Ford E-450 (2022 year). Manual in english — page 12

Replacing Side Marker Bulbs

E196390

1.

Make sure the headlamp switch is in
the off position, then open the hood.

2. Remove the headlamp assembly. Refer

to

Replacing Headlamp Bulbs

in this

section.

3. Rotate the bulb socket

counterclockwise and remove.

4. Carefully pry up the bulb straight out

of the socket.

To complete installation, follow the
removal procedures in reverse order.

Replacing
Brake/Tail/Turn/Reverse Lamp
Bulbs (Cut-Away Only)

1.

Make sure the headlamps are off.

E163828

2. Remove the four screws and the lamp

lens from the lamp assembly.

3. Carefully pull the bulb straight out of

the socket and push in the new bulb.

183

Maintenance

GENERAL INFORMATION

Your dealer has many quality products
available to clean your vehicle and protect
its finishes.

CLEANING PRODUCTS

Materials

For best results, use the following products
or products of equivalent quality:

For additional information and assistance,
we recommend that you contact an
authorized dealer.

Specification

Name

Motorcraft® Bug and Tar Remover, ZC-42 (U.S. & Canada)

ESR-M5B194-B

Motorcraft® Custom Bright Metal Cleaner, ZC-15 (U.S. & Canada)

ESR-M14P4-A

Motorcraft® Detail Wash, ZC-3-A (U.S. & Canada)

ESR-M14P3-A

Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo and Degreaser, ZC-20 (U.S.)

Motorcraft® Engine Shampoo, CXC-66-A (Canada)

Motorcraft® Premium Leather and Vinyl Cleaner, ZC-56 (U.S. &
Canada)

Motorcraft® Multi-Purpose Cleaner, CXC-101 (Canada)

WSS-M14P19-A

Motorcraft® Premium Windshield Wash Concentrate with
Bitterant, ZC-32-B2 (U.S.)

WSS-M14P19-A

Motorcraft® Premium Quality Windshield Washer Fluid, CXC-37-
F/M (Canada)

Motorcraft® Professional Strength Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner,
ZC-54 (U.S. & Canada)

ESR-M14P5-A

Motorcraft® Premium Glass Cleaner, CXC-100 (Canada)

Motorcraft® Spot and Stain Remover, ZC-14 (U.S.)

ESR-M14P5-A

Motorcraft® Ultra-Clear Spray Glass Cleaner, ZC-23 (U.S.)

Motorcraft® Wheel and Tire Cleaner, ZC-37-A (U.S. & Canada)

184

Vehicle Care

CLEANING THE EXTERIOR

Wash your vehicle regularly with cool or
lukewarm water and a neutral pH
shampoo, we recommend Motorcraft
Detail Wash.

•

Never use strong household detergents
or soap, for example dish washing or
laundry liquid. These products can
discolor and spot painted surfaces.

•

Never wash your vehicle when it is hot
to the touch, or during strong or direct
sunlight.

•

Dry your vehicle with a chamois or soft
terry cloth towel to eliminate water
spotting.

•

Immediately remove fuel spillages, bird
droppings, insect deposits and road tar.
These may cause damage to your
vehicle’s paintwork or trim over time.
We recommend Motorcraft Bug and
Tar Remover.

•

Remove any exterior accessories, for
example antennas, before entering a
car wash.

•

When filling with AdBlue®, remove any
residue on painted surfaces
immediately.

Note:

Suntan lotions and insect repellents

can damage painted surfaces. If these
substances come in contact with your
vehicle, wash the affected area as soon as
possible.

Cleaning the Exterior Precautions

Immediately remove fuel spillages, AdBlue
residuals, bird droppings, insect deposits
and road tar. These may cause damage to
your vehicle’s paintwork or trim over time.

Remove any exterior accessories, for
example antennas, before entering a car
wash.

Cleaning the Exterior Lamps

Note:

Do not scrape the exterior lamps

lenses or use abrasives, alcoholic solvents
or chemical solvents to clean them.

Note:

Do not wipe the exterior lamps when

they are dry.

Exterior Chrome Parts

•

Apply a high quality-cleaning product
to bumpers and other chrome parts.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
We recommend Motorcraft Custom
Bright Metal Cleaner.

