Page 337 of 394

door.
The recommended inflation pressures should be followed
when the specified tires are installed.
Item Tire size Front Rear
Normal tire P205/60R16 91H 32 psi (220 kpa)
P215/50R17 90H 32 psi (220 kpa)
Compact spare tire T125/70D16 60 psi (420 kpa)
The pressures should be checked and adjusted, if neces-
sary, at least once a month.
Tire pressures should be checked more often when weather
temperatures vary widely, because tire pressures vary with
outdoor temperatures. Inflation pressures specified on the
placard are always ªcold inflation pressureº.
Cold inflation pressure can be measured after the vehicle
has been stationary for at least three hours or driven less
than one mile (1.6 km) after being stationary for three
hours.
Cold inflation pressure must not exceed the maximum
values molded into the tire sidewall. After driving sev-
eral miles, tire inflation pressure may increase 2 to 6 psi
(14 to 41 kPa) over the cold inflation pressure; do NOT letair out of the tires to match the specified cold pressure, or
your tires will be underinflated.
Check your tires each time you refuel. If one tire looks
lower than the others, check the tire inflation pressure for
all of them. The following precautions also should be
observed:
1. Keep your tires inflated to the pressures that are
recommended. (See the tire and loading information
placard attached on the latch on the driver's door.)
2. Stay within the load limits that are recommended.
3. Make sure that the weight of your vehicle load is
evenly distributed.
4. Drive at safe speeds.
5. After the tire inflation pressure has been adjusted,
check the tires for damage and air leaks. Be sure to
replace the rubber caps on the valve stems.
Radial ply tires
Radial ply tires provide improved tread life, road hazard
resistance and smoother high speed ride. The radial ply
MAINTENANCE 337
9
Page 338 of 394

factory-installed tires on this vehicle are of belted con-
struction and are selected to complement the ride and
handling characteristics of your vehicle.
Radial ply tires have the same load carrying capacity as
bias or bias-belted tires of the same letter size, and use the
same recommended inflation pressures.
Mixing of radial ply tires with bias or bias-belted tires is
not recommended. Combining radial ply and bias or
bias-belted tires on one vehicle will negatively affect
vehicle handling. It is recommended that radial ply tires
should always be used as a set of four.
As longer wearing tires can be more susceptible to
irregular tread wear, it is very important to follow the tire
rotation interval shown in the section ªTire rotationº to
achieve full tread life potential in these tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial ply tires are repairable only
in the tread area, because of sidewall flexing. Consult
your tire dealer for radial ply tire repairs.Tire pressure for sustained high-speed driving
For sustained high-speed driving, increase inflation pres-
sure 4 psi (28 kPa) above the recommended pressure but
do not exceed the maximum cold inflation pressure
molded into the tire sidewall.
Replacing tire and wheels
CAUTION!
²Avoid using different size tires from the one listed
and the combined use of different types of tires,
as this can affect driving safety.
Refer to the ``TIRES AND WHEELS'' on page 373.
²Even if a wheel has the same rim size and offset as
the specified type of wheel, its shape may prevent
it from being fitted correctly. Consult an autho-
rized dealer before using wheels that you have.
Tire maintenance
The following maintenance steps are recommended:
1. Check pressure regularly.
338 MAINTENANCE
Page 339 of 394

2. Maintain wheel balance and front suspension align-
ment.
3. Rotate tires regularly in accordance with the recom-
mendation in the section ªTire rotationº on page 344.
Loading information
WARNING!
Overloading of your tire is dangerous. Overloading
can cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling, and
increase your stopping distance. Use tires of the
recommended load capacity for your vehicle. Never
overload them.
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following
terms before loading your vehicle:
²Vehicle maximum load on the tire : load on an
individual tire that is determined by distributing to
each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing by two.
²Vehicle normal load on the tire : load on an indi-
vidual tire that is determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the curb weight, accessory weight,
and normal occupant weight and dividing by two.
²Maximum loaded vehicle weight : the sum of -
(a) Curb weight;
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight; and
(d) Production option weight.
²Curb weight : the weight of a motor vehicle with
standard equipment including the maximum capac-
ity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air
conditioning and additional weight optional engine.
²Accessory weight : the combined weight (in excess
of those standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, radio, and
heater, to the extent that these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether installed or
not).
MAINTENANCE 339
9
Page 340 of 394

²Vehicle capacity weight : the rated cargo and lug-
gage load plus 150 lbs (68 kg) times the vehicle's
designated seating capacity.
²Production options weight : the combined weight of
those installed regular production options weighing
over 5 lbs. (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard items
which they replace, not previously considered in
curb weight or accessory weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.
²Normal occupant weight : 150 lbs (68 kg) times the
number of specified occupants. (In your vehicle the
number is 3)
²Occupant distribution : distribution of occupants in
a vehicle as specified. (In your vehicle the distribu-
tion is 2 in front, 1 in second seat)
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement ``The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never exceed XXX pounds'' 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 pas-
sengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the
``XXX'' amount equals 1400 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
(5x150) = 650 lbs.
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.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your
trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
NOTE:The above steps for determining correct load
limit were written in accordance with U.S.A. regulations.
Your vehicle cannot tow a trailer, so step 6 is irrevelant.
340 MAINTENANCE
Page 341 of 394
NOTE
1. The following table shows examples on how to calcu-
late total cargo/load capacity of your vehicle with a
varying seating configurations and number and size of
occupants. This table is for illustration purposes only and
may not be accurate for the seating and load capacity of
your vehicle.
2. For the following example the combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed 865 lbs. (392
kg).
3. Under a maximum loaded vehicle condition, gross
axle weight ratings (GAWR's) for the front and rear axles
must not be exceeded. For further information on
GAWR's, vehicle loading and trailer towing, see the
``Specifications'' section of this manual.
MAINTENANCE 341
9
Page 342 of 394
Page 343 of 394
Cargo loads
The load-carrying capacity of your vehicle is shown on
the tire and loading information placard.
DO NOT USE the weight rating data provided on the
safety certification label for determining vehicle passen-
ger and/or cargo load capacity.
For determining the combined weight of occupants and
cargo, use the specifications provided on the tire and
loading information placard.
Tread wear indicators
Tread wear indicators are built into the original equip-
ment tires on your vehicle to assist you in determining
when your tires have been worn to the point of needing
replacement. Many states have laws making tire replace-
ment mandatory at this point.
These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread
grooves and will appear as 1/2 in (13 mm) wide bands
when tire tread depth becomes 1/16 in (1.6 mm).
M32A0010
Location of tread wear indicator
Tread wear indicator
MAINTENANCE 343
9
Page 344 of 394
When the indicators appear in two or more adjacent
grooves, tire replacement is recommended.
NOTE: The mark and the location of the tire wear
indicator are different depending on tire manufacturers.
Tire rotation
To equalize wear and help extend tire life,
DaimlerChrysler recommends that you rotate your tires
at the mileage specified on the scheduled maintenance
chart.However, the timing for tire rotation may vary according
to your vehicle condition, road surface conditions and
each individual driver's driving habits. Any time you
notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible.
When rotating tires, check for uneven wear, damage and
wheel alignment. Abnormal wear is usually caused by
incorrect tire pressure, improper wheel alignment, out-
of-balance wheel or severe braking. Consult an autho-
rized dealer to determine the cause of irregular tread
wear.
M40A0270
Type 1
M40A0490
Type 2
344 MAINTENANCE