2013 Ford Flex Owner Manual Printing 4 - Page 353

352 Wheels and Tires • Front-wheel drive /All-wheel drive vehicles (front tires at left of diagram) Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating the tires. USING SNOW CHAINS WARNING: Snow tires must be the same size, load index, speed rating as those originally provided by Ford. Use of any tire or wheel not recommended by Ford can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could result in an increased risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal injury and death. Additionally, the use of non-recommended tires and wheels could cause steering, suspension, axle, transfer case or power transfer unit failure. Note: The suspension insulation and bumpers will help prevent vehicle damage. Do not remove these components from your vehicle when using snow tires and chains. The tires on your vehicle have all-weather treads to provide traction in rain and snow. However, in some climates, you may need to use snow tires and cables. If you need to use cables, it is recommended that steel wheels (of the same size and specifications) be used, as cables may chip aluminum wheels. Follow these guidelines when using snow tires and chains: • If possible, avoid fully loading your vehicle. • Use only SAE Class S snow chains, snow cables or equivalent on the front axle for P235/60R17, P235/60R18, and P235/55R19 equipped vehicles. The use of snow chains, snow cables or other traction assist devices that are larger than SAE Class S may cause damage to your vehicle's wheel house, suspension and/or body. • Do not install tire chains, cables, or optional traction devices on the rear tires. This could cause damage to the vehicle's wheel house or body. 2013 Flex (471) Owners Guide gf, 4th Printing, December 2012 USA (fus)