•

Do not apply the cleaning product to
hot surfaces. Do not leave the cleaning
product on chrome surfaces longer
than the time recommended.

•

Using non-recommended cleaners can
result in severe and permanent
cosmetic damage.

Note:

Never use abrasive materials, for

example steel wool or plastic pads as they
can scratch the chrome surface.

Note:

Do not use chrome cleaner, metal

cleaner or polish on wheels or wheel covers.

Exterior Plastic Parts

For routine cleaning we recommend
Motorcraft Detail Wash. If tar or grease
spots are present, we recommend
Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover.

Stripes or Graphics

(If Equipped)

Hand washing your vehicle is preferred
however, pressure washing may be used
under the following conditions:

•

Do not use water pressure higher than
2,000 psi (14,000 kPa).

•

Do not use water hotter than 179°F
(82°C).

185

Vehicle Care

•

Use a spray with a 40 degree wide
spray angle pattern.

•

Keep the nozzle at a 12 in (305 mm)
distance and 90 degree angle to your
vehicle's surface.

Note:

Holding the pressure washer nozzle

at an angle to the vehicle's surface may
damage graphics and cause the edges to
peel away from the vehicle's surface.

Underbody

Regularly clean the underside of your
vehicle using water. Keep body and door
drain holes free of debris or foreign
material.

Under Hood

For removing black rubber marks from
under the hood we recommend Motorcraft
Wheel and Tire Cleaner or Motorcraft Bug
and Tar Remover.

WAXING

Regular waxing is necessary to protect your
car's paint from the elements. We
recommend that you wash and wax the
painted surface once or twice a year.

When washing and waxing, park your
vehicle in a shaded area out of direct
sunlight. Always wash your vehicle before
applying wax.

•

Use a quality wax that does not contain
abrasives.

•

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
to apply and remove the wax.

•

Apply a small amount of wax in a
back-and-forth motion, not in circles.

•

Do not allow wax to come in contact
with any non-body (low-gloss black)
colored trim. The wax will discolor or
stain the parts over time.
•

Roof racks.

•

Bumpers.

•

Grained door handles.

•

Side moldings.

•

Mirror housings.

•

Windshield cowl area.

•

Do not apply wax to glass areas.

•

After waxing, your car's paint should
feel smooth, and be free of streaks and
smudges.

CLEANING THE ENGINE

Engines are more efficient when they are
clean because grease and dirt buildup keep
the engine warmer than normal.

When washing:
•

Take care when using a power washer
to clean the engine. The high-pressure
fluid could penetrate the sealed parts
and cause damage.

•

Do not spray a hot engine with cold
water to avoid cracking the engine
block or other engine components.

•

Spray Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and
Degreaser on all parts that require
cleaning and pressure rinse clean. In
Canada, use Motorcraft Engine
Shampoo.

Note:

If your vehicle has an engine cover

remove the cover before application of
Motorcraft Engine Shampoo and Degreaser.
Immediately rinse away any over spray.

186

Vehicle Care

•

Never wash or rinse the engine while it
is hot or running; water in the running
engine may cause internal damage.

•

Never wash or rinse any ignition coil,
spark plug wire or spark plug well, or
the area in and around these locations.

•

Cover the battery, power distribution
box, and air filter assembly to prevent
water damage when cleaning the
engine.

CLEANING THE WINDOWS AND
WIPER BLADES

Car wash chemicals and environmental
fallout can result in windshield and wiper
blade contamination. Dirty windshield and
wipers will result in poor windshield wiper
operation. Keep the windshield and wiper
blades clean to maintain windshield wiper
performance.

To clean the windshield and wiper blades:
•

Clean the windshield with a
non-abrasive glass cleaner. When
cleaning the interior of the windshield,
avoid getting any glass cleaner on the
instrument panel or door panels. Wipe
any glass cleaner off these surfaces
immediately.

•

For windshields contaminated with
tree sap, chemicals, wax or bugs, clean
the entire windshield using steel wool
(no greater than 0000 grade) in a
circular motion and rinse with water.

•

Clean the wiper blades with isopropyl
rubbing alcohol or windshield washer
concentrate.

