2008 DODGE SPRINTER wheel

397 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Production options weightThe 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.PSI (P
ounds per S
quare I
nch)
A standard unit of measure for air pres-
sure. Another metric unit for air pres-
sure is bar or kilopascal (kPa).
Recommended tire inflation pressureRecommended tire inflation pressure for
normal driving conditions listed on the
tire and loading information placard
1 or
on the tire inflation pressure placard lo-
cated on the driver’s door B-pillar.
Provides best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
RimA metal support for a tire or a tire and
tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Side wallThe portion of a tire between the tread
and the bead.TIN (T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
Unique identifier which facilitates efforts
by tire manufacturers to notify purchas-
ers in recall situations or other safety
matters concerning tires and gives pur-
chases the means to easily identify such
tires. The TIN is comprised of the “man-
ufacturer’s identification mark”, “tire
size”, “tire type code” and “date of man-
ufacture”.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).
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398 OperationTires and wheels
4
Tire load ratingNumerical code associated with the
maximum load a tire can support.Tire ply composition and material
usedThis indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric
in the tire tread and side wall. Tire man-
ufacturers also must indicate the ply ma-
terials in the tire and side wall, which
include steel, nylon, polyester, and oth-
ers.
Tire speed ratingPart of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is approved.TractionForce exerted by the vehicle on the road
via the tires. The amount of grip provid-
ed.TreadThe portion of a tire that comes into con-
tact with the road.
Treadwear IndicatorsNarrow bands, sometimes called
“wear bars” that show across the tread
of a tire when only
1/16
in (1.6 mm) of
tread remains.
TWR (T
ongue W
eight R
ating)
Maximum permissible weight on the
trailer tongue.
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399 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Uniform tire quality grading stan-
dardsA tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s trac-
tion, temperature and treadwear. Rat-
ings are determined by tire
manufacturers using government test-
ing procedures. The ratings are molded
into the side wall of the tire.
Vehicle capacity weightRated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kg
(150 lbs) times the vehicle’s designated
seating capacity.Vehicle maximum load on the tireLoad on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its
share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two.
Rotating tiresWarning
G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if they
are of the same dimension.Changing the tire dimension for an axle could cause the tire to come into contact
with the vehicle body or axle parts. Dam-
age to the tire or the vehicle may be the
result.
Continued
nf_BA.book Page 399 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

400 OperationTires and wheels
4
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehi-
cles operate at different loads and per-
form different steering, driving and
braking functions. For these reasons,
they wear at unequal rates, and develop
irregular wear patterns. These effects
can be reduced by timely rotation of
tires.
The benefits of rotation are especially
worthwhile with aggressive tread de-
signs such as those on On/Off Road
type tires. Rotation will increase tread
life, help to maintain mud, snow, and wet
traction levels, and contribute to a
smooth ride. If applicable to your vehicle’s tire config-
uration, tires can be rotated according
to the tire manufacturer’s recommend-
ed intervals in the tire manufacturer’s
warranty pamphlet located in your vehi-
cle literature portfolio. If none is avail-
able, tires should be rotated every
10 000 miles (16 000 km), or sooner if
necessary, according to the degree of
tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained when mounted, see
"Direction of rotation" (
\2
page 351).
Warning (Continued)
G
could result in changes to steering, han-
dling, and braking of your Sprinter vehicle.
This can cause unpredictable handling
and stress to steering and suspension
components. You could lose control and
have an accident resulting in serious inju-
ry or death.could result in tire overloading and failure,
if the tires' load index are not identical.
You could lose control and have an acci-
dent.
nf_BA.book Page 400 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

