Ford Escape Quiz
Wheels and Tires Information

Tire Sidewall Information

In this manual: Wheels and Tires Information
Introduction — 1Symbol Glossary — 1Data Privacy — 7At a Glance — 1Child Safety — 11Seat Belts — 9Personal Safety System™ — 1Airbags — 8Pedestrian Warning System. 911 Assist — 1Keys and Remote Controls — 8MyKey™ — 5Doors & Locks — 5Keyless Entry — 6Easy Entry and Exit — 1Liftgate - Vehicles With: Manual Liftgate — 3Liftgate - Vehicles With: Power Liftgate — 6Safety — 4Steering Wheel — 1Wipers and Washers — 7Exterior Lighting — 8Interior Lighting — 4Windows — 3Interior Mirror — 1Exterior Mirrors — 1Sunroof (if equipped) — 4Instrument Cluster — 16Instrument Cluster Display — 14Trip Computer — 3Head-Up Display (If Equipped) — 1Remote Start — 5Climate Control — 7Cabin Air Quality — 1Front Seats — 5Rear Seats — 1Rear Seat Reminder — 1Memory Function — 1Garage Door Opener — 7USB Ports — 3Power Point - Vehicles With: 12V Outlet — 1Wireless Accessory Charger — 1Storage — 1Starting and Stopping the Engine — 9Hybrid Electric Vehicle Information — 6Auto Start-Stop — 1Fuel and Refueling — 10Catalytic Converter — 1High-Voltage Battery — 1Charging Your Vehicle – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) — 7Automatic Transmission — 8All-Wheel Drive — 1Brakes — 4Electric parking brake — 1Hill Start Assist — 1Auto Hold — 1Traction Control — 1Stability Control — 1Steering — 1Park Aid — 7Rearview Camera — 1Active Park Assist — 5Cruise Control — 1Adaptive Cruise Control — 10Drive Mode Control — 5Lane Keeping System — 6Blind Spot Information System — 5Cross-Traffic Alert — 5Pre-Collision Assist — 9Driver Alert — 4Traffic Sign Recognition — 4Loading — 6Cargo Area — 1Trailer Hitch Connection — 3Towing a Trailer — 4Trailer Sway Control — 1Driving Tips — 4Breakdown and Emergency Information — 7Towing Your Vehicle — 4Fuses — 4Maintenance — 14Vehicle Care — 5Body Styling Kits — 1Storing Your Vehicle — 1Wheels and Tires Information — 6Tire Care — 4Tire Sealant and Inflator Kit — 8Tire Pressure Monitoring System — 4Road Wheel Replacement — 1Capacities and Specifications — 16Vehicle Identification — 1Connected Vehicle — 4Vehicle Wi-Fi Hotspot — 3Audio System — 8SYNC™ (if equipped) — 9SYNC™ 3 (if equipped) — 41Accessories — 1Ford Protect — 1Scheduled Maintenance — 4Customer Information — 23Appendices — 3
~6min read

Both U.S. and Canadian federal regulations require tire manufacturers to place standardized information on the sidewalls of all tires. This information identifies and describes the basic characteristics of the tire and provides the U.S. DOT identification number for safety standard certification and in the event of a recall.

P-Metric Tire Information

Ford Escape. Information on the Tire Sidewall

P215/65R15 95H is an example of 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 of your vehicle may differ from this example.)

  1. P: Indicates a tire designated by the Tire and Rim Association as intended for service on passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans, and light trucks.
  2. 215: Indicates the nominal tire width in millimeters from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire.
  3. 65: Indicates the aspect ratio, which is the ratio of tire height to width.
  4. R: Indicates a radial type tire.
  5. 15: Indicates the wheel or rim diameter in inches. If you change your wheel size, you will need to purchase new tires that match the new wheel diameter.
  6. 95: Indicates the tire load index. This is a rating of the weight the tire can carry. You can find this information in the owner's manual. If not, contact your local tire dealer.
  7. H: Indicates the tire speed rating. The speed rating indicates the speed at which the tire is designed to carry a load over extended periods of time under standard load and inflation pressure conditions. Tires on your vehicle may operate under different conditions of load and inflation pressure. These speed ratings may need to be adjusted for differences in conditions. Ratings range from 81 mph (130 km/h) to 299 km/h. These ratings are listed in the following table.
    Ford Escape. Information on the Tire Sidewall
  8. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN): This begins with the letters DOT and indicates that the tire meets all federal standards. The following two numbers or letters are the plant code indicating where the tire was manufactured, the following two are the tire size code, and the last four digits indicate the week and year of manufacture. For example, the digits 317 mean the 31st week of 1997. After 2000, the numbers become four digits. For example, 2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The digits in between are identification codes used for traceability. This information is used to contact customers if a tire defect requires a recall.
  9. M+S or M/S: Mud and snow, or M&S: mud and snow, or AS: All-season.
  10. Tire Ply Composition and Material Used: Indicates the number of plies or the number of layers of rubberized fabric in the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manufacturers must also indicate the materials in the plies of the tire tread and sidewall, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
  11. Maximum Load: Indicates the maximum load in kilograms and pounds that can be carried on the tire. See the Safety Compliance Certification Label (attached to either the door hinge pillar, door latch pillar, or the door edge that meets the door latch pillar, near the driver's seat position) for the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
  12. 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 a half times as well as a tire graded 100 on the government test course.

    *Traction: Traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. The grades represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement, measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.

    *Temperature: Temperature grades A (the highest), B, and C represent 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.

  13. Maximum Inflation Pressure: Indicates the maximum permissible pressure set by the tire manufacturer, or the pressure at which the tire can carry its maximum load. This pressure is usually higher than the vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold inflation pressure, which can be found on the Certification Label (attached to either the door hinge pillar, the door latch pillar, or the door edge that meets the door latch pillar, near the driver's seat position), or the tire label, which is located on the center pillar or the driver's door edge. Cold inflation pressure must never be set below the pressure recommended on the vehicle placard.

    Tire manufacturers may have additional markings, notes, or warnings, such as Standard Load or Radial Tubeless.

Additional information found on the sidewall of LT-type tires

Ford Escape. Information on the Tire Sidewall

LT-type tires have some additional information beyond the P-type tire information; these differences are described below.

  1. LT: Indicates a tire designated by the Tire and Rim Association as intended for service on light trucks.
  2. Load Range and Load Inflation Limits: Indicates the load-carrying capacity of the tire and its inflation limits.
  3. 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 (six or more tires total on the vehicle).
  4. 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.

Ford Escape. Information on the Tire Sidewall

T-type tires have some additional information beyond the P-type tire information; these differences are described below:

  1. T: Indicates a tire type designated by the Tire and Rim Association, intended for temporary service on passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, minivans, and light trucks.
  2. 145: Indicates the nominal tire width in millimeters, from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire.
  3. 80: Indicates the aspect ratio, which is the ratio of tire height to width. Numbers of 70 or less indicate a short sidewall.
  4. D: Indicates a diagonal (bias) type tire.

    R: Indicates a radial type tire.

  5. 16: Indicates the wheel or rim diameter in inches. If you change your wheel size, you will need to purchase new tires matching the new wheel diameter.

Test yourself

A quick Ford Escape quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.