Note:

Do not use razor blades or other

sharp objects to clean or remove decals
from the inside of the heated rear window.
The vehicle warranty does not cover
damage caused to the heated rear window
grid lines.

CLEANING THE INTERIOR

WARNING:

Do not use cleaning

solvents, bleach or dye on the vehicle's
seatbelts, as these actions may weaken
the belt webbing.

WARNING:

On vehicles equipped

with seat-mounted airbags, do not use
chemical solvents or strong detergents.
Such products could contaminate the
side airbag system and affect
performance of the side airbag in a crash.

For fabric, carpets, cloth seats and seats
equipped with side airbags:
•

Remove dust and loose dirt with a
vacuum cleaner.

•

Remove light stains and soil with
Motorcraft Professional Strength
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner.

•

If grease or tar is present on the
material, spot-clean the area first with
Motorcraft Spot and Stain Remover. In
Canada, use Motorcraft Multi-Purpose
Cleaner.

•

If a ring forms on the fabric after spot
cleaning, clean the entire area
immediately (but do not oversaturate)
or the ring will set.

•

Do not use household cleaning
products or glass cleaners, which can
stain and discolor the fabric and affect
the flame retardant abilities of the seat
materials.

Mirrors

Do not clean the housing or glass of any
mirror with harsh abrasives, fuel or other
petroleum or ammonia-based cleaning
products.

187

Vehicle Care

CLEANING THE INSTRUMENT
PANEL AND INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER LENS

WARNING:

Do not use chemical

solvents or strong detergents when
cleaning the steering wheel or
instrument panel to avoid contamination
of the airbag system.

Note:

Follow the same procedure as

cleaning leather seats for cleaning leather
instrument panels and leather interior trim
surfaces. See

Cleaning Leather Seats

(page 188).

Clean the instrument panel and cluster
lens with a clean, damp and soft cloth,
then use a clean, dry and soft cloth to dry
these areas.

•

Avoid cleaners or polishes that increase
the gloss of the upper portion of the
instrument panel. The dull finish in this
area helps protect you from
undesirable windshield reflection.

•

Do not use any household cleaning
products or glass cleaners as these
may damage the finish of the
instrument panel, interior trim and
cluster lens.

•

Wash or wipe your hands clean if you
have been in contact with certain
products such as insect repellent and
suntan lotion to avoid possible damage
to the interior painted surfaces.

•

Do not allow air fresheners and hand
sanitizers to spill onto interior surfaces.
If a spill occurs, wipe off immediately.
Your warranty may not cover these
damages.

If a staining liquid like coffee or juice has
been spilled on the instrument panel or on
interior trim surfaces:

1.

Wipe up spilled liquid using a clean,
soft cloth as quickly as possible.

2. Use Motorcraft Premium Leather and

Vinyl Cleaner or a commercially
available leather cleaning product for
automotive interiors. Test any cleaner
or stain remover on an inconspicuous
area.

3. Alternatively, wipe the surface with a

clean, soft cloth and a mild soap and
water solution. Dry the area with a
clean, soft cloth.

4. If necessary, apply more soap and

water solution or cleaning product to
a clean, soft cloth and press it onto the
soiled area. Allow this to set at room
temperature for 30 minutes.

5. Remove the soaked cloth, then with a

clean, damp cloth, use a rubbing
motion for 60 seconds on the soiled
area.

6. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.

CLEANING LEATHER SEATS

Note:

Follow the same procedure as

cleaning leather seats for cleaning leather
instrument panels and leather interior trim
surfaces.

For routine cleaning, wipe the surface with
a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and
water solution. Dry the area with a clean,
soft cloth.

For cleaning and removing stains such as
dye transfer, use Motorcraft Premium
Leather and Vinyl Cleaner or a
commercially available leather cleaning
product for automotive interiors.

Note:

Test any cleaner or stain remover on

an inconspicuous area.

188

Vehicle Care

You should:
•

Remove dust and loose dirt with a
vacuum cleaner.

•

Clean and treat spills and stains as
soon as possible.

Do not use the following products as these
may damage the leather:
•

Oil and petroleum or silicone-based
leather conditioners.

