tires FORD CONTOUR 1999 2.G Owners Manual

Driving
128
Payload = GVWR minus Base
curb weight
To obtain the correct weight for
your vehicle, try taking your
vehicle to a shipping company or
an inspection station for trucks.
Do not use replacement tires with
lower weight capacities than the
originals because they might lower
the vehicleÕs GVWR and GAWR.
(Replacement tires with a higher
weight limit than the originals do
not increase the GVWR and GAWR
limitations.)
In high altitudes, engines will lose
power at a rate of 3% power per
300 m (1 000 ft) increase in
elevation. A reduction in GVW and
GCW is recommended for
maximum vehicle performance.
-9%
-6%
-3%
900 m
(3000 ft)
600 m
(2000 ft)
300 m
(1000 ft)
0
Do not exceed the GVWR or
the GAWR specified on the
Safety Compliance Certification
Label.
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Driving
129
It is extremly dangerous to
ride in a cargo area, inside or
outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are
more likely to be seriously injured
or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats
and safety belts. Be sure everyone
in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a safety belt properly.
Driving with a heavy load
The total weight of the vehicle plus
the total weight of passengers and
cargo should never exceed the
GVWR.
The weight that the vehicle carries
over the front and rear axles
should never exceed the GAWR for
the respective axle.
The weight limits of your vehicleÕs
tires affect the GVWR and GAWR
limitations. Using tires with higher
weight limits than the original tires
will not increase the GVWR or
GAWR of your vehicle; using tires
with lower weight limits may lower
the GVWR or GAWR of your
vehicle.
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Driving
130TRAILER TOWING
Your vehicle is capable of towing a
trailer of up to a maximum of
454 kg (1 000 lbs) gross trailer
weight with a maximum tongue
load of 45 kg (100 lbs). It should
also have 2.3 sq. meters (25 sq.
feet) or less frontal area. Do not
drive faster than 72 km/h (45 mph)
while towing a 454 kg (1 000 lb)
trailer.
Your vehicle does not come from
the factory fully equipped to tow.
No towing packages are available
through Ford or Lincoln/Mercury
dealers.
Trailer towing puts additional loads
on your vehicleÕs engine, transaxle,
axle, brakes, tires, and suspension.
For your safety and to maximize
vehicle performance, be sure to use
the proper equipment while
towing.
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Driving
136
FUEL CONSUMPTION
Fuel economy can be improved by
avoiding:
¥ lack of regular, scheduled
maintenance,
¥ excessive speed,
¥ rapid acceleration,
¥ driving with the brake pedal
depressed,
¥ sudden stops,
¥ extended engine idling,
¥ use of speed control in hilly
terrain,
¥ extended use of the air
conditioner, defroster, rear window
defroster and other accessories,
¥ underinflated tires,
¥ heavy loads,
¥ aftermarket add-ons such as
bike, ski or luggage racks, bug
deflectors, etc.
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Roadside emergencies
146
CHANGING TIRES
Park your vehicle in such a position
that neither the traffic nor you are
hindered or endangered when
changing the tire. Ensure that the
vehicle is on firm, level ground.
Secure your vehicle further by
blocking the wheels.
Activate the hazard lights.
Apply the parking brake and
engage first or reverse gear if the
vehicle has a manual transaxle or, if
the vehicle has an automatic
transaxle, select the P (Park)
position.
If parking on a slope is unavoidable,
block the wheels.
The temporary spare tire
The vehicle may have a high
pressure temporary spare tire. This
spare is smaller than a regular tire
and is designed for emergency use
only. This tire should be replaced
as soon as possible.
If you use the temporary
spare tire continuously or do
not follow these precautions, the
tire could fail, causing you to lose
control of the vehicle, possibly
injuring yourself or others.
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Maintenance and care
182New vehicles are fitted with tires
that have their Tire Quality Grade
(described below) molded into the
tireÕs sidewall. These Tire Quality
Grades are determined by
standards that the United States
Department of Transportation has
set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on
passenger cars. They do not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or
limited production tires as defined
in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulation Part 575.104(c)(2).
U.S. Department of
Transportation Ð Tire quality
grades: The U.S. Department of
Transportation requires Ford to
give you the following information
about tire grades exactly as the
government has written it.
INFORMATION ABOUT TIRE
QUALITY GRADES
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Maintenance and care
183
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half
(1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction AA A B C
The traction grades, from highest
to lowest are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tireÕs
ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled
conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
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Maintenance and care
184
Temperature A B C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tireÕs resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required
by law.
The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
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Maintenance and care
185
Checking tire pressure
Check the tire pressure
periodically after the vehicle has
been parked for at least one hour
or has been driven less than 5 km
(3 miles). Inflate the tires as
necessary. To check the tire
pressure, insert the tire pressure
gauge into the valve.
The cold pressure amount is listed
on the Safety Compliance
Certification label.
Improperly inflated tires can
affect vehicle handling and
can fail suddenly, possibly
resulting in loss of vehicle control.
Rotating tires
Rotate your tires at regular
intervals for even wear. Rotation
intervals are listed in the
maintenance guide and or service
guide.
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Maintenance and care
186
Failure to follow these
precautions may adversely
affect the handling of the vehicle
and make it easier to lose control
and roll over.
Replacing tires
Replace tires when the wear band
is visible through the tire treads.
When replacing full size
tires, never mix radial, bias-
belted, or bias-type tires. Use only
the tire sizes that are listed on the
tire pressure decal. Make sure that
all tires are the same size, speed
rating, and load-carrying capacity.
Use only the tire combinations
recommended on the decal. If you
do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive
properly and safely.
Do not replace your tires
with Òhigh performanceÓ
tires or larger size tires.
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