Ford Escort (2003 year). Manual — part 41

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 (1 1/2) 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
normdue to variations in driving habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics and climate.

Traction AA A B C

The traction grades, fromhighest 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.

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.

Temperature A B C

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 Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.

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.

SERVICING YOUR TIRES

Checking the tire pressure
• Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.

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166

• Check the tire pressure when tires are cold, after the vehicle has been

parked for at least one hour or has been driven less than 5 km(3
miles).

• Adjust tire pressure to recommended specifications found on the

Certification Label.

Improperly inflated tires can affect vehicle handling and can fail
suddenly, possibly resulting in loss of vehicle control, vehicle

rollover and/or personal injury.

Tire rotation

Because your vehicle’s tires performdifferent jobs, they often wear
differently. To make sure your tires wear evenly and last longer, rotate
themas indicated in the scheduled maintenance guide. If you notice that
the tires wear unevenly, have themchecked.
• Four tire rotation

Replacing the tires

Replace the tires when the wear
band is visible through the tire
treads.

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167

When replacing full size tires, never mix radial bias-belted, or
bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that are listed on the

Certification or Tire Label. Make sure that all tires are the same size,
speed rating, and load-carrying capacity. Use only the tire combinations
recommended on the label. If you do not follow these precautions,
your vehicle may not drive properly and safely.

Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type,
load-carrying capacity and tread design (e.g., “All Terrain”,

“Touring”, etc.), as originally offered by Ford.

Failure to follow these precautions may adversely affect the
handling of the vehicle, and increase the risk of loss of vehicle

control, vehicle rollover and/or personal injury.

Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle’s original tires may also
affect the accuracy of your speedometer.

SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS

Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you
currently have on your vehicle.

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 and chains. If you need to use snow tires and chains, it is
recommended that steel wheels are used of the same size and
specifications as those originally installed.
Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains:
• Do not use tire chains on aluminum wheels. Chains may chip the

wheels.

• SAE Class S chains may be used on P185/65R14 tires.

• Do not use tire chains with 38 cm(15 inch) wheel/tire options. Using

chains on this size tire may cause damage to steering, suspension
and/or body components.

• Install chains securely, verifying that the chains do not touch any

wiring, brake lines or fuel lines.

• Drive cautiously. If you hear the chains rub or bang against your

vehicle, stop and re-tighten the chains. If this does not work, remove
the chains to prevent damage to your vehicle.

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168

• If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle.
• Remove the tire chains when they are no longer needed. Do not use

tire chains on dry roads.

• The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle

damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when
using snow tires and chains.

MOTOCRAFTPARTNUMBERS

Component

2.0L DOHC Zetecengine

Air filter element

FA-1643

Fuel filter

FG-862

Battery

BXT-58

Oil filter

FL-801

PCV valve

EV-239A

Spark plugs*

AZFS-32FE**

* Refer to Vehicle Emissions Control Information (VECI) decal for spark
plug gap information.

** If a spark plug is removed for inspection, it must be reinstalled in the
same cylinder. If a spark plug needs to be replaced, use only spark plugs
with the same service part number suffix letter as shown on the engine
decal.

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169