2010 MITSUBISHI LANCER SPORTBACK tire size

Driving safety
4-9
4
This placard shows the maximum number of occupants permit-
ted to ride in your vehicle as well as “the combined weight of
occupants and cargo” (A), which is called the vehicle capacity
weight. The weight of roof road is included in the definition of
“cargo” when determining the vehicle capacity weight. This
placard also tells you the size and recommended inflation pres-
sure for the original equipment tires on your vehicle. For more
information, refer to “Tires” on page 7-29.
Ty p e 1
Ty p e 2

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For emergencies
6-11
6
To remove the compact spare tire
N00849700231
1. Lift up the board.
2. To remove the spare tire, remove the installation clamp
(A) by turning it counterclockwise.NOTE

The clamp cannot be used for a normal size tire. Store a
normal size tire under the board.
NOTE

Put the spare tire under the vehicle body near the jack.
This makes it safer if the jack slips out of position.
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6-18 For emergencies
6
To store the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and
wheel nut wrench
N00850000133
Reverse the removing procedure when storing the flat tire or
spare tire, jack, bar and wheel nut wrench.
Refer to “To remove the spare tire” on page 6-11 and “Tools
and jack” on page 6-7.
To w i n g
N00837000758
If your vehicle needs to be towedIf towing is necessary, we recommend you to have it done by a
commercial tow truck service.
When towing is required, transport the vehicle using a tow
truck.
Incorrect towing equipment could damage your vehicle.NOTE

Your vehicle cannot tow any other vehicle.
There may be local regulations concerning towing in your area.
Obey the regulations of the area where you are driving your
vehicle.
CAUTION
!

Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause
an accident. If you have no choice but to drive with
an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and
avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate
the tire to the correct pressure as soon as possible.
Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 7-33.


After changing the tire and driving the vehicle about
620 miles (1,000 km), retighten the wheel nuts to
make sure that they have not come loose.


If the steering wheel vibrates when driving after
changing the tire, have the tire checked for balance
at your nearest authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer
or a repair facility of your choice.


Do not mix one type of tire with another or use a dif-
ferent size from the one listed. This would cause
early wear and poor handling.
CAUTION
!

Do not attempt to be towed by another vehicle with
a rope.
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-31
7
Size DesignationEXAMPLE: P215/65R15
NOTE

European/Japanese metric tire sizing is based on Euro-
pean/Japanese design standards. Tires designed to these
standards have the tire size molded into the sidewall
beginning with the section width. The letter “P” is
absent from this tire size designation. Example:
215/65R15 96H.


LT (Light Truck) -metric tire sizing is based on U.S.A.
design standards. The size designation for LT-metric
tires is the same as for P-metric tires except for the let-
ters “LT” that are molded into the sidewall preceding
the size designation. Example: LT235/85R16.


Temporary spare tires are high pressure compact spares
designed for temporary emergency use only. Tires
designed to this standard have the letter “T” molded
into the sidewall preceding the size designation. Exam-
ple: T145/80D18 103M.
Service DescriptionEXAMPLE: 95H
Maximum LoadMaximum load indicates the maximum load this tire is
designed to carry.Maximum PressureMaximum Pressure indicates the maximum permissible
cold tire inflation pressure for this tire. PPassenger car tire size based on U.S.A. design
standards
215 Section width in millimeters (mm.)
65Aspect ratio in percent (%)
Ratio of section height to section width of tire.
RConstruction code
 “R” means radial construction.
 “D” means diagonal or bias construction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)95Load index
A numerical code associated with the maximum
load a tire can carry.
HSpeed symbol
A symbol indicating the range of speeds at
which a tire can carry a load corresponding to its
load index under certain operating conditions.
The maximum speed corresponding to the speed
symbol should only be achieved under specified
operating conditions. (i.e. tire pressure, vehicle
loading, road conditions and posted speed limits)
WA R N I N G
!

Overloading of your tire is dangerous. Overload-
ing can cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling,
and increase your stopping distance. Use tires of
the recommended load capacity for your vehicle.
Never overload them.
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7-32 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Tire Identification Number (TIN)The TIN may be found on one or both sides of the tire but
the date code may only be on one side. Look for the TIN on
the outboard side of tires as mounted on the vehicle. If the
TIN is not found on the outboard side then you will find it
on the inboard side of the tire.
EXAMPLE: DOT MA L9 ABCD 1504

Treadwear, Traction and Temperature GradesTreadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half (1
1/2) times as
well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The rel-
ative performance of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B
and C. Those grades 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.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, repre-
senting the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degen-
erate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. 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. DOTDepartment of Transportation
This symbol certifies that the tire is in compli-
ance with the U.S. Department of Transporta-
tion tire safety standards, and is approved for
highway use.
MACode representing the tire manufacturing loca-
tion. (2 digits)
L9
ABCDCode representing the tire size. (2 digits)
Code used by tire manufacturer. (1 to 4 digits)
15Number representing the week in which the tire
was manufactured. (2 digits)
04Number representing the year in which the tire
was manufactured. (2 digits)
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-33
7
Tire inflation pressures
N00939300769
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential for the safe and satis-
factory operation of your vehicle. The wrong tire pressure will
cause problems in three major areas:

Safety
Too little pressure increases flexing in the tire and can
cause tire failure. Too much pressure can cause a tire to
lose its ability to cushion shock. Objects on the road and
potholes could then cause tire damage that may result in
tire failure.


