2015 Ford Explorer Owner Manual Printing 2 - Page 354

Wheels and Tires 353 • Narrower - to provide greater maneuverability in tight spaces, particularly in off-road use. As a result of the above dimensional differences, sport-utility vehicles, vans and trucks often will have a higher center of gravity and a greater difference in center of gravity between the loaded and unloaded condition. These differences that make your vehicle so versatile also make it handle differently than an ordinary passenger car. TIRE CARE Important Tire Information for 265/45ZR20 Sport Tires and Wheels Sport vehicles equipped with the optional 265/45ZR20 tires are designed to enhance performance. To continue providing this performance, extra care must be taken when operating and maintaining your vehicle. Tires Wheels 265/45ZR20 20 inch x 9.0 inch aluminum wheels These low-profile, high-performance tires are designed to optimize the driving dynamics you expect in a Sport vehicle. These tires are not optimized for off-road or winter (snow or cold weather) performance and their ride, noise and wear characteristics are different than non-performance tires. With low-profile tires, you may notice an increase in road noise and faster tire wear, depending on road conditions and driving habits. Also, because of their lower profile, the tires are more susceptible to damage due to potholes, rough roads, unpaved roads, car wash rails and curb contact than standard tires and wheels. To make sure that your tires perform as intended, it is important that you maintain your tires properly: • The Sport, optional 265/45ZR20 summer tires are optimized for performance in both wet and dry conditions. Ford does not recommend using the original equipment tires when temperatures drop to about 40°F (5°C) or below (depending on tire wear and environmental conditions) or in snow/ice conditions. 2015 Explorer (exp) Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014 USA (fus)