flat tire LINCOLN MKC 2019 User Guide

*Recommended inflation pressure: Thecold inflation pressure found on theSafety Compliance Certification Label(affixed to either the door hinge pillar,door-latch post, or the door edge thatmeets the door-latch post, next to thedriver's seating position), or Tire Labellocated on the B-Pillar or the edge of thedriver door.
* B-pillar: The structural member at theside of the vehicle behind the front door.
*Bead area of the tire: Area of the tirenext to the rim.
* Sidewall of the tire: Area between thebead area and the tread.
*Tread area of the tire: Area of theperimeter of the tire that contacts the
road when mounted on the vehicle.
*Rim: The metal support (wheel) for atire or a tire and tube assembly uponwhich the tire beads are seated.
Information Contained on the TireSidewall
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.
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.)
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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.
Speed ratingLetter 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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*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 which is located on the B-Pillar orthe edge of the driver’s door. The coldinflation pressure should never be setlower than the recommended pressureon the vehicle 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.
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.
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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:
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.
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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 door.
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 longtrips, inspect each tire and check the tire
pressure 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 failures andmay result in severe tire cracking, treadseparation or blowout, with unexpectedloss of vehicle control and increased riskof injury. Under-inflation increasessidewall flexing and rolling resistance,resulting in heat buildup and internaldamage to the tire. It also may result inunnecessary tire stress, irregular wear,loss of vehicle control and accidents. A
tire can lose up to half of its air pressureand not appear to be flat!
Always inflate your tires to therecommended 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 (affixed to either thedoor hinge pillar, door-latch post, or thedoor edge that meets the door-latchpost, next to the driver's seatingposition), or Tire Label which is locatedon the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’sdoor. Failure to follow the tire pressurerecommendations can cause uneventreadwear patterns and adversely affectthe way your vehicle handles.
Maximum Inflation Pressure is the tiremanufacturer's maximum permissiblepressure and the pressure at which the
maximum 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 CertificationLabel (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next to
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the driver's seating position), or TireLabel which is located on the B-Pillar orthe edge of the driver’s door. The coldinflation pressure should never be setlower than the recommended pressureon the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel or Tire Label.
When weather temperature changesoccur, tire inflation pressures alsochange. A 11°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,
meaning they are not hot fromdriving even a mile.
Note:If you are checking tire pressurewhen the tire is hot, (for example, drivenmore than 1 mi (1.6 km), never bleed orreduce air pressure. The tires are hotfrom 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 tiregauge onto the valve and measurethe pressure.
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 Tire Label.
6.Visually inspect the tires to makesure there are no nails or otherobjects embedded that could pokea hole in the tire and cause an airleak.
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Age
WARNING: Tires degrade overtime depending on many factors suchas weather, storage conditions, andconditions of use (load, speed, inflationpressure) the tires experiencethroughout 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 sixyears 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.
WARNING: Do not usereplacement tires with lower loadcarrying capacities than the original tiresbecause they may lower your vehicle'sGVWR and GAWR limitations.Replacement tires with a higher limitthan the original tires do not increasethe GVWR and GAWR limitations.
WARNING: Replace the wheelsand tires with the exact original brand,size and construction that cameoriginally on your vehicle. Use of any
other wheel or tire combinations, evenwith identical size ratings, may result ininsufficient running clearances, tirerubbing and eventual puncture. Failureto follow tire replacementrecommendations can lead to tire failure,loss of vehicle control, serious injury ordeath.
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WARNING: The use ofnon-recommended tires and wheelscould cause steering, suspension, axle,transfer case or power transfer unitfailure. If you have questions regardingtire replacement, contact yourauthorized dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING: To reduce the risk ofserious injury, when mountingreplacement tires and wheels, youshould not exceed the maximumpressure indicated on the sidewall of thetire to set the beads without additionalprecautions listed below. If the beadsdo not seat at the maximum pressureindicated, re-lubricate and try again.
WARNING: When inflating the tirefor mounting pressures up to 20 psi(1.38 bar) greater than the maximumpressure on the tire sidewall, thefollowing precautions must be taken toprotect the 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 steelcarcass tires with a remote air fill withthe person inflating standing at aminimum of 12 ft (3.66 m) away from thewheel and tire assembly.
Important: Remember to replace thewheel valve stems when the road tiresare 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 your
vehicle) are not designed to be used inaftermarket wheels.
The use of wheels or tires notrecommended by us, may affect theoperation of your tire pressuremonitoring 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
WARNING: If your vehicle is stuckin 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.
WARNING: Do not spin the wheelsat over 34 mph (55 km/h). The tires mayfail and injure a passenger or bystander.
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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, thereis 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 or
damaged, 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 topull 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 rapid
treadwear 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 probleminvolved before tire rotation.
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 a
dissimilar 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.
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Rotating your tires at the recommendedinterval (as indicated in the ScheduledMaintenance chapter) will help your tireswear more evenly, providing better tireperformance 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 thesame size, load index and speed rating asthose originally provided by Ford. Use of anytire or 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. Follow
the 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.
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.
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