1993 DODGE TRUCK Service Repair Manual

•

WHEELS
AND
TIRES
22 - 1
CONTENTS
page page
TIRES
1
VEHICLE VIBRATION
11

TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
13
WHEELS
6

TIRES INDEX
page
Cleaning
of
Tires
2

General
Information
1
Pressure
Gauges
. 2

Repairing Leaks
3

Replacement Tires
2

GENERAL
INFORMATION
Tires are designed for each specific vehicle. They
provide the best overall performance for normal op­ eration. The ride and handling characteristics match
the vehicle's requirements. With proper care they
will give excellent reliability, traction, skid resis­
tance, and tread life. These tires have specific load carrying capacities. When correctly inflated, they
will operate properly.
Tires used in cool climates, and with light loads
will have a longer life than tires used in hot climates
with heavy loads. Abrasive road surfaces will accel­ erate tire wear.
Driving habits have more effect on tire life than
any other factor. Careful drivers will obtain much
greater mileage than careless drivers.
Driving habits that shorten the life of any tire;
• Rapid acceleration and deceleration
• Severe application of brakes • High-speed driving
• Taking turns at excessive speeds
• Striking curbs and other obstacles It is very important to follow the tire rotation in­
terval
IDENTIFICATION Tire type, size, aspect ratio and speed rating are
encoded in the letters and numbers imprinted on the
side wall of the tire. Refer to the chart to decipher
the tire identification code (Fig. 1). Performance tires will have a speed rating letter
after the aspect ratio number. The speed rating is
page

Rotation
. 3

Tire
Inflation
Pressures
2
Tire
Noise
or
Vibration
4

Tire
Wear
Patterns
4

Tread Wear
Indicators
3
not always printed on the tire side wall. The letter S
indicates that the tire is speed rated up to 112 mph.
• Q up to 100 mph
• T up to 118 mph
• U up to 124 mph
• H up to 130 mph
• V up to 149 mph
• Z more than 149 mph (consult the tire manufac­
turer for the specific speed rating)
An All Season type tire will have either M + S, M
& S or M—S (indicating mud and snow traction) im­
printed on the side wall.
RADIAL-PLY TIRES Radial-ply tires improve handling, tread life, ride
quality and decrease rolling resistance. Radial-ply tires must always be used in sets of
four. Under no circumstances should they be used on
the front only. They may be mixed with temporary spare tires when necessary, but reduced speeds are
recommended.
Radial-ply tires have the same load-carrying capac­
ity as other types of tires of the same size. They use
the same recommended inflation pressures.
SPARE TIRE (TEMPORARY) The compact spare tire is designed for emergency
use only. The original tire should be repaired and re­
installed at the first opportunity. Refer to Owner's
Manual for complete details.

WHEELS
AND
TIRES

22 - 2
WHEELS
AND
TIRES

•

METRIC
TIRE
SIZES
P
205 / 75 I 15

J9322-6
Fig.
1
Tire
Size
identification
TIRE
CHAINS

Tire snow chains may be used on certain models.
Refer to Owner's Manual for more information.

CLEANING
OF
TIRES
Steam cleaning may be used for cleaning.
DO NOT use gasoline or wire brush for cleaning.
DO NOT use mineral oil or an oil-based solvent.

PRESSURE GAUGES
High-quality, dial-type, air-pressure gauges are
recommended. After checking with the gauge, re­
place valve caps and tighten finger tight.

TIRE
INFLATION
PRESSURES
Under inflation (Fig. 2) causes rapid shoulder wear
and tire flexing. Over inflation (Fig. 3) causes rapid center wear
and loss of the tire's ability to cushion shocks. Improper inflation can cause;
• Uneven wear patterns
• Reduced tread life
• Reduced fuel economy
• Unsatisfactory ride
• Cause the vehicle to drift Refer to the Owner's Manual for information re­
garding proper tire inflation pressure. This pressure has been carefully selected to provide
for safe vehicle operation. Tire pressure should be
Fig.
2
Under
infiation
Wear

Fig.
3
Over
Infiation
Wear
checked cold once per month. Tire pressure de­ creases when the outside temperature drops.
Inflation pressures specified on the placards are al­
ways cold
inflation
pressure. Cold inflation pres­ sure is obtained after the vehicle has not been
operated for at least 3 hours. Tire inflation pressures may increase from 2 to 6 pounds per square inch (psi) during operation. Do not reduce this normal
pressure build-up.
Vehicles loaded to the maximum capacity should
not be driven at continuous speeds above 75 mph (120 km/h).

