tire type FORD ESCAPE 2013 3.G Owners Manual

for. Avoid abrupt steering, acceleration
or braking which could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle control,
vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.
Use all available road surface to return
the vehicle to a safe direction of travel.
• In the event of an emergency stop,
avoid skidding the tires and do not
attempt any sharp steering wheel
movements.
• If the vehicle goes from one type of
surface to another (i.e., from concrete
to gravel) there will be a change in the
way the vehicle responds to a
maneuver (steering, acceleration or
braking). Again, avoid these abrupt
inputs.
Sand
When driving over sand, try to keep all four
wheels on the most solid area of the trail.
Avoid reducing the tire pressures but shift
to a lower gear and drive steadily through
the terrain. Apply the accelerator slowly
and avoid spinning the wheels.
Do not drive your 4WD vehicle in deep sand
for an extended period of time. This will
cause the 4WD system to overheat. The
instrument cluster will display the message
4WD temporarily disabled. To resume
normal 4WD operation, turn off the vehicle
and allow the 4WD system to cool down
for a minimum of 15 minutes. After the
system has cooled down, normal 4WD
function will return and the instrument
cluster will briefly display 4WD restored.
When driving at slow speeds in deep sand
under high outside temperatures, use a low
gear when possible. Low gear operation
will maximize the engine and transmission
cooling capability. Avoid excessive speed because vehicle
momentum can work against you and
cause the vehicle to become stuck to the
point that assistance may be required from
another vehicle. Remember, you may be
able to back out the way you came if you
proceed with caution.
Mud and water
If you must drive through high water, drive
slowly. Traction or brake capability may
be limited.
When driving through water, determine the
depth; avoid water higher than the bottom
of the wheel rims (for cars) or the bottom
of the hubs (for trucks) (if possible) and
proceed slowly. If the ignition system gets
wet, the vehicle may stall.
Once through water, always try the brakes.
Wet brakes do not stop the vehicle as
effectively as dry brakes. Drying can be
improved by moving your vehicle slowly
while applying light pressure on the brake
pedal.
Be cautious of sudden changes in vehicle
speed or direction when you are driving in
mud. Even 4WD vehicles can lose traction
in slick mud. If the vehicle does slide, steer
in the direction of the slide until you regain
control of the vehicle.
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Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped)
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ESSENTIAL TOWING CHECKS
Follow these guidelines to ensure safe
towing:
•Do not tow a trailer until your vehicle
has been driven at least 1000 miles
(1600 kilometers).
• Consult your local motor vehicle laws
for towing a trailer.
• Refer to the instructions included with
towing accessories for the proper
installation and adjustment
specifications.
• Service your vehicle more frequently if
you tow a trailer. Refer to your
scheduled maintenance information.
Load specification terms are found on the
tire label and Safety Compliance
Certification Label. Instructions on
calculating your vehicle's load can be
found earlier in this manual. See Load
Limit (page 179). Remember to account
for the trailer tongue weight as part of the
vehicle load when calculating the total
vehicle weight.
Hitches
Do not use a hitch that either clamps onto
the bumper or attaches to the axle.
Distribute the trailer load so 10-15% of the
total trailer weight is on the tongue.
Safety Chains
Note: Never attach safety chains to the
bumper.
Always connect the safety chains to the
vehicle's hook retainers. To connect the
safety chains, cross them under the trailer
tongue and allow slack for turning corners.
If you use a rental trailer, follow the rental
agency's instructions. Trailer Brakes
WARNING
Do not connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to your
vehicle's brake system. Your vehicle
may not have enough braking power and
your chances of having a collision greatly
increase.
Electric brakes and manual, automatic or
surge-type trailer brakes are safe if
installed properly and adjusted to the
manufacturer's specifications. The trailer
brakes must meet local and Federal
regulations.
The braking system of the tow vehicle is
rated for operation at the GVWR not
GCWR.
Trailer Lamps
Trailer lamps are required on most towed
vehicles. Ensure all running lights, brake
lights, turn signals and hazard lights are
working. Contact your authorized dealer
or trailer rental agency for proper
instructions and equipment for hooking up
the lamps.
Before Towing a Trailer
Practice turning, stopping and backing-up
to get the feel of the vehicle-trailer
combination before starting on a trip.
When turning, make wider turns so the
trailer wheels will clear curbs and other
obstacles.
