Lincoln Aviator (2023 year). Manual in english — page 27

GENERAL INFORMATION

The recommended tire inflation pressures
are found on the Tire Label which is located
on the B-pillar or the edge of the driver door.
This information can also 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.

We strongly recommend maintaining these
tire pressures at all times. Failure to follow
the tire pressure recommendations can
cause uneven treadwear patterns, reduced
fuel economy, and adversely affect the way
your vehicle handles.

Note:

Check and set the tire pressure at the

ambient temperature in which you are
intending to drive your vehicle and when the
tires are cold.

Note:

Check your tire pressures at least once

per month.

If your vehicle has a spare tire, set the
pressure to the highest value given for your
vehicle and tire size combination.

Use only approved wheels and tire sizes,
using other sizes could damage your vehicle.

If you change the diameter of the factory
installed tires, the speedometer may not
display the correct speed. This could effect
the functionality of the All Wheel Drive (AWD)
system, if equipped. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer and have the engine
management system reprogrammed.

If you intend to change the size of the factory
installed tires, check the suitability with an
authorized dealer.

Additional information related to the
functionality and maintenance of your tires
can be found in the Wheels and Tire section.
See

Tire Care

(page 432).

Notice to utility vehicle and truck
owners

WARNING:

Vehicles with a higher

center of gravity (utility and four-wheel
drive vehicles) handle differently than
vehicles with a lower center of gravity
(passenger cars). Avoid sharp turns,
excessive speed and abrupt steering in
these vehicles. Failure to drive cautiously
increases the risk of losing control of your
vehicle, vehicle rollover, personal injury
and death.

WARNING:

In a rollover crash, an

unbelted person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a seatbelt.

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.

430

Wheels and Tires

Study your owner's manual and any
supplements for specific information about
equipment features, instructions for safe
driving and additional precautions to reduce
the risk of an accident or serious injury.

All-wheel drive system (if equipped)

WARNING:

Do not become

overconfident in the ability of all-wheel
drive vehicles. Although an all-wheel drive
vehicle may accelerate better than a
two-wheel drive vehicle in low traction
situations, it won't stop any faster than
two-wheel drive vehicles. Always drive at
a safe speed.

A vehicle equipped with all-wheel drive has
the ability to use all four wheels to power
itself. This increases traction which may
enable you to safely drive over terrain and
road conditions that a conventional
two-wheel drive vehicle cannot. Power is
supplied to all four wheels through a transfer
case operation and drive mode selection.
See

All-Wheel Drive

(page 264). You should

become thoroughly familiar with this
information before you operate your vehicle.

Some limited All Wheel Drive (AWD) traction
may be provided if a temporary spare is
installed on one of the front wheels. If you
are in driving conditions where limited All
Wheel Drive (AWD) traction needed while a
temporary wheel is installed, it is
recommended the temporary spare be
installed on the front axle.

For all-wheel-drive vehicles, a spare tire of
a different size other than the tire provided
should never be used. A dissimilar spare tire
size; other than the spare tire provided or
major dissimilar tire sized between the front
and rear axles could cause the
all-wheel-drive system to stop functioning
and default to rear-wheel drive.

How your vehicle differs from other
vehicles

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

•

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 could 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.

431

Wheels and Tires

As a result of the above dimensional
differences, sport utility vehicles and trucks
often 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).

U.S. Department of Transportation Tire
quality grades:

The U.S. Department of

Transportation requires us 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 1½ 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.

432

Wheels and Tires

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 mi (1.6 km).

433

Wheels and Tires

*

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 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

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.)

434

Wheels and Tires

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.

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 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

435

Wheels and Tires

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.

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. See 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), for the correct
tire pressure for your vehicle.

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 one and
one-half times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.

436

Wheels and Tires

*

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 which is 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.

The tire suppliers may have additional
markings, notes or warnings such as
standard load or radial tubeless.

Additional Information Contained on
the Tire Sidewall for LT Type Tires

Note:

Tire Quality Grades do not apply

to this type of tire.

A

B

C

B

D

E142544

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 the

Tire and Rim Association, that is
intended for service on light trucks.

437

Wheels and Tires

B.

Load Range and Load Inflation

Limits:

Indicates the tire's load-carrying

capabilities and its inflation limits.

C.

