2013 LINCOLN MKZ spare wheel

Customer action required
Possible cause
Low tire pressure
warning light
1. Make sure tires are at the proper
pressure. See Inflating your tires in
this chapter. 2. After inflating your
tires to the manufacturer’s recom-
mended pressure as shown on the
Tire Label (located on the edge of
driver ’s door or the B-Pillar), the
vehicle must be driven for at least
two minutes over 20 mph (32 km/
h) before the light turns off.
Tire(s) under-inflated
Solid warning
light
Repair the damaged road wheel and
tire assembly and reinstall it on the
vehicle to restore system function-
ality. For a description on how the
system functions, refer to When your
temporary spare tire is installed in
this section.
Spare tire in use
If the tires are properly inflated and
the spare tire is not in use but the
light remains on, contact your
authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
TPMS malfunction
Repair the damaged road wheel and
tire assembly and reinstall it on the
vehicle to restore system function-
ality. For a description on how the
system functions, refer to When your
temporary spare tire is installed in
this section.
Spare tire in use
Flashing warning
light
If the tires are properly inflated and
the spare tire is not in use but the
light remains on, contact your
authorized dealer as soon as
possible.
TPMS malfunction
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Wheels and Tires

TIRE CARE
Important information for
245/40R19 low-profile tires and
wheels If your vehicle is equipped
with 245/40R19 tires, they are
low-profile tires. These tires and
wheels are designed to give your
vehicle a sport appearance. With
low-profile tires, you may notice an
increase in road noise and faster tire
wear, depending on road conditions
and driving styles. Due to their design,
low-profile tires and wheels are more
prone to road damage from potholes,
rough or unpaved roads, car wash rails
and curb contact than standard tires
and wheels.
Note: Your vehicle ’s warranty does not
cover these types of damage. Tires
should always be kept at the correct
inflation pressures and extra caution
should be taken when operating on
rough roads to avoid impacts that
could cause wheel and tire damage.
Information About Uniform
Tire Quality Grading Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires. The
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
.
These Tire Quality Grades are
determined by standards that the
United States Department of
Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires. They
do not apply to deep tread,
winter-type snow tires, space-saver
or temporary use spare tires, light
truck or LT type tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12
inches or limited production tires as
defined in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104 (c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation
Tire quality grades:
The U.S.
Department of Transportation
requires Ford Motor Company to give
you the following information about
tire grades exactly as the government
has written it.
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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.
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Wheels and Tires

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 kilometers]), 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.
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.
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Wheels and Tires

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 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.
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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.
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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.
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Wheels and Tires

Tire Rotation
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 wheel and tire
assembly. 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. If you
have a dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly 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.
Rotating your tires at the
recommended interval (as indicated
in the Scheduled Maintenance
chapter) will help your tires wear more
evenly, providing better tire
performance and longer tire life.
Front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive
vehicles (front tires on the left side of
the diagram) All vehicles with directional tires (front
tires on the left of the diagram)
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be
corrected by rotating the tires.
Summer Tires
Your Ford vehicle 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 and 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.
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