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Tires
Your Ford GT is equipped with low profile, high performance tires that
are designed to optimize handling, steering and braking. These tires are
not designed for off-road or winter performance, and their ride, noise
and wear characteristics are different than other tires. Also, because of
their lower profile, the tires are more susceptible to damage due to
potholes and rough or unpaved roads. To ensure that your tires perform
as designed, it is important that you maintain your tires properly:
•Always maintain your tire pressures according to the tire information
label on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door using an accurate
gauge.
• Tire pressures are specified “cold” and should be checked after the
vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours. Do not reduce pressure
of warm tires.
• Check your tire pressure often to maintain it properly. Tire pressure
can diminish over time and fluctuate with temperature.
• Do not overload your vehicle. Maximum vehicle and axle weights are
listed on the tire information placard.
• Extra caution should be taken when operating the vehicle near its
maximum load, including assuring proper tire pressure and reducing
speeds.
• Extra caution should be taken when operating on rough roads to avoid
impacts that could cause tire damage.
• In the event that you encounter an abnormally harsh impact, inspect
you tires for damage.
• Inspect your tires for damage on a regular basis. If a tire is damaged,
replace it immediately.
• Proper suspension alignment is critical for maximum performance and
optimal tire wear. If you notice uneven tire wear, have you alignment
checked.
• Rotate tires as recommended in this section of the Owner Guide.
• When replacing tires, the only way to assure original performance is to
use the original equipment tire.
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Wheels
Your Ford GT is equipped with unique wheels matched to the tires.
These wheels are more susceptible to damage due to their diameter,
width and low profile tires. To avoid damage to your wheels:
•Maintain proper tire pressure (see “Tires” previously listed).
• When installing wheels, always torque lug nuts to specification with a
torque wrench.
• Inspect your wheels for damage on a regular basis. If a wheel is
damaged, replace it immediately.
• In the event that you encounter an abnormally harsh impact, inspect
the outer diameter of your wheels, both inside and out, for damage
Operating a performance vehicle at higher than normal speeds
Your Ford GT is capable of operating at higher than normal speeds and is
equipped with tires rated for the vehicles’ maximum speed. However, it
is important to remember to always drive safely, obey all traffic laws and
only operate your Ford GT at higher than normal speeds at locations and
under conditions where such can be done safely. Also, before operating
your vehicle at higher than normal speeds:
• Maintain your tire pressures according to the tire information and high
speed warning labels located on the B-pillar or the edge of the driver’s
door.
• Inspect wheels and tires for wear and damage. Replace any damaged
wheels or tires.
Winter driving
The original equipment tires on your Ford GT are designed for maximum
performance in dry and wet conditions. They are not designed for winter
use on ice or snow and cannot be used with snow chains or other tire
mounted traction aids.
Tire and wheel alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can cause the front end of your
vehicle to become misaligned or cause damage to your tires. If your
vehicle seems to pull to one side when you’re driving, the wheels may be
out of alignment. Have a qualified technician at a Ford or
Lincoln/Mercury dealer check the wheel alignment periodically.
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Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by a qualified technician
at a Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealer. Front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
and those with an independent rear suspension (if equipped) may
require alignment of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balanced periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular tire wear.
Tire rotation
Because your vehicle is equipped with unique larger tires on the rear
wheels, you can only rotate tires side to side. You must not rotate tire in
a crisscross pattern or front to rear. If you notice that the tires wear
unevenly, have them checked.
Rotating your tires at the recommended interval (as indicated in the
Scheduled Maintenancechapter) will help your tires wear more evenly,
providing better tire performance and longer tire life. Unless otherwise
specified, rotate the tires approximately every 5,000 miles (8,000 km).
• Tire rotation
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires.
Note: If your tires show uneven wear ask a qualified technician at a
Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealership to check for and correct any wheel
misalignment, tire imbalance or mechanical problem involved before tire
rotation.
Note: After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
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SNOW TIRES
The original equipment tires on your Ford GT are designed for maximum
performance in dry and wet conditions. They are not designed for winter
use on ice or snow and cannot be used with snow chains or other tire
mounted traction aid devices.
TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is not equipped to tow. No towing packages are available
through Ford or Lincoln/Mercury dealers.
VEHICLE LOADING
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or
trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating
capability. Properly loading your vehicle will provide maximum return of
vehicle design performance. Before loading your vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms for determining your vehicle’s weight
ratings from the vehicle’s Safety Certification Label and Tire Label:
Base Curb Weight– is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of
fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or
optional equipment.
Vehicle Curb Weight – is the weight of your new vehicle when you
picked it up from your dealer plus any aftermarket equipment.
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Payload– is the combined weight of cargo and passengers that the
vehicle is carrying. The maximum payload for your vehicle can be found
on the Tire Label on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. Look
for “THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO
SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX kg OR XXX lb.” for maximum
payload. The payload listed on the tire label is the maximum payload for
the vehicle as built by the assembly plant. If any aftermarket or dealer
installed equipment has been installed on the vehicle, the weight of the
equipment must be subtracted from the payload listed on the tire label
in order to determine the new payload.
The appropriate loading capacity of your vehicle can be limited
either by volume capacity (how much space is available) or by
payload capacity (how much weight the vehicle should carry). Once
you have reached the maximum payload of your vehicle, do not add
more cargo, even if there is space available. Overloading or improperly
loading your vehicle can contribute to loss of vehicle control and
vehicle rollover.
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Cargo Weight– includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight,
including cargo and optional equipment.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) – is the total weight placed on each axle
(front and rear) – including vehicle curb weight and all payload.
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GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)– is the maximum allowable
weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear). These
numbers are shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label
located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. The total
load on each axle must never exceed its GAWR.
Exceeding the Safety Certification Label axle weight rating limits
could result in substandard vehicle handling or performance,
engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious damage to the
vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) – is the Vehicle Curb Weight + cargo +
passengers.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) – is the maximum
allowable weight of the fully loaded
vehicle (including all options,
equipment, passengers and cargo).
The GVWR is shown on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label located on the driver’s
door or B-Pillar. The GVW must
never exceed the GVWR.
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Exceeding the Safety Certification Label vehicle weight rating
limits could result in substandard vehicle handling or
performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious
damage to the vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.
Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the
certification label.
Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities
than the originals because they may lower the vehicle’s GVWR
and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit than the
originals do not increase the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in
serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.
Steps for determining the correct load limit:
1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX pounds” on your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX
kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lb. and
there will be five 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lb. (1400–750 (5 x 150)
= 650 lb.).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
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