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Towing

GENERAL INFORMATION
Notice to utility vehicle and truck
owners
WARNINGS
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types
of vehicles. To reduce the risk of
serious injury or death from a rollover or
other crash you must avoid sharp turns and
abrupt maneuvers, drive at safe speeds for
the conditions, keep tires properly inflated,
never overload or improperly load your
vehicle, and make sure every passenger is
properly restrained.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely to
die than a person wearing a seat belt.
All occupants must wear seat belts and
children/infants must use appropriate
restraints to minimize the risk of injury or
ejection.
Do not become overconfident in the
ability of four-wheel drive vehicles.
Although a four-wheel drive vehicle
may accelerate better than a two-wheel
drive vehicle in low traction situations, it
won't stop any faster than two-wheel drive
vehicles. Always drive at a safe speed.
Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in the
various driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways and
off-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are not
designed for cornering at speeds as high
as passenger cars any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road conditions.
Study your owner's manual and any
supplements for specific information about
equipment features, instructions for safe
driving and additional precautions to
reduce the risk of an accident or serious
injury.
Four-wheel drive system (if
equipped)
WARNING
Do not become overconfident in the
ability of four-wheel drive vehicles.
Although a four-wheel drive vehicle
may accelerate better than a two-wheel
drive vehicle in low traction situations, it
won't stop any faster than two-wheel drive
vehicles. Always drive at a safe speed.
A vehicle equipped with four-wheel drive
(when selected) has the ability to use all
four wheels to power itself. This increases
traction which may enable you to safely
drive over terrain and road conditions that
a conventional two-wheel drive vehicle
cannot.
For four-wheel drive vehicles, a spare tire
of a different size other than the tire
provided should never be used. A dissimilar
spare tire size (other than the spare tire
provided) or major dissimilar tire sized
between the front and rear axles could
cause the four-wheel drive system to stop
functioning and default to front-wheel
drive.
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Wheels and Tires
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TIRE CARE
Information About Uniform Tire
Quality Grading
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires. The Quality
grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A.
These Tire Quality Grades are determined
by standards that the United States
Department of Transportation has set.
Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires. They do
not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver or temporary use spare
tires, light truck or LT type tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
or limited production tires as defined in
Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part
575.104 (c)(2).
U.S. Department of Transportation Tire
quality grades: The U.S. Department of
Transportation requires Ford Motor
Company to give you the following
information about tire grades exactly as
the government has written it.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 (11⁄2) 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 CWARNING
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.
The traction grades, from highest to lowest
are AA, A, B, and C. The grades represent
the tire ’s 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.
Temperature A B C
WARNING
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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Information on P Type Tires
P215/65R15 95H is an example of a tire
size, load index and speed rating. The
definitions of these items are listed below.
(Note that the tire size, load index and
speed rating for your vehicle may be
different from this example.)
A.P: Indicates a tire, designated by the Tire
and Rim Association (T&RA), that may be
used for service on cars, SUVs, minivans
and light trucks. Note: If your tire size does
not begin with a letter this may mean it is
designated by either ETRTO (European
Tire and Rim Technical Organization) or
JATMA (Japan Tire Manufacturing
Association).
B. 215: Indicates the nominal width of the
tire in millimeters from sidewall edge to
sidewall edge. In general, the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
C. 65: Indicates the aspect ratio which
gives 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 your wheel size,
you will have to purchase new tires to
match the new wheel diameter.
F. 95: Indicates the tire's load index. It is
an index that relates to how much weight
a tire can carry. You may find this
information in your owner ’s manual. If not,
contact a local tire dealer.
Note: You may not find this information on
all tires because it is not required by federal
law.
G. H: Indicates the tire's speed rating. The
speed rating denotes the speed at which
a tire is designed to be driven for extended
periods of time under a standard condition
of load and inflation pressure. The tires on
your vehicle may operate at different
conditions for load and inflation pressure.
These speed ratings may need to be
adjusted for the difference in conditions.
The ratings range from 81 mph (130 km/h)
to 186 mph (299 km/h). These ratings are
listed in the following chart.
Note: You may not find this information on
all tires because it is not required by federal
law.
Speed rating - mph (km/ h)
Letter 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
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I
J
KL
M
A
B
CDEFG
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M.Maximum Permissible Inflation
Pressure: Indicates the tire
manufacturers' maximum permissible
pressure or the pressure at which the
maximum load can be carried by the tire.
This pressure is normally higher than the
manufacturer's recommended cold
inflation pressure which can be found on
the Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or the edge
of the driver ’s door. The cold inflation
pressure should never be set lower than
the recommended pressure on the vehicle
label.
