Ford Contour (1999 year). Manual — part 47

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 “high performance”

tires or larger size tires.

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Maintenance and care

187

Dispose of worn tires in

accordance with local

environmental regulations.

Refer to the Safety Compliance
Certification label to determine the
specific size tire and wheel Ford
Motor Company recommends for
use on this vehicle.

When purchasing replacement tires
for your vehicle, consult your
dealer or a qualified service
technician to ensure that the
correct tire type is used.

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Maintenance and care

188

The tires on your vehicle have all-
weather treads to provide traction
in rain and snow. However, in some
climates, using snow tires and
chains may be necessary. Ford
offers snow chains as a Ford
approved accessory and
recommends use of these or their
equivalents on approved tires. See
your dealer or a qualified service
technician for more information on
tire chains for your vehicle. Follow
these guidelines when using snow
tires and chains:

• Install chains securely, verifying
that the chains do not touch any
wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.

• Install the chains on the front
tires only.

• Do not use tire chains on 205/60
tires and 205/55R16 Z rated tires.
Steering, suspension and body
components may be damaged by
use of chains.

Snow tires must be the same
size and grade as the tires

you currently have on your
vehicle.

Using snow tires and chains

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Maintenance and care

189

Change over from winter to

summer tires as soon as road

conditions allow, this will reduce
fuel consumption and noise in the
vehicle’s interior.

• Drive cautiously. If you hear the
chains rub or bang against the
vehicle, stop and retighten them. If
this does not work, remove the
chains to prevent vehicle damage.

• Local regulations may prohibit or
restrict the use of tire chains.
Investigate the laws and
regulations in your area before
installing chains.

• Avoid overloading your vehicle.

• Do not use tire chains on
temporary spare tires.

• Remove the tire chains when
they are no longer needed. Do not
use chains on dry roads.

• The suspension insulation and
bumpers will help prevent vehicle
damage. Do not remove these
components from the vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.

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