370 6-1. Specifications
■Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied government 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 variations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road
characteristics 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 ab ility to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled cond itions 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)
traction.
■ Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, represent-
ing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, a nd excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passen-
ger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the labora-
tory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
372 6-1. Specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Occupant distributionDistribution of occupants in a vehicle as speci-
fied in the third column of Table 1
* below
Production options
weight
The combined weight of installed regular pro-
duction options weighing over 5 lb. (2.3 kg) in
excess of the 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
RimA metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are seated
Rim diameter
(Wheel diameter)Nominal diameter of the bead seat
Rim size designationRim diameter and width
Rim type designationThe industry manufacturer's designation for a
rim by style or code
Rim widthNominal distance between rim flanges
Vehicle capacity
weight (Total load
capacity)The rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lb.
(68 kg) times the vehicle's designated seating
capacity
Vehicle maximum load
on the tire
The load on an individual tire that is determined
by distributing to each axle its share of the
maximum loaded vehicle weight, and dividing
by two
Vehicle normal load
on the tire
The load on an individual tire that is determined
by distributing to each axle its share of curb
weight, accessory weight, and normal occu-
pant weight (distributed in accordance with
Ta b l e 1
* below), and dividing by two
Weather sideThe surface area of the rim not covered by the
inflated tire
375
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Ply separationA parting of rubber compound between adja-
cent plies
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemi-
cals, fabric and steel or
other materials, that,
when mounted on an automotive wheel, pro-
vides the traction and contains the gas or fluid
that sustains the load
Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid at substantially 90
degrees to the centerline of the tread
Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and
at higher inflation pressures than the corre-
sponding standard tire
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding ele-
vations due to labeling, decoration, or protec-
tive bands
SidewallThat portion of a tire between the tread and
bead
Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from the
cord material in the sidewall
Snow tire
A tire that attains a traction index equal to or
greater than 110, compared to the ASTM E-
1136 Standard Reference Test Tire, when
using the snow traction test as described in
ASTM F-1805-00, Standard Test Method for
Single Wheel Driving Traction in a Straight Line
on Snow-and Ice-Covered Surfaces, and which
is marked with an Alpine Symbol ( ) on at
least one sidewall
Te s t r i m
The rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and
may be any rim listed as appropriate for use
with that tire
376 6-1. Specifications
*:Table 1 ⎯ Occupant loading and distri bution for vehicle normal load
for various designated seating capacities
Tire related termMeaning
TreadThat portion of a tire that comes into contact
with the road
Tread ribA tread section running circumferentially
around a tire
Tread separationPulling away of the tread from the tire carcass
Treadwear indica-
tors(TWI)The projections within the principal grooves
designed to give a visual indication of the
degrees of wear of the tread
Wheel-holding fixtureThe fixture used to hold the wheel and tire
assembly securely during testing
Designated seating
capacity, Number of occupants Vehicle normal load,
Number of occupantsOccupant distribution in a normally loaded vehicle
2 through 422 in front
5 through 1032 in front, 1 in second seat
11 through 155
2 in front, 1 in second
seat, 1 in third seat, 1 in fourth seat
16 through 207
2 in front, 2 in second
seat, 2 in third seat, 1 in fourth seat
394 Alphabetical index
Seat beltsAdjustment ..............................57
ALR .........................................61
Automatic Locking Retractor ...61
Child restraint system
installation ................... 102, 106
Cleaning and maintaining...... 240
Comfort guide..........................59
ELR .........................................61
Emergency Locking Retractor .............................. 61
How to wear your seat belt......56
How your child should wear the seat belt ..........................62
Pregnant women, proper seat belt use .................................62
Reminder light ....................... 318
Seat belt extenders .................62
Seat belt pretensioners ...........61
Seats
Adjustment ..............................40
Adjustment precautions...........42
Child seats/child restraint system installation ...... 102, 106
Cleaning ................................ 238
Folding down the rear seat......45
Folding down the rear seat precautions ...........................49
Front seat adjustment .............40
Front seat adjustment
precautions ...........................42
Head restraint..........................50
Properly sitting in the seat .......83
Service reminder indicators .............................. 145
Shift lever Automatic transmission ......... 132
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P...................... 339
Manual transmission ............. 134
Shift lock system ..................... 339
Side airbags................................85 Side marker lights
Replacing light bulbs ............. 294
Switch ................................... 149
Wattage................................. 360
Side mirror
Adjusting ................................. 68
Defogger ............................... 193
Folding .................................... 69
Spare tire Identification number............. 364
Inflation pressure .......... 272, 359
Information ............................ 364
Replacing .............................. 325
Size ....................................... 359
Storage location .................... 325
Spark plug ................................ 356
Specifications .......................... 352
Speedometer ............................ 139
Steering wheel Adjustment .............................. 66
Column lock release ............. 130
Electric power steering.......... 160
EPS ....................................... 160
Specification.......................... 359
Warning light ......................... 316
Stop lights
Replacing light bulbs ............. 294
Wattage................................. 360
Storage features
Auxiliary boxes .............. 220, 225
Bottle holders ................ 220, 223
Cup holders................... 220, 222
Glove boxes .................. 220, 221
Storage precautions ................ 167
Stuck If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................... 348
Sun visors ................................ 227
Switch
Cruise control ........................ 156
Emergency flashers switch.................................. 304
Engine switch ........................ 129S
396 Alphabetical index
High engine coolant temperature ........................ 316
Low brake fluid ...................... 315
Low engine oil pressure ........ 316
Low tire inflation pressure ..... 318
Low washer fluid ................... 318
Malfunction ............................ 316
Open door ............................. 318
Seat belt ................................ 318
Seat belt pretensioner system ................................ 316
SRS ....................................... 316
SRS airbag system ............... 316
Tire pressure ......................... 318
Tire pressure warning system ................................ 318
VSC OFF............................... 316
Washer Checking ............................... 264
Preparing and checking before winter ....................... 169
Switch.................................... 152
Warning light ......................... 318
Washing and waxing ............... 236
Weight Cargo capacity ...................... 165
Load limits ............................. 168
Weight ................................... 352
Wheels ...................................... 276
Window
glasses ............71, 193, 236, 238
Window lock switch ...................72
Windows
Cleaning and protecting .................... 236, 238
Power windows .......................71
Rear window defogger .......... 193
Washer .................................. 152
Windshield wipers ................... 152
Wireless remote control key Replacing the key battery...... 281
Wireless remote control ..........28
WMA disc .................................. 208