•

Household cleaners.

•

Alcohol solutions.

•

Solvents or cleaners intended
specifically for rubber, vinyl and
plastics.

REPAIRING MINOR PAINT
DAMAGE

Authorized dealers have touch-up paint to
match your vehicle’s color. Your vehicle
color code is printed on a sticker on the
front, left-hand side door jamb. Take your
color code to your authorized dealer to
make sure you get the correct color.

Before repairing minor paint damage, use
a cleaner to remove particles such as bird
droppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tar
spots, road salt and industrial fallout.

Read the instructions before using cleaning
products.

CLEANING THE WHEELS

1.

Regularly clean them with a wheel
cleaner. We recommend that you use
Ford approved wheel cleaner if
available.

2. Remove dirt and brake dust with a

sponge.

3. Remove tar and grease with a bug and

tar remover. We recommend that you
use Ford approved bug and tar remover
if available.

4. Thoroughly rinse the wheels with water

after cleaning.

If you intend on parking your vehicle for an
extended period after cleaning the wheels
with a wheel cleaner, drive your vehicle for
a few minutes before doing so. This
reduces the risk of corrosion of the brake
discs, brake pads and linings.

Do not clean the wheels when they are hot.

Note:

Some car washes could damage

wheel rims and covers.

Note:

Using non-recommended cleaners,

harsh cleaning products, chrome wheel
cleaners or abrasive materials could
damage wheel rims and covers.

VEHICLE STORAGE

If you plan on storing your vehicle for 30
days or more, read the following
maintenance recommendations to make
sure your vehicle stays in good operating
condition.

We engineer and test all motor vehicles
and their components for reliable, regular
driving. Under various conditions,
long-term storage may lead to degraded
engine performance or failure unless you
use specific precautions to preserve engine
components.

General

•

Store all vehicles in a dry, ventilated
place.

•

Protect from sunlight, if possible.

•

If vehicles are stored outside, they
require regular maintenance to protect
against rust and damage.

189

Vehicle Care

Body

•

Wash your vehicle thoroughly to
remove dirt, grease, oil, tar or mud from
exterior surfaces, rear-wheel housing
and the underside of front fenders.

•

Periodically wash your vehicle if it is
stored in exposed locations.

•

Touch-up exposed or primed metal to
prevent rust.

•

Cover chrome and stainless steel parts
with a thick coat of auto wax to prevent
discoloration. Re-wax as necessary
when you wash your vehicle.

•

Lubricate all hood, door and luggage
compartment hinges and latches with
a light grade oil.

•

Cover interior trim to prevent fading.

•

Keep all rubber parts free from oil and
solvents.

Engine

•

Change the engine oil and filter prior to
storage because used engine oil
contains contaminates which may
cause engine damage.

•

Start the engine every 15 days for a
minimum of 15 minutes. Run at fast
idle with the climate controls set to
defrost until the engine reaches normal
operating temperature.

•

With your foot on the brake, shift
through all the gears while the engine
is running.

•

We recommend that you change the
engine oil before you use your vehicle
again.

Fuel system

•

Fill the fuel tank with high-quality fuel
until the first automatic shutoff of the
fuel pump nozzle.

Cooling system

•

Protect against freezing temperatures.

•

When removing your vehicle from
storage, check coolant fluid level.
Confirm that there are no cooling
system leaks and that fluid is at the
recommended level.

Disconnecting Your 12 Volt Battery

•

Check and recharge as necessary. Keep
connections clean.

•

If storing your vehicle for more than 30
days without recharging the battery,
we recommend that you disconnect
the battery cables to maintain battery
charge for quick starting.

Note:

It is necessary to reset memory

features if you disconnect the battery
cables.

Brakes

•

Make sure the brakes and parking brake
release fully.

Tires

•

Maintain recommended air pressure.

Miscellaneous

•

Make sure all linkages, cables, levers
and pins under your vehicle are covered
with grease to prevent rust.

•

Move vehicles at least 25 ft (7.5 m)
every 15 days to lubricate working parts
and prevent corrosion.

190

Vehicle Care

Removing Vehicle From Storage

When your vehicle is ready to come out of
storage, do the following:
•

Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt
or grease film build-up on window
surfaces.

