507
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
■DOT quality grades
All passenger vehicle tires must conform to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades. Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width.
For example: Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
■Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1 - 1 /2) times as
well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteris-
tics and climate.
■Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C, and
they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) trac-
tion.
508
6-1. Specifications
■Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing
the tire's resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades for this tire are established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation pres-
sureTire pressure when the vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more, or has not been driven more
than 1 mile or 1.5 km under that condition
Maximum inflation pres-
sureThe maximum cold inflated pressure to which a tire
may be inflated, shown on the sidewall of the tire
Recommended inflation
pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a man-
ufacturer.
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those standard
items which may be replaced) of 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)
536
Alphabetical index
Tires
Chains ....................................................... 192
Checking ...............................................386
If you have a flat tire ..........................465
Inflation pressure................................ 397
Inflation pressure sensor................386
Information............................................503
Replacing ...............................................465
Rotating tires ........................................386
Size ...........................................................498
Snow tires ................................................ 192
Tools ...........................................................465
Total load capacity ..................................191
Towing
Dinghy towing ...................................... 195
Emergency towing ............................. 431
Trailer towing.........................................194
TRAC........................................................... 177
Traction control ....................................... 177
Transmission shift switches ...... 130, 132
Trip meter ................................................. 139
Trunk
Extending trunk space .................... 328
Opener ...................................................... 43
Trunk light
Trunk light................................................. 44
Wattage.................................................. 499
Turn signal lights
Replacing light bulbs........................ 424
Switch ........................................................136
Wattage.................................................. 499Vanity lights
Vanity lights............................................ 317
Wattage ................................................. 499
Vanity mirrors .......................................... 317
VDIM........................................................... 177
Vehicle dynamics integrated
management ......................................... 177
Vehicle identification number...........491
Vehicle stability control ....................... 177
Voice command switch .....................280
VSC ............................................................. 177
Warning buzzers
Brake system ......................................... 441
Open door ...........................................444
Seat belt reminder .............................444
Warning lights
Anti-lock brake system ...................442
Brake assist system ...........................442
Brake system ......................................... 441
Charging system ................................442
Electric power steering
warning light......................................442
Low fuel level........................................444
Malfunction indicator lamp ...........442
Master warning light.........................444
Open door ............................................444
Pre-collision system..........................442
Pretensioners .......................................442
Seat belt reminder light ...................444
SRS airbags ...........................................442
Tire pressure warning
light.........................................................444V
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