warning FORD TRANSIT 2019 Owners Manual

United States Department of
Transportation Tire Quality
Grades
The United States of America
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 1½ 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
WARNING: 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.
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B and C,
representing the tire ’s 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
271
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

the driver door. The cold
inflation pressure should
never be set lower than
the recommended
pressure on the vehicle
label.
Tire speed ratings
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
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. Note:
If the 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). You
may not find this information on all
tires because it is not required by
federal law.
Note: The tire suppliers may have
additional markings, notes or
warnings, for example standard
load, radial tubeless, etc.
T Type Tires
T145/80D16 is an example of a
tire size. T type tires have some
additional information beyond
those of P type tires. The
definitions of these items are
listed below.
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.
276
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

United States of America DOT
Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
United States of America, 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 United States of
America 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.
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 the Tires WARNING: Under-inflation
is the most common cause of
tire failures and may result in
severe tire cracking, tread
separation or blowout, with
unexpected loss of vehicle
control and increased risk of
injury. Under-inflation increases
sidewall flexing and rolling
resistance, resulting in heat
buildup and internal damage to
the tire. It also may result in
unnecessary tire stress, irregular
wear, loss of vehicle control and
accidents. A tire can lose up to
half of its air pressure and not
appear to be flat!
Safe operation of your vehicle
requires that the tires are correctly
inflated.
Every day before you drive, check
the 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
including the spare tire. Check the
tire pressure with a tire pressure
gauge. Inflate all tires to the
correct inflation pressure.
279
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

Tire Age
WARNING: Tires degrade
over time depending on many
factors such as weather, storage
conditions, and conditions of use
(load, speed, inflation pressure)
the tires experience throughout
their lives. WARNING:
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. WARNING:
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.
Tire Replacement
Requirements WARNING:
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 found on these labels, then
you should contact your
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. Use of any tire or wheel
not recommended by Ford can
affect the safety and
performance of your vehicle,
which could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
WARNING:
Always inflate
steel carcass tires with a remote
air fill with the person inflating
standing at a minimum of
12 ft
(3.66 m) away from the wheel
and tire assembly.
Your vehicle is fitted with tires
designed to provide a safe ride
and handling capability.
We recommend that the two front
tires or two rear tires generally be
replaced as a pair.
Note: The wheel valve stems must
also be replaced when the road
tires are replaced on your vehicle.
283
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

Fitting Replacement Tires
WARNING: To reduce the
risk of serious injury, when
mounting replacement tires and
wheels, you should not exceed
the maximum pressure indicated
on the sidewall of the tire to set
the beads without additional
precautions listed below. If the
beads do not seat at the
maximum pressure indicated,
re-lubricate and try again. WARNING: When inflating
the tire for mounting pressures
up to
20 psi (1.38 bar) greater
than the maximum pressure on
the tire sidewall, the following
precautions must be taken to
protect the person mounting the
tire:
1. Make sure that you have the correct tire and wheel size.
2. Lubricate the tire bead and
wheel bead seat area again.
3. Stand at a minimum of
12 ft
(3.66 m) away from the wheel
and tire assembly.
4. Use both eye and ear
protection. Tire Pressure Monitoring
System
(If Equipped)
The use of wheels or tires not
recommended by Ford Motor
Company may affect the
operation of the tire pressure
monitoring system. If the tire
pressure monitoring system
indicator is flashing, the tire
pressure monitoring system is
malfunctioning. The replacement
tire might be incompatible with
the tire pressure monitoring
system, or a component of the tire
pressure monitoring system may
be damaged. See
Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (page 288).
The tire pressure sensors mounted
in the wheels (originally installed
on your vehicle) are not designed
to be used in aftermarket wheels.
Tire Safety Practices WARNING:
If your vehicle
is stuck in snow, mud or sand, do
not rapidly spin the tires;
spinning the tires can tear the
tire and cause an explosion. A
tire can explode in as little as
three to five seconds.
284
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

WARNING: Do not spin the
wheels at over 34 mph
(55 km/h). The tires may fail and
injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal to
do with your tire mileage and
safety:
• Observe posted speed limits.
• Avoid fast starts, stops and
turns.
• Avoid potholes and objects on
the road.
• Do not run over curbs or hit the
tire against a curb when
parking.
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive
there is always the possibility that
you may eventually have a flat tire
on the highway. Drive slowly to the
closest safe area out of traffic.
This may further damage the flat
tire, but your safety is more
important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or
you suspect a tire or your vehicle
has been damaged, immediately
reduce your speed. Drive with
caution until you can safely pull
off the road. Stop and inspect the
tires for damage. If a tire is
under-inflated or damaged,
deflate it, remove wheel and replace it with the spare tire and
wheel. If you cannot detect a
cause, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest repair facility or tire
dealer to have the vehicle
inspected.
Tire and Wheel Alignment
A bad jolt from hitting a curb or
pothole can cause the front end
of your vehicle to become
misaligned or cause damage to
the tires. If your vehicle seems to
pull to one side when you are
driving, the wheels may be out of
alignment. Have an authorized
dealer check the wheel alignment
periodically.
Wheel misalignment in the front
or the rear can cause uneven and
rapid treadwear of the tires and
should be corrected by an
authorized dealer. Front-wheel
drive vehicles and those with an
independent rear suspension may
require alignment of all four
wheels.
The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire
and wheel assembly may result in
irregular tire wear.
Tire Rotation
WARNING:
If the tire label
shows different tire pressures for
the front and rear tires and the
vehicle has a tire pressure
monitoring system, then you
need to update the settings for
285
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

