
USING SUMMER TIRES
Your Taurus SHO may be equipped with summer tires to provide superior
performance on wet and dry roads. Summer tires do not have the Mud
and Snow (M+S or M/S) tire traction rating on the tire side wall. Since
summer tires do not have the same traction performance as All-season or
Snow tires, Ford does not recommend using summer tires when
temperatures drop to approximately 40°F (5°C) or below (depending on
tire wear and environmental conditions) or in snow/ice conditions. Like
any tire, summer tire performance is affected by tire wear and
environmental conditions. If you must drive in those conditions, Ford
recommends using Mud and Snow (M+S, M/S), All-season or Snow tires.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING:Snow tires must be the same size, load index, speed
rating as those originally provided by Ford. 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 or transfer case/power transfer unit failure.
The tires on your vehicle may have all-weather treads to provide traction
in rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow
tires and chains. If you need to use chains, it is recommended that steel
wheels (of the same size and specifications) be used, as chains may chip
aluminum wheels.
Note:The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when using
snow tires and chains.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
•If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
•Use only SAE Class S cables or equivalent on P235/60R17 or
P235/55R18 tires on the front tires only. SAE Class S chains or other
conventional link chains may cause damage to the vehicle’s wheel
house and/or body. Use of optional spike spider type traction devices
or equivalent is also acceptable.
•
Do not install tire chains, cables or optional traction devices on the rear
tires. This could cause damage to the vehicle’s wheel house or body.
•Do not use tire chains, cables or optional traction devices with
optional P255/45R19 or 245/45R20 tires.
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CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL
WARNING:The use of tire sealants may damage your tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and should not be used.
However, if you must use a sealant, the TPMS sensor and valve stem on
the wheel must be replaced by an authorized Ford dealer.
WARNING:Refer toTire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
in this chapter for important information. If the tire pressure
monitor sensor becomes damaged, it will no longer function.
Note:The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) indicator light will
illuminate when the spare tire is in use. To restore the full functionality
of the monitoring system, all road wheels equipped with tire pressure
monitoring sensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not apply the brake heavily.
Instead, gradually decrease your speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly
and slowly move to a safe place on the side of the road.
Have a flat serviced by an authorized dealer in order to prevent damage
to the TPMS sensors, refer toTire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
earlier in the chapter. Replace the spare tire with a road tire as soon as
possible. During repairing or replacing of the flat tire, have the
authorized dealer inspect the TPMS sensor for damage.
Dissimilar Spare Tire and Wheel Assembly Information
WARNING:Failure to follow these guidelines could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly , then it is
intended for temporary use only. This means that if you need to use it,
you should replace it as soon as possible with a road tire and wheel
assembly that is the same size and type as the road tires and wheels that
were originally provided by Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel is
damaged, it should be replaced rather than repaired.
A dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly is defined as a spare tire or
wheel that is different in brand, size or appearance from the road tires
and wheels and can be one of three types:
1.T-type mini-spare:This spare tire begins with the letter “T” for tire
size and may have “Temporary Use Only” molded in the sidewall
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2.Full-size dissimilar spare with label on wheel:This spare tire has
a label on the wheel that states: “THIS TIRE AND WHEEL FOR
TEMPORARY USE ONLY”
When driving with one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above,do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
•Load the vehicle beyond maximum vehicle load rating listed on the
Safety Compliance Label
•Tow a trailer
•
Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare tire
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listed above at any one wheel
location 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)
3.Full-size dissimilar spare without label on wheel
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly,
do not:
•Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h)
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tire and wheel at a time
•Use commercial car washing equipment
•Use snow chains on the end of the vehicle with the dissimilar spare
tire and wheel
The usage of a full-size dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly can lead
to impairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and braking performance
•Comfort and noise
•Ground clearance and parking at curbs
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•Winter weather driving capability
•Wet weather driving capability
•All-wheel driving capability (if applicable)
•Load leveling adjustment (if applicable)
When driving with the full-size dissimilar spare tire and wheel assembly,
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 full-size dissimilar spare tire and wheel,
and seek service as soon as possible.
Tire Change Procedure
WARNING:When one of the front wheels is off the ground, the
transmission alone will not prevent the vehicle from moving or
slipping off the jack, even if the vehicle is in P (Park) (automatic
transmission) or R (Reverse) (manual transmission).
WARNING: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.
WARNING:If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or someone else
could be seriously injured.
WARNING:Do not attempt to change a tire on the side of the
vehicle close to moving traffic. Pull far enough off the road to avoid
the danger of being hit when operating the jack or changing the wheel.
WARNING:To lessen the 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.
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Be sure to check the sealant
compound’s “use by” date regularly.
The “use by” date is on the lower
right hand corner of the label
located on the sealant canister
(bottle). The sealant canister should be replaced after four years.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Wheel Lug Nut Torque Specifications
Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque within 100 miles (160 km)
after any wheel disturbance (rotation, flat tire, wheel removal, etc.).
Lug nut socket
size/Bolt sizeWheel lug nut torque*
ft-lb N•m
1 2x 20 100 135
* Torque specifications are for nut and bolt threads free of dirt and
rust. Use only Ford recommended replacement fasteners.
WARNING: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 wheel hub, brake drum or
brake disc that contacts the wheel. Ensure that any fasteners that
attach the rotor to the hub are secured so they do not interfere with
the mounting surfaces of 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.
Note:Inspect the wheel pilot hole (1) and
mounting surface prior to installation.
Remove any visible corrosion or loose
particles.
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