2013 Lincoln Tire Fitment Guide

2013 Lincoln vehicles use four sizes across two models. The Lincoln MKS uses 245/45R20 and 255/45R19, while the Lincoln MKZ uses 245/40R19 and 245/45R18. All four are radial sizes, but they do not share one universal wheel diameter across the lineup. Available rim width ranges confirm 245/45R20 fits 7.5 to 9.0-inch rims, 245/40R19 fits 8.0 to 9.5-inch rims, and 245/45R18 fits 7.5 to 9.0-inch rims.

That means the first fitment question is not simply year and make, but which 2013 Lincoln model you own and whether it carries 18, 19, or 20-inch wheels. If your car still has its original wheel package, the tire size should match that wheel diameter exactly. If the wheels have been changed, verify the actual rim size before selecting a tire, because a 19-inch tire for an MKS is not interchangeable with a 20-inch MKS tire or either MKZ fitment.

On a 2013 Lincoln, 245/45R20 means the tire is 245 millimeters wide, has a 45-series aspect ratio, uses radial construction, and fits a 20-inch wheel. That size belongs to the Lincoln MKS rather than the full 2013 Lincoln range. BFGoodrich and Nitto offer this size in blackwall form, and the available speed ratings include W at 168 mph and Y at 186 mph and above depending on the product.

The important takeaway is that 245/45R20 is tied to a specific MKS wheel package, not just to the MKS name alone. A buyer choosing among products in this size should compare speed rating, load index, and the wheel width they are using rather than treating every 245/45R20 as identical. If your MKS wears 20-inch factory-style wheels, this size points you to the correct diameter family before you compare brands or tread designs.

No, 2013 Lincoln models do not use the same tire size. The MKS uses either 245/45R20 or 255/45R19, while the MKZ uses either 245/40R19 or 245/45R18. Even when two sizes share a 19-inch rim diameter, they are not interchangeable because section width and aspect ratio differ. Every size in the 2013 Lincoln range is model-specific rather than universal.

That matters because a buyer cannot choose accurately from year and make alone. The MKS and MKZ were positioned differently in Lincoln's lineup, and their tire dimensions reflect that difference in wheel package and profile. Before comparing brands, confirm the exact model and read the existing sidewall or wheel stamping. That quick check prevents choosing a tire that mounts to the wrong rim diameter or changes the car's intended proportions.

2013 Lincoln tire options in these sizes are blackwall radials. The 245/45R20, 245/40R19, and 245/45R18 all appear in blackwall form, matching the modern luxury-sedan character of the MKS and MKZ. There is no period-style wide whitewall or vintage sidewall treatment in these fitments, which is consistent with Lincoln's 2013 market position rather than its mid-century heritage.

For most owners, that simplifies the choice because the sidewall decision is less about authenticity and more about selecting the right size, brand, and service category. A blackwall tire keeps the car looking correct for the era and pairs naturally with factory-style wheels. The more meaningful comparison on a 2013 Lincoln is between wheel diameter, speed rating, and the specific product family rather than between decorative sidewall treatments.

BFGoodrich and Nitto cover the available 2013 Lincoln fitments represented here. The 245/45R20 for the MKS is available from BFGoodrich and Nitto, the 245/40R19 for the MKZ is covered by BFGoodrich, and the 245/45R18 for the MKZ is available from BFGoodrich and Nitto. Each of those offerings is a radial blackwall tire intended for modern road use rather than a vintage reproduction format.

Brand choice matters most once the correct size is settled, since the MKS and MKZ do not share one common fitment across the board. BFGoodrich offers multiple product families across several of these sizes, while Nitto appears in selected fitments. A buyer comparing brands should look beyond the name and focus on the exact size, speed rating, load index, and wheel-width compatibility that matches the car already in hand.

For the 2013 Lincoln sizes where both appear, BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 and BFGoodrich g-Force Phenom T/A share the same basic fitment family but differ in details such as speed rating and stated load figure. In 245/45R20, the Sport Comp-2 carries a 103W service description and 1,930-pound maximum load at 50 psi, while the Phenom T/A carries a 103Y service description and 1,929 pounds at 50 psi. In 245/40R19, the Sport Comp-2 is 98W with 1,653 pounds at 50 psi, while the Phenom T/A is 98Y with the same 1,653-pound load figure.

Those differences make the comparison less about physical fitment and more about the specific service description you want in the tire. Both fit the same rim diameters within their size families, but the speed rating ceiling changes from W to Y. If you are narrowing two BFGoodrich choices in the same size, confirm that the service description, load index, and recommended wheel width all align with how your 2013 Lincoln is equipped and used.

Rim width recommendations vary by size on 2013 Lincoln vehicles. The 245/45R20 size fits 7.5 to 9.0-inch rims, the 245/40R19 size fits 8.0 to 9.5-inch rims, and the 245/45R18 size fits 7.5 to 9.0-inch rims. Those ranges apply to the tire size itself, not to every wheel ever installed on a 2013 Lincoln. Each tire still needs to match the wheel diameter exactly as well.

That makes wheel measurement important when a car has aftermarket rims or when a used set of wheels came with the vehicle. Staying within the recommended rim-width range helps preserve the intended tread profile and sidewall shape. A tire that is technically the right diameter but mounted on a wheel outside the width range can alter steering response and appearance, so confirm both diameter and width before final selection.