WARNING: OVER
OR
UNDER INFLATED TIRES
CAN
AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING
AND CAN
FAIL
SUD­ DENLY, RESULTING
IN
LOSS
OF
VEHICLE CON­
TROL
REPLACEMENT TIRES
OEM tires provide a proper balance of many fea­
tures such as; • Ride

•

WHEELS
AND
TIRES
22 - 3 • Noise
• Handling
• Durability
• Tread life
• Traction
• Rolling resistance
• Speed capability
We recommend that tires equivalent to the original
equipment tires be used when replacement is needed. Refer to the placard on the vehicle or the
Owner's Manual for the correct replacement

tire.

Failure to use original equipment replacement
tires may adversely affect the handling of the vehi­
cle.
The use of oversize tires is not
recommended.

They may cause interference with vehicle suspension and steering travel. This can cause tire damage or
failure.

WARNING: FAILURE
TO
EQUIP
THE
VEHICLE
WITH

TIRES
HAVING ADEQUATE LOAD CAPABILITY
CAN
RESULT
IN
SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE.

ROTATION
Tires on the front and rear axles operate at differ­
ent loads and perform different steering, driving, and
braking functions. For these reasons; • They wear at unequal rates
• Tend to develop irregular wear patterns These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of

tires.
The benefits of rotation are especially worth­
while. Rotation will: • Increase tread life
• Help to maintain mud, snow, and wet traction lev­els
• Contribute to a smooth, quiet ride The suggested method of tire rotation is the
same
side front
to
rear
pattern (Fig. 4). Other rotation
methods can be used, but they will not provide all
the tire longevity benefits. Dual wheel vehicles require a different tire rota­
tion than that of the conventional four wheel type.
Refer to Figure 5 for the proper tire rotation with
dual wheels.

FRONT m kz
—~i

J9222-8 LEFT
'I
RIGHT
FRONT
II
FRONT
LEFT
II
RIGHT

REAR
p
REAR

1
|| | L HN838

Fig.
5
Dual
Wheel
Tire
Rotation
Pattern

TREAD
WEAR INDICATORS Tread
wear indicators are molded into the bottom
of the tread grooves. When
tread
is 1.6 mm (1/16 in.),
the tread wear indicators will appear as a 13 mm (1/2 in.) band. Tire replacement is necessary when indicators ap­
pear in two or more grooves, or if localized balding occurs (Fig. 6).
TREAD
ACCEPTABLE TREAD
UNACCEPTABLE

WEAR

INDICATOR
v

J8922-5
Fig.
4
Tire
Rotation
Pattern
Fig.
6
Tread
Wear Indicators

REPAIRING
LEAKS
For proper repairing, a radial tire must be removed
from the wheel. Repairs should only be made if the

22 - 4
WHEELS
AND
TIRES

• puncture is in the tread area (Fig. 7). If outside the
tread area the tire should be replaced.

J8922-6

Fig.
7
Tire
Repair Area
Deflate tire completely before dismounting tire
from the wheel. Use lubrication such as a mild soap solution when dismounting or mounting tire. Use
tools free of burrs or sharp edges.
Before mounting tire on wheel, make sure all rust
scale is removed from the rim. Repaint or seal if nec­
essary.

TIRE NOISE
OR
VIBRATION
The radial-ply tire on your vehicle is more sensi­
tive to improper mounting, or imbalance. To determine if tires are the cause of vibration,
drive the vehicle over a smooth road at different speeds. Note the effect of acceleration and decelera­
tion on noise level. Differential and exhaust noise
will change in intensity as speed varies. Tire noise
will usually remain constant.

TIRE WEAR PATTERNS
Under inflation results in faster wear on shoulders
of tire. Over inflation causes faster wear at center of
tread. Excessive camber causes the tire to run at an angle
to the road. One side of tread is worn more than the other. Excessive toe-in or toe-out causes wear on the
tread edges of the tire, from dragging of tire. There is a feathered effect across the tread (Fig. 8).
CRACKED
TREADS
WEAR
ON

ONE SIDE FEATHERED EDGE

BALD
SPOTS

IP
fa
SCALLOPED
WEAR
EXCESSIVE
CAMBER INCORRECT
TOE

EXCESSIVE
SPEED*
UNBALANCED
WHEEL LACK
OF

ROTATION

OF TIRES
OR
WORN
OR OUT-
OF-ALIGNMENT
SUSPENSION.