Maximum Load Dual lb (kg) at psi

(kPa) cold:

Indicates the maximum load

and tire pressure when the tire is used
as a dual, defined as four tires on the
rear axle (a total of six or more tires on
the vehicle).

D.

Maximum Load Single lb (kg) at psi

(kPa) cold:

Indicates the maximum load

and tire pressure when the tire is used
as 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 your

vehicle may be different from this
example. Tire Quality Grades do not
apply to this type of tire.

A

B

C

D

E

T type tires have some additional
information beyond those of P type tires;
these differences are described below:

A.

T:

Indicates a type of tire, designated

by the Tire and Rim Association, that is
intended for temporary service on cars,
sport utility vehicles, minivans and light
trucks.

B.

145:

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.

80:

Indicates the aspect ratio which

gives the tire's ratio of height to width.
Numbers of 70 or lower indicate a short
sidewall.

D.

D:

Indicates a diagonal type tire.

R:

Indicates a radial type tire.

E.

16:

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.

438

Wheels and Tires

Recommended Tire Pressures and
Inflating Your Tires

Safe operation of your vehicle requires
that your tires are properly inflated.
Remember that a tire can lose up to half
of its air pressure without appearing flat.
Every day before you drive, check your
tires. If one looks lower than the others,
use a tire gauge to check the pressure
of all tires and adjust if required.

At least once a month and before long
trips, inspect each tire and check the tire
pressure with a tire gauge (including
spare, if equipped). Inflate all tires to the
inflation pressure recommended by the
manufacturer.

WARNING:

Under-inflation is the

most common cause of tire failures
and may result in severe tire cracking,
tread separation or blowout, with
unexpected loss of vehicle control and
increased risk of injury. Under-inflation
increases sidewall flexing and rolling
resistance, resulting in heat buildup

and internal damage to the tire. It also
may result in unnecessary tire stress,
irregular wear, loss of vehicle control
and accidents. A tire can lose up to
half of its air pressure and not appear
to be flat!

You are strongly urged to buy a reliable
tire pressure gauge, as automatic
service station gauges may be
inaccurate. We recommend the use of
a digital or dial-type tire pressure gauge
rather than a stick-type tire pressure
gauge. Use the recommended cold
inflation pressure for optimum tire
performance and wear. Under-inflation
or over-inflation may cause uneven
treadwear patterns.

Always inflate your tires to the
recommended inflation pressure even
if it is less than the maximum inflation
pressure information found on the tire.
You will find a Tire Label containing the
manufactures recommended tire
inflation pressure by the tire size and
other important information located on
the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s
door.

The recommended tire inflation pressure
is also 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 on
the B-pillar, or on the edge of the
driver’s door.

Failure to follow the tire pressure
recommendations can cause uneven
treadwear patterns and adversely affect
the way your vehicle handles.

439

Wheels and Tires

Inspecting Your Tires and Wheel Valve
Stems

Periodically inspect the tire treads for
uneven or excessive wear and remove
objects such as stones, nails or glass
that may be wedged in the tread
grooves. Check the tire and valve stems
for holes, cracks, or cuts that may permit
air leakage and repair or replace the tire
and replace the valve stem. Inspect the
tire sidewalls for cracking, cuts, bruises
and other signs of damage or excessive
wear. If internal damage to the tire is
suspected, have the tire demounted and
inspected in case it needs to be repaired
or replaced. For your safety, tires that
are damaged or show signs of excessive
wear should not be used because they
are more likely to blow out or fail.

Improper or inadequate vehicle
maintenance can cause tires to wear
abnormally. Inspect all your tires,
including the spare, frequently, and
replace them if one or more of the
following conditions exist:

Tire Wear

E142546

When the tread is worn down to one
sixteenth of an inch (2 mm), tires must
be replaced to help prevent your vehicle
from skidding and hydroplaning. Built-in
treadwear indicators, or wear bars,
which look like narrow strips of smooth
rubber across the tread will appear on
the tire when the tread is worn down to
one sixteenth of an inch (2 mm).

When the tire tread wears down to the
same height as these wear bars, the tire
is worn out and must be replaced.

Damage

Periodically inspect the tire treads and
sidewalls for damage (such as bulges in
the tread or sidewalls, cracks in the
tread groove and separation in the tread
or sidewall). If damage is observed or
suspected, have the tire inspected by a
tire professional. Tires can be damaged
during off-road use, so inspection after
off-road use is also recommended.

