Lincoln MKS (2016 year). Manual — part 17

GENERAL INFORMATION

Your Ford or Lincoln authorized dealer has
many quality products available to clean your

vehicle and protect its finishes.

CLEANING PRODUCTS

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

Materials

Specification

Name

-

Motorcraft Bug and Tar Remover
ZC-42

-

Motorcraft Custom Bright Metal Cleaner
ZC-15

ESR-M14P4-A

Motorcraft® Detail Wash
ZC-3-A

-

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

-

Engine Shampoo

-

Motorcraft Leather and Vinyl Cleaner
ZC-56

-

Multi-Purpose Cleaner

WSS-M14P19-A

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

-

Professional Strength Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
ZC-54

-

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

ESR-M14P5-A

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

-

Motorcraft® Wheel and Tire Cleaner
ZC-37-A

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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.

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.

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 other 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).

•

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

•

Keep the nozzle at a 12 in (305 mm)
distance and 90° 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

Flush the complete underside of your vehicle
frequently. Keep body and door drain holes
free of debris or foreign material.

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Vehicle Care

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.

•

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.

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Vehicle Care

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

WARNINGS

Do not use cleaning solvents, bleach or
dye on the vehicle’s safety belts, as
these actions may weaken the belt

webbing.

WARNINGS

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 collision.

For fabric, carpets, cloth seats, safety belts
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.

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 267).

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.

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Vehicle Care

•

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.

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 such as Motorcraft Bug and Tar
Remover to remove particles such as bird
droppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tar spots,
road salt and industrial fallout.

Always read the instructions before using
cleaning products.

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Vehicle Care

CLEANING THE ALLOY WHEELS

Note: Do not apply a cleaning chemical to
warm or hot wheel rims and covers.

Note: Some automatic car washes may cause
damage to the finish on your wheel rims and
covers.

Note: Industrial-strength or heavy-duty
cleaners in combination with brush agitation
to remove brake dust and dirt, could wear
away the clear coat finish over a period time.

Note: Do not use hydrofluoric acid-based or
high caustic-based wheel cleaners, steel wool,
fuels or strong household detergents.

Note: If you intend 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 will reduce the
risk of increased corrosion of the brake discs.

Alloy wheels and wheel covers are coated
with a clear coat paint finish. To maintain
their condition we recommend that you:

•

Clean the wheels weekly using Motorcraft
Wheel and Tire Cleaner. Apply using
manufacturer's instructions.

•

Use a sponge to remove heavy deposits
of dirt and brake dust accumulation.

•

Rinse thoroughly with a strong stream of
water when you have completed the
cleaning process.

•

To remove tar and grease, use Motorcraft
Bug and Tar Remover.

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.

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.

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Vehicle Care

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.

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 battery cables are disconnected.

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.

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.

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Vehicle Care

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 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.

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Wheels and Tires

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: 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.

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Wheels and Tires

•

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) or
36 (2.5 bar) depending on tire
size 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 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.

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.

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Wheels and Tires

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 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.

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Wheels and Tires

Note: You may not find this
information on all tires because it is
not required by federal law.

mph ( km/h)

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

mph ( km/h)

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: 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.

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Wheels and Tires

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:

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Wheels and Tires

•

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.

•

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

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Wheels and Tires

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.

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

E142545

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

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Wheels and Tires

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.

Location of the Tire Label

You will find a Tire Label containing
tire inflation pressure by tire size and
other important information located
on the B-Pillar or the edge of the
driver’s door.

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
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 Ford
Motor Company.

You are strongly urged to buy a
reliable tire pressure gauge, as
automatic service station gauges
may be inaccurate. Ford
recommends 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

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Wheels and Tires