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 an authorized dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or the rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be corrected by an authorized 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
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.
•Front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicles
(front tires at top of diagram)
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires.
Note:If your tires show uneven wear ask an authorized dealer to check
for and correct any wheel misalignment, tire imbalance or mechanical
problem involved before tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equipped with a dissimilar spare tire/wheel. A
dissimilar spare tire/wheel is defined as a spare tire and/or wheel that is
different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires and wheels. If
you have a dissimilar spare tire/wheel it is intended for temporary use
only and should not be used in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated, inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle requirements.
Tires, Wheels and Loading
203
2012 MKZ Hybrid(hkz)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
Steering
speed sensitive .......................233
Steering wheel
controls ......................................99
tilting .........................................88
Stereo
6-CD in dash .............................50
CD-MP3 .....................................50
SYNC..........................................65
T
Tilt steering wheel ......................88
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
Tires, Wheels and Loading ....209
Tires ...........................194–195, 259
alignment ................................203
care ..........................................198
changing ..................................259
checking the pressure ............198
inflating ...................................196
label .........................................208
replacing ..................................200
rotating ....................................203
safety practices .......................202
sidewall information ...............204
snow tires and chains ............213
spare tire .................................260
terminology .............................195
tire grades ...............................195
treadwear ........................194, 199
Towing .......................................219
recreational towing .................220
trailer towing ..........................219
wrecker ....................................269
Transmission .............................235brake-shift interlock (BSI) ....234
fluid, checking and adding
(automatic) .............................312
fluid, refill capacities ..............316
lubricant specifications ..........316
Trunk .........................................119
remote release ................109, 123
Turn signal ..................................80
U
Universal garage door opener ..102
USB port ......................................60
V
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN) ..........................................319
Vehicle loading ..........................213
Ventilating your vehicle ...........224
W
Warning lights (see Lights) .......18
Washer fluid ..............................290
Water, Driving through .............248
Windows
opening using remote
entry system .....................94, 122
power .........................................93
Windshield washer fluid and
wipers ..........................................87
checking and adding fluid .....290
replacing wiper blades ...........290
Wrecker towing .........................269
Index
349
2012 MKZ Hybrid(hkz)
Owners Guide, 1st Printing
USA(fus)
