2012 CHRYSLER 200 CONVERTIBLE spare tire

Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make Outside
The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for cuts
and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness. Check the tires
(including spare) for proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of exterior lights
while you work the controls. Check turn signal and high
beam indicator lights on the instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for fuel,
engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline
fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering fluid, or
brake fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be
located and corrected immediately.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 85

engine running. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” comes on continuously with the engine
running, a malfunction has been detected in the ESC
system. If this light remains on after several ignition
cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several miles
(kilometers) at speeds greater than 30 mph (48 km/h), see
your authorized dealer as soon as possible to have the
problem diagnosed and corrected.
NOTE:
•The “ESC Off Indicator Light” and the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” come on mo-
mentarily each time the ignition switch is turned to
ON/RUN.
•Each time the ignition is turned to ON/RUN, the ESC
system will be ON, even if it was turned off previously.
•The ESC system will make buzzing or clicking sounds
when it is active. This is normal; the sounds will stop
when ESC becomes inactive following the maneuver
that caused the ESC activation.
25. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle
has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
212 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

▫Traction ........................... 320
 Driving Through Water ................. 320
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 320
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 321
 Power Steering ....................... 322
▫ Power Steering Fluid Check ............. 323
 Parking Brake ........................ 324
 Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............ 326
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 329
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 329
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 329
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 330
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 331▫
ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC Off Indicator Light ............ 333
 Tire Safety Information ................. 334
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 334
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 338
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 339
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 340
 Tires — General Information ............. 344
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 344
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 345
▫ Radial-Ply Tires ..................... 347
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped .............. 347
▫ Compact Spare Tire – If Equipped ........ 348
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▫Full Size Spare – If Equipped ............ 349
▫ Limited-Use Spare – If Equipped ......... 349
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 350
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 350
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 351
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 352
 Tire Chains .......................... 354
 Snow Tires .......................... 354
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 354
 Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) ....... 355
▫ Base System ........................ 358
▫ Premium System – If Equipped .......... 360
▫ General Information .................. 363 
Fuel Requirements ..................... 364
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 364
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 365
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 365
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 366
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 366
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 367
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 368
 Flexible Fuel (3.6L Engine Only) —
If Equipped .......................... 368
▫ E-85 General Information ............... 368
▫ Ethanol Fuel (E-85) ................... 369
▫ Fuel Requirements ................... 370
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NOTE:
•P (Passenger) - Metric tire sizing is based on U.S.
design standards. P-Metric tires have the letter “P”
molded into the sidewall preceding the size designa-
tion. Example: P215/65R15 95H.
•European-Metric tire sizing is based on European
design standards. Tires designed to this standard have
the tire size molded into the sidewall beginning with
the section width. The letterPis absent from this tire
size designation. Example: 215/65R15 96H.
•LT (Light Truck) - Metric tire sizing is based on U.S.
design standards. The size designation for LT-Metric tires is the same as for P-Metric tires except for the
letters “LT” that are molded into the sidewall preced-
ing the size designation. Example: LT235/85R16.
•Temporary spare tires are spares designed for tempo-
rary emergency use only. Temporary high pressure
compact spare tires have the letter “T” or “S” molded
into the sidewall preceding the size designation. Ex-
ample: T145/80D18 103M.
•High flotation tire sizing is based on U.S. design
standards and it begins with the tire diameter molded
into the sidewall. Example: 31x10.5 R15 LT.5
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Tire Sizing Chart
EXAMPLE:
Size Designation:
P= Passenger car tire size based on U.S. design standards
....blank.... = Passenger car tire based on European design standards
LT = Light truck tire based on U.S. design standards
TorS= Temporary spare tire
31 = Overall diameter in inches (in)
215 = Section width in millimeters (mm)
65 = Aspect ratio in percent (%)
— Ratio of section height to section width of tire
10.5 = Section width in inches (in)
R = Construction code
—R means radial construction
— D means diagonal or bias construction
15 = Rim diameter in inches (in)
336 STARTING AND OPERATING

Tire Loading And Tire Pressure
Tire And Loading Information Placard Location
NOTE:The proper cold tire inflation pressure is listed
on the driver ’s side B-Pillar or the rear edge of the
driver’s side door.
Tire And Loading Information Placard
This placard tells you important information about the:
1) number of people that can be carried in the vehicle
2) total weight your vehicle can carry
3) tire size designed for your vehicle
4) cold tire inflation pressures for the front, rear, and
spare tires.
Tire Placard Location
Tire and Loading Information Placard
340 STARTING AND OPERATING

loading may be required for high-speed vehicle opera-
tion. Refer to original equipment or an authorized tire
dealer for recommended safe operating speeds, loading
and cold tire inflation pressures.
WARNING!
High speed driving with your vehicle under maxi-
mum load is dangerous. The added strain on your
tires could cause them to fail. You could have a
serious collision. Do not drive a vehicle loaded to the
maximum capacity at continuous speeds above
75 mph (120 km/h).
Radial-Ply Tires
WARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with other types of tires
on your vehicle will cause your vehicle to handle
poorly. The instability could cause a collision. Al-
ways use radial ply tires in sets of four. Never
combine them with other types of tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are repairable only in
the tread area because of sidewall flexing. Consult your
authorized tire dealer for radial tire repairs.
Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire And
Wheel – If Equipped
Your vehicle may be equivalent with a spare tire and
wheel in look and function as the original equipment tire
and wheel found on the front or rear axle of your vehicle.
This spare tire may be used in the tire rotation for your
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