The tire suppliers may have additional
markings, notes or warnings such as
standard load, radial tubeless, etc.
Additional Information Contained on
the Tire Sidewall for LT Type Tires
Note: Tire Quality Grades do not apply to
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 the
Tire and Rim Association (T&RA), that is
intended for service on light trucks.
B. Load Range and Load Inflation
Limits: Indicates the tire's load-carrying
capabilities and its inflation limits.
C. Maximum Load Dual lb (kg) at psi
(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum load
and tire pressure when the tire is used as
a dual; defined as four tires on the rear axle
(a total of six or more tires on the vehicle).
D. Maximum Load Single lb (kg) at psi
(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum load
and tire pressure when the tire is used as
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 your
vehicle may be different from this example.
Tire Quality Grades do not apply to this type
of tire.
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Wheels and Tires
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BC
BDE142544

T type tires have some additional
information beyond those of P type tires;
these differences are described below:
A.T: Indicates a type of tire, designated by
the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA), that
is intended for temporary service on cars,
SUVs, minivans and light trucks.
B. 145: Indicates the nominal width of the
tire in millimeters from sidewall edge to
sidewall edge. In general, the larger the
number, the wider the tire.
C. 80: Indicates the aspect ratio which
gives the tire's ratio of height to width.
Numbers of 70 or lower indicate a short
sidewall.
D. D: Indicates a diagonal type tire.
R: Indicates a radial type tire. E.
16: Indicates the wheel or rim diameter
in inches. If you change your wheel size,
you will have to purchase new tires to
match the new wheel diameter.
Location of the Tire Label
You will find a Tire Label containing tire
inflation pressure by tire size and other
important information located on the
B-Pillar or the edge of the driver ’s door.
Inflating Your Tires
Safe operation of your vehicle requires that
your tires are properly inflated. Remember
that a tire can lose up to half of its air
pressure without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, check your tires.
If one looks lower than the others, use a
tire gauge to check pressure of all tires and
adjust if required.
At least once a month and before long
trips, inspect each tire and check the tire
pressure with a tire gauge (including spare,
if equipped). Inflate all tires to the inflation
pressure recommended by Ford Motor
Company.
You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire
pressure gauge, as automatic service
station gauges may be inaccurate. Ford
recommends the use of a digital or
dial-type tire pressure gauge rather than a
stick-type tire pressure gauge.
Use the recommended cold inflation
pressure for optimum tire performance and
wear. Under-inflation or over-inflation may
cause uneven treadwear patterns
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Wheels and Tires
A
BCDE
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2.Remove the cap from the valve on one
tire, then firmly press the tire gauge
onto the valve and measure the
pressure.
3. Add enough air to reach the recommended air pressure.
Note: If you overfill the tire, release air by
pressing on the metal stem in the center of
the valve. Then recheck the pressure 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 a higher
inflation pressure than the other tires. For T
type mini-spare tires (refer to the Dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly 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 and tire assembly information for a
description): Store and maintain at the
higher of the front and rear inflation pressure
as shown on the Tire Label.
6. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other objects
embedded that could poke a hole in
the tire and cause an air leak.
7. Check the sidewalls to make sure there
are no gouges, cuts or bulges. Inspecting Your Tires and Wheel Valve
Stems
Periodically inspect the tire treads for
uneven or excessive wear and remove
objects such as stones, nails or glass that
may be wedged in the tread grooves.
Check the tire and valve stems for holes,
cracks, or cuts that may permit air leakage
and repair or replace the tire and replace
the valve stem. Inspect the tire sidewalls
for cracking, cuts, bruises and other signs
of damage or excessive wear. If internal
damage to the tire is suspected, have the
tire demounted and inspected in case it
needs to be repaired or replaced. For your
safety, tires that are damaged or show
signs of excessive wear should not be used
because they are more likely to blow out
or fail.
Improper or inadequate vehicle
maintenance can cause tires to wear
abnormally. Inspect all your tires, including
the spare, frequently, and replace them if
one or more of the following conditions
exist:
Tire Wear
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When the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm), tires must be
replaced to help prevent your vehicle from
skidding and hydroplaning. Built-in
treadwear indicators, or wear bars, which
look like narrow strips of smooth rubber
across the tread will appear on the tire
when the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm)
When the tire tread wears down to the
same height as these wear bars, the tire is
worn out and must be replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads and
sidewalls for damage (such as bulges in
the tread or sidewalls, cracks in the tread
groove and separation in the tread or
sidewall). If damage is observed or
suspected have the tire inspected by a tire
professional. Tires can be damaged during
off-road use, so inspection after off-road
use is also recommended.
