describes the fundamentalcharacteristics of the tire and alsoprovides a U.S. DOT TireIdentification Number for safetystandard certification and in caseof a recall.
This begins with the letters DOTand indicates that the tire meetsall federal standards. The nexttwo numbers or letters are theplant code designating where itwas manufactured, the next twoare the tire size code and the lastfour numbers represent the weekand year the tire was built. Forexample, the numbers 317 meanthe 31st week of 1997. After 2000the numbers go to four digits. Forexample, 2501 means the 25thweek of 2001. The numbers inbetween are identification codesused for traceability. Thisinformation is used to contactcustomers if a tire defect requiresa recall.
Tire ReplacementRequirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tiresdesigned to provide a safe rideand handling capability.
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tiresand wheels that are the samesize, load index, speed rating andtype (such as P-metric versusLT-metric or all-season versusall-terrain) as those originallyprovided by Ford. Therecommended tire and wheel size
WARNINGS
may be found on either the SafetyCompliance Certification Label orthe Tire Label. If this informationis not found on these labels thenyou should contact yourauthorized dealer as soon aspossible. Use of any tire or wheelnot recommended by Ford canaffect the safety and performanceof your vehicle, which could resultin an increased risk of loss ofvehicle control, vehicle rollover,personal injury and death.Additionally the use ofnon-recommended tires andwheels could cause steering,suspension, axle, transfer case orpower transfer unit failure. If youhave questions regarding tirereplacement, contact yourauthorized dealer as soon aspossible.
To reduce the risk of seriousinjury, when mountingreplacement tires and wheels, youshould not exceed the maximumpressure indicated on the sidewallof the tire to set the beads withoutadditional precautions listedbelow. If the beads do not seat atthe maximum pressure indicated,re-lubricate and try again
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WARNINGS
When inflating the tire formounting pressures up to 20 psi(1.38 bar) greater than themaximum pressure on the tiresidewall, the followingprecautions must be taken toprotect the person mounting thetire:
1. Make sure that you have thecorrect tire and wheel size.
2. Lubricate the tire bead andwheel bead seat area again.
3. Stand at a minimum of 12 feet(3.6 meters) away from the wheeland tire assembly.
4. Use both eye and earprotection.
For a mounting pressure morethan 20 psi (1.38 bar) greater thanthe maximum pressure, a Forddealer or other tire serviceprofessional should do themounting.
Always inflate steel carcass tireswith a remote air fill with theperson inflating standing at aminimum of 12 feet (3.6 meters)away from the wheel and tireassembly
Important: Remember to replacethe wheel valve stems when the
road tires are replaced on yourvehicle
The two front tires or two rear tiresshould generally be replaced as apair.
The tire pressure sensors mountedin the wheels are not designed tobe used in aftermarket wheels.
The use of wheels or tires notrecommended by Ford MotorCompany may affect theoperation of your tire pressuremonitoring system.
If the tire pressure monitoringsystem indicator is flashing, thesystem is malfunctioning. Yourreplacement tire might beincompatible with your tirepressure monitoring system, orsome component of the systemmay be damaged.
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck insnow, mud, or sand, do notrapidly spin the tires; spinning thetires can tear the tire and causean explosion. A tire can explode inas little as three to five seconds.
Do not spin the wheels atover 35 mph (56 km/h). Thetires may fail and injure apassenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great dealto do with your tire mileage andsafety.
*Observe posted speed limits
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*Avoid fast starts, stops and turns
*Avoid potholes and objects onthe road
*Do not run over curbs or hit thetire against a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drivethere’s always the possibility thatyou may eventually have a flat tireon the highway. Drive slowly to theclosest safe area out of traffic.This may further damage the flattire, but your safety is moreimportant.
If you feel a sudden vibration orride disturbance while driving, oryou suspect your tire or vehiclehas been damaged, immediately
reduce your speed. Drive withcaution until you can safely pulloff the road. Stop and inspect thetires for damage. If a tire isunder-inflated or damaged,deflate it, remove wheel andreplace it with your spare tire andwheel. If you cannot detect acause, have the vehicle towed tothe nearest repair facility or tiredealer to have the vehicleinspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb orpothole can cause the front endof your vehicle to becomemisaligned or cause damage toyour tires. If your vehicle seems topull to one side when you’redriving, the wheels may be out ofalignment. Have an authorizeddealer check the wheel alignmentperiodically.
Wheel misalignment in the frontor the rear can cause uneven andrapid treadwear of your tires andshould be corrected by anauthorized dealer. Front-wheeldrive vehicles and those with anindependent rear suspension mayrequire alignment of all fourwheels.