•

Check windshield wipers for any
deterioration.

•

Check under the hood for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage such as mice or squirrel
nests.

•

Check the exhaust for any foreign
material that may have collected
during storage.

•

Check tire pressures and set tire
inflation per the Tire Label.

•

Check brake pedal operation. Drive
your vehicle 15 ft (4.5 m) back and
forth to remove rust build-up.

•

Check fluid levels (including coolant,
oil and gas) to make sure there are no
leaks, and fluids are at recommended
levels.

•

If you remove the battery, clean the
battery cable ends and check for
damage.

Contact an authorized dealer if you have
any concerns or issues.

191

Vehicle Care

GENERAL INFORMATION

Notice to Utility Vehicle, Van and
Truck Owners

WARNING:

Utility vehicles have a

significantly higher rollover rate than
other types of vehicles. To reduce the
risk of serious injury or death from a
rollover or other crash you must avoid
sharp turns and abrupt maneuvers, drive
at safe speeds for the conditions, keep
tires properly inflated, never overload or
improperly load your vehicle, and make
sure every passenger is properly
restrained.

WARNING:

In a rollover crash, an

unbelted person is significantly more
likely to die than a person wearing a seat
belt. All occupants must wear seat belts.
Children and infants must use
appropriate restraints to minimize the
risk of injury or ejection.

E145298

Utility vehicles and trucks handle
differently than passenger cars in the
various driving conditions that are
encountered on streets, highways and
off-road. Utility vehicles and trucks are not
designed for cornering at speeds as high
as passenger cars any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off-road conditions.

How Your Vehicle Differs from
Other Vehicles

Sport-utility vehicles, vans and trucks can
differ from some other vehicles in a few
noticeable ways. Your vehicle may be:

E145299

192

Wheels and Tires

•

Higher - to allow higher load carrying
capacity and to allow it to travel over
rough terrain without getting hung up
or damaging underbody components.

•

Shorter - to give it the capability to
approach inclines and drive over the
crest of a hill without getting hung up
or damaging underbody components.
All other things held equal, a shorter
wheelbase may make your vehicle
quicker to respond to steering inputs
than a vehicle with a longer wheelbase.

•

Narrower - to provide greater
maneuverability in tight spaces,
particularly in off-road use.

E166373

As a result of the above dimensional
differences, sport-utility vehicles, vans and
trucks often will have a higher center of
gravity and a greater difference in center
of gravity between the loaded and
unloaded condition.

These differences that make your vehicle
so versatile also make it handle differently
than an ordinary passenger car.

TIRE CARE

Information About Uniform
Tire Quality Grading

E142542

Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires.
The Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:

Treadwear 200

Traction AA Temperature A

.

These Tire Quality Grades are
determined by standards that the
United States Department of
Transportation has set.

Tire Quality Grades apply to new
pneumatic passenger car tires.
They do not apply to deep tread,
winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use
spare tires, light truck or LT type
tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches or
limited production tires as defined
in Title 49 Code of Federal
Regulations Part 575.104 (c)(2).

193

Wheels and Tires

U.S. Department of
Transportation Tire quality
grades:

The U.S. 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 one and one-half (1
½) 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

194

Wheels and Tires

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 139. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law.

Glossary of Tire Terminology

*

Tire label:

A label showing the

original equipment tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure
and the maximum weight the
vehicle can carry.

*

Tire Identification Number

(TIN):

A number on the sidewall

of each tire providing information
about the tire brand and
manufacturing plant, tire size and
date of manufacture. Also referred
to as DOT code.

*

Inflation pressure:

A measure

of the amount of air in a tire.

*

Standard load:

A class of

P-metric or Metric tires designed
to carry a maximum load at set
pressure. For example: For
P-metric tires 35 psi (2.4 bar) and
for Metric tires 36 psi (2.5 bar).
Increasing the inflation pressure
beyond this pressure does not
increase the tire’s load carrying
capability.

*

Extra load:

A class of P-metric

or Metric tires designed to carry a
heavier maximum load at 42 psi
(2.9 bar). Increasing the inflation
pressure beyond this pressure
does not increase the tire’s load
carrying capability.