OR
TIRE
DEFECT* ADJUST
PRESSURE
TO

SPECIFICATIONS
WHEN
TIRES ARE COOL
ROTATE
TIRES ADJUST CAMBER
TO
SPECIFICATIONS ADJUST
TOE-IN

TO
SPECIFICATIONS DYNAMIC
OR

STATIC

BALANCE
WHEELS
ROTATE
TIRES
AND

INSPECT SUSPENSION
SEE
GROUP
2
•HAVE
TIRE
INSPECTED
FOR
FURTHER
USE.

RN797

Fig.
8 Abnormal Tire Tread Wear Patterns

WHEELS
AND
TIRES
22 - 5

LEAD
CORRECTION CHART

ADJUST TIRE PRESSURE TO REDUCED LOAD
ON
PRESSURE
PLACARD ROAD TEST
OK
I
CAR LEADS

SAME
DIRECTION
CAR LEADS
CROSS SWITCH FRONT
TIRE & WHEEL ASSEMBLIES
I

ROAD TEST
I
PROBABLE CAUSE
-
VEHICLE CHECK
FRONT
ALIGNMENT TOE-CASTER-CAMBER
I

ALIGNMENT NOT OK
ADJUST ALIGNMENT TO PREFERRED SETTINGS.
OK

1

CAR LEADS
OPPOSITE DIRECTION
PROBABLE CAUSE
-
TIRES
SWITCH TIRES
FRONT
TO
REAR

LEFT
FRONT
TO
LEFT
REAR

LEFT
REAR
TO
LEFT
FRONT

RIGHT
FRONT
TO
RIGHT
REAR

RIGHT
REAR
TO
RIGHT
FRONT

ROAD TEST £ OK

CAR STILL LEADS
CROSS SWITCH FRONT TIRES

ROAD TEST A

CAR STILL LEADS
SWITCH RIGHT FRONT
1

ROAD TEST

CAR
STILL
LEADS LEAD CAUSED BY
LEFT FRONT
TIRE
-
REPLACE OK

9122-77

22 - e
WHEELS
AND
TIRES

• WHEELS

GENERAL
INFORMATION
Original equipment wheels are designed for all
loads up to the specified Maximum Vehicle Capacity. All models use steel or cast aluminum drop center
wheels. The safety rim wheel (Fig. 1) has raised sec­
tions between the rim flanges and the rim well.
S
J9022-3

Fig.
1
Wheel
Safety Rim Initial inflation of the tire forces the bead over
these raised sections. In case of tire failure, the
raised sections hold the tire in position on the wheel
until the vehicle can be brought to a safe stop.
Cast aluminum wheels require special balance
weights and alignment equipment.

DUAL
REAR
WHEELS
Ram Truck Models
D-350
and
W-350
equipped
with dual rear wheels have eight-stud hole rear
wheels. Four equally-spaced stud holes flanged out­
ward and four flanged inward. The wheels must be
installed so the flanged stud holes mate correctly (Fig. 2).
LOCATING PIN HOLE
IN
BOTH INNER
&
OUTER WHEEL
MUST
EN­

GAGE
LOCATING PIN
IN
HUB WHEN WHEELS ARE INSTALLED.

PR1100

Fig.
2
Dual
Rear
Wheels
A locating pin in the hub provides assistance for
correctly aligning the inner and outer wheels.
WHEEL
INSTALLATION

The wheel studs and nuts are designed for specific
applications. They must be replaced with equivalent

parts.
Do not use replacement parts of lesser quality or a substitute design. All aluminum and some steel
wheels have wheel stud nuts which feature an en­ larged nose. This enlarged nose is necessary to en­
sure proper retention of the aluminum wheels. Before installing the wheel, be sure to remove any
build up of corrosion on the wheel mounting surfaces. Ensure wheels are installed with good metal-to-metal contact. Improper installation could cause loosening
of wheel nuts. This could affect the safety and han­
dling of your vehicle. To install the wheel, first position it properly on
the mounting surface. All wheel nuts should then be
tightened just snug. Gradually tighten them in se­
quence to 129 N-m (95 ft. lbs.) torque (Fig. 3, 4).
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.

