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Wheels and tires – FORD 2015 F-150 User Manual

Page 343

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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.

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.

WARNINGS

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 or
the Tire Label. 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

340

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Wheels and Tires