Age

WARNING:

Tires degrade over

time depending on many factors such
as weather, storage conditions, and
conditions of use (load, speed, inflation
pressure) the tires experience
throughout their lives.

440

Wheels and Tires

In general, tires should be replaced
after six years regardless of tread
wear. However, heat caused by hot
climates or frequent high loading
conditions can accelerate the aging
process and may require tires to be
replaced more frequently.
You should replace your spare tire
when you replace the road tires or
after six years due to aging even if it
has not been used.

U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number

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.

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.

Tire Replacement Requirements

Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide a safe ride and
handling capability.

WARNING:

Only use

replacement tires and wheels that are
the same size, load index, speed rating
and type (such as P-metric versus
LT-metric or all-season versus
all-terrain) as those originally provided
by Ford. The recommended tire and
wheel size may be found on either 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 the Tire
Label which is located on the B-Pillar
or edge of the driver's door. If this
information is not found on these
labels, then you should contact your
authorized dealer as soon as possible.
Use of any tire or wheel not
recommended by Ford can affect the
safety and performance of your
vehicle, which could result in an
increased risk of loss of vehicle
control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.

441

Wheels and Tires

WARNING:

To reduce the risk of

serious injury, when mounting
replacement tires and wheels, you
should not exceed the maximum
pressure indicated on the sidewall of
the tire to set the beads without
additional precautions listed below. If
the beads do not seat at the maximum
pressure indicated, re-lubricate and
try again.

WARNING:

For a mounting

pressure more than 20 psi (1.38 bar)
greater than the maximum pressure,
a Ford dealer or other tire service
professional should do the mounting.

WARNING:

Always inflate steel

carcass tires with a remote air fill with
the person inflating standing at a
minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m) away from
the wheel and tire assembly.

WARNING:

When inflating the

tire for mounting pressures up to
20 psi (1.38 bar) greater than the
maximum pressure on the tire sidewall,
the following precautions must be
taken to protect the person mounting
the tire:

•

Make sure that you have the correct
tire and wheel size.

•

Lubricate the tire bead and wheel
bead seat area again.

•

Stand at a minimum of 12 ft (3.66 m)
away from the wheel and tire
assembly.

•

Use both eye and ear protection.

Important:

Remember to replace the

wheel valve stems when the road tires
are replaced on your vehicle.

It is recommended that the two front
tires or two rear tires generally be
replaced as a pair if the worn tires still
have usable depth.

To avoid potential All Wheel Drive (AWD)
malfunction or All Wheel Drive (AWD)
system damage, it is recommended to
replace all four tires rather than mixing
significantly worn tires with new tires.

The tire pressure sensors mounted in
the wheels (originally installed on your
vehicle) are not designed to be used in
aftermarket wheels.

The use of wheels or tires not
recommended may affect the operation
of your tire pressure monitoring system.

If the tire pressure monitoring system
indicator is flashing, your system is
malfunctioning. Your replacement tire
might be incompatible with your tire
pressure monitoring system, or some
component of the system may be
damaged.

442

Wheels and Tires

Safety Practices

WARNING:

If your vehicle is

stuck in snow, mud or sand, do not
rapidly spin the tires; spinning the tires
can tear the tire and cause an
explosion. A tire can explode in as little
as three to five seconds.

WARNING:

Do not spin the

wheels at over 34 mph (55 km/h). The
tires may fail and injure a passenger
or bystander.

Driving habits have a great deal to do
with 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 tire
against a curb when parking

Highway Hazards

No matter how carefully you drive, there
is always the possibility that you may
eventually have a flat tire on the
highway. Drive slowly to the closest safe
area out of traffic. This may further
damage the flat tire, but your safety is
more important.

If you feel a sudden vibration or ride
disturbance while driving, or you suspect
your tire or vehicle has been damaged,
immediately reduce your speed. Drive
with caution until you can safely pull off
the road. Stop and inspect the tires for
damage. If a tire is under-inflated or
damaged, deflate it, remove wheel and
replace it with your spare tire and wheel.
If you cannot detect a cause, have the
vehicle towed to the nearest repair
facility or tire dealer to have the vehicle
inspected.

Tire and Wheel Alignment

A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole
can cause the front end of your vehicle
to become misaligned or cause damage
to your tires. If your vehicle seems to
pull to one side when you are driving,
the wheels may be out of alignment.
Have an authorized dealer check the
wheel alignment periodically.

