165Driving Tips
These pressures are also given on
the tire information label on the
driver ’
s doorjamb.
LABEL
Tubeless tires have some ability to
self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look
closely for punctures if a tire
starts losing pressure.
Inspection
Every time you check inflation,
you should also examine the tires
for damage, foreign objects, and
wear.
You should look for:
•Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire
if you find either of these
conditions.
•Cuts, splits, or cracks in the
side of the tire. Replace the tire
if you can see fabric.
•Excessive tread wear. Your vehicle
’s tires have wear
indicators molded into the tread.
TREAD
WEAR
INDICATORS
When the tread wears down to that
point, you will see a 1/2 inch (12.7
mm) wide band running across the
tread. This shows that there is less
than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
left on the tire. A tire that is this
worn gives very little traction on
wet roads. You should replace the
tire if you can see the tread wear
171Driving Tips
air cleaner, so it’
s important to
replace the air cleaner filter at
required intervals. See “Care and
Maintenance.” A dirty air cleaner
filter reduces engine performance
and can waste fuel.
Air Conditioning
Turn off the air conditioning when
it is not needed. The air
conditioning compressor is not on
in this position and the reduced
engine load can improve fuel
economy.
Tuned Engine
An engine that is properly
maintained will provide better
fuel economy than one that is not.
One misfiring spark plug will cut
fuel economy significantly, and
will make a difference in the
amount of pollution emitted from
your vehicle. Excessive Weight
Fuel economy is related to the
work the engine must do. The
heavier the load, the more fuel it
takes to run your vehicle. Keep
weight to a minimum by removing
unnecessary luggage or cargo.
Tire Inflation
Underinflation not only causes
needless tire wear but can also
waste fuel. It’
s a good idea to
check tire pressure often and keep
your tires inflated to the pressures
shown on the tire placard located
on the driver ’s doorjamb. Wheel Alignment
Improper alignment will cause the
front tires to roll at an angle that
will result in faster tire wear. It
takes power to overcome this
improper alignment, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
Use of 4-Wheel Drive
In normal driving, put the
4WD-2WD switch in the 2WD
position.
