2013 FORD ESCAPE flat tire

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. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 139. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Glossary of Tire Terminology
• Tire label: A label showing the OE
(Original Equipment) tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure and
the maximum weight the vehicle can
carry.
• Tire Identification Number (TIN): A
number on the sidewall of each tire
providing information about the tire
brand and manufacturing plant, tire
size and date of manufacture. Also
referred to as DOT code.
• Inflation pressure: A measure of the
amount of air in a tire.
• Standard load: A class of P-metric or
Metric tires designed to carry a
maximum load at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5
bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the
inflation pressure beyond this pressure
will not increase the tire ’s load carrying
capability.
• Extra load: A class of P-metric or
Metric tires designed to carry a heavier
maximum load at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9
bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the
inflation pressure beyond this pressure
will not increase the tire ’s load carrying
capability. •
kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air
pressure.
• PSI: Pounds per square inch, a
standard unit of air pressure.
• Cold inflation pressure: The tire
pressure when the vehicle has been
stationary and out of direct sunlight for
an hour or more and prior to the vehicle
being driven for 1 mile (1.6 km).
• Recommended inflation pressure:
The cold inflation pressure found on
the Safety Compliance Certification
Label (affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door edge
that meets the door-latch post, next
to the driver's seating position), or Tire
Label located on the B-Pillar or the
edge of the driver ’s door.
• B-pillar: The structural member at the
side of the vehicle behind the front
door
• Bead area of the tire: Area of the tire
next to the rim.
• Sidewall of the tire: Area between
the bead area and the tread.
• Tread area of the tire: Area of the
perimeter of the tire that contacts the
road when mounted on the vehicle.
• Rim: The metal support (wheel) for a
tire or a tire and tube assembly upon
which the tire beads are seated.
Information Contained on the Tire
Sidewall
Both U.S. and Canada Federal regulations
require 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.
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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.)
A.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).
B. 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.
C. 65: Indicates the aspect ratio which
gives the tire's ratio of height to width.
D. R: Indicates a radial type tire. E.
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.
F. 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 manual. 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.
G. 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.
Note: You may not find this information on
all tires because it is not required by federal
law.
Speed rating - mph (km/ h)
Letter rating
81 mph (130 km/h)
M
87 mph (140 km/h)
N
99 mph (159 km/h)
Q
106 mph (171 km/h)
R
112 mph (180 km/h)
S
118 mph (190 km/h)
T
124 mph (200 km/h)
U
130 mph (210 km/h)
H
149 mph (240 km/h)
V
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B
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M.Maximum Permissible Inflation
Pressure: Indicates the tire
manufacturers' maximum permissible
pressure 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
the Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or Tire 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.
Additional Information Contained on
the Tire Sidewall for LT Type Tires
Note: Tire Quality Grades do not apply to
this type of tire.LT type tires have some additional
information beyond those of P type tires;
these differences are described below.
A. LT: Indicates a tire, designated by the
Tire and Rim Association (T&RA), that is
intended for service on light trucks.
B. Load Range and Load Inflation
Limits: Indicates the tire's load-carrying
capabilities and its inflation limits.
C. Maximum Load Dual lb (kg) at psi
(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum load
and tire pressure when the tire is used as
a dual; defined as four tires on the rear axle
(a total of six or more tires on the vehicle).
D. Maximum Load Single lb (kg) at psi
(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum load
and tire pressure when the tire is used as
a single; defined as two tires (total) on the
rear axle.
Information on T Type Tires
T145/80D16 is an example of a tire size.
Note: The temporary tire size for your
vehicle may be different from this example.
Tire Quality Grades do not apply to this type
of tire.
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A
BC
BDE142544

T type tires have some additional
information beyond those of P type tires;
these differences are described below:
A.T: Indicates a type of tire, designated by
the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA), that
is intended for temporary service on cars,
SUVs, minivans and light trucks.
B. 145: 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.
C. 80: Indicates the aspect ratio which
gives the tire's ratio of height to width.
Numbers of 70 or lower indicate a short
sidewall.
D. D: Indicates a diagonal type tire.
R: Indicates a radial type tire. E.
16: 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.
