2002 Ford Explorer Sport Owner Guide 6th Printing - Page 278

Maintenance and care Replacing the tires Replace the tires when the wear band is visible through the tire treads. When replacing full size tires, never mix radial bias-belted, or bias-type tires. Use only the tire sizes that are listed on the Certification Label. Make sure that all tires are the same size, speed rating, and load-carrying capacity. Use only the tire combinations recommended on the label. If you do not follow these precautions, your vehicle may not drive properly and safely. Make sure that all replacement tires are of the same size, type, load-carrying capacity and tread design (e.g., "All Terrain", "Touring", etc.), as originally offered by Ford. Do not replace your tires with "high performance" tires or larger size tires. Failure to follow these precautions may adversely affect the handling of the vehicle and make it easier for the driver to lose control and roll over. Tires that are larger or smaller than your vehicle's original tires may also affect the accuracy of your speedometer. Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (if equipped) The tire pressure monitoring system provides the driver with a warning message indicating when tire pressure is severely low or high. This system is a supplement to normal tire maintenance including regular manual inspections. The device will inform the operator of severe low or high inflation pressures, but may not illuminate for less severe discrepancies in inflation pressure. The system uses radio-frequency pressure sensors to monitor the tire pressure on all tires including the spare. The sensors transmit the tire 278