tires LINCOLN MKC 2018 Owner's Guide

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.
Improper or inadequate vehiclemaintenance can cause tires to wearabnormally. Inspect all your tires,including the spare, frequently, andreplace them if one or more of thefollowing conditions exist:
Tire Wear
When the tread is worn down to onesixteenth of an inch (2 mm), tires mustbe replaced to help prevent your vehiclefrom skidding and hydroplaning. Built-intreadwear indicators, or wear bars,which look like narrow strips of smoothrubber across the tread will appear onthe tire when the tread is worn down toone sixteenth of an inch (2 mm).
When the tire tread wears down to thesame height as these wear bars, the tireis worn out and must be replaced.
Damage
Periodically inspect the tire treads andsidewalls for damage (such as bulges inthe tread or sidewalls, cracks in thetread groove and separation in the tread
or sidewall). If damage is observed orsuspected, have the tire inspected by atire professional. Tires can be damagedduring off-road use, so inspection afteroff-road use is also recommended.
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Age
WARNING
Tires degrade over time dependingon many factors such as weather,storage conditions, and conditions ofuse (load, speed, inflation pressure) thetires experience throughout their lives.
In general, tires should be replaced aftersix years regardless of tread wear.However, heat caused by hot climatesor frequent high loading conditions canaccelerate the aging process and mayrequire tires to be replaced morefrequently.
You should replace your spare tire whenyou replace the road tires or after six
years due to aging even if it has notbeen used.
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.
WARNINGS
Do not use replacement tires withlower load carrying capacities thanthe original tires because they maylower your vehicle's GVWR and GAWRlimitations. Replacement tires with ahigher limit than the original tires do notincrease the GVWR and GAWRlimitations.
Replace the wheels and tires withthe exact original brand, size andconstruction that came originally on yourvehicle. Use of any other wheel or tire
combinations, even with identical sizeratings, may result in insufficient runningclearances, tire rubbing and eventualpuncture. Failure to follow tirereplacement recommendations can leadto tire failure, loss of vehicle control,serious injury or death.
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WARNINGS
The use of non-recommended tiresand wheels could cause steering,suspension, axle, transfer case or powertransfer unit failure. If you havequestions regarding tire replacement,contact your authorized dealer as soonas possible.
To reduce the risk of serious injury,when mounting replacement tiresand wheels, you should not exceed themaximum pressure indicated on thesidewall of the tire to set the beadswithout additional precautions listedbelow. If the beads do not seat at themaximum pressure indicated,re-lubricate and try again.
When inflating the tire for mounting
pressures up to 20 psi (1.38 bar)greater than the maximum pressure onthe tire sidewall, the followingprecautions must be taken to protectthe person mounting the tire:
•Make sure that you have the correcttire and wheel size.
•Lubricate the tire bead and wheelbead seat area again.
•Stand at a minimum of 12 feet (3.66meters) away from the wheel and tire
assembly.
•Use both eye and ear protection.
WARNING
Always inflate steel carcass tireswith a remote air fill with the personinflating standing at a minimum of 12 ft(3.66 m) away from the wheel and tireassembly.
Important: Remember to replace thewheel valve stems when the road tires
are replaced on your vehicle.
It is recommended that the two fronttires or two rear tires generally bereplaced as a pair.
The tire pressure sensors mounted inthe wheels (originally installed on yourvehicle) are not designed to be used inaftermarket wheels.
The use of wheels or tires notrecommended by Ford Motor Companymay affect the operation of your tirepressure monitoring system.
If the tire pressure monitoring systemindicator is flashing, your system ismalfunctioning. Your replacement tiremight be incompatible with your tirepressure monitoring system, or somecomponent of the system may bedamaged.
Safety Practices
WARNINGS
If your vehicle is stuck in snow,mud or sand, do not rapidly spinthe tires; spinning the tires can tear thetire and cause an explosion. A tire canexplode in as little as three to fiveseconds.
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WARNINGS
Do not spin the wheels at over34 mph (55 km/h). The tires mayfail and injure a passenger or bystander.
