2004 Ford F150 Owner Guide 5th Printing - Page 264

Maintenance and Specifications 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. 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 Federal law requires 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. Information on "P" type tires 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.) 1. P: Indicates a tire, designated by the Tire and Rim Association (T&RA), that may be used for service on cars, SUVs, minivans and light trucks. Note: If your tire size does not begin with a letter this may mean it is designated by either ETRTO (European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) or JATMA (Japan Tire Manufacturing Association). 2. 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. 264 2004 F150 (f12) Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) USA English (fus)