the system sensors. Always
perform the system reset
procedure after tire rotation. If
you do not reset the system, it
may not provide a low tire
pressure warning when
necessary. See Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (page 288).
Rotating the tires at the
recommended interval detailed in
the Scheduled Maintenance
chapter will help the tires wear
more evenly, providing better tire
performance and longer tire life.
Sometimes irregular tire wear can
be corrected by rotating the tires.
Note: After rotating the tires the
inflation pressure must be checked
and adjusted to the vehicle
requirements.
Note: If the tires show uneven
wear ask an authorized dealer to
check for and correct any wheel
misalignment, tire imbalance or
mechanical problem involved
before tire rotation.
Note: Your vehicle may have a
dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly. 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. If you have a dissimilar
spare wheel and tire assembly it is
intended for temporary use only
and should not be used in a tire
rotation. Rear-wheel drive and
four-wheel drive vehicles with
single rear wheels (front tires
at left of diagram).
286
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and TiresE142548

Rear-wheel drive and
four-wheel drive vehicles with
dual rear wheels.
USING WINTER TIRES
WARNING: If you choose to install
snow tires on your vehicle, they must be
the same size, construction, and load
range as the original tires listed on the
tire placard, and they must be installed
on all four wheels. Mixing tires of
different size or construction on your
vehicle can adversely affect your
vehicle's handling and braking, and may
lead to loss of vehicle control. Your vehicle has all-season tires that are
optimized for use in all weather conditions.
As the seasons change you may choose to
use winter tires or snow tires. Winter tires
and snow tires are available to purchase
from an authorized dealer.
We recommend that you use winter tires
when the temperature is 45°F (7°C) or
lower, or in snow and ice conditions.
If you use winter tires or snow tires, inflate
them to the recommended tire pressures
listed on the tire information label. The
label is on the driver side B-pillar.
USING SNOW CHAINS WARNING:
Snow tires must be
the same size, load index and speed
rating as those originally provided by
Ford. Use of any tire or wheel not
recommended by Ford can affect the
safety and performance of your vehicle,
which could result in an increased risk of
loss of control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death. Additionally, the use of
non-recommended tires and wheels can
cause steering, suspension, axle, transfer
case or power transfer unit failure.
Follow the Ford recommended tire
inflation pressure found on the Safety
Compliance Certification Label (on the
door hinge pillar, door latch post or the
door edge that meets the door latch
post, next to the driver seat), or Tire
Label on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver door. Failure to follow the tire
pressure recommendations can cause
uneven treadwear patterns and
adversely affect the way your vehicle
handles.
287
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and TiresE166988

WARNING: If you choose to install
snow tires on your vehicle, they must be
the same size, construction, and load
range as the original tires listed on the
tire placard, and they must be installed
on all four wheels. Mixing tires of
different size or construction on your
vehicle can adversely affect your
vehicle's handling and braking, and may
lead to loss of vehicle control. WARNING: Only fit snow chains
to specified tires.
The tires on your vehicle have all-weather
treads to provide traction in rain and snow.
However, in some climates, you may need
to use snow tires, snow chains or cables.
If you use snow chains or cables, we
recommended that steel wheels of the
same size and specifications are used,
snow chains or cables may damage alloy
wheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snow
chains or cables:
• Avoid fully loading your vehicle.
• Only certain snow chains or cables
have been approved by Ford as safe
for use on vehicles with either 235/65
R16C or 195/75 R16C tires.
• Snow chains or cables must be
mounted in pairs on the rear tires only.
• Do not use snow chains or cables on
dual rear alloy wheels.
• Install snow chains or cables securely,
make sure they do not touch any wiring,
brake lines or fuel lines.
• Use only SAE Class S snow chains,
snow cables or equivalent that
measure
0.4 in (10 mm) or less in
dimension as measured on the sidewall
of the tire. •
Do not exceed
30 mph (48 km/h) or
the maximum speed recommended by
the snow chains or cables
manufacturer, whichever is less.
• Purchase snow chains or cables from
a manufacturer that clearly labels the
body to tire dimension restrictions.
• Remove the snow chains or cables
when they are no longer needed.
• Do not use snow chains or cables on
dry roads.
• If you have any questions regarding
snow chains or cables, see an
authorized dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
(IF EQUIPPED) WARNING:
The tire pressure
monitoring system is not a substitute for
manually checking tire pressures. You
should periodically check tire pressures
using a pressure gauge. Failure to
correctly maintain tire pressures could
increase the risk of tire failure, loss of
control, vehicle rollover and personal
injury. WARNING:
Do not use tire
sealants as they may damage the tire
pressure monitoring system. WARNING:
If the tire pressure
monitor sensor becomes damaged it
may not function.
288
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires

Each tire, including the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated
to the inflation pressure recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If
your vehicle has tires of a different size
than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) that
illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accordingly,
when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle ’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and
it is the driver ’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure
telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence
will continue upon subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur
for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules and with Licence exempt RSS
Standards of Industry Canada. Operation
is subject to the following two conditions:
•
This device may not cause harmful
interference.
• This device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation. WARNING: Changes or
modifications not expressively approved
by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user's authority to operate
the equipment. The term "IC:" before the
radio certification number only signifies
that Industry Canada technical
specifications were met.
289
2019 Transit (TTH) Canada/United States of America, Vehicles Built From: 02-01-2019, KK3J 19A321 AB enUSA, Edition date: 201812, First-Printing Wheels and Tires