Wheel misalignment in the front or the
rear can cause uneven and rapid
treadwear of your tires and should be
corrected by an authorized dealer.
Front-wheel drive vehicles and those
with an independent rear suspension (if
equipped) may require alignment of all
four wheels.

The tires should also be balanced
periodically. An unbalanced tire and
wheel assembly may result in irregular
tire wear.

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Wheels and Tires

Tire Rotation

WARNING:

If the tire label shows

different tire pressures for the front
and rear tires and the vehicle has a
tire pressure monitoring system, then
you need to update the settings for
the system sensors. Always perform
the system reset procedure after tire
rotation. If you do not reset the system,
it may not provide a low tire pressure
warning when necessary.

Note:

If your tires show uneven wear,

ask an authorized dealer to check for
and correct any wheel misalignment,
tire imbalance or mechanical problem
involved before tire rotation.

Note:

Your vehicle may be equipped

with a dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly. A dissimilar spare wheel and
tire assembly is defined as a spare
wheel and tire assembly that is different
in brand, size or appearance from the
road tires and wheels. If you have a
dissimilar spare wheel and tire
assembly, it is intended for temporary
use only and should not be used in a
tire rotation.

Note:

After having your tires rotated,

inflation pressure must be checked and
adjusted to the vehicle requirements.

Rotating your tires at the recommended
interval will help your tires wear more
evenly, providing better tire performance
and longer tire life. Sometimes irregular
tire wear can be corrected by rotating
the tires. See

Scheduled Maintenance

(page 579).

Tire Rotation Diagram

Rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive
vehicles, front tires at left of diagram.

E142548

USING SUMMER TIRES

Summer tires provide superior performance
on wet and dry roads. Summer tires do not
have the Mud and Snow (M+S or M/S) tire
traction rating on the tire side wall. Since
summer tires do not have the same traction
performance as All-season or Snow tires, we
do not recommend using summer tires when
temperatures drop to approximately 45°F
(7°C) or below (depending on tire wear and
environmental conditions) or in snow and ice

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Wheels and Tires

conditions. Like any tire, summer tire
performance is affected by tire wear and
environmental conditions. If you must drive
in those conditions, we recommend using
Mud and Snow (M+S, M/S), All-season or
Snow tires.

Always store your summer tires indoors at
temperatures above 19°F (-7°C). The rubber
compounds used in these tires lose flexibility
and may develop surface cracks in the tread
area at temperatures below 19°F (-7°C). If the
tires have been subjected to 19°F (-7°C) or
less, warm them in a heated space to at least
41°F (5°C) for at least 24 hours before
installing them on a vehicle, or moving the
vehicle with the tires installed, or checking
tire inflation. Do not place tires near heaters
or heating devices used to warm the room
where the tires are stored. Do not apply heat
or blow heated air directly on the tires.
Always inspect the tires after storage periods
and before use.

USING SNOW CHAINS

WARNING:

Do not exceed 30 mph

(50 km/h). Failure to follow this instruction
could result in the loss of control of your
vehicle, personal injury or death.

WARNING:

Do not use snow chains

on snow-free roads.

WARNING:

Only fit snow chains to

specified tires.

WARNING:

If your vehicle is fitted

with wheel trims, remove them before
fitting snow chains.

WARNING:

Wheels and tires must

be the same size, load index and speed
rating as those originally fitted on the
vehicle. Use of any other tire or wheel can
affect the safety and performance of your
vehicle. Additionally, the use of
non-recommended tires and wheels can
cause steering, suspension, axle, transfer
case or power transfer unit failure. Follow

the recommended tire inflation pressures
found on the Safety Compliance
Certification label, or the Tire Label on the
B-Pillar or the edge of the driver door.
Failure to follow this instruction could result
in loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
or personal injury or death.

Only use snow chains on rear wheels. Install
snow chains in pairs. Do not use
self-tensioning snow chains.

Only use snow chains on the following
specified tire sizes:

•

255/60R19

•

Only install chains that are 10 mm or
less.

•

255/55R20

•

Only install chains that are 10 mm or
less.

We recommend you use steel wheels of the
same size and specification if snow chains
are required because chains may chip
aluminum wheels.

Follow these guidelines when using snow
tires and traction devices:

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Wheels and Tires