Information on P Type Tires
P215/65R15 95H is an example of a tiresize, load index and speed rating. Thedefinitions of these items are listedbelow. (Note that the tire size, load indexand speed rating for your vehicle maybe different from this example.)
A. P: Indicates a tire, designated by theTire and Rim Association, that may beused for service on cars, sport utilityvehicles, minivans and light trucks. Note:If your tire size does not begin with aletter this may mean it is designated byeither the European Tire and RimTechnical Organization or the Japan TireManufacturing Association.
B. 215: Indicates the nominal width ofthe tire in millimeters from sidewall edgeto sidewall edge. In general, the largerthe number, the wider the tire.
C. 65: Indicates the aspect ratio whichgives the tire's ratio of height to width.
D. R: Indicates a radial type tire.
E. 15: Indicates the wheel or rim
diameter in inches. If you change yourwheel size, you will have to purchasenew tires to match the new wheeldiameter.
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.
393
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and TiresH
I
J
KL
M
A
B
CDEFG
E142543
K. Maximum Load: Indicates themaximum load in kilograms and poundsthat can be carried by the tire (affixed toeither the door hinge pillar, door-latchpost, or the door edge that meets thedoor-latch post, next to the driver'sseating position), or Tire Label locatedon the B-pillar or the edge of the driver'sdoor.
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 1½ timesas 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
the driver's seating position), or TireLabel located on the B-pillar or the edgeof the driver's door. The cold inflationpressure should never be set lower thanthe recommended pressure on thevehicle 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.
395
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and Tires
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.
T type tires have some additionalinformation beyond those of P type tires.These differences are described below:
396
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and TiresA
BC
BDE142544 A
BCDE
E142545
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.See Load Carrying (page 287).
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 long
trips, inspect each tire and check the tirepressure with a tire gauge (includingspare, if equipped). Inflate all tires to theinflation pressure recommended by us.
You are strongly urged to buy a reliabletire pressure gauge, as automaticservice station gauges may beinaccurate. We recommend the use ofa digital or dial-type tire pressure gaugerather than a stick-type tire pressuregauge.
Use the recommended cold inflationpressure for optimum tire performanceand wear. Under-inflation orover-inflation may cause uneventreadwear patterns.
WARNING: Under-inflation is themost common cause of tire failuresand may result in severe tire cracking,tread separation or blowout, withunexpected loss of vehicle control andincreased risk of injury. Under-inflationincreases sidewall flexing and rollingresistance, resulting in heat buildup
397
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and Tires
and internal damage to the tire. It alsomay result in unnecessary tire stress,irregular wear, loss of vehicle controland accidents. A tire can lose up tohalf of its air pressure and not appearto be flat!
Always inflate your tires to the ourrecommended inflation pressure evenif it is less than the maximum inflationpressure information found on the tire.Our recommended tire inflation pressureis found on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label or Tire 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 locatedon the B-pillar or the edge of the driver's
door. Failure to follow the tire pressurerecommendations can cause uneventreadwear patterns and adversely affectthe way your vehicle handles.
Note:Do not reduce tire pressure tochange the ride characteristics of thevehicle. If you do not maintain theinflation pressure at the levels specifiedby us, your vehicle may experience acondition known as shimmy. Shimmy isa severe vibration and oscillation in thesteering wheel after the vehicle travelsover a bump or dip in the road that doesnot dampen out by itself. Shimmy mayresult from significant under-inflation ofthe tires, improper tires (load range, size,or type), or vehicle modifications suchas lift-kits. In the event that your vehicleexperiences shimmy, you should slowlyreduce speed by either lifting off theaccelerator pedal or lightly applying thebrakes. The shimmy will cease as thevehicle speed decreases.
Maximum Inflation Pressure is the tiremanufacturer's maximum permissiblepressure and the pressure at which themaximum load can be carried by the tire.This pressure is normally higher than themanufacturer’s recommended coldinflation pressure which can be foundon the Safety Compliance Certification
Label (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next tothe driver's seating position), or TireLabel located on the B-pillar or the edgeof the driver's door. The cold inflationpressure should never be set lower thanthe recommended pressure on theSafety Compliance Certification Labelor 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 tire(s):
1. Make sure the tires are cool, meaningthey are not hot from driving even amile.
398
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and Tires
Note:If you are checking tire pressurewhen the tire is hot, (for example, drivenmore than 1 mile [1.6 kilometers]), neverbleed or reduce air pressure. The tiresare hot from 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 tire(s), 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 tire gaugeonto the valve and measure thepressure.
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, see theDissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly information for a description.Store and maintain at 60 psi (4.15 bar).For full-size and dissimilar spare tires,see the Dissimilar spare wheel and tireassembly information for a description.Store and maintain at the higher of thefront and rear inflation pressure as
shown on the Safety ComplianceCertification Label or 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 that
are damaged or show signs of excessivewear should not be used because theyare more likely to blow out or fail.
399
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and Tires
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.
WARNING: Only use replacementtires and wheels that are the samesize, load index, speed rating and type(such as P-metric versus LT-metric orall-season versus all-terrain) as thoseoriginally provided by Ford. Therecommended tire and wheel size maybe found on either the SafetyCompliance Certification Label (affixedto either the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), or the TireLabel which is located on the B-Pillaror edge of the driver's door. If thisinformation is not found on theselabels, then you should contact yourauthorized dealer as soon as possible.Use of any tire or wheel not
recommended by Ford can affect thesafety and performance of yourvehicle, which could result in anincreased risk of loss of vehiclecontrol, vehicle rollover, personalinjury and death.
WARNING: To reduce the risk ofserious injury, when mountingreplacement tires and wheels, youshould not exceed the maximumpressure indicated on the sidewall ofthe tire to set the beads withoutadditional precautions listed below. Ifthe beads do not seat at the maximumpressure indicated, re-lubricate andtry again.
WARNING: When inflating the
tire for mounting pressures up to20 psi (1.38 bar) greater than themaximum pressure on the tire sidewall,the following precautions must betaken to protect the person mountingthe tire:
401
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and Tires
Follow these guidelines when using snowtires and chains:
•If possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle.
•Use only cable type chains or chainsoffered by Ford/Lincoln as an accessoryor equivalent. Other conventional linktype chains may contact and causedamage to the vehicle's wheel houseand/or body.
•Do not install chains on the front tires asthis may interfere with suspensioncomponents.
•Only certain snow cables or chains havebeen approved by Ford/Lincoln as safefor use on your vehicle with the followingtires: 265/70R17 and 275/65R18.
•You should install snow cables or chainsthat have been rated as SAE Class S.
•Install chains securely, verifying that thechains do not touch any wiring, brakelines, or fuel lines.
•Do not exceed 31 mph (50 km/h) or lessif recommended by the chainmanufacturer while using snow chains.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the chainsrub or bang against your vehicle, stopand retighten the chains. If this does notwork, remove the chains to preventdamage to your vehicle.
•Remove the tire chains when they are nolonger needed. Do not use tire chains ondry roads.
•Purchase chains or cables from amanufacturer that clearly labels body totire dimension restrictions. The snowchains or cables must be mounted inpairs on the rear tires only.
If you have any questions regarding snowchains or cables, please contact yourauthorized dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING: The tire pressuremonitoring system is not a substitute formanually checking tire pressures. Youshould periodically check tire pressuresusing a pressure gauge. Failure to correctlymaintain tire pressures could increase therisk of tire failure, loss of control, vehiclerollover 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.
405
Navigator (TB9) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 201808, First-Printing
Wheels and Tires