GENERAL INFORMATION
Use only approved wheel and tire sizes,using other sizes could damage your vehicle.If you change the diameter of the tires fromthat fitted at the factory, the speedometermay not display the correct speed. Take yourvehicle to an authorized Ford dealer to havethe system reprogrammed. If you intend tochange the size of the wheels from that fittedby the manufacturer, you can check thesuitability with an authorized dealer.
Additional information related to thefunctionality and maintenance of your tirescan be found later in this chapter. See TireCare (page 315).
The Ford recommended tire inflationpressures can be found on the Tire Label,which is located on the B-pillar or the edgeof the driver's door. This information can alsobe found on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label, affixed to either the doorhinge pillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door latch post; next to thedriver’s seating position.
Ford strongly recommends maintaining thesetire pressures at all times. Failure to followthe tire pressure recommendations cancause uneven treadwear patterns, reducedfuel economy, and adversely affect the wayyour vehicle handles.
Note:Check and set the tire pressure at theambient temperature in which you areintending to drive your vehicle and when thetires are cold.
Note:Check your tire pressures at least onceper month.
Set the pressure for your spare tire to thehighest value given for your vehicle and tiresize combination, if equipped.
Notice to utility vehicle and truckowners
WARNING: Utility vehicles have asignificantly higher rollover rate than othertypes of vehicles.
WARNING: Vehicles with a highercenter of gravity (utility and four-wheeldrive vehicles) handle differently thanvehicles with a lower center of gravity(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,excessive speed and abrupt steering inthese vehicles. Failure to drive cautiouslyincreases the risk of losing control of yourvehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injuryand death.
WARNING: In a rollover crash, anunbelted person is significantly more likelyto die than a person wearing a seatbelt.
WARNING: Do not becomeoverconfident in the ability of four-wheeldrive vehicles. Although a four-wheel drivevehicle may accelerate better than atwo-wheel drive vehicle in low tractionsituations, it won't stop any faster thantwo-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive ata safe speed.
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F. 95: Indicates the tire's load index. Itis an index that relates to how muchweight a tire can carry. You may find thisinformation in your owner’s manual. Ifnot, contact a local tire dealer.
Note:You may not find this informationon all tires because it is not required byfederal law.
G. H: Indicates the tire's speed rating.The speed rating denotes the speed atwhich a tire is designed to be driven forextended periods of time under astandard condition of load and inflationpressure. The tires on your vehicle mayoperate at different conditions for loadand inflation pressure. These speedratings may need to be adjusted for thedifference in conditions. The ratings
range from 81 mph (130 km/h) to186 mph (299 km/h). These ratings arelisted in the following chart.
Note:You may not find this informationon all tires because it is not required byfederal law.
Speed ratingLetter rating
81 mph (130 km/h)M
87 mph (140 km/h)N
99 mph (159 km/h)Q
106 mph (171 km/h)R
112 mph (180 km/h)S
118 mph (190 km/h)T
124 mph (200 km/h)U
130 mph (210 km/h)H
149 mph (240 km/h)V
Speed ratingLetter rating
168 mph (270 km/h)W
186 mph (299 km/h)Y
Note:For tires with a maximum speed
capability over 149 mph (240 km/h), tire
manufacturers sometimes use the letters
ZR. For those with a maximum speed
capability over 186 mph (299 km/h), tire
manufacturers always use the letters
ZR.
H. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number(TIN): This begins with the letters DOTand indicates that the tire meets allfederal standards. The next twonumbers or letters are the plant codedesignating where it was manufactured,
the next two are the tire size code andthe last four numbers represent theweek and year the tire was built. Forexample, the numbers 317 mean the 31stweek of 1997. After 2000, the numbers
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go to four digits. For example, 2501means the 25th week of 2001. Thenumbers in between are identificationcodes used for traceability. Thisinformation is used to contact customersif a tire defect requires a recall.
I. M+S or M/S: Mud and Snow, or
AT: All Terrain, or
AS: All Season.
J. Tire Ply Composition and MaterialUsed: Indicates the number of plies orthe number of layers of rubber-coatedfabric in the tire tread and sidewall. Tiremanufacturers also must indicate the plymaterials in the tire and the sidewall,which include steel, nylon, polyester,and others.
K. Maximum Load: Indicates themaximum load in kilograms and poundsthat can be carried by the tire. See theSafety Compliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), for the correcttire pressure for your vehicle.
L. Treadwear, Traction andTemperature Grades:
*Treadwear The treadwear grade is acomparative rating based on the wearrate of the tire when tested undercontrolled conditions on a specifiedgovernment test course. For example,a tire graded 150 would wear one andone-half times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
*Traction: The traction grades, fromhighest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C.The grades represent the tire's ability tostop on wet pavement as measuredunder controlled conditions on specifiedgovernment test surfaces of asphalt andconcrete. A tire marked C may havepoor traction performance.
*Temperature: The temperature gradesare A (the highest), B and C,representing the tire's resistance to thegeneration of heat and its ability todissipate heat when tested undercontrolled conditions on a specifiedindoor laboratory test wheel.
M. Maximum Inflation Pressure:Indicates the tire manufacturers'maximum permissible pressure or the
pressure at which the maximum loadcan be carried by the tire. This pressureis normally higher than the vehiclemanufacturer's recommended coldinflation pressure which can be foundon the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next to
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the 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 vehicle label.
The tire suppliers may have additionalmarkings, notes or warnings such asstandard load or radial tubeless.
Additional Information Contained onthe Tire Sidewall for LT Type Tires
Note:Tire Quality Grades do not applyto this type of tire.
LT type tires have some additional
information beyond those of P type tires;these differences are described below.
A. LT: Indicates a tire, designated by theTire and Rim Association, that isintended for service on light trucks.
B. Load Range and Load InflationLimits: Indicates the tire's load-carryingcapabilities and its inflation limits.
C. Maximum Load Dual lb (kg) at psi(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum loadand tire pressure when the tire is usedas a dual, defined as four tires on therear axle (a total of six or more tires onthe vehicle).
D. Maximum Load Single lb (kg) at psi(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum loadand tire pressure when the tire is usedas a single, defined as two tires (total)on the rear axle.
Information on T Type Tires
T145/80D16 is an example of a tire size.
Note:The temporary tire size for yourvehicle may be different from thisexample. Tire Quality Grades do notapply to this type of tire.
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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 are driving,the wheels may be out of alignment.Have an authorized dealer check thewheel alignment 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 suspension (ifequipped) may require alignment of allfour wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire andwheel assembly may result in irregulartire wear.
Tire Rotation
Note:If your tires show uneven wear,ask 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 tireassembly, it is intended for temporaryuse only and should not be used in atire 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. Sometimes irregulartire wear can be corrected by rotatingthe tires. See Wheels and Tires (page313).
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