A. 5
STUD
WHEEL
B.
8
STUD
WHEEL
J9122-7

Fig.
3 Lug Nut Tightening
Pattern

118 LBS. FORCE THESE NUMBERS SHOW THE
SEQUENCE
IN
WHICH STUD NUTS
ARE
TO BE TIGHTENED.
FT. LBS.
TORQUE PU884
Fig.
4
Dual
Rear
Wheel
Tightening
Pattern
DUAL
REAR WHEELS

Dual rear wheels: a special heavy duty lug nut
wrench is required (Fig. 4). It is recommended to re-

•

WHEELS
AND
TIRES
22 - 7 move and install dual rear wheels only when the
proper wrench is available.

INSTALLATION
The tires on both wheels must be completely raised
off the ground when tightening the lug nuts (Fig. 5).
This will ensure correct wheel centering and maxi­ mum wheel clamping.

HUB
^
INWARD

Fig.
5 Flange Centering And
Alignment

A 1
1/8-inch
diameter flanged-type wheel lug nut
with right-hand threads is used for retaining dual rear wheels on the hubs. A special, heavy duty wheel lug nut wrench is necessary to correctly tighten the nuts with the required torque (Fig. 4).
The dual rear wheel lug nuts should be tightened
according to the following procedure:
• Tighten the wheel lug nuts in the numbered se­
quential pattern until they are snug tight (Fig. 4).
• Tighten the wheel lug nuts in the numbered se­
quential pattern to 440 N#m (325 ft-lb) torque.
• Tighten the lug nuts in the numbered sequential
pattern a second time to the specified torque. This will ensure that the wheels are thoroughly mated. • Retighten the lug nuts to the specified torque after 100 miles (160 kilometers). Also retighten after 500
miles (800 kilometers) of vehicle operation.
The wheel lug nuts should be tightened with
the specified torque at every chassis lubrication
interval thereafter.

WHEEL REPLACEMENT
Wheels must be replaced if they have:
• Excessive runout
• Bent or dented
• Leak air through welds
• Have damaged bolt holes Wheel repairs employing hammering, heating, or
welding are not allowed. Original equipment wheels are available through
your dealer. Replacement wheels from any other source should be equivalent in: • Load carrying capacity
• Diameter
® Width
• Offset
• Mounting configuration
Failure to use equivalent replacement wheels may
affect the safety and handling of your vehicle. Re­
placement with used wheels is not recommended.
Their service history may have included severe treat­ ment.
Refer to the Specifications Chart for informa­
tion regarding above requirements.

WHEEL ORNAMENTATION
WARNING; HANDLE
ALL
WHEEL ORNAMENTATION

WITH
EXTREME CARE DURING REMOVAL
AND IN­
STALLATION. SHARP EDGES
ON THE
COVERS
OR
CAPS
CAN
CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.
TIRE AND WHEEL BALANCE
It is recommended that a two plane dynamic bal­
ancer be used when a wheel and tire assembly re­
quire balancing. Static should be used only when a
two plane balancer is not available. For static imbalance, find location of heavy spot
causing imbalance. Counter balance wheel directly
opposite the heavy spot. Determine weight required
to counterbalance the area of imbalance. Place half of this weight on the inner rim flange and the other
half on the outer rim flange (Fig. 6, Fig. 7). Off-ve­
hicle balancing is necessary. Wheel balancing can be accomplished with either
on or off vehicle equipment. When using on-vehicle
balancing equipment, follow these precautions: • Limited-slip rear axle differential, remove the op­
posite wheel/tire • Before balancing the wheels/tires on a vehicle
equipped with a transfer case, disconnect the drive shafts

MATCH
MOUNTING
Wheels and tires are match mounted at the factory.
This means that the high spot of the tire is matched
to the low spot on the wheel rim. This technique is used to reduce run-out in the wheel/tire assembly.
The high spot on the tire is marked with a paint mark or a bright colored adhesive label on the out­
board sidewall. The low spot on the rim is at the
valve stem location on the wheel rim. Before dismounting a tire from its wheel, a refer­
ence mark should be placed on the tire at the valve stem location. This reference will ensure that it is re­
mounted in the original position on the wheel. (1) Measure the total indicator runout on the cen­
ter of the tire tread rib. Record the indicator reading.