Location of the Tire Label
You will find a Tire Label containing tire
inflation pressure by tire size and other
important information located on the
B-Pillar or the edge of the driver ’s door.
Inflating Your Tires
Safe operation of your vehicle requires that
your tires are properly inflated. Remember
that a tire can lose up to half of its air
pressure without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, check your tires.
If one looks lower than the others, use a
tire gauge to check pressure of all tires and
adjust if required.
At least once a month and before long
trips, inspect each tire and check the tire
pressure with a tire gauge (including spare,
if equipped). Inflate all tires to the inflation
pressure recommended by Ford Motor
Company.
You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire
pressure gauge, as automatic service
station gauges may be inaccurate. Ford
recommends the use of a digital or
dial-type tire pressure gauge rather than a
stick-type tire pressure gauge.
Use the recommended cold inflation
pressure for optimum tire performance and
wear. Under-inflation or over-inflation may
cause uneven treadwear patterns
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BCDE
E142545

WARNING
Under-inflation is the most common
cause of tire failures and may result
in severe tire cracking, tread
separation or blowout, with unexpected
loss of vehicle control and increased risk
of injury. Under-inflation increases sidewall
flexing and rolling resistance, resulting in
heat buildup and internal damage to the
tire. It also may result in unnecessary tire
stress, irregular wear, loss of vehicle
control and accidents. A tire can lose up
to half of its air pressure and not appear
to be flat!
Always inflate your tires to the Ford
recommended inflation pressure even if it
is less than the maximum inflation
pressure information found on the tire. The
Ford recommended tire inflation pressure
is found on the Safety Compliance
Certification Label (affixed to either the
door hinge pillar, door-latch post, or the
door edge that meets the door-latch post,
next to the driver's seating position), or Tire
Label which is located on the B-Pillar or
the edge of the driver ’s door. Failure to
follow the tire pressure recommendations
can cause uneven treadwear patterns and
adversely affect the way your vehicle
handles Maximum Permissible Inflation
Pressure is the tire manufacturer's
maximum permissible pressure and 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 the Safety
Compliance Certification Label (affixed to
either the door hinge pillar, door-latch post,
or the door edge that meets the door-latch
post, next to the driver's seating position),
or Tire 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 Safety Compliance Certification Label
or Tire Label.
When weather temperature changes
occur, tire inflation pressures also change.
A 10°F (6°C) temperature drop can cause
a corresponding drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in
inflation pressure. Check your tire pressures
frequently and adjust them to the proper
pressure which can be found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label or Tire
Label.
To check the pressure in your tire(s):
1. Make sure the tires are cool, meaning they are not hot from driving even a
mile.
Note: If you are checking tire pressure when
the tire is hot, (i.e. driven more than 1 mile
[1.6 km]), never bleed or reduce air pressure.
The tires are hot from driving and it is normal
for pressures to increase above
recommended cold pressures. A hot tire at
or below recommended cold inflation
pressure could be significantly
under-inflated.
Note: If you have to drive a distance to get
air for your tire(s), check and record the tire
pressure first and add the appropriate air
pressure when you get to the pump. It is
normal for tires to heat up and the air
pressure inside to go up as you drive.
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Wheels and Tires

2.Remove the cap from the valve on one
tire, then firmly press the tire gauge
onto the valve and measure the
pressure.
3. Add enough air to reach the recommended air pressure.
Note: If you overfill the tire, release air by
pressing on the metal stem in the center of
the valve. Then recheck the pressure with
your tire gauge.
4. Replace the valve cap.
5. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare.
Note: Some spare tires operate at a higher
inflation pressure than the other tires. For T
type mini-spare tires (refer to the Dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly information
for a description): Store and maintain at 60
psi (4.15 bar). For full-size and dissimilar
spare tires (refer to the Dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly information for a
description): Store and maintain at the
higher of the front and rear inflation pressure
as shown on the Tire Label.
6. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects
embedded that could poke a hole in
the tire and cause an air leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there
are no gouges, cuts or bulges. Inspecting Your Tires and Wheel Valve
Stems
Periodically inspect the tire treads for
uneven or excessive wear and remove
objects such as stones, nails or glass that
may be wedged in the tread grooves.
