2005 Mercury Grand Marquis tires

When driving with the dissimilar spare tire/wheel,do not:
•Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h)
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire/wheel at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire/wheel
The usage of a dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to impairment of the
following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
•Comfort and noise
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
•Winter weather driving capability
•Wet weather driving capability
•All-Wheel driving capability (if applicable)
•Load leveling adjustment (if applicable)
When driving with the dissimilar spare tire/wheel additional caution
should be given to:
•Towing a trailer
•Driving vehicles equipped with a camper body
•Driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack
Drive cautiously when using a dissimilar spare tire/wheel and seek
service as soon as possible.
Tire change procedure
To help prevent the vehicle from moving when you change a tire,
be sure the parking brake is set, then block (in both directions)
the wheel that is diagonally opposite (other side and end of the
vehicle) to the tire being changed.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else could be
seriously injured.
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
139

1. Park on a level surface, activate
hazard flashers and set parking
brake.
2. Place gearshift lever in P (Park),
turn engine OFF and block the
diagonally opposite wheel.
3. Remove the spare tire and the
jack. The jack could be located:
•A — behind the mini spare tire or
•B — behind the full size spare
tire
On vehicles equipped with
Air Suspension, turn OFF
the Air Suspension switch prior to
jacking, hoisting or towing your
vehicle.
Refer toAir suspension systemin
theDrivingchapter of theOwner’s
Guidefor more information.
HOOD
OFF
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
140

4. Remove the lug wrench from the
jack. Rotate the lug wrench socket
out from the handle.
5. Locate pry off notch (if
equipped) and remove the center
ornament from the aluminum wheel
with the tapered end of the wheel
nut wrench that came with your
vehicle. Insert and twist the handle,
then pry against the wheel.
6. If equipped with a full
wheelcover, remove the wheelcover
center ornament then loosen the five black plastic nuts which retain the
wheelcover using the lug wrench.
7. Loosen each wheel metal lug nut one-half turn counterclockwise but
do not remove them until the wheel is raised off the ground.
Before placing the jack under the vehicle, NOTE the jack location
markings:
JACK LOCATION
The jack location markings can be
foundon the lower outer edge of
the body.
•Locate the jack locator mark (B)
on the body (C) near the tire you
are changing, then place the jack
(D)under the frame (A) of
the vehiclealigning it with the
mark (B).
A
A
D
B
C
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
141

•Position the jack according to the
following guides and turn the jack
handle clockwise until the wheel
is completely off the ground.
To lessen risk of personal
injury, do not put any part
of your body under the vehicle
while changing a tire. Do not start
the engine when your vehicle is
on the jack. The jack is ONLY
meant for changing the tire.
•Never use the rear differential
as a jacking point.
8. Remove the metal lug nuts with the lug wrench.
9. Replace the flat tire/wheel assembly with the spare tire/wheel
assembly, making sure the valve stem is facing outward. Reinstall lug
nuts until the wheel is snug against the hub. Do not fully tighten the lug
nuts until the wheel has been lowered.
10. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.
11. Remove the jack and fully
tighten the lug nuts in the order
shown. Refer toWheel lug nut
torque specificationslater in this
chapter for the proper lug nut
torque specification.
1
4 3
2 5
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
142

12. For full size spare aluminum wheel, firmly install the center
ornament. If equipped with a full size spare tire/wheel assembly and lug
nut retained full wheelcover, install the wheelcover by tightening the five
black plastic nuts in the order shown on the wheelcover using the lug
wrench with about 6.0 lbs. ft. (80 N•m) torque. Then firmly install the
wheelcover center ornament.
13. Put flat tire, jack and lug wrench away.
14. Turn on the air suspension switch (if equipped).
WHEEL LUG NUT TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque at 500 miles (800 km)
after any wheel disturbance (tire rotation, changing a flat tire, wheel
removal, etc.).
Bolt size Wheel lug nut torque*
lb.ft. N•m
12x 20 100 135
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Ford recommended replacement fasteners.
When a wheel is installed, always remove any corrosion, dirt or
foreign materials present on the mounting surfaces of the wheel
or the surface of the front disc brake hub and rotor that contacts the
wheel. Installing wheels without correct metal-to-metal contact at the
wheel mounting surfaces can cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the
wheel to come off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in loss of
control.
INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE TIRE SIDEWALL
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized
information on the sidewall of all tires. This information identifies and
describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire and also provides a
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number for safety standard certification and
in case of a recall.
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
143

