Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 396
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 397
Buying New Tires...................................... 398
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 400
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 400
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 402
Wheel Replacement.................................. 402
Tire Chains............................................... 403
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 404
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 404
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 406
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 407
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 414
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 416
Appearance Care........................................ 417
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 417
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 418
Leather...................................................... 420
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 421
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 421
Weatherstrips............................................ 421Washing Your Vehicle............................... 422
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 422
Finish Care............................................... 422
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 423
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels......... 424
Tires......................................................... 425
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 425
Finish Damage.......................................... 425
Underbody Maintenance............................ 425
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 426
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 426
Vehicle Identi cation.................................. 427
Vehicle Identi cation Number (VIN)........... 427
Service Parts Identi cation Label............... 428
Electrical System........................................ 428
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 428
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 429
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 429
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 429
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 431
Capacities and Speci cations.................... 434
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
332
Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a
typical passenger vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P
as the rst character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards
set by the U.S. Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates
the tire section width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.(C) Aspect Ratio:A two-digit number that
indicates the tire height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size aspect ratio is 60,
as shown in item C of the illustration, it would mean
that the tire’s sidewall is 60 percent as high as
it is wide.
(D) Construction Code:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply construction;
the letter D means diagonal or bias ply
construction; and the letter B means belted-bias
ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description:These characters
represent the load range and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certi ed to carry. The load index
can range from 1 to 279. The speed rating is
the maximum speed a tire is certi ed to carry a
load. Speed ratings range from A to Z.
386