Crossover vehicles have a significantlyhigher rollover rate than other types ofvehicles. To reduce this risk of seriousinjury or death from a rollover or othercrash you must:
•Avoid sharp turns and abruptmaneuvers.
•Drive at safe speeds for theconditions.
•Keep tires properly inflated.
•Never overload or improperly loadyour vehicle.
•Make sure every passenger isproperly restrained.
WARNING
In a rollover crash, an unbeltedperson is significantly more likelyto die than a person wearing a seatbelt.
Information About Uniform Tire QualityGrading
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires. The TireQuality Grades can be found whereapplicable on the tire sidewall betweentread shoulder and maximum sectionwidth. For example: Treadwear 200Traction AA Temperature A.
These Tire Quality Grades aredetermined by standards that the UnitedStates Department of Transportation hasset.
Tire Quality Grades apply to newpneumatic passenger car tires. They donot apply to deep tread, winter-typesnow tires, space-saver or temporaryuse spare tires, light truck or LT typetires, tires with nominal rim diameters of10 to 12 inches or limited production tiresas defined in Title 49 Code of FederalRegulations Part 575.104 (c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation Tirequality grades: The U.S. Department ofTransportation requires Ford MotorCompany to give you the followinginformation about tire grades exactly asthe government has written it.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparativerating based on the wear rate of the tirewhen tested under controlled conditionson a specified government test course.For example, a tire graded 150 wouldwear 1 ½ times as well on thegovernment course as a tire graded 100.The relative performance of tires
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A. T: Indicates a type of tire, designatedby the Tire and Rim Association, that isintended for temporary service on cars,sport-utility vehicles, minivans and lighttrucks.
B. 145: Indicates the nominal width ofthe tire in millimeters from sidewall edgeto sidewall edge. In general, the largerthe number, the wider the tire.
C. 80: Indicates the aspect ratio, whichgives the tire's ratio of height to width.Numbers of 70 or lower indicate a shortsidewall.
D. D: Indicates a diagonal type tire.
R: Indicates a radial type tire.
E. 16: Indicates the wheel or rimdiameter in inches. If you change your
wheel size, you will have to purchasenew tires to match the new wheeldiameter.
Location of the Tire Label
You will find a Tire Label containing tireinflation pressure by tire size and otherimportant information located on theB-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door.
Inflating Your Tires
Safe operation of your vehicle requiresthat your tires are properly inflated.Remember that a tire can lose up to halfof its air pressure without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, check yourtires. If one looks lower than the others,use a tire gauge to check pressure of alltires and adjust if required.
At least once a month and before longtrips, inspect each tire and check the tirepressure with a tire gauge (includingspare, if equipped). Inflate all tires to theinflation pressure recommended by FordMotor Company.
You are strongly urged to buy a reliabletire pressure gauge, as automaticservice station gauges may beinaccurate. Ford recommends the useof a digital or dial-type tire pressuregauge rather than a stick-type tirepressure gauge.
Use the recommended cold inflationpressure for optimum tire performanceand wear. Under-inflation orover-inflation may cause uneventreadwear patterns.
WARNING
Under-inflation is the most commoncause of tire failures and may resultin severe tire cracking, tread separationor blowout, with unexpected loss ofvehicle control and increased risk of
injury. Under-inflation increases sidewallflexing and rolling resistance, resultingin heat buildup and internal damage tothe tire. It also may result in unnecessarytire stress, irregular wear, loss of vehiclecontrol and accidents. A tire can lose upto half of its air pressure and not appearto be flat!
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Note:If you overfill the tire, release airby pressing on the metal stem in thecenter of the valve. Then recheck thepressure 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 ahigher inflation pressure than the othertires. For T type mini-spare tires, see theDissimilar Spare Wheel and TireAssembly section. Store and maintainat 60 psi (4.15 bar). For full-size anddissimilar spare tires, see the DissimilarSpare Wheel and Tire AssemblyInformation section. Store and maintainat the higher of the front and rearinflation pressure as shown on the Tire
Label.
6. Visually inspect the tires to make surethere are no nails or other objectsembedded that could poke a hole in thetire and cause an air leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make surethere are no gouges, cuts or bulges.