Check the tire and valve stems for holes,
cracks, or cuts that may permit air leakage
and repair or replace the tire and replace
the valve stem. Inspect the tire sidewalls
for cracking, cuts, bruises and other signs
of damage or excessive wear. If internal
damage to the tire is suspected, have the
tire demounted and inspected in case it
needs to be repaired or replaced. For your
safety, tires that are damaged or show
signs of excessive wear should not be used
because they are more likely to blow out
or fail.
Improper or inadequate vehicle
maintenance can cause tires to wear
abnormally. Inspect all your tires, including
the spare, frequently, and replace them if
one or more of the following conditions
exist:
Tire Wear
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When the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm), tires must be
replaced to help prevent your vehicle from
skidding and hydroplaning. Built-in
treadwear indicators, or wear bars, which
look like narrow strips of smooth rubber
across the tread will appear on the tire
when the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm)
When the tire tread wears down to the
same height as these wear bars, the tire is
worn out and must be replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads and
sidewalls for damage (such as bulges in
the tread or sidewalls, cracks in the tread
groove and separation in the tread or
sidewall). If damage is observed or
suspected have the tire inspected by a tire
professional. Tires can be damaged during
off-road use, so inspection after off-road
use is also recommended.
Age
WARNING
Tires degrade over time depending
on many factors such as weather,
storage conditions, and conditions
of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, etc.)
the tires experience throughout their lives.
In general, tires should be replaced after
six years regardless of tread wear.
However, heat caused by hot climates or
frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process and may
require tires to be replaced more
frequently.
You should replace your spare tire when
you replace the road tires or after six years
due to aging even if it has not been used.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
Both U.S. and Canada Federal regulations
require 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.
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.
Tire Replacement Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide a safe ride and
handling capability.
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires and
wheels that are the same size, load
index, speed rating and type (such
as P-metric versus LT-metric or all-season
versus all-terrain) as those originally
provided by Ford. The recommended tire
and wheel size may be found on either the
Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or the Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or edge of
the driver ’s door. If this information is not
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WARNINGS
found on these labels then you should
contact your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. Use of any tire or wheel not
recommended by Ford can affect the
safety and performance of your vehicle,
which could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death. Additionally the
use of non-recommended tires and wheels
could cause steering, suspension, axle,
transfer case or power transfer unit failure.
If you have questions regarding tire
replacement, contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
When mounting replacement tires
and wheels, you should not exceed
the maximum pressure indicated on
the sidewall of the tire to set the beads
without additional precautions listed
below. If the beads do not seat at the
maximum pressure indicated, re-lubricate
and try again
When inflating the tire for mounting
pressures up to 20 psi (1.38 bar) greater
than the maximum pressure on the tire
sidewall, the following precautions must
be taken to protect the person mounting
the tire:
1. Make sure that you have the correct tire
and wheel size.
2. Lubricate the tire bead and wheel bead
seat area again.
3. Stand at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)
away from the wheel and tire assembly.
4. Use both eye and ear protection.
For a mounting pressure more than 20 psi
(1.38 bar) greater than the maximum
pressure, a Ford dealer or other tire service
professional should do the mounting.
WARNINGS
Always inflate steel carcass tires with a
remote air fill with the person inflating
standing at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)
away from the wheel and tire assembly
Important: Remember to replace the
wheel valve stems when the road tires are
replaced on your vehicle
It is recommended that the two front tires
or two rear tires generally be replaced as
a pair.
The tire pressure sensors mounted in the
wheels (originally installed on your vehicle)
are not designed to be used in aftermarket
wheels.
The use of wheels or tires not
recommended by Ford Motor Company
may affect the operation of your tire
pressure monitoring system.
If the TPMS indicator is flashing, your
TPMS is malfunctioning. Your replacement
tire might be incompatible with your TPMS,
or some component of the TPMS may be
damaged.
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud,
sand, etc., do not rapidly spin the
tires; spinning the tires can tear the
tire and cause an explosion. A tire can
explode in as little as three to five seconds.
Do not spin the wheels at over 35
mph (56 km/h). The tires may fail
and injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal to do with
your tire mileage and safety.
• Observe posted speed limits
• Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
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