Driving habits have a great deal to dowith 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 tireagainst a curb when parking
Highway Hazards
No matter how carefully you drive, there
is always the possibility that you mayeventually have a flat tire on thehighway. Drive slowly to the closest safearea out of traffic. This may furtherdamage the flat tire, but your safety ismore important.
If you feel a sudden vibration or ridedisturbance while driving, or you suspectyour tire or vehicle has been damaged,immediately reduce your speed. Drivewith caution until you can safely pull offthe road. Stop and inspect the tires fordamage. If a tire is under-inflated ordamaged, deflate it, remove wheel andreplace it with your spare tire and wheel.If you cannot detect a cause, have thevehicle towed to the nearest repairfacility or tire dealer to have the vehicleinspected.
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 to
pull 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 balancedperiodically. 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 problem
involved before tire rotation.
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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 (as indicated in the ScheduledMaintenance chapter) will help your tireswear more evenly, providing better tire
performance and longer tire life.Sometimes irregular tire wear can becorrected by rotating the tires.
Non-directional tires
Directional tires
USING SNOW CHAINS
WARNING
Snow tires must be the same size, loadindex and speed rating as thoseoriginally provided by Ford. Use of any tireor wheel not recommended by Ford canaffect the safety and performance of yourvehicle, which could result in an increasedrisk of loss of control, vehicle rollover,personal injury and death. Additionally, theuse of non-recommended tires and wheelscan cause steering, suspension, axle, transfercase or power transfer unit failure. Followthe Ford recommended tire inflation pressurefound on the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel (on the door hinge pillar, door latchpost or the door edge that meets the doorlatch post, next to the driver seat), or TireLabel on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driverdoor. Failure to follow the tire pressurerecommendations can cause uneventreadwear patterns and adversely affect theway your vehicle handles.
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The tires on your vehicle have all-weathertreads to provide traction in rain and snow.However, in some climates, you may needto use snow tires and cables. If you need touse cables, it is recommended that steelwheels (of the same size and specifications)be used, as cables may chip aluminumwheels.
Follow these guidelines when using snowtires and traction devices
•If possible, avoid fully loading yourvehicle
•Purchase chains or cables from amanufacturer that clearly labels body totire dimension restrictions.
•Use 10 mm cables or chains only on frontaxle with 235/50R18 tires.
•Not all S-class snow chains or cablesmeet these restrictions. Chains of thissize restriction will include a tensioningdevice.
•The snow chains or cables must bemounted in pairs on the front axle.
•Do not use chains or cables on235/45R19, 245/45R19 and 255/40R20tires.
•Install cables securely, verifying that thecables do not touch any wiring, brakelines or fuel lines.
•When driving with tire cables do notexceed 30 mph (48 km/h) or themaximum speed recommended by thechain manufacturer, whichever is less.
•Drive cautiously. If you hear the cablesrub or bang against the vehicle, stop andretighten them. If this does not work,remove the cables to prevent vehicledamage.
•Remove the cables when they are nolonger needed. Do not use cables on dryroads.
If you have any questions regarding snowchains or cables, please contact yourauthorized dealer.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM
WARNING
The tire pressure monitoring system isnot a substitute for manually checkingtire pressures. You should periodically checktire pressures using a pressure gauge.Failure to correctly maintain tire pressurescould increase the risk of tire failure, loss ofcontrol, vehicle rollover 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.