401 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Rotate tires before the characteristic
tire wear pattern becomes visible (shoul-
der wear on front tires and tread center
wear on rear tires).
The reasons for any rapid or unusual
wear should be corrected prior to rota-
tion being performed.
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner
side of the wheels/tires, during each ro-
tation. Check for and ensure proper tire infla-
tion pressure, refer to "Recommended
tire inflation pressure" (
\2
page 361).
!
CAUTION
If your vehicle is equipped with the
tire pressure monitor*, each wheel
has an electronic component.
Tire mounting tools should not be ap-
plied in the area of the valve, as this
could damage the electronic compo-
nents.
Have the tires changed only at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Warning
G
In order to avoid loosing a wheel and in or-
der to reduce the risk of fatal or serious
injuries or vehicle damage, please follow
these safety instructions:Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Continued
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402 OperationTires and wheels
4
Rotation pattern for single and dual rear
wheelsSingle rear wheels:\1
Rotate the tires by axle. Never
change the direction of rotation of
your tires.
Warning (Continued)
G
If a wheel hub thread is damaged, you
must not drive the vehicle. Consult an au-
thorized Sprinter Dealer.Only use genuine wheel bolts approved by
the vehicle manufacturer and specified
for your vehicle’s rims. Check tightness of
wheel bolts or nuts regularly and retight-
en with a torque wrench, if necessary.
Tighten wheel bolts or nuts in a crisscross
pattern. For information on mounting
bolts and tightening torques, refer to "In-
stalling a wheel" (\2page 548).
Continued
After changing a wheel, the wheel bolts or
nuts must be retightened after the vehicle
has been driven for about 30 miles
(50 km)If new or repainted rims are fitted, the
wheel bolts or nuts must be retightened
again after about 600 to 3000 miles
(about 1000 to 5000 km).
nf_BA.book Page 402 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

403 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
\1
Make sure that on one axle just one
type of tire (same size, type con-
struction, load and speed rating) is
used.
Dual rear wheels:
\1
Rotate front tires by axle and the out-
er rear tire side to side if there is no
approved direction of rotation.
The tires used on dual wheel assem-
blies should be matched for wear to
prevent overloading one tire in a set.
\1
To check if tires are even, lay a
straight edge across all four tires.
For information on wheel change, see
the “Practical hints” section
(
\2
page 548).
!
CAUTION
3500 dual rear tires have only one
approved direction of rotation. This is
to accommodate the asymmetrical
design (tread pattern) of the ON/OFF
road tire and the use of Outline White
Letter (OWL) tires.
When replacing a flat tire, the spare
tire may have to be remounted on the
rim or installed at a different location
to maintain the correct placement of
the tire on the wheel relative to the
tire/wheel position on the vehicle.
For example, if the spare is used to
replace an outer rear tire it will have
to remounted on the rim so that the
wheel is dished inward.
That way the tread design of asym-
metrical tires and the white writing of
the OWL tires will maintain proper
position.
nf_BA.book Page 403 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

404 OperationWinter driving
4
\3 Winter drivingHave your vehicle winterproofed at the
onset of winter at an authorized Sprinter
Dealer. This service includes the follow-
ing:\4
Oil change, if the current engine oil
used has not been approved for win-
ter use
\4
The antifreeze / anti-corrosion con-
centration in the coolant is checked
\4
The addition of a concentrated
cleaning agent to the water in the
windshield washer system
\4
Battery check
\4
A tire changeYou will find information about diesel
fuel for use at low outside temperatures
in the “Technical data” section
(
\2
page 614).
Please also observe the information
about winter driving (
\2
page 406).
Winter tires should also be operated as
printed on the tire and loading informa-
tion placard
1 or on the tire inflation pres-
sure placard located on the driver’s door
B-pillar, refer to “Tires and wheels” (
\2
page 362). Not all M+S rated radial-
ply tires provide special winter perfor-
mance. Make sure the tires you use
show M+S and the mountain/snowflake
marking
.
on the tire side wall.
These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rub-
ber Manufacturers Association (RMA)
and the Rubber Association of Canada
(RAC) and have been designed specifi-
cally for use in snow conditions. Use of
winter tires is the only way to achieve
the maximum effectiveness of the ABS,
BAS, ASR and ESP
® in winter operation.
Winter tires1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).
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