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Tire Loading and Tire Pressure
Tire Placard Location
NOTE:The proper cold tire inflation pressure is listed
on either the face of the driver’s door or the driver’s side
“B” pillar.
Tire and Loading Information Placard
This placard tells you important information about the:
1) number of people that can be carried in the vehicle
2) the total weight your vehicle can carry
3) the tire size designed for your vehicle
4) the cold tire inflation pressures for the front, rear
and spare tires.
Tire Placard Location
Tire and Loading Information
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Loading
The vehicle maximum load on the tire must not exceed
the load carrying capacity of the tire on your vehicle. You
will not exceed the tire’s load carrying capacity if you
adhere to the loading conditions, tire size, and cold tire
inflation pressures specified on the “Tire and Loading
Information” placard and in the “Vehicle Loading” sec-
tion of this manual.
NOTE: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, refer to the
“Vehicle Loading” section of this manual.To determine the maximum loading conditions of your
vehicle, locate the statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX
lbs.” on the Tire and Loading Information placard. The
combined weight of occupants, cargo/luggage and
trailer tongue weight (if applicable) should never exceed
the weight referenced here.
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.
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Life of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon varying
factors including but not limited to:
•Driving style
•Tire pressure
•Distance driven
WARNING!
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after six
years, regardless of the remaining tread. Failure to
follow this warning can result in sudden tire failure.
You could lose control and have an accident result-
ing in serious injury or death.
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry place with as little
exposure to light as possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease and gasoline.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of many
characteristics. They should be inspected regularly for
wear and correct cold tire inflation pressure. The manu-
facturer strongly recommends that you use tires equiva-
lent to the originals in size, quality and performance
when replacement is needed (see the paragraph on tread
wear indicators). Refer to the Tire and Loading Informa-
tion placard for the size designation of your tire. The
service description and load identification will be found
on the original equipment tire. Failure to use equivalent
replacement tires may adversely affect the safety, han-
dling, and ride of your vehicle. We recommend that you
contact your original equipment or an authorized tire
dealer with any questions you may have on tire specifi-
cations or capability.
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WARNING!
•Do not use a tire, wheel size or rating other than
that specified for your vehicle. Some combina-
tions of unapproved tires and wheels may change
suspension dimensions and performance charac-
teristics, resulting in changes to steering, han-
dling, and braking of your vehicle. This can cause
unpredictable handling and stress to steering and
suspension components. You could lose control
and have an accident resulting in serious injury or
death. Use only the tire and wheel sizes with load
ratings approved for your vehicle.
•Never use a tire with a smaller load index or
capacity, other than what was originally equipped
on your vehicle. Using a tire with a smaller load
index could result in tire overloading and failure.
You could lose control and have an accident.
•Failure to equip your vehicle with tires having
adequate speed capability can result in sudden
tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION!
Replacing original tires with tires of a different size
may result in false speedometer and odometer read-
ings.
Alignment and Balance
Poor suspension alignment may result in:
•Fast tire wear.
•Uneven tire wear, such as feathering and one-sided
wear.
•Vehicle pull to right or left.
Tires may also cause the vehicle to pull left or right.
Alignment will not correct this problem. See your autho-
rized dealer for proper diagnosis.
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Improper alignment will not cause vehicle vibration.
Vibration may be a result of tire and wheel out-of-
balance. Proper balancing will reduce vibration and
avoid tire cupping and spotty wear.
TIRE CHAINS
Certain models have sufficient tire-to-body clearance to
allow use of tire chains.Install chains on rear tires only.
Follow these recommendations to guard against damage
and excessive tire and chain wear:
•Do not install tire chains or traction devices on ve-
hicles with larger than P235/65R17 size tires. Tires
larger than this may not provide sufficient body
clearance with chains or other traction devices.
•Use SAE class “S” tire chains or traction devices only.
•Follow tire chain manufacturer’s instructions for
mounting chains.
•Install chains snugly and tighten after 1/2 mile (1 km)
of driving.
