-type gauge should be available at any auto parts store for a few dollars. Digital gauges are the easiest to read accurately. If you use a gauge at a gas station, be aware that shared gauges are sometimes inaccurate from repeated use. A personal gauge gives you a more reliable reading.

7 Step Tire Pressure Check Guide

1. Check when tires are cold. Tire pressure rises as tires heat up from driving. For an accurate reading, check before driving more than 2–3 km, or after the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours. Never release air from a warm tire to bring it down to the recommended PSI. As it cools, the pressure will drop below the target.
2. Remove the valve cap. Each tire has a small rubber or metal valve stem on the inner rim edge. Unscrew the cap and keep it somewhere safe.
3. Press the gauge firmly onto the valve stem. You'll hear a brief hiss as you seat it. Press firmly and straight. A poor seal gives a false low reading.
4. Read the pressure. A digital gauge displays immediately. A stick gauge pushes out a graduated bar. Read the number at the top. Repeat the check two or three times to confirm accuracy.
5. Add or release air as needed. If pressure is low, add air in short bursts and recheck frequently. Note that it's easy to overshoot. If pressure is high, use the small pin on the back of the gauge or the tip of a pen to briefly depress the valve core and release a small amount of air, then recheck.
6. Replace the valve cap. This keeps moisture and road grime out of the valve core — don't skip it.
7. Check all four tires and the spare. A flat spare is useless when you need it most. If your Ford uses a compact spare, check its pressure too. The recommended PSI for a spare is often different from the road tires and will be noted on the spare itself or in your owner's manual.

How to Check Tread Depth

The Toonie Test

A toonie is the simplest tool for a quick tread check. Insert it into a tread groove with the caribou's nose pointing down toward the tire. If the tread reaches the bear’s paws, tires are new; if it covers the silver, they are about 50% worn. If the tread only reaches the letters in "CANADA" or "DOLLARS," it is time to replace them.

For winter tires, use this test as an early warning. Most safety experts recommend replacing winter tires at approximately 3.2 millimetres, well above the legal minimum, because grip on snow and slush deteriorates significantly below that depth, even if the tire is technically still legal.

How to Check Tire Condition

Tread depth and pressure only tell part of the story. Here's what to look for when inspecting the overall condition of each tire:

• Sidewall Cracking: The most visible sign is cracking on the sidewall, sometimes called weather cracking or dry rot, appearing as a network of fine lines running along or across the sidewall surface.

• Bulges and Bubbles: A bulge or bubble on the sidewall means the internal structural cords have been damaged. A bulging tire is at serious risk of a blowout and must be replaced immediately. Do not drive on a tire with a visible sidewall bulge under any circumstances.

• Cuts, Punctures, and Embedded Objects: An embedded object may be holding air for now, but will eventually cause a slow leak or sudden deflation. Punctures in the tread area can often be professionally repaired if they are 6 millimetres or smaller in diameter. Sidewall punctures cannot be repaired, so they must be replaced.

How to Read the DOT Code And Why Tire Age Matters

Every tire sold in North America has a DOT (Department of Transportation) code moulded into the sidewall. The last four digits tell you exactly when the tire was manufactured. The first two digits are the week of the year, and the last two are the year.

For example, a code ending in 1422 means the tire was made in the 14th week of 2022.

Most manufacturers and safety organizations recommend replacing tires that are six years old or older, even if they appear to be in good condition, and consider any tire ten years old to be at the end of its safe service life, regardless of appearance.

Check the DOT code on every tire currently on your vehicle, including the spare. Many drivers are surprised to discover their tires are older than they thought, particularly if the vehicle was purchased used or the tires were replaced with a set that had been sitting in storage.

Tire Condition FAQs 

How do I know what tire pressure my Ford needs?

The correct pressure is on a sticker inside your driver's door jamb, not on the tire sidewall. The door jamb figure is specific to your vehicle and is the number you should always use. Your front and rear tires may have different recommended pressures.

Can I repair a flat tire, or does it need to be replaced?

Punctures in the tread area that are 6 milimetres or smaller can typically be professionally repaired. Punctures in the sidewall, damage near the shoulder, or any tire with a bulge cannot be safely repaired and must be replaced.

How old is too old for a tire?

Most manufacturers recommend replacing tires at six years regardless of condition, with ten years being the absolute maximum. Check the last four digits of the DOT code on the sidewall to find the manufacture date.

What does it mean if my TPMS warning light comes on?

Your Tire Pressure Monitoring System light means one or more tires have dropped significantly below the recommended pressure, which is typically by 25% or more. Check all four tires with a gauge and inflate to the door jamb specification. Note that the TPMS is a warning system, not a substitute for regular manual checks. A tire can lose pressure gradually without triggering the light until it reaches a critical level.

Visit Downtown Ford in Toronto, ON

If your tires are showing uneven wear, or there are unknown lights on your dash, our service team at Downtown Ford is here to help. We'll check pressure, measure tread depth, inspect condition and DOT dates, and let you know if anything needs attention. Book your service appointment online or give us a call today at 416-603-9156!