2008 DODGE SPRINTER Owners Manual

359 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Gross Combination Weight Rating
(GCWR): The total allowable weight of ve-
hicle and trailer when weighed in comin-
bation including a 150 lbs (68 kg)
allowance for the presence of a driver.Vehicle Model type
GVWR
GAWR (FA)
GAWR (RA)
GCWR
2500
8550 lbs (3878 kg)
3970 lbs (1801 kg)
5360 lbs (2431 kg)
13550 lbs (6146 kg)
3500
9990 lbs (4531 kg)
11030 lbs (5003 kg)
4080 lbs (1851 kg)
4410 lbs (2000 kg)*
4080 lbs (1851 kg)
4410 lbs (2000 kg)
7060 lbs (3202 kg)
7720 lbs (3502 kg)
15250 lbs (6917 kg)
15250 lbs (6917 kg)
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360 OperationTires and wheels
4
To assure that your vehicle does not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible weight
limits (GVWR and GAWR for front and
rear axle and GCWR), have the loaded
vehicle (including driver, passengers and
all cargo and, if applicable, trailer fully
loaded) weighed on a suitable commer-
cial scale.
Trailer tongue loadThe tongue load (tongue weight at the
hitch ball) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the
load you can carry in your vehicle. If a
trailer is towed, the tongue load must be
added to the weight of all occupants
riding and any cargo you are carrying in
the vehicle to prevent exceeding your
Sprinter tow vehicle’s rear GAWR. The
tongue load is 10% of the trailer weight
and everything loaded in it.For example, if the trailer tongue load
equals 140 lbs (63.5 kg) and the deter-
mined available cargo/luggage and trail-
er tongue weight equals 500 lbs (227
kg), the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 360 lbs (500 –
140 = 360 lbs) (163.5 kg (227 – 63.5 =
163.5 kg)).
For further information on vehicle and
trailer weights and ratings, loading a
trailer and trailer towing, see “Trailer
towing” (
\2
page303).
nf_BA.book Page 360 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

361 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Your vehicle is equipped with either the
tire and loading information placard
1 or
with the tire inflation pressure placard
located on the driver’s door B-pillar.The tire inflation pressure (including the
spare wheel) should be checked regular-
ly and adjusted as well as inspected for
signs of tire wear or visible damage. Use
a good quality pocket-type gauge to
check tire inflation pressure.
Do not m a ke a vis ua l ju dgm ent when de -
termining proper inflation. Radial tires
may look properly inflated even when
they are underinflated.
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly, i.e. at least each time
you refuel the vehicle, and should only
be adjusted on cold tires. The preferred
interval for checking the tire inflation
pressure, however, is before each trip.
Recommended tire inflation pressureWarning
G
Follow recommended tire inflation pres-
sures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel econo-
my, and are more likely to fail from being
overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stop-
ping distance, and result in sudden defla-
tion (blowout) because they are more
likely to become punctured or damaged
by road debris, potholes etc.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).1
Tire and loading information placard or
tire inflation pressure placard on driver’s
door B-pillar
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362 OperationTires and wheels
4
The tires can be considered cold if the
vehicle has been parked for at least
3 hours or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km) at an ambient temperature of
approximately 68 °F (20 °C).
Follow recommended cold tire inflation
pressures listed on vehicle placard.
Keeping the tires properly inflated pro-
vides the best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
The pressure difference between the
tires on a single axle should not exceed
1.5 psi (10 kPa).
In addition to the placard, also consult
the tire inflation pressure table
(\2
page 628).For more information, refer to “Impor-
tant notes on tire inflation pressure”.
PlacardThe placard is located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.Tire and loading information placardTire inflation pressure placard
1 Recommended cold tire inflation
pressure
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363 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
The placard lists the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures for all load condi-
tions up to the maximum permissible
weight limits (GAWR). The tire inflation
pressures listed apply to the tires in-
stalled as original equipment.
Important notes on tire inflation
pressure
iThe data shown on the tire and loa-
ding information placard
1and on the
tire inflation pressure placard is for il-
lustrative purposes only. Tire data is
specific to each vehicle and may vary
from the data shown in the illustrati-
on below. Refer to your vehicle’s pla-
card for actual data specific to your
vehicle.
1 For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).
Warning
G
If the tire inflation pressure repeatedly
drops:
\4Check the tires for punctures from
foreign objects.
\4Check to see whether air is leaking
from the valves or from around the
rim.
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364 OperationTires and wheels
4
Tire temperature and tire inflation pres-
sure are also increased while driving, de-
pending on the driving speed and the
tire load.
Tire inflation pressure changes by ap-
proximately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18 °F
(10 °C) of air temperature change. Keep
this in mind when checking tire inflation
pressure where the temperature is dif-
ferent from the outside temperature.For example:
If the inside temperature is 68 °F
(20 °C) and the outside temperature is
32 °F (0 °C) then the cold tire inflation
pressure should be increased by 3 psi
(0.2 bar), which equals 1.5 psi (0.1 bar)
for every 18 °F (10 °C) for this outside
temperature condition.
Check tire inflation pressures more of-
ten if subject to a wide range of outdoor
temperatures, as tire pressures vary
with temperature changes.
Warning
G
Tire pressure may increase during opera-
tion.
Never reduce this normal pressure build
up or your tire pressure will be too low.
Underinflated tires wear excessively and/
or unevenly, adversely affect handling and
fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
nf_BA.book Page 364 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

365 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly, i.e. at least each time
you refuel the vehicle. The preferred in-
terval for checking the tire inflation pres-
sure, however, is before each trip.
The tire inflation pressures specified ei-
ther on the tire and loading information
placard or on the tire inflation pressure
placard on the driver’s door B-pillar are
always cold tire inflation pressures.
Check and adjust the tire inflation pres-
sure when the tires are cold. Cold tire in-
flation pressure is defined as the tire
pressure after the vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km) at an ambient tem-
perature of approximately 68°F (20°C).
The cold tire inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum tire inflation pres-
sure molded into the tire side wall, see
"Tire labeling" (
\2
page 382).If you check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are warm (the vehicle has
been driven for several miles (kilome-
ters) or sitting less than 3 hours), the
reading will be higher than the cold read-
ing. This is normal. Do not let air out to
match the specified cold tire inflation
pressure. Otherwise, the tire will be un-
derinflated.
Checking tire inflation pressure
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366 OperationTires and wheels
4
Checking tire inflation pressure
manuallyFollow the steps below to achieve cor-
rect tire inflation pressure:\1
Remove the cap from the valve on
one tire.
\1
Firmly press a tire gauge onto the
valve.
\1
Read the tire inflation pressure on
the tire gauge and compare it with
the recommended tire inflation pres-
sure on the placard (
\2
page 362) lo-
cated on the driver’s door B-pillar.
Warning
G
Observe the recommended tire inflation
pressures.Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel econo-
my, and are more likely to fail from being
overheated.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stop-
ping distance, and result in sudden defla-
tion (blowout) because they are more
likely to become punctured or damaged
by road debris, potholes etc.Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the
tire and loading information placard on
the driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the
tires can overheat them, possibly causing
a blowout.
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