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Each tire, including the spare (ifprovided), should be checkedmonthly when cold and inflated tothe inflation pressure recommended by thevehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placardor tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehiclehas tires of a different size than the sizeindicated on the vehicle placard or tireinflation pressure label, you shoulddetermine the proper tire inflation pressurefor those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle hasbeen equipped with a Tire PressureMonitoring System (TPMS) that illuminates alow tire pressure telltale when one or moreof your tires is significantly under-inflated.Accordingly, when the low tire pressuretelltale illuminates, you should stop andcheck your tires as soon as possible, andinflate them to the proper pressure. Drivingon a significantly under-inflated tire causesthe tire to overheat and can lead to tirefailure. Under-inflation also reduces fuelefficiency and tire tread life, and may affectthe vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitutefor proper tire maintenance, and it is thedriver’s responsibility to maintain correct tirepressure, even if under-inflation has notreached the level to trigger illumination ofthe TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with aTPMS malfunction indicator to indicate whenthe system is not operating properly. TheTPMS malfunction indicator is combined withthe low tire pressure telltale. When thesystem detects a malfunction, the telltale willflash for approximately one minute and thenremain continuously illuminated. Thissequence will continue upon subsequentvehicle start-ups as long as the malfunctionexists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,the system may not be able to detect orsignal low tire pressure as intended. TPMSmalfunctions may occur for a variety ofreasons, including the installation ofreplacement or alternate tires or wheels onthe vehicle that prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. Always check the TPMSmalfunction telltale after replacing one ormore tires or wheels on your vehicle toensure that the replacement or alternate tiresand wheels allow the TPMS to continue tofunction properly.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCCRules and with License exempt RSSStandards of Industry Canada. Operation issubject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmfulinterference, and
2.This device must accept any interferencereceived, including interference that maycause undesired operation.
Note:Changes or modifications notexpressively approved by the partyresponsible for compliance could void theuser's authority to operate the equipment.The term "IC:" before the radio certificationnumber only signifies that Industry Canadatechnical specifications were met.
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Changing Tires With a Tire PressureMonitoring System
Note:Each road tire is equipped with a tirepressure sensor located inside the wheeland tire assembly cavity. The pressuresensor is attached to the valve stem. Thepressure sensor is covered by the tire andis not visible unless the tire is removed. Takecare when changing the tire to avoiddamaging the sensor.
You should always have your tires servicedby an authorized dealer.
Check the tire pressure periodically (at leastmonthly) using an accurate tire gauge. SeeWhen Inflating Your Tires in this chapter.
Understanding Your Tire PressureMonitoring System
The tire pressure monitoring systemmeasures pressure in your road tires andsends the tire pressure readings to yourvehicle. You can view the tire pressurereadings through the information display.See General Information (page 109). The lowtire pressure warning light will turn on if thetire pressure is significantly low. Once the
light is illuminated, your tires areunder-inflated and need to be inflated to themanufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.Even if the light turns on and a short timelater turns off, your tire pressure still needsto be checked.
When Your Temporary Spare Tire isInstalled
When one of your road tires needs to bereplaced with the temporary spare, thesystem will continue to identify an issue toremind you that the damaged road wheeland tire assembly needs to be repaired andput back on your vehicle.
To restore the full function of the tirepressure monitoring system, have thedamaged road wheel and tire assemblyrepaired and remounted on your vehicle.
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When You Believe Your System is NotOperating Properly
The main function of the tire pressuremonitoring system is to warn you when your
tires need air. It can also warn you in theevent the system is no longer capable offunctioning as intended. See the followingchart for information concerning your tirepressure monitoring system:
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Customer action requiredPossible causeLow tire pressure warning light
Make sure tires are at the proper pressure. See Inflating your tiresin this chapter. After inflating your tires to the manufacturer’srecommended pressure as shown on the Tire Label (located onthe edge of driver’s door or the B-Pillar), the vehicle must be drivenfor at least two minutes over 20 mph (32 km/h) before the lightturns off.
Tire(s) under-inflated
Solid warning lightRepair the damaged road wheel and tire assembly and reinstallit on the vehicle to restore system function. For a description onhow the system functions, see When Your Temporary Spare Tireis Installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
If the tires are properly inflated and the spare tire is not in use butthe light remains on, contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.TPMS malfunction
Repair the damaged road wheel and tire assembly and reinstallit on the vehicle to restore system function. For a description onhow the system functions, see When Your Temporary Spare Tireis Installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
Flashing warning light
If the tires are properly inflated and the spare tire is not in use butthe light remains on, contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.TPMS malfunction
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