µ
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate. The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
The tires on your car meet all U.S.
Federal Saf ety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards.
The f ollowing explains these
gradings.
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades.
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example: Treadwear Traction AA, A, B, C
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
T echnical Inf ormation296
µ
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire f ailure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
perf ormance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Saf ety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of perf ormance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law. Warning: The temperature grade f or
this tire is established f or a tire that
is properly inf lated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinf la-
tion, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire
f ailure.
Temperature A,B,C
T echnical Inf ormation
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
297
CONT INUED
...........................................
Driving . 175
....................................
Economy . 168
.........................
In Bad Weather . 193
................
In Foreign Countries . 299
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 168
............
Emergencies on the Road . 289
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 273
...........
Brake System Indicator . 282
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 265
.....
Charging System Indicator . 279
..................
Checking the Fuses . 285
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 278
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 280
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 282
..................
Overheated Engine . 275
...........................
Emergency Brake . 96
......................
Emergency Flashers . 74
......................
Emergency Towing . 289
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 88
.......................
Emissions Controls . 300 Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 68
.................................
Drive Belts . 237 Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 63, 280
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 62, 278
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 209
...............................
Overheating . 275
............................
Specif ications . 294
.......................................
Starting . 177
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 179, 183
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 298
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 300
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 256
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 259
...................................
Fan, Interior . 108
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience . 103
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 163
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner . 225
.......................
Air Conditioning . 235
...............................................
Oil . 211 5-speed Manual Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 222
................................
Shif ting the . 178
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 74
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 265
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 220
..........................................
Brake . 223
.........................................
Clutch . 223
..............
Manual Transmission . 222
..........................
Power Steering . 224
..................
Windshield Washer . 219
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 143
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 90
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 299
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 74
.................................................
Fuel . 162
....................................
Economy . 168
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 163
...........................................
Gauge . 67
................
Octane Requirement . 162
...............................
Oxygenated . 298
........................
Reserve Indicator . 63
........................
Tank, Filling the . 163
Index
E
F
III
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 284
........................
Jacking up the Car . 265
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 265
................................
Jump Starting . 273
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 168
..........................................
Gasohol . 298
.........................................
Gasoline . 162
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 63
...........................................
Gauge . 67
................
Octane Requirement . 162
........................
Tank, Filling the . 163
................
Gas Station Procedures . 163
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature . 68
...............................................
Fuel . 67
...............................
Speedometer . 66
.................................
Tachometer . 66
Gearshif t Lever Positions ..........
Automatic Transmission . 180
5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 178
..............................
Glass Cleaning . 260
........................................
Glove Box . 97 .............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 247
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 74
Headlights
............
Daytime Running Lights . 71
..................
High Beam Indicator . 63
........................
Reminder Beeper . 70
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 250
...................................
Turning on . 70
..............................
Head Restraints . 88
.....................
Heating and Cooling . 104
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 177
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 70
..............
High-mount Brake Light . 247
....................................
Hood Latch . 226
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 164
..................................................
Horn . 69
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 223
.................................
Hydroplaning . 194
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 292
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 76 ...........................................
Switch . 78
............
Timing Control System . 303
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicators, Instrument
.............................................
Panel . 59
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 30
Inf ant Seats
.......................
Lower Anchorage . 42
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 238
.........................
Normal Driving . 239
...................................
Inside Mirror . 94
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 240
........................
Instrument Panel . 2, 58
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 71
...........................
Interior Cleaning . 258
...............................
Interior Lights . 101
........................................
Introduction . i
Index
G H I J
IV
Î
.....................
Underside, Cleaning . 261
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the . 263
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 296
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 162
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning . 258
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 212 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 55
..................
Warranty Coverages . 309
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 219
.......................................
Indicator . 63
.....................................
Operation . 73
.........................................
Washing . 256
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 257
Wheels
...............
Adjusting the Steering . 75
............
Alignment and Balance . 240
..........................
Compact Spare . 264
......................................
Wrench . 265
Windows .....................................
Cleaning . 260
..........
Time, Setting the . 117, 129, 141
....................................
Timing Belt . 237
....................................
Tire Chains . 244
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 265
...............................................
Tires . 238
..............................
Air Pressure . 238
.........................
Checking Wear . 240
..........................
Compact Spare . 264
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 296
......................................
Inf lation . 238
..................................
Inspection . 240
..............................
Maintenance . 240
...................................
Replacing . 242
......................................
Rotating . 241
...........................................
Snow . 243
............................
Specif ications . 295
.......................
Traction Devices . 244
..................
Technical Inf ormation . 291
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 265
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 194
................
Emergency Wrecker . 289
...........................
Traction Devices . 244
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic . 220 Checking Fluid Level,
...................................
Manual . 222
..................
Fluid Selection . 220, 222
..............
Identif ication Number . 293
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 181
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 178
.....................................
Treadwear . 296
.......................................
Trip Meter . 67
................................................
Trunk . 84
........................................
Opening . 84
...................
Open Monitor Light . 63
....................................
Turn Signals . 72
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 172 ......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 294
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 292
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 254
.....................................
Ventilation . 106
.................................................
VIN . 292
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 259
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 210
Index
U V W
VIII