Get Tires, Wheels and Loading -> VEHICLE LOADING Guide for Ford Focus 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2010)

Tires, Wheels and Loading

SNOW TIRES AND CHAINS

Snow tires must be the same size and grade as the tires you

currently have on your vehicle.

The original equipment tires on your vehicle have an all-weather tread

design to provide traction, handling, and braking performance in

year-round driving. You may install snow tires for improved traction

when driving in areas with sustained periods of snow or icy driving

conditions.

If you choose to install snow tires on your vehicle, they must be the

same size, construction, and load range as the original tires listed on the

tire placard, and they must be installed on all four wheels. Mixing tires of

different size or construction on your vehicle can adversely affect your

vehicle’s handling and braking, and may lead to loss of vehicle control.

Do not use snow chains or cables on this vehicle as they may

cause damage to your vehicle which may lead to loss of vehicle

control.

VEHICLE LOADING – WITH AND WITHOUT A TRAILER

This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle and/or

trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating

capability, with or without a trailer. Properly loading your vehicle will

provide maximum return of vehicle design performance. Before loading

your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for determining

your vehicle’s weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle’s

Safety Compliance Certification Label:

Base Curb Weight – is the weight of the vehicle including a full tank of

fuel and all standard equipment. It does not include passengers, cargo, or

optional equipment.

Vehicle Curb Weight – is the weight of your new vehicle when you

picked it up from your authorized dealer plus any aftermarket

equipment.

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Cargo Weight – includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight,

including cargo and optional equipment. When towing, trailer tongue load

weight is also part of cargo weight.

GAW (Gross Axle Weight) – is the total weight placed on each axle

(front and rear) – including vehicle curb weight and all payload.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) – is the maximum allowable

weight that can be carried by a single axle (front or rear). These

numbers are shown on the Safety Compliance Certification Label

located on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door. The total

load on each axle must never exceed its GAWR.

Note: For trailer towing information refer to Trailer towing found in

this chapter or the RV and Trailer Towing Guide provided by your

authorized dealer.

GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) – is the Vehicle Curb Weight + cargo +

passengers.

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GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight

Rating) – is the maximum

allowable weight of the fully loaded

vehicle (including all options,

equipment, passengers and cargo).

The GVWR is shown on the

Safety Compliance Certification

Label located on the B-Pillar or

the edge of the driver’s door.

The GVW must never exceed the

GVWR.

Exceeding the Safety Compliance Certification Label vehicle

weight rating limits could result in substandard vehicle handling

or performance, engine, transmission and/or structural damage, serious

damage to the vehicle, loss of control and personal injury.

GCW (Gross Combined Weight) – is the weight of the loaded vehicle

(GVW) plus the weight of the fully loaded trailer.

GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) – is the maximum allowable

weight of the vehicle and the loaded trailer – including all cargo and

passengers – that the vehicle can handle without risking damage.

(Important: The towing vehicles’ braking system is rated for operation at

GVWR, not at GCWR. Separate functional brakes should be used for safe

control of towed vehicles and for trailers where the GCW of the towing

vehicle plus the trailer exceed the GVWR of the towing vehicle. The

GCW must never exceed the GCWR.

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Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight – is the highest possible weight of a

fully loaded trailer the vehicle can tow. It assumes a vehicle with only

mandatory options, no cargo (internal or external), a tongue load of

10–15% (conventional trailer), and driver only (150 lb. [68 kg]). Consult

your authorized dealer (or the RV and Trailer Towing Guide

provided by your authorized dealer) for more detailed

information.

Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on the Safety

Compliance Certification Label.

Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities

than the original tires because they may lower the vehicle’s

GVWR and GAWR limitations. Replacement tires with a higher limit

than the original tires do not increase the GVWR and GAWR

limitations.

Exceeding any vehicle weight rating limitation could result in

serious damage to the vehicle and/or personal injury.

Steps for determining the correct load limit:

1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo

should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.

2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will

be riding in your vehicle.

3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from

XXX kg or XXX lbs.

4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage

load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lbs. and

there will be five 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of

available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400–750 (5 x 150)

= 650 lb.). In metric units (635–340 (5 x 68) = 295 kg.)

5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on

the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and

luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.

6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be

transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this

reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.

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The following gives you a few examples on how to calculate the available

amount of cargo and luggage load capacity:

• Another example for your vehicle with 1400 lb. (635 kg) of cargo and

luggage capacity. You decide to go golfing. Is there enough load

capacity to carry you, 4 of your friends and all the golf bags? You and

four friends average 220 lb. (99 kg) each and the golf bags weigh

approximately 30 lb. (13.5 kg) each. The calculation would be: 1400 -

(5 x 220) - (5 x 30) = 1400 - 1100 - 150 = 150 lb. Yes, you have

enough load capacity in your vehicle to transport four friends and

your golf bags. In metric units, the calculation would be: 635 kg -

(5 x 99 kg) - (5 x 13.5 kg) = 635 - 495 - 67.5 = 72.5 kg.

• A final example for your vehicle with 1400 lb. (635 kg) of cargo and

luggage capacity. You and one of your friends decide to pick up

cement from the local home improvement store to finish that patio

you have been planning for the past 2 years. Measuring the inside of

the vehicle with the rear seat folded down, you have room for

12-100 lb. (45 kg) bags of cement. Do you have enough load capacity

to transport the cement to your home? If you and your friend each

weigh 220 lb. (99 kg), the calculation would be: 1400 - (2 x 220) -

(12 x 100) = 1400 - 440 - 1200 = - 240 lb. No, you do not have

enough cargo capacity to carry that much weight. In metric units, the

calculation would be: 635 kg - (2 x 99 kg) - (12 x 45 kg) = 635 - 198 -

540 = -103 kg. You will need to reduce the load weight by at least

240 lb. (104 kg). If you remove 3-100 lb. (45 kg) cement bags, then

the load calculation would be:

1400 - (2 x 220) - (9 x 100) = 1400 - 440 - 900 = 60 lb. Now you have

the load capacity to transport the cement and your friend home. In

metric units, the calculation would be: 635 kg - (2 x 99 kg) -

(9 x 45 kg) = 635 - 198 - 405 = 32 kg.

The above calculations also assume that the loads are positioned in your

vehicle in a manner that does not overload the Front or the Rear Gross

Axle Weight Rating specified for your vehicle on the Safety Compliance

Certification Label found on the edge of the driver’s door.

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Tires, Wheels and Loading -> VEHICLE LOADING for Your Ford Focus 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2010)

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