Information on “P” type tires
P215/65R15 95H is an example of a
tire size, load index and speed
rating. The definitions of these
items are listed below. (Note that
the tire size, load index and speed
rating for your vehicle may be
different from this example.)
1.P:Indicates a tire, designated by
the Tire and Rim Association
(T&RA), that may be used for
service on cars, SUVs, minivans and
light trucks.
Note:If your tire size does not
begin with a letter this may mean it
is designated by either ETRTO
(European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) or JATMA (Japan Tire
Manufacturing Association).
2.215:Indicates the nominal width of the tire in millimeters from
sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In general, the larger the number, the
wider the tire.
3.65:Indicates the aspect ratio which gives the tire’s ratio of height to
width.
4.R:Indicates a “radial” type tire.
5.15:Indicates the wheel or rim diameter in inches. If you change your
wheel size, you will have to purchase new tires to match the new wheel
diameter.
6.95:Indicates the tire’s load index. It is an index that relates to how
much weight a tire can carry. You may find this information in your
Owner’s Guide.If not, contact a local tire dealer.
Note:You may not find this information on all tires because it is not
required by federal law.
7.H:Indicates the tire’s speed rating. The speed rating denotes the
speed at which a tire is designed to be driven for extended periods of
time under a standard condition of load and inflation pressure. The tires
on your vehicle may operate at different conditions for load and inflation
pressure. These speed ratings may need to be adjusted for the difference
in conditions. The ratings range from 81 mph (130 km/h) to 186 mph
(299 km/h). These ratings are listed in the following chart.
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
144

Note:You may not find this information on all tires because it is not
required by federal law.
Letter rating Speed rating - mph (km/h)
M 81 mph (130 km/h)
N 87 mph (140 km/h)
Q 99 mph (159 km/h)
R 106 mph (171 km/h)
S 112 mph (180 km/h)
T 118 mph (190 km/h)
U 124 mph (200 km/h)
H 130 mph (210 km/h)
V 149 mph (240 km/h)
W 168 mph (270 km/h)
Y 186 mph (299 km/h)
Note:For tires with a maximum speed capability over 149 mph
(240 km/h), tire manufacturers sometimes use the letters ZR. For
those with a maximum speed capability over 186 mph (299 km/h), tire
manufacturers always use the letters ZR.
8.U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN):This begins with the
letters “DOT” and indicates that the tire meets all federal standards. The
next two numbers or letters are the plant code designating where it was
manufactured, the next two are the tire size code and the last four
numbers represent the week and year the tire was built. For example,
the numbers 317 mean the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the numbers
go to four digits. For example, 2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The
numbers in between are identification codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers if a tire defect requires a recall.
9.M+S or M/S:Mud and Snow, or
AT:All Terrain, or
AS:All Season.
10.Tire Ply Composition and Material Used:Indicates the number of
plies or the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and
sidewall. Tire manufacturers also must indicate the ply materials in the
tire and the sidewall, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
11.Maximum Load:Indicates the maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire. Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification Label, which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door, for the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
145

12.Treadwear, Traction and Temperature Grades
•Treadwear: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
12) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
•Traction:The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B,
and C. The grades 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.
•Temperature:The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
13.Maximum Permissible Inflation Pressure:Indicates the tire
manufacturers’ maximum permissible pressure and/or the pressure at
which the maximum load can be carried by the tire. This pressure is
normally higher than the manufacturer’s recommended cold inflation
pressure which can be found on either the Safety Compliance
Certification Label which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door. The cold inflation pressure should never be set lower than
the recommended pressure on the vehicle label.
The tire suppliers may have additional markings, notes or warnings such
as standard load, radial tubeless, etc.
2005 Grand Marquis(grn)
Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt)
USA(fus)
Tires, Wheels and Loading
146