Ford C-MAX Hybrid (2018 year). Manual — part 62

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 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

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 will 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 will
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 mile (1.6 kilometers).

*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.

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

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 will 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.

G. 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 mph (130 km/h) to 186 mph
(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.

Speed rating

Letter
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

Speed rating

Letter
rating

168 mph (270 km/h)

W

186 mph (299 km/h)

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 (TIN): 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.