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T type tires have some additionalinformation beyond those of P type tires;these differences are described below:
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 byLincoln Motor Company.
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You are strongly urged to buy a reliabletire pressure gauge, as automaticservice station gauges may beinaccurate. Lincoln 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!
Always inflate your tires to the Lincolnrecommended inflation pressure evenif it is less than the maximum inflationpressure information found on the tire.The Lincoln recommended tire inflationpressure is found on the SafetyCompliance Certification Label, affixedto either the door hinge pillar, door-latchpost, or the door edge that meets thedoor-latch post, next to the driver'sseating position, or Tire Label which islocated on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver’s door. Failure to follow the tirepressure recommendations can causeuneven treadwear patterns andadversely affect the way your vehiclehandles.
Maximum Permissible InflationPressure is the tire manufacturer's
maximum permissible pressure and thepressure at which the maximum loadcan be carried by the tire. This pressureis normally higher than themanufacturer’s recommended coldinflation pressure which can be foundon the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel, affixed to either the door hinge
pillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next tothe driver's seating position, or TireLabel which is located on the B-Pillar orthe edge of the driver’s door. The coldinflation pressure should never be setlower than the recommended pressureon the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel or Tire Label.
When weather temperature changesoccur, tire inflation pressures alsochange. A 10°F (6°C) temperature dropcan cause a corresponding drop of 1 psi(7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check yourtire pressures frequently and adjustthem to the proper pressure which canbe found on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label or Tire Label.
To check the pressure in your tires:
1. Make sure the tires are cool,meaning they are not hot fromdriving even a mile.
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Note:If you are checking tire pressurewhen the tire is hot, for example drivenmore than 1.0 mi (1.6 km), never bleedor reduce air pressure. The tires are hotfrom driving and it is normal forpressures to increase aboverecommended cold pressures. A hot tireat or below recommended cold inflationpressure could be significantlyunder-inflated.
Note:If you have to drive a distance toget air for your tires, check and recordthe tire pressure first and add theappropriate air pressure when you getto the pump. It is normal for tires to heatup and the air pressure inside to go upas you drive.
2.Remove the cap from the valve on
one tire, then firmly press the tiregauge onto the valve and measurethe pressure.
3. Add enough air to reach therecommended air pressure.
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, referto the Dissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly 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 andtire assembly information for adescription: Store and maintain at thehigher of the front and rear inflation
pressure as shown on the Tire Label.
6.Visually inspect the tires to makesure there are no nails or otherobjects embedded that could pokea hole in the tire and cause an airleak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make surethere are no gouges, cuts or bulges.
Inspecting Your Tires and Wheel ValveStems
Periodically inspect the tire treads for
uneven 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.
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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 mm), tires mustbe replaced to help prevent your vehiclefrom skidding and hydroplaning. Built-intreadwear indicators, or wear bars,which look like narrow strips of smoothrubber across the tread will appear onthe tire when the tread is worn down toone sixteenth of an inch (2 mm).
When the tire tread wears down to thesame height as these wear bars, the tireis worn out and must be replaced.
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.
In general, tires should be replaced aftersix years regardless of tread wear.However, heat caused by hot climatesor frequent high loading conditions canaccelerate the aging process and mayrequire tires to be replaced morefrequently.
You should replace your spare tire whenyou replace the road tires or after six
years due to aging even if it has notbeen used.
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U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
Both U.S. 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
WARNINGS
as possible. Use of any tire or wheel notrecommended by Ford can affect thesafety and performance of your vehicle,which could result in an increased riskof loss of vehicle control, vehiclerollover, personal injury and death.
To reduce the risk of serious injury,when mounting replacement tiresand wheels, you should not exceed themaximum pressure indicated on thesidewall of the tire to set the beadswithout additional precautions listedbelow. If the beads do not seat at themaximum pressure indicated,re-lubricate and try again.
For a mounting pressure more than20 psi (1.38 bar) greater than the
maximum pressure, a Ford dealer orother tire service professional should dothe mounting.
Always inflate steel carcass tireswith a remote air fill with the personinflating standing at a minimum of 12 ft(3.66 m) away from the wheel and tireassembly.
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WARNINGS
When inflating the tire for mountingpressures up to 20 psi (1.38 bar)greater than the maximum pressure onthe tire sidewall, the followingprecautions must be taken to protectthe person mounting the tire:
•Make sure that you have the correcttire and wheel size.
•Lubricate the tire bead and wheelbead seat area again.
•Stand at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)away from the wheel and tireassembly.
•Use both eye and ear protection.
Important: Remember to replace thewheel valve stems when the road tiresare replaced on your vehicle
It is recommended that the two fronttires or two rear tires generally bereplaced as a pair.
The tire pressure sensors mounted inthe wheels, originally installed on yourvehicle, are not designed to be used inaftermarket wheels.
The use of wheels or tires notrecommended by Lincoln MotorCompany may affect the operation ofyour tire pressure monitoring system.
If the TPMS indicator is flashing, yourTPMS is malfunctioning. Yourreplacement tire might be incompatiblewith your TPMS, or some component ofthe TPMS may be damaged.
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck in snow,mud or sand, do not rapidly spinthe tires; spinning the tires can tear thetire and cause an explosion. A tire canexplode in as little as three to fiveseconds.
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 theroad.
•Do not run over curbs or hit the tireagainst a curb when parking.
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive
there’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.
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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 optional independent rearsuspension may require alignment of allfour wheels.
You should balance the tiresperiodically. 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.
Rotating your tires at the recommendedinterval will help your tires wear moreevenly, providing better tire performanceand longer tire life. See your ScheduledMaintenance information.
Front-wheel drive or all-wheel drivevehicles, front tires on the left side ofthe diagram
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All vehicles with directional tires, fronttires on the left side of the diagram
Sometimes irregular tire wear can becorrected by rotating the tires.
USING SUMMER TIRES
Summer tires provide superior performanceon wet and dry roads. Summer tires do nothave the Mud and Snow (M+S or M/S) tiretraction rating on the tire side wall. Sincesummer tires do not have the same tractionperformance as All-season or Snow tires, wedo not recommend using summer tires whentemperatures drop to approximately 45°F(7°C) or below (depending on tire wear andenvironmental conditions) or in snow and iceconditions. Like any tire, summer tireperformance is affected by tire wear andenvironmental conditions. If you must drivein those conditions, we recommend usingMud and Snow (M+S, M/S), All-season orSnow tires.
Always store your summer tires indoors attemperatures above 19°F (-7°C). The rubbercompounds used in these tires lose flexibilityand may develop surface cracks in the treadarea at temperatures below 19°F (-7°C). If thetires have been subjected to 19°F (-7°C) orless, warm them in a heated space to at least41°F (5°C) for at least 24 hours beforeinstalling them on a vehicle, or moving the
vehicle with the tires installed, or checkingtire inflation. Do not place tires near heatersor heating devices used to warm the roomwhere the tires are stored. Do not apply heator blow heated air directly on the tires.Always inspect the tires after storage periodsand before use.
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNINGS
If you choose to install snow tires onyour vehicle, they must be the samesize, construction, and load range as theoriginal tires listed on the tire placard, andthey must be installed on all four wheels.Mixing tires of different size or constructionon your vehicle can adversely affect yourvehicle's handling and braking, and may leadto loss of vehicle control.
The use of non-recommended tires andwheels could cause steering,suspension, axle, transfer case or powertransfer unit failure. If you have questionsregarding tire replacement, contact yourauthorized dealer as soon as possible.
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