Age
WARNING
Tires degrade over time depending
on many factors such as weather,
storage conditions, and conditions
of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, etc.)
the tires experience throughout their lives.
In general, tires should be replaced after
six years regardless of tread wear.
However, heat caused by hot climates or
frequent high loading conditions can
accelerate the aging process and may
require tires to be replaced more
frequently.
You should replace your spare tire when
you replace the road tires or after six years
due to aging even if it has not been used.
U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
Both U.S. and Canada Federal regulations
require tire manufacturers to place
standardized information on the sidewall
of all tires. This information identifies and
describes the fundamental characteristics
of the tire and also provides a U.S. DOT
Tire Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case of a
recall.
This begins with the letters DOT and
indicates that the tire meets all federal
standards. The next two numbers or letters
are the plant code designating where it
was manufactured, the next two are the
tire size code and the last four numbers
represent the week and year the tire was
built. For example, the numbers 317 mean
the 31st week of 1997. After 2000 the
numbers go to four digits. For example,
2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The
numbers in between are identification
codes used for traceability. This
information is used to contact customers
if a tire defect requires a recall.
Tire Replacement Requirements
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide a safe ride and
handling capability.
WARNINGS
Only use replacement tires and
wheels that are the same size, load
index, speed rating and type (such
as P-metric versus LT-metric or all-season
versus all-terrain) as those originally
provided by Ford. The recommended tire
and wheel size may be found on either the
Safety Compliance Certification Label
(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,
door-latch post, or the door edge that
meets the door-latch post, next to the
driver's seating position), or the Tire Label
which is located on the B-Pillar or edge of
the driver ’s door. If this information is not
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Wheels and Tires

How Temperature Affects your Tire
Pressure
The tire pressure monitoring system
monitors tire pressure in each pneumatic
tire. While driving in a normal manner, a
typical passenger tire inflation pressure
may increase approximately 2 to 4 psi (14
to 28 kPa) from a cold start situation. If
the vehicle is stationary overnight with the
outside temperature significantly lower
than the daytime temperature, the tire
pressure may decrease approximately 3
psi (21 kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C) in
ambient temperature. This lower pressure
value may be detected by the TPMS as
being significantly lower than the
recommended inflation pressure and
activate the TPMS warning light for low
tire pressure. If the low tire pressure
warning light is on, visually check each tire
to verify that no tire is flat. (If one or more
tires are flat, repair as necessary.) Check
air pressure in the road tires. If any tire is
under-inflated, carefully drive the vehicle
to the nearest location where air can be
added to the tires. Inflate all the tires to
the recommended inflation pressure.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL
WARNINGS
The use of tire sealants may damage
your tire pressure monitoring system
and should not be used. However, if
you must use a sealant, the tire pressure
monitoring system sensor and valve stem
on the wheel must be replaced by an
authorized Ford dealer.
See Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (page 257). for important
information. If the tire pressure
monitor sensor becomes damaged, it will
no longer function.
Note: The tire pressure monitoring system
indicator light will illuminate when the spare
tire is in use. To restore the full functionality
of the monitoring system, all road wheels
equipped with tire pressure monitoring
sensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
If you get a flat tire while driving, do not
apply the brake heavily. Instead, gradually
decrease your speed. Hold the steering
wheel firmly and slowly move to a safe
place on the side of the road.
Have a flat serviced by an authorized
dealer in order to prevent damage to the
tire pressure monitoring system sensors.
See Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(page 257). Replace the spare tire with a
road tire as soon as possible. During
repairing or replacing of the flat tire, have
the authorized dealer inspect the tire
pressure monitoring system sensor for
damage.
Dissimilar Spare Wheel and Tire
Assembly Information
WARNING
Failure to follow these guidelines
could result in an increased risk of
loss of vehicle 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,
you should replace it as soon as possible
with a road wheel and tire assembly that
is the same size and type as the road tires
and wheels that were originally provided
by Ford. If the dissimilar spare tire or wheel
is damaged, it should be replaced rather
than repaired.
A dissimilar spare wheel and tire assembly
is defined as a spare wheel and tire
assembly that is different in brand, size or
appearance from the road tires and wheels
and can be one of three types:
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Wheels and Tires