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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Customer action requiredPossible causeLow tire pressure warning light
Make sure tires are at the proper pressure. See Inflating your tiresin this chapter. After inflating your tires to the manufacturer’srecommended pressure as shown on the Tire Label (located onthe edge of driver’s door or the B-Pillar), the vehicle must be drivenfor at least two minutes over 20 mph (32 km/h) before the lightturns off.
Tire(s) under-inflated
Solid warning lightRepair the damaged road wheel and tire assembly and reinstallit on the vehicle to restore system function. For a description onhow the system functions, see When Your Temporary Spare Tireis Installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
If the tires are properly inflated and the spare tire is not in use butthe light remains on, contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.TPMS malfunction
Repair the damaged road wheel and tire assembly and reinstallit on the vehicle to restore system function. For a description onhow the system functions, see When Your Temporary Spare Tireis 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 butthe light remains on, contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.TPMS malfunction
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When Inflating Your Tires
WARNING
Do not use the tire pressure displayedin the information display as a tirepressure gauge. Failure to follow thisinstruction could result in personal injury ordeath.
When putting air into your tires (such as at agas station or in your garage), the tirepressure monitoring system may not respondimmediately to the air added to your tires.
It may take up to two minutes of driving over20 mph (32 km/h) for the light to turn off afteryou have filled your tires to therecommended inflation pressure.
How Temperature Affects Your TirePressure
The tire pressure monitoring system monitorstire pressure in each pneumatic tire. Whiledriving in a normal manner, a typicalpassenger tire inflation pressure mayincrease about 2–4 psi (14–28 kPa) from acold start situation. If the vehicle is stationary
overnight with the outside temperaturesignificantly lower than the daytimetemperature, the tire pressure may decreaseabout 3 psi (21 kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C)in ambient temperature. This lower pressurevalue may 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 tirepressure warning light is on, visually checkeach tire to verify that no tire is flat. If one ormore tires are flat, repair as necessary.Check the air pressure in the road tires. Ifany tire is under-inflated, carefully drive thevehicle to the nearest location where air canbe added to the tires. Inflate all the tires tothe recommended inflation pressure.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL (If
Equipped)
WARNINGS
Do not use tire sealants as they maydamage the tire pressure monitoringsystem.
WARNINGS
If the tire pressure monitor sensorbecomes damaged it may not function.
Note:The use of tire sealant may damageyour tire pressure monitoring system andshould only be used in roadsideemergencies. If you must use a sealant, usethe Lincoln Tire Mobility Kit sealant. The tirepressure monitoring system sensor andvalve stem on the wheel must be replacedby an authorized dealer after use of thesealant.
Note:The tire pressure monitoring systemindicator 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 not applythe brake heavily. Instead, graduallydecrease your speed. Hold the steeringwheel firmly and slowly move to a safe placeon the side of the road.
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Have a flat serviced by an authorized dealerin order to prevent damage to the tirepressure monitoring system sensors. SeeTire Pressure Monitoring System (page 369).Replace the spare tire with a road tire assoon as possible. During repairing orreplacing of the flat tire, have an authorizeddealer inspect the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor for damage.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and TireAssembly Information
WARNING
Failure to follow these guidelines couldresult in an increased risk of loss ofvehicle 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, youshould replace it as soon as possible with aroad wheel and tire assembly that is thesame size and type as the road tires andwheels that were originally provided by Ford.If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel isdamaged, it should be replaced rather thanrepaired.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assemblyis defined as a spare wheel and tire assemblythat is different in brand, size or appearancefrom the road tires and wheels and can beone of three types:
1. T-type mini-spare: This spare tire beginswith the letter T for tire size and may haveTemporary Use Only molded in the sidewall.
2. Full-size dissimilar spare with label onwheel: This spare tire has a label on thewheel that states: THIS WHEEL AND TIREASSEMBLY FOR TEMPORARY USE ONLY.
When driving with one of the dissimilar sparetires listed above, do not:
•Exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
•Load the vehicle beyond maximumvehicle load rating listed on the SafetyCompliance Label.
•Tow a trailer.
•Use snow chains on the end of thevehicle with the dissimilar spare tire.
•Use more than one dissimilar spare tireat a time.
•Use commercial car washing equipment.
•Try to repair the dissimilar spare tire.
Use of one of the dissimilar spare tires listedabove at any one wheel location can lead toimpairment of the following:
•Handling, stability and brakingperformance.
•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 labelon wheel
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