Inspecting Your Tires and Wheel ValveStems
Periodically inspect the tire treads foruneven or excessive wear and removeobjects such as stones, nails or glassthat may be wedged in the treadgrooves. Check the tire and valve stemsfor holes, cracks, or cuts that may permitair leakage and repair or replace the tireand replace the valve stem. Inspect thetire sidewalls for cracking, cuts, bruisesand other signs of damage or excessivewear. If internal damage to the tire issuspected, have the tire demounted andinspected in case it needs to be repairedor replaced. For your safety, tires thatare damaged or show signs of excessivewear should not be used because theyare more likely to blow out or fail.
Improper or inadequate vehiclemaintenance can cause tires to wearabnormally. Inspect all your tires,including the spare, frequently, andreplace them if one or more of thefollowing conditions exist:
Tire Wear
When the tread is worn down to onesixteenth of an inch (2 millimeters), tiresmust be replaced to help prevent yourvehicle from skidding and hydroplaning.Built-in treadwear indicators, or wearbars, which look like narrow strips ofsmooth rubber across the tread willappear on the tire when the tread isworn down to one sixteenth of an inch(2 millimeters).
When the tire tread wears down to thesame height as these wear bars, the tire
is worn out and must be replaced.
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Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads andsidewalls for damage (such as bulges inthe tread or sidewalls, cracks in thetread groove and separation in the treador sidewall). If damage is observed orsuspected have the tire inspected by atire professional. Tires can be damagedduring off-road use, so inspection afteroff-road use is also recommended.
Age
WARNING
Tires degrade over time dependingon many factors such as weather,storage conditions, and conditions ofuse (load, speed, inflation pressure) thetires experience throughout their lives.
You should replace your spare tire whenyou replace the road tires or after sixyears due to aging even if it has notbeen used.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
Both United States and Canada Federalregulations require tire manufacturersto place standardized information on thesidewall of all tires. This informationidentifies and describes the fundamentalcharacteristics of the tire and alsoprovides a U.S. DOT Tire IdentificationNumber for safety standard certificationand in case of a recall.
This begins with the letters DOT andindicates that the tire meets all federalstandards. The next two numbers orletters are the plant code designatingwhere it was manufactured, the next twoare the tire size code and the last fournumbers represent the week and yearthe tire was built. For example, the
numbers 317 mean the 31st week of1997. After 2000 the numbers go to fourdigits. For example, 2501 means the25th week of 2001. The numbers inbetween are identification codes usedfor traceability. This information is usedto contact customers if a tire defectrequires a recall.
Tire Replacement Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tiresdesigned to provide a safe ride andhandling capability.
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires andwheels that are the same size, loadindex, speed rating and type (such asP-metric versus LT-metric or all-seasonversus all-terrain) as those originallyprovided by Ford. The recommendedtire and wheel size may be found oneither the Safety ComplianceCertification Label (affixed to either thedoor hinge pillar, door-latch post, or thedoor edge that meets the door-latchpost, next to the driver's seatingposition), or the Tire Label which is
located on the B-Pillar or edge of thedriver's door. If this information is notfound on these labels, then you shouldcontact your authorized dealer as soon
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WARNINGS
Do not spin the wheels at over34 mph (55 km/h). The tires mayfail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal to dowith 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 tireagainst a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drivethere’s always the possibility that youmay eventually have a flat tire on thehighway. Drive slowly to the closest safearea out of traffic. This may furtherdamage the flat tire, but your safety ismore important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ridedisturbance while driving, or you suspectyour tire or vehicle has been damaged,immediately reduce your speed. Drivewith caution until you can safely pull offthe road. Stop and inspect the tires fordamage. If you cannot detect a cause,have the vehicle towed to the nearestrepair facility or tire dealer to have thevehicle inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or potholecan cause the front end of your vehicleto become misaligned or cause damageto your tires. If your vehicle seems topull to one side when you’re driving, thewheels may be out of alignment. Havean authorized dealer check the wheelalignment periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front or therear can cause uneven and rapidtreadwear of your tires and should becorrected by an authorized dealer.Front-wheel drive vehicles and thosewith an independent rear suspensionmay require alignment of all four wheels.
The tires should also be balancedperiodically. An unbalanced tire andwheel assembly may result in irregulartire wear.
Tire Rotation
Note:If your tires show uneven wearask an authorized dealer to check forand correct any wheel misalignment,tire imbalance or mechanical probleminvolved before tire rotation.
Note:Your vehicle may be equippedwith a dissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly. A dissimilar spare wheel andtire assembly is defined as a sparewheel and tire assembly that is differentin brand, size or appearance from theroad tires and wheels. If you have adissimilar spare wheel and tire assemblyit is intended for temporary use only andshould not be used in a tire rotation.
