
M.
Maximum 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
vehicle 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.
310
Wheels and TiresA
BC
BDE142544

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
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 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.
312
Wheels and Tires

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 found on these
labels then you should contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
315
Wheels and Tires

WARNINGS
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 feet (3.66
meters) away from the wheel and tire
assembly.
4. Use both eye and ear protection. WARNINGS
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.
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.
316
Wheels and Tires

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
• Avoid potholes and objects on the
road
• Do not run over curbs or hit the tire
against a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive
there ’s always the possibility that you
may eventually have a flat tire on the
highway. Drive slowly to the closest
safe area out of traffic. This may
further damage the flat tire, but your
safety is more important. If you feel a sudden vibration or ride
disturbance while driving, or you
suspect your tire or vehicle has been
damaged, immediately reduce your
speed. Drive with caution until you can
safely pull off the road. Stop and
inspect the tires for damage. If a tire
is under-inflated or damaged, deflate
it, remove wheel and replace it with
your spare tire and wheel. If you
cannot detect a cause, have the
vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the
vehicle inspected.
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 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.
317
Wheels and Tires

USING SNOW CHAINS
Snow chains have not been approved
for use on your vehicle.
WARNINGS
If you choose to install snow tires
on your vehicle, they must be the
same size, construction, and load
range as the original tires listed on the
tire placard, and they must be
installed on all four wheels. Mixing
tires of different size or construction
on your vehicle can adversely affect
your vehicle's handling and braking,
and may lead to loss of vehicle
control. Do not use snow chains or cables
on this vehicle as they may cause
damage to your vehicle which may
lead to loss of vehicle control. The original equipment tires on your
vehicle may have an all-weather tread
design to provide traction, handling,
and braking performance in
year-round driving. You may install
snow tires for improved traction when
driving in areas with sustained periods
of snow or icy driving conditions. CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL WARNINGS
The use of tire sealants may
damage your tire pressure
monitoring system and should not be
used. However, if you must use a
sealant, the tire pressure monitoring
system sensor and valve stem on the
wheel must be replaced by an
authorized Ford dealer. See Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (page 298). for
important information. If the tire
pressure monitor sensor becomes
damaged, it will no longer function. Note:
The tire pressure monitoring
system indicator light will illuminate
when the spare tire is in use. To restore
the full function 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.
319
Wheels and Tires

Have a flat serviced by an authorized
dealer in order to prevent damage to
the tire pressure monitoring system
sensors. See Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (page 298).
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 tire
pressure monitoring system sensor
for damage.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and
Tire 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 wheel
and tire, 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 wheel and tire 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 wheel and tire
assembly is defined as a spare wheel
and tire assembly 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.
2. Full-size dissimilar spare with
label on wheel: This spare tire has a
label on the wheel that states: THIS
WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY 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.
320
Wheels and Tires

•
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 wheel and tire
assembly, do not:
• Exceed 70 mph (113 km/h).
• Use more than one dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly at a time.
• Use commercial car washing
equipment.
• Use snow chains on the end of the
vehicle with the dissimilar spare
wheel and tire assembly.
The usage of a full-size dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly 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 full-size
dissimilar spare wheel and tire
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 wheel and tire
assembly and seek service as soon as
possible.
Tire Change Procedure WARNINGS
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 transmission selector lever is in
position P. To help prevent the vehicle from
moving when you change a tire,
be sure to place the transmission
selector lever in position
P, set the
parking brake and block (in both
directions) the wheel that is
diagonally opposite (other side and
end of the vehicle) to the tire being
changed. Never get underneath a vehicle
that is supported only by a jack.
If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or
someone else could be seriously
injured.
321
Wheels and Tires