•Do notexceed 35 mph (56 km/h), unless otherwise
specified by the chain manufacturer.
•Drive cautiously, avoiding large bumps, potholes and
extreme driving maneuvers.
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A tire pressure monitoring sensor is located in the spare
wheel if the vehicle is equipped with a matching full size
spare wheel and tire assembly. The matching full size spare
tire can be used in place of any of the four road tires.
The “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” will
illuminate in the instrument cluster, and an au-
dible chime will be activated when one or more of
the four active road tire pressures are low. The audible
chime will sound once every ignition cycle for each
condition that it detects. Should this occur, you should
stop as soon as possible, check the inflation pressure of
each tire on your vehicle, and inflate each tire to the
vehicle’s recommended cold tire pressure. The system
will automatically update and the “Tire Pressure Moni-
toring Light” will extinguish once the updated tire pres-
sures have been received. The vehicle may need to be
driven for up to 10 minutes above 15 mph (24 km/h) to
receive this information. A low spare tire will not cause
the “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” to illumi-
nate or the chime to sound.The “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” will flash
on and off for 60 seconds, and an audible chime will
sound when a system fault is detected. The flash cycle
will repeat every ten minutes, without an audible chime,
until the fault condition no longer exists. If the ignition
key is cycled, this sequence will repeat, providing the
system fault still exists.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with a matching full
size spare tire, it has a tire pressure monitoring sensor,
and can be monitored by the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS). In the event that the matching full size
spare tire is swapped with a low pressure road tire, the
next ignition key cycle will still show the “Tire Pressure
Monitoring Telltale Light” to be ON, and a chime to
sound. Driving the vehicle for up to 10 minutes above 15
mph (24 km/h) will turn OFF the “Tire Pressure Moni-
toring Telltale Light” as long as the spare tire or any other
road tire(s) are not below the low pressure warning
threshold.
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NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with a non-matching
full size spare tire, it does not have a tire pressure
monitoring sensor. Therefore, it will not be monitored by
the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS). In the event
that the non-matching full size spare tire is swapped with
a low pressure road tire, each ignition key cycle will still
show the “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” to be
ON, and a chime to sound. After the original road tire has
been properly repaired and put back onto the vehicle in
place of the non-matching full size spare tire, the TPMS
will update automatically, and the “Tire Pressure Moni-
toring Telltale Light” will be OFF as long as none of the
road tires are below the low pressure warning threshold.
The vehicle may need to be driven for up to 10 minutes
above 15 mph (24 km/h) to receive this information.CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures have
been established for the tire size equipped on your
vehicle. Undesirable system operation or sensor
damage may result when using replacement equip-
ment that is not of the same size, type, and/or style.
After-market wheels can cause sensor damage. Do
not use tire sealant from a can, or balance beads if
your vehicle is equipped with a TPMS, as damage to
the sensors may result.
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The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) consists of the
following components:
•Receiver Module
•4 Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors
•3 Trigger Modules (mounted in three of the four wheel
wells)
•Various Tire Pressure Monitoring System Messages,
which display in the Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC)
•Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
A tire pressure monitoring sensor is located in the spare
wheel if the vehicle is equipped with a matching full size
spare wheel and tire assembly. The matching full size
spare tire can be used in place of any of the four road
tires.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Low Pressure Warnings
The “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” will
illuminate in the instrument cluster, and an au-
dible chime will be activated when one or more of
the four active road tire pressures are low. The audible
chime will sound once every ignition cycle for each
condition that it detects. In addition, the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) will display one or
more Low Pressure messages (Left Front, Left Rear, Right
Front, Right Rear) for 3 seconds, and a graphic display of
the pressure value(s) with the low tire(s) flashing. Refer
to “Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)” in
Section 4 of this manual.
NOTE:If your vehicle is equipped with a matching full
size spare tire, a low matching full size spare tire will set
the “SPARE LOW PRESSURE” text message, but it will
not cause the “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” to
illuminate or the chime to sound.
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