Note:After having your tires rotated,inflation pressure must be checked andadjusted to the vehicle requirements.
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USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING
Snow tires must be the same size, loadindex, and speed rating as thoseoriginally provided by Ford. Use of any tireor wheel not recommended by Ford canaffect the safety and performance of yourvehicle, which could result in an increasedrisk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,personal injury, and death. Additionally, theuse of non-recommended tires and wheelscould cause steering, suspension, axle,transfer case, or power transfer unit failure.It is also strongly advised to follow the Fordrecommended tire inflation pressure foundon the Safety Compliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge that meetsthe door-latch post, next to the driver’sseating position), or Tire Label which islocated on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver door. Failure to follow the tire pressurerecommendations can cause uneventreadwear patterns and adversely affect theway your vehicle handles.
The tires on your vehicle may haveall-weather treads to provide traction in rainand snow. However, in some climates youmay need to use snow chains.
Your vehicle may not be compatible withsnow chain or cable usage with thefactory-fitted wheels and tires. Only certainchains or snow cables have been approvedby Ford as safe for use on your vehicle withthe following wheel and tire combination(s):18x8.0 wheels with 235/60R18 tires. Youshould only install chains or cables sized at10 mm or less in dimension as measured onthe sidewall of your tire. Not all S-class snowchains meet these restrictions. Chains of thissize restriction will include a tensioningdevice. The chains should be mounted inpairs on the front tires only. If you need touse chains, it is recommended that steelwheels (of the same size and specification)be used, as chains may chip aluminumwheels.
Follow these guidelines when using tractiondevices:
•If possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle
•Purchase chains or cables from amanufacturer that clearly labels body totire dimension restrictions.
•When driving with snow chains or cables,do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h) or themaximum speed recommended by thechain manufacturer; whichever is less.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the chainsor cables rub or bang against the vehicle,stop and retighten them. If this does notwork, remove the chains or cables andprevent vehicle damage.
•Remove the chains or cables when theyare no longer needed. Do not use thechains or cables on dry roads.
•If a temporary spare tire is mounted onyour vehicle, do not use snow chains onthe axle with the temporary spare tire.
If you have any questions regarding snowtires or snow chains, please contact yourauthorized dealer.
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TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING
The tire pressure monitoring system isnot a substitute for manually checkingtire pressures. You should periodically checktire pressures using a pressure gauge.Failure to correctly maintain tire pressurescould increase the risk of tire failure, loss ofcontrol, vehicle rollover and personal injury.
Note: You should only use tire sealants inroadside emergencies as they may causedamage to the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor.
Note: If the tire pressure monitoring systemsensor becomes damaged, it may notfunction.
Each tire, including the spare (ifprovided), should be checkedmonthly when cold and inflated tothe inflation pressure recommended by thevehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placardor tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehiclehas tires of a different size than the sizeindicated on the vehicle placard or tireinflation pressure label, you shoulddetermine the proper tire inflation pressurefor those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle hasbeen equipped with a Tire PressureMonitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates alow tire pressure telltale when one or moreof your tires is significantly under-inflated.Accordingly, when the low tire pressuretelltale illuminates, you should stop andcheck your tires as soon as possible, andinflate them to the proper pressure. Drivingon a significantly under-inflated tire causesthe tire to overheat and can lead to tirefailure. Under-inflation also reduces fuelefficiency and tire tread life, and may affectthe vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitutefor proper tire maintenance, and it is thedriver’s responsibility to maintain correct tirepressure, even if under-inflation has notreached the level to trigger illumination ofthe TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with aTPMS malfunction indicator to indicate whenthe system is not operating properly. TheTPMS malfunction indicator is combined withthe low tire pressure telltale. When thesystem detects a malfunction, the telltale willflash for approximately one minute and thenremain continuously illuminated. Thissequence will continue upon subsequentvehicle start-ups as long as the malfunctionexists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,the system may not be able to detect orsignal low tire pressure as intended. TPMSmalfunctions may occur for a variety ofreasons, including the installation ofreplacement or alternate tires or wheels onthe vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
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light is illuminated, your tires areunder-inflated and need to be inflated to themanufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.Even if the light turns on and a short timelater turns off, your tire pressure still needsto 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 when yourtires need air. It can also warn you in theevent the system is no longer capable offunctioning as intended. See the followingchart for information concerning your tirepressure monitoring system:
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