The tires should also be balancedperiodically. An unbalanced tireand wheel assembly may result inirregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
WARNING
If the tire label showsdifferent tire pressures for thefront and rear tires and the vehicleis equipped with a tire pressuremonitoring system, then thesettings for the system sensorsneed to be updated. Alwaysperform the system resetprocedure after tire rotation. If thesystem is not reset, it may notprovide a low tire pressurewarning when necessary.
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If your vehicle is equipped withdual rear wheels it isrecommended that the front andrear tires (in pairs) be rotated onlyside to side. We do notrecommend splitting up the dualrear wheels. Rotate them side toside as a set. After tire rotation,inflation pressures must beadjusted for the tires newpositions in accordance withvehicle requirements.
Sometimes irregular tire wear canbe corrected by rotating the tires.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING
Snow tires must be the same size,load index, speed rating as thoseoriginally provided by Ford. Use ofany tire or wheel not recommended byFord can affect the safety andperformance of your vehicle, which couldresult in an increased risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, vehicle rollover, personal injury anddeath. Additionally, the use ofnon-recommended tires and wheels couldcause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase or power transfer unit failure.
Note:Do not use snow chains on vehicleswith 20 inch wheels and tires.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weathertreads to provide traction in rain and snow.However, in some climates, you may needto use snow tires and cables. If you needto use cables, it is recommended that steelwheels (of the same size andspecifications) be used, as cables may chipaluminum wheels.
Note:The suspension insulation andbumpers will help prevent vehicle damage.Do not remove these components from yourvehicle when using snow tires and chains.
Follow these guidelines when using snowtires and chains:
•If possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle
•Use only SAE Class S chains.
•Install chains securely, verifying thatthe chains do not touch any wiring,brake lines or fuel lines.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the chainsrub or bang against your vehicle, stopand retighten the chains. If this doesnot work, remove the chains to preventdamage to your vehicle.
•Remove the tire chains when they areno longer needed. Do not use tirechains on dry roads.
If you have any questions regarding snowchains or cables, please contact yourauthorized dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING
The tire pressure monitoring systemis not a substitute for manuallychecking tire pressure. The tirepressure should be checked periodically(at least monthly) using a tire gauge, seeInflating your tires in this chapter. Failureto properly maintain your tire pressurecould increase the risk of tire failure, lossof control, vehicle rollover and personalinjury.
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You should always have your tires servicedby an authorized dealer.
Check the tire pressure periodically (atleast monthly) using an accurate tiregauge. See Inflating Your Tires in thischapter.
Understanding Your Tire PressureMonitoring System
The tire pressure monitoring systemmeasures pressure in your four road tiresand sends the tire pressure readings toyour vehicle. The low tire pressure warninglight will turn on if the tire pressure issignificantly low. Once the light isilluminated, your tires are under-inflatedand need to be inflated to themanufacturer’s recommended tirepressure. Even if the light turns on and ashort time later turns off, your tire pressurestill needs to be checked.
When Your Temporary Spare Tire isInstalled
When one of your road tires needs to bereplaced with the temporary spare, thesystem will continue to identify an issue toremind you that the damaged road wheeland tire assembly needs to be repaired andput back on your vehicle.
To restore the full function of the tirepressure monitoring system, have thedamaged road wheel and tire assemblyrepaired and remounted on your vehicle.
When You Believe Your System is NotOperating Properly
The main function of the tire pressuremonitoring system is to warn you whenyour tires need air. It can also warn you inthe event the system is no longer capableof functioning as intended. See thefollowing chart for information concerningyour tire pressure monitoring system:
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Customer action requiredPossible causeLow tire pressurewarning light
Make sure tires are at the proper pres-sure. See Inflating your tires in thischapter. After inflating your tires to themanufacturer’s recommended pressureas shown on the Tire Label (located onthe edge of driver’s door or the B-Pillar),the vehicle must be driven for at leasttwo minutes over 20 mph (32 km/h)before the light turns off.
Tire(s) under-inflatedSolid warning light
Repair the damaged road wheel and tireassembly and reinstall it on the vehicleto restore system function. For adescription on how the system functions,see When your temporary spare tireis installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
If the tires are properly inflated and thespare tire is not in use but the lightremains on, contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible.
Tire pressure monitoringsystem malfunction
On vehicles with different front and reartire pressures, the system must beretrained following every tire rotation.See Tire Care (page 265).
Tire rotation withoutsensor training
Repair the damaged road wheel and tireassembly and reinstall it on the vehicleto restore system function. For adescription on how the system functions,see When your temporary spare tireis installed in this section.