Economy
The wrong tire pressure can cause uneven wear patterns in
the tire tread. These abnormal wear patterns will reduce
the tread life, and the tire will have to be replaced sooner.
Too little pressure also makes it harder for the tire to roll,
and this uses up more fuel.


Ride comfort and vehicle stability
The superior riding experience built into your vehicle
partly depends on the correct tire pressure. Too much
pressure gives an uncomfortable and jarring ride. Too lit-
tle pressure feels as if your vehicle is slow to respond.
Unequal tire pressures can make steering your vehicle
uneven and unpredictable.
The correct tire pressure for your vehicle is listed on the plac-
ard attached to the driver’s door sill.
(Refer to “Tire and loading information placard” on page 9-4.)The recommended inflation pressures should be used for the
tires listed below.
Tire pressures should be checked, and adjusted if necessary, at
least once a month.
Pressures should be checked more often whenever weather
temperatures change severely, because tire pressures change
with outdoor temperatures. The pressures listed on the placard
are always “cold inflation pressure”.
Cold inflation pressure is measured after the vehicle has been
parked for at least three hours or is driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km) after having been parked for three hours.
Cold inflation pressure must not go above the maximum values
molded into the tire sidewall. After driving several miles, your
tire inflation pressure may increase 14 to 41 KPA, 2 to 6 PSI
from the cold inflation pressure. Do not let air out of the tires to
get back to the specified cold pressure, or your tire pressure
will be too low.
Check your tires each time you refuel. If one tire looks lower
than the others, check the pressure for all of them.
You should also take the following safety precautions:


Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressures.
(See the tire and loading information placard attached to
the driver’s door sill.)


Stay within the recommended load limits.


Make sure that the weight of any load in your vehicle is
evenly distributed.
Item
Tire size
Front
Rear
Normal tireP215/45R18
215/45R18240 KPA,
35 PSI240 KPA,
35 PSI
Compact spare tire T125/90D16 420 KPA, 60 PSI
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7-34 Vehicle care and maintenance
7


Drive at safe speeds.


After filling your tires to the correct pressure, check them
for damage and air leaks. Be sure to replace the caps on
the valve stems.
Replacing tires and wheels
N00939600371
CAUTION
!

Avoid using different size tires and wheels from the
ones listed, and avoid the combined use of different
types of tires and wheels. Using different size or type
tires and wheels may affect driving safety.
Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 9-9.


For All-wheel drive vehicles, always use tires of the
same size, same type, and same brand, and which
have no wear differences. Using tires that differ in
size, type, brand or the degree of wear, will increase
the differential oil temperature, resulting in possible
damage to the driving system. Further, the drive
train will be subjected to excessive loading, possibly
leading to oil leakage, component seizure, or other
serious problems.


Even if a wheel has the same rim size and offset as
the specified type of wheel, its shape may prevent it
from being fitted correctly. Consult an authorized
Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your
choice before using wheels that you have.


Only Mitsubishi Motors genuine wheels should be
used, because your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system.
Use of another type of wheel risks air leaks and sen-
sor damage, as it will not be possible to install the
tire pressure sensor properly.
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7-38 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Snow tires
N00940000359
In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter
driving. If snow tires are required in your area, you must
choose snow tires of the same size and type as the original tires
provided with your vehicle. Snow tires should also be installed
on all four wheels. Otherwise your safety and vehicle handling
can be reduced.
Even where laws may permit it, snow tires should not be oper-
ated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h).Tire chains
N00940100129
CAUTION
!

Avoid the combined use of different types of tires.
Using different types of tires can affect vehicle per-
formance and safety.
Front
CAUTION
!

If flange nuts are used on your vehicle, change to
tapered nuts when using snow tires with steel
wheels.


Only Mitsubishi Motors genuine wheels should be
used, because your vehicle is equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system.
Use of another type of wheel risks air leaks and sen-
sor damage, as it will not be possible to install the
tire pressure sensor properly.CAUTION
!

Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle. The
clearance between the chains and the body is not
sufficient to allow proper clearance, and the vehicle
body might be damaged.
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