The available 2013 Lincoln tire offerings are tubeless radial designs. Some products carry an explicit TL marker in the service description, and the rest follow the same modern tubeless passenger-tire pattern in these metric radial sizes. That is consistent with the MKS and MKZ as contemporary luxury sedans using modern wheel and tire construction rather than vintage tube-type fitments.

Even with tubeless tires, condition of the valve stem and wheel sealing surface still matters. If a 2013 Lincoln has older wheels, corrosion, or damage around the bead seat, address that before mounting a new tire. Tubeless construction simplifies installation compared with antique or bias-ply tube-type applications, but it does not eliminate the need to inspect the wheel itself for leaks, bends, or poor previous repairs.

A 2013 Lincoln should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, electric motors, welders, furnaces, and other ozone-producing equipment. Long stationary periods are harder on any tire than regular moderate use, even with modern radial construction. If the car will sit for months, moving it periodically helps avoid flat-spotting, and long-term storage on stands can reduce sustained load on the carcass.

That routine matters just as much for a low-mileage MKS or MKZ as it does for an older collector car. Luxury sedans often spend time parked indoors, and owners may assume that limited driving alone preserves the tires. In reality, age, heat cycles, and environment affect rubber even when tread wear stays low. Clean storage conditions and stable inflation pressure will do more to protect the tires than simply leaving the car untouched.

Tires on a 2013 Lincoln should be judged by age as much as by tread depth. A practical collector and enthusiast rule is to begin close inspection around five to seven years of service and to treat about ten years as the point where replacement deserves serious consideration regardless of remaining tread. The DOT date code on the sidewall is the key reference for age, because a lightly used tire can still age out before it wears out.

That age-based approach is especially important on a Lincoln that sees occasional pleasure driving rather than daily mileage. Tread alone can make an older tire appear serviceable when the inner structure and rubber compound have already hardened. If the date code shows meaningful age, combine that with a careful check for cracking, vibration, or loss of pressure. Replacing an old tire early is usually wiser than trying to extract a little more time from it.

Tires on a 2013 Lincoln deserve a quick inspection before every drive and a more deliberate inspection before any longer outing. Check inflation pressure, tread condition, cuts, punctures, bulges, and sidewall cracking, and look for uneven wear that could point to alignment or suspension issues. On a modern tubeless fitment like the MKS or MKZ, pay attention to valve stem condition and any signs of slow leakage around the wheel bead area.

That habit is easy to skip on a car that feels refined and sees limited annual use, but occasional-use vehicles often hide tire problems until the next trip. A two-minute walkaround can catch age-related cracks, a nail, or a low tire before the car is at highway speed. If anything looks questionable, have the tire demounted and inspected rather than relying on a visual guess from the outside alone.

The available 2013 Lincoln tire sizes are modern radial designs, and several carry W or Y speed ratings. W is rated to 168 mph, while Y is rated to 186 mph and above. Those ceilings are far beyond normal U.S. highway use, so the tire's speed symbol is usually not the limiting factor in ordinary driving. Condition, inflation, alignment, and the overall mechanical state of the vehicle matter more than the raw speed rating on a well-kept MKS or MKZ.

Safety on the highway comes from matching the correct size to the wheel, choosing a tire with the proper service description, and making sure the tire is not old, damaged, or underinflated. Even a high-speed-rated tire is a poor choice if it is the wrong diameter or if the suspension is worn. For a 2013 Lincoln used on modern roads, the correct fitment and a healthy chassis are the foundation of a safe highway experience.

Inflation pressure on a 2013 Lincoln should follow the vehicle placard or owner's manual for the factory recommendation, while the tire itself shows the maximum pressure associated with its rated load. In the available products, 245/45R20 tires show maximum load figures around 1,929 to 1,930 pounds at 50 psi, 245/40R19 reaches 1,653 pounds at 50 psi, and 245/45R18 appears at 1,565 pounds at 51 psi or 1,764 pounds at 50 psi depending on the product. Those figures are not universal operating pressures for every tire or every Lincoln application.

The practical rule is simple: use the carmaker's recommended cold pressure for everyday service unless a qualified specialist has a reason to adjust from it. Do not transfer a pressure figure from one size to another just because the tires look similar, and do not inflate to sidewall maximum unless the application specifically calls for it. The right pressure depends on the exact size, product, load index, and the wheel-and-vehicle combination you are using.

Before a longer drive in a 2013 Lincoln, inspect each tire for cuts, cracks, bulges, punctures, uneven wear, and proper cold inflation pressure. Check the valve stems, confirm there is no vibration or pulling from the last drive, and inspect the spare if the car still carries one. Because the MKS and MKZ use model-specific sizes, make sure any replacement tire on the car or in the trunk matches the correct wheel diameter for that model.

Tires are only one part of the pre-trip routine on a modern luxury sedan, so include brakes, fluid levels, lighting, and suspension condition in the same check. The point is not to overcomplicate the trip, but to avoid finding a preventable problem once the car is fully loaded and at speed. A quick tire inspection before departure is one of the simplest ways to protect both the car and the drive.