Floe 500-95500-00 Owner's Manual page 16

Safety
Tire Safety
TIRE SIzE
To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that
are the same size as the vehicle's original tires or
another size recommended by the manufacturer.
Look at the tire information placard, the owner's
manual, or the sidewall of the tire you are replac-
ing to find this information. If you have any doubt
about the correct size to choose, consult with the
tire dealer.
TIRE TREAD
The tire tread provides the gripping action and
traction that prevent your vehicle from slipping or
sliding, especially when the road is wet or icy. In
general, tires are not safe and should be replaced
when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch.
Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that let
you know when it is time to replace your tires.
These indicators are raised sections spaced inter-
mittently in the bottom of the tread grooves. When
they appear "even" with the outside of the tread,
it is time to replace your tires. Another method
for checking tread depth is to place a penny in the
tread with Lincoln's head upside down and facing
you. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, you
are ready for new tires.
TIRE BALANCE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT
To avoid vibration or shaking of the vehicle when
a tire rotates, the tire must be properly balanced.
This balance is achieved by positioning weights
on the wheel to counterbalance heavy spots on the
wheel-and-tire assembly. A wheel alignment ad-
justs the angles of the wheels so that they are po-
sitioned correctly relative to the vehicle's frame.
This adjustment maximizes the life of your tires
and prevents your car from veering to the right or
left when driving on a straight, level road. These
adjustments require special equipment and should
be performed by a qualified technician.
Page 16
TIRE REPAIR
The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a
plug for the hole and a patch for the area inside
the tire that surrounds the puncture hole. Punc-
tures through the tread can be repaired if they are
not too large, but punctures to the sidewall should
not be repaired. Tires must be removed from the
rim to be properly inspected before being plugged
and patched.
TIRE ROTATION
Rotating tires from front to back and from side to
side can reduce irregular wear (for vehicles that
have tires that are all the same size). Look in your
owner's manual for information on how frequent-
ly the tires on your vehicle should be rotated and
the best pattern for rotation.
A Tire Rotation Example
For maximum mileage, rotate your tires every
5,000 miles. Follow correct rotation patterns.