1997 FORD CONTOUR tire type

98
*
[SS10301(ALL)03/96]
Children and Air Bags
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[SS10401(ALL)03/96]
NOTE: For additional important safety information on the
proper use of seat belts, child seats, and infant seats,
please read the entire Safety Restraints section in this
owner guide.
*
[SS10501(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Children should always wear their safety belts. Failure to
follow these instructions may increase the risk of
personal injury in the event of a collision.
*
[SS10601(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
Rear-facing infant seats must always be secured in the
rear seat.
%*
[SS10701(ALL)03/96]
How Does the Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System
Work?
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[SS10801(ALL)04/96]
The Air Bag Supplemental Restraint System is designed to
activate when the vehicle is in a collision similar to hitting a
fixed barrier head on at 8-14 mph (13-23 km/h). The fact that
the air bags did not inflate in a collision does not mean that
something is wrong with the system. Rather, it means the forces
were not of the type sufficient to cause acitivation.
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[SS10901(ALL)04/96]
If the vehicle is in a moderate or severe frontal collision, the
system is activated and the air bags inflate rapidly. After the air
bag inflates, it will quickly deflate. After the air bag
deployment, you may notice a smoke-like, powdery residue or
smell the burnt propellant. This is normal. The residue may
consist of cornstarch or talcum powder (which is used to
lubricate the air bag) or sodium compounds, such as sodium
carbonates (e.g. baking soda) that result from the combustion
File:06cdsso.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:03:20 1996

142
*
[GF14200(ALL)01/96]
n
Service your vehicle more frequently if you tow a trailer.
(SeeServicing your vehicle if you towin this chapter.)
*
[GF14300(ALL)12/95]
Ten to 15% of the loaded trailer's weight should be on the
tongue. However, the tongue load should never exceed 10% of
the maximum weight that your vehicle can safely tow.
*
[GF14400(ALL)12/95]
New vehicles should be driven 2,000 miles (3,200 km) before
towing a trailer.
*
[GF14500(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Towing trailers beyond the maximum recommended
gross trailer weight exceeds the limit of the vehicle and
could result in engine damage, transaxle damage,
structural damage, loss of control, and personal injury.
*
[GF14600(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
Do not tow a trailer when using a temporary spare tire.
*
[GF14700(ALL)12/95]
You should also limit your trailer's load when you tow in high
altitudes.
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[GF14800(ALL)03/96]
Preparing to Tow
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[GF14900(ALL)01/96]
For your safety and for the good of your vehicle, use the right
equipment for the type of trailer you tow. Also, make sure that
all towing equipment is properly attached to your vehicle. If
you are not certain that you are using the right equipment in
the proper manner, see your Ford or Lincoln-Mercury dealer.
*
[GF15000(ALL)12/95]
Do not use hitches that clamp onto your vehicle's bumper. The
bumper is not designed to bear the load.
File:09cdgfo.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:04:39 1996

162
*
[ER05600(ALL)02/96]
When you drive with the temporary spare tire, DO NOT:
*
[ER05700(ALL)02/96]
n
exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) under any circumstances.
*
[ER05800(ALL)02/96]
n
load your vehicle so that it is heavier than the maximum
vehicle load rating listed on the tire decal.
*
[ER05900(ALL)02/96]
n
tow a trailer.
*
[ER06000(ALL)02/96]
n
use tire chains on this tire.
*
[ER06100(ALL)02/96]
n
try to repair the temporary spare tire or remove it from its
wheel.
*
[ER06200(ALL)02/96]
n
use the wheel for any other type of vehicle.
*
[ER06300(ALL)02/96]
n
drive through an automatic car wash with this tire. Because
the temporary spare tire is smaller than a conventional tire,
it reduces the ground clearance. Your vehicle may get caught
in the rails and it could be damaged.
%*
[ER06400(ALL)02/96]
Spare Tire Location
*
[ER06500(ALL)12/95]
The spare tire is stored under the carpet on the floor of the
trunk.
[ER06600(ALL)12/95]
You will find additional instructions for the spare tire on the
wheel decal (located on the temporary spare wheel).
File:10cdero.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:06:09 1996

164
*
[ER07100(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else
could be seriously injured.
*
[ER07200(ALL)01/96]2.
Get out the spare tire and jack.
*
[ER07300(ALL)03/96]
RWARNING
To avoid injury, never run the engine with one wheel off
the ground, such as when changing a tire.
[ER07400(ALL)12/95]3.
Remove the wheel cover from the wheel with the tapered
end of the wheel lug wrench. Insert and twist the handle,
then pry against the inner wheel cover flange. For
information about removing optional wheel center ornaments
seeStyled Polycast Wheel Ornamentslater in this section.
[ER07500(ALL)12/95]4.
Loosen the wheel lug nuts by pulling up on the handle of
the wrench one-half turn counterclockwise. Do not remove
the wheel lug nuts until you raise the tire off the ground.
For information about removing anti-theft lug nuts, see
Anti-Theft Wheel Lug Nutslater in this section.
%*
[ER07600(ALL)01/96]
Removing and Replacing the Tire
[ER07700(ALL)12/95]1.
Place the scissors-type jack under the side of the vehicle and
adjust the jack height with the jack handle. The jack should
fit in the notch in the vertical rocker panel flange which is
nearest to the wheel to be changed. The front and rear
jacking notches on each side of the vehicle are marked by
arrows in the rocker panel.
[ER07800(O )02/96]
On sport models with ªskirts,º you must remove a portion
of the skirt before placing the jack under the vehicle.
Squeeze the removeable portion of the skirt and pull down.
A tether connects it to the rocker panel.
File:10cdero.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:06:09 1996

Maintenance and Care
205
%*
[MC19500(ALL)01/96
]
Replacing the Tires
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[MC19600(ALL)01/96]
Replace any tires that show wear bands. When your tire shows
a wear band, it has only 1/16 inch (2 mm) of tread left.
[MC19700(ALL)12/95]
7-1/2 pica art:0001317-A
A worn-out tire
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[MC19800(ALL)02/96]
Because your vehicle's tires may wear unevenly, you may need
to replace them before a wear band appears across the entire
tread.
*
[MC19900(ALL)01/96]
RWARNING
When replacing full size tires, never mix radial,
bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that
are listed on the tire pressure decal. Make sure that all
tires are the same size, speed rating, and load-carrying
capacity. Use only the tire combinations recommended on
the decal. If you do not follow these precautions, your
vehicle may not drive properly and safely.
*
[MC20000(ALL)01/96]
Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's original tires
may also affect the accuracy of your speedometer.
File:11cdmco.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:08:18 1996

206
%*
[MC21000(ALL)01/96
]
Information About Tire Quality Grades
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[MC21100(ALL)01/96]
New vehicles are fitted with tires that have their Tire Quality
Grade (described below) molded into the tire's sidewall. These
Tire Quality Grades are determined by standards that the
United States Department of Transportation has set.
*
[MC21200(ALL)01/96]
Tire Quality Grades apply to new pneumatic tires for use on
passenger cars. They do not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches or limited production
tires as defined in Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part
575.104(c)(2).
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[MC21300(ALL)01/96]
U.S. Department of Transportation Ð Tire quality grades:The
U.S. Department of Transportation requires Ford to give you the
following information about tire grades exactly as the
government has written it.
%*
[MC21400(ALL)01/96
]
Treadwear
*
[MC21500(ALL)01/96]
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
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[MC21600(ALL)01/96]
Traction A B C
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[MC21700(ALL)05/96]
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C,
and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
File:11cdmco.ex
Update:Thu Sep 12 11:08:18 1996