2004 Mercury Mountaineer Owner's Manual - Page 187

Roadside Emergencies The usage of a dissimilar spare tire/wheel can lead to impairment of the following: • Handling, stability and braking performance • Comfort and noise • Ground clearance and parking at curbs • Winter weather driving capability • Wet weather driving capability • All-Wheel Driving Capability (if applicable) • Load Leveling Adjustment (if applicable) When driving with the dissimilar spare tire/wheel additional caution should be given to: • Towing a trailer • Driving vehicles equipped with a camper body • Driving vehicles with a load on the cargo rack Drive cautiously when using a dissimilar spare tire/wheel and seek service as soon as possible. Note: If your vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), the system indicator light will illuminate when the spare is in use. To restore the full functionality of the monitoring system, all road wheels equipped with tire pressure monitoring sensors must be mounted on the vehicle. If your vehicle is equipped with TPMS, have a flat serviced by a dealer or a qualified technician in order to prevent damage to the TPMS sensor. Replace the spare tire with a road tire as soon as possible. If your vehicle is equipped with AWD, a spare tire of a different size than the road tires should not be used. Such a tire could make the vehicle difficult to control as well as result in damage to driveline components. 187 REVIEW COPY: 2004 Explorer (exp), Owners Guide (post-2002-fmt) (own2002), Market: USA English (fus)