Tires, Wheels and Loading -> Vehicle loading for Your Ford Fusion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

Tires, Wheels and Loading  
VEHICLE LOADING  
This section will guide you in the proper loading of your vehicle to keep  
your loaded vehicle weight within its design rating capability. 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 from the  
vehicle’s Tire Label or 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.  
Payload – is the combined weight of cargo and passengers that the  
vehicle is carrying. The maximum payload for your vehicle can be found  
on the Tire Label on the B-Pillar or the edge of the driver’s door  
(vehicles exported outside the US and Canada may not have a Tire  
Label). Look for “THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND  
CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED XXX kg OR XXX lb.” for  
maximum payload. The payload listed on the Tire Label is the maximum  
payload for the vehicle as built by the assembly plant. If any aftermarket  
or authorized-dealer installed equipment has been installed on the  
vehicle, the weight of the equipment must be subtracted from the  
payload listed on the Tire Label in order to determine the new payload.  
WARNING: The appropriate loading capacity of your vehicle can  
be limited either by volume capacity (how much space is  
available) or by payload capacity (how much weight the vehicle should  
carry). Once you have reached the maximum payload of your vehicle,  
do not add more cargo, even if there is space available. Overloading or  
improperly loading your vehicle can contribute to loss of vehicle  
control and vehicle rollover.  
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Example only:  
Cargo Weight – includes all weight added to the Base Curb Weight,  
including cargo and optional equipment.  
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) – is the total weight placed on each axle  
(front and rear) – including vehicle curb weight and all payload.  
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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.  
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) – is the Vehicle Curb Weight + cargo +  
passengers.  
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.  
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Example only:  
WARNING: 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.  
WARNING: Do not exceed the GVWR or the GAWR specified on  
the Safety Compliance Certification Label.  
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WARNING: 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.  
WARNING: 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.  
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.  
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