Spare tire in useFlashing warninglight
If the tires are properly inflated and thespare tire is not in use but the lightremains on, contact your authorizeddealer as soon as possible.
Tire pressure monitoringsystem malfunction
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When Inflating Your Tires
When putting air into your tires (such as ata gas station or in your garage), the tirepressure monitoring system may notrespond immediately to the air added toyour tires.
It may take up to two minutes of drivingover 20 mph (32 km/h) for the light to turnoff after you have filled your tires to therecommended inflation pressure
How Temperature Affects Your TirePressure
The tire pressure monitoring systemmonitors tire pressure in each pneumatictire. While driving in a normal manner, atypical passenger tire inflation pressuremay increase about 2 to 4 psi (14 to 28kPa) from a cold start situation. If thevehicle is stationary overnight with theoutside temperature significantly lowerthan the daytime temperature, the tirepressure may decrease about 3 psi (21kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C) in ambienttemperature. This lower pressure valuemay be detected by the tire pressuremonitoring system as being significantlylower than the recommended inflationpressure and activate the system warninglight for low tire pressure.
If the low tire pressure warning light is on,visually check each tire to verify that no tireis flat. If one or more tires are flat, repair asnecessary. Check the air pressure in theroad tires. If any tire is under-inflated,carefully drive the vehicle to the nearestlocation where air can be added to thetires. Inflate all the tires to therecommended inflation pressure.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ResetProcedure
WARNING
To determine the requiredpressure(s) for your vehicle, see theSafety Compliance CertificationLabel (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), or Tire Labellocated on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver's door.
Note:You need to perform the tire pressuremonitoring system reset procedure aftereach tire rotation on vehicles that requiredifferent recommended tire pressures in thefront tires as compared to the rear tires.
Overview
To provide the vehicle's load carryingcapability, some vehicles require differentrecommended tire pressures in the fronttires as compared to the rear tires. The tirepressure monitoring system equipped onthese vehicles is designed to illuminate thelow tire pressure warning light at twodifferent pressures; one for the front tiresand one for the rear tires.
Since tires need to be rotated to provideconsistent performance and maximum tirelife, the tire pressure monitoring systemneeds to know when the tires are rotatedto determine which set of tires are on thefront and which are on the rear. With thisinformation, the system can detect andproperly warn of low tire pressures.
System reset tips:
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11.Set all four tires to the recommendedair pressure as indicated on theSafety Compliance CertificationLabel (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the dooredge that meets the door-latch post,next to the driver's seating position)or Tire Label located on the B-Pillaror the edge of the driver's door.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL
WARNINGS
The use of tire sealants may damageyour tire pressure monitoring systemand should not be used. However, ifyou must use a sealant, the tire pressuremonitoring system sensor and valve stemon the wheel must be replaced by anauthorized dealer.
If the tire pressure monitor sensorbecomes damaged, it will no longerfunction. See Tire PressureMonitoring System (page 282).
Note:If your vehicle is equipped with thetire pressure monitoring system, theindicator light will illuminate when the sparetire is in use. To restore the full function ofthe monitoring system, all road wheelsequipped with tire pressure monitoringsensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
If you get a flat tire while driving, do notapply the brake heavily. Instead, graduallydecrease your speed. Hold the steeringwheel firmly and slowly move to a safeplace on the side of the road.
If your vehicle is equipped with the tirepressure monitoring system, have a flatserviced by an authorized dealer in orderto prevent damage to the system sensors.See Tire Pressure Monitoring System(page 282). Replace the spare tire with aroad tire as soon as possible. Duringrepairing or replacing of the flat tire, havethe authorized dealer inspect the systemsensor for damage.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and TireAssembly Information
WARNING
Failure to follow these guidelinescould result in an increased risk ofloss of vehicle control, injury or death.
If you have a dissimilar spare wheel andtire, then it is intended for temporary useonly. This means that if you need to use it,you should replace it as soon as possiblewith a road wheel and tire assembly thatis the same size and type as the road tiresand wheels that were originally providedby Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheelis damaged, it should be replaced ratherthan repaired.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assemblyis defined as a spare wheel and tireassembly that is different in brand, size orappearance from the road tires and wheelsand can be one of three types:
1.T-type mini-spare: This spare tirebegins with the letter T for tire size andmay have Temporary Use Only molded inthe sidewall.
2.Full-size dissimilar spare with labelon wheel: This spare tire has a label onthe wheel that states: THIS WHEEL ANDTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR TEMPORARY USEONLY
When driving with one of the dissimilarspare tires listed above, do not:
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