*

kPa:

Kilopascal, a metric unit of

air pressure.

*

PSI:

Pounds per square inch, a

standard unit of air pressure.

*

Cold tire pressure:

The tire

pressure when the vehicle has
been stationary and out of direct
sunlight for an hour or more and
prior to the vehicle being driven for
1.0 mi (1.6 km).

*

Recommended inflation

pressure:

The cold inflation

pressure found on 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 Tire Label located on
the B-pillar or the edge of the
driver's door.

B-pillar:

The structural member

at the side of the vehicle behind
the front door.

*

Bead area of the tire:

Area of

the tire next to the rim.

*

Sidewall of the tire:

Area

between the bead area and the
tread.

*

Tread area of the tire:

Area of

the perimeter of the tire that
contacts the road when mounted
on the vehicle.

*

Rim:

The metal support (wheel)

for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.

195

Wheels and Tires

Information Contained on the
Tire Sidewall

Both United States 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 U.S. DOT Tire
Identification Number for safety
standard certification and in case
of a recall.

Information on P Type Tires

H

I

J

K

L

M

A

B

C D

E

F

G

E142543

P215/65R15 95H is an example of
a tire size, load index and speed
rating. The definitions of these
items are listed below. (Note that
the tire size, load index and speed
rating for your vehicle may be
different from this example.)

A.

P:

Indicates a tire, designated

by the Tire and Rim Association,
that may be used for service on
cars, sport utility vehicles,
minivans and light trucks.

Note:

If

your tire size does not begin with
a letter this may mean it is
designated by either the European
Tire and Rim Technical
Organization or the Japan Tire
Manufacturing Association.

B.

215:

Indicates the nominal

width of the tire in millimeters
from sidewall edge to sidewall
edge. In general, the larger the
number, the wider the tire.

C.

65:

Indicates the aspect ratio

which gives 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
your wheel size, you have to
purchase new tires to match the
new wheel diameter.

F.

95:

Indicates the tire's load

index. It is an index that relates to
how much weight a tire can carry.
You may find this information in
your owner’s manual. If not,
contact a local tire dealer.

Note:

You may not find this

information on all tires because it
is not required by federal law.

196

Wheels and Tires

G.

H:

Indicates the tire's speed

rating. The speed rating denotes
the speed at which a tire is
designed to be driven for extended
periods of time under a standard
condition of load and inflation
pressure. The tires on your vehicle
may operate at different
conditions for load and inflation
pressure. These speed ratings may
need to be adjusted for the
difference in conditions. The
ratings range from 81–186 mph
(130–299 km/h). These ratings
are listed in the following chart.

Note:

You may not find this

information on all tires because it
is not required by federal law.

mph ( km/h)

Letter
rating

75 (120)

L

81 (130)

M

87 (140)

N

99 (159)

Q

106 (171)

R

112 (180)

S

118 (190)

T

124 (200)

U

130 (210)

H

149 (240)

V

mph ( km/h)

Letter
rating

168 (270)

W

186 (299)

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.

H.

U.S. DOT Tire Identification

Number:

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.

I.

M+S or M/S:

Mud and Snow, or

AT:

All Terrain, or

AS:

All Season.

197

Wheels and Tires

J.

Tire Ply Composition and

Material Used:

Indicates the

number of plies or the number of
layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and sidewall. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate
the ply materials in the tire and the
sidewall, which include steel,
nylon, polyester, and others.

K.

Maximum Load:

Indicates the

maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the
tire. (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 Tire
Label located on the B-pillar or
the edge of the driver's door.

L.

Treadwear, Traction and

Temperature Grades:

*

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.

*

Traction:

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:

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.

M.

Maximum Inflation

Pressure:

Indicates the tire

manufacturers' maximum
permissible pressure or the
pressure at which the maximum
load can be carried by the tire. This
pressure is normally higher than
the vehicle manufacturer's
recommended cold inflation
pressure which can be found on
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 Tire Label located on
the B-pillar or the edge of the
driver's door. The cold inflation
pressure should never be set lower
than the recommended pressure
on the vehicle label.

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Wheels and Tires