2012 MITSUBISHI iMiEV tire pressure

6-18 For emergencies
6
18. When you have inflated the tire to the specified pressure,
stow the compressor, bottle, and other items in the vehicle
and make sure that the seat cushion is properly secured.
(Refer to “Tire repair kit storage” on page 6-8.) Promptly
start driving the vehicle so that the tire sealant can spread
evenly in the tire. Drive with great care. Do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h). Observe local speed limits.19. After driving for 10 minutes or 3 miles (5 km), park the
vehicle in safe place. Remove the air compressor from the
stowed position. (Refer to “Tire repair kit storage” on
page 6-8.) Check the tire pressure using the air pressure
gauge on the compressor. (Refer to “Tire inflation pres-
sures” on page 7-21.)
If the tire pressure is not sufficient, inflate the tire to the
specified pressure again and drive the vehicle carefully
without exceeding a speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Before driving, stow the compressor and make sure that
the rear seat cushion is properly secured. (Refer to “Tire
repair kit storage” on page 6-8.)
CAUTION
!
If you sense any abnormality while driving, stop the
vehicle and contact a certified i-MiEV dealer. Other-
wise the tire pressure may drop before the emer-
gency repair procedure is completed, rendering the
vehicle unsafe to drive.
CAUTION
!
If the tire pressure is lower than the minimum per-
mitted pressure (18 psi {130 kPa}), the tire cannot
successfully be repaired with the tire sealant. Do not
drive the vehicle any further. Contact a certified i-
MiEV dealer.
BK0140800US.book 18 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

For emergencies
6-19
6
20. After driving for 10 minutes or 3 miles (5 km) again,
check the tire pressure using the air pressure gauge on the
compressor. (Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page
7-21.) If the tire pressure has apparently not dropped, the
emergency repair procedure is complete. Before driving,
make sure that the compressor is stowed and the seat
cushion is properly secured. You must still not exceed a
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h). Observe local speed limits.NOTE
If the tire pressure has dropped below the specified level
when you check it at the end of the repair procedure, do
not drive the vehicle any further. Contact a certified i-
MiEV dealer.

In cold conditions (when the ambient temperature is 32 °F
{0 °C} or lower), the time and driving distance necessary
until completion of the repair can become longer than in
warmer conditions, and the tire pressure may drop below
the specified level even after you have inflated the tire the
second time and subsequently driven the vehicle. If this
happens, inflate the tire to the specified pressure once
more, drive for about 10 minutes or 3 miles (5 km), then
check the tire pressure again. If the tire pressure has again
dropped below the specified level, stop driving the vehicle
and contact a certified i-MiEV dealer.

Please give the empty sealant bottle to a certified i-MiEV
dealer or dispose of the sealant bottle according to regula-
tions for the disposal of chemical waste.
To w i n g
N00837000859
If your vehicle needs to be towedIf you need to tow your vehicle, contact a certified i-MiEV
dealer or a commercial tow truck service.
Transport the vehicle on a flatbed truck or tow the vehicle
either with all wheels or the rear wheels (drive wheels) off the
ground.Flat bed type
Dolly type
Towing with rear wheels off the ground
BK0140800US.book 19 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

7-18 Vehicle care and maintenance
7Tires
N00939200540
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following terms:

Cold tire pressure:
• The measured pressure after the vehicle has been parked
for at least three hours,
or
• The measured pressure when the vehicle is driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three
hours.

Maximum inflation pressure: the maximum permissible
cold tire inflation pressure for this tire.

Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure
for optimum tire performance.
Intended outboard sidewall:
• The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white let-
tering or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than the same molding
on the other sidewall of the tire,
or
• The outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that
has a particular side that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.

Passenger car tire: a tire intended for use on passenger
cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that
have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000
pounds or less.

Light truck (LT) tire: a tire designated by its manufacturer
as primarily intended for use on lightweight trucks or mul-
tipurpose passenger vehicles.

Tread: portion of a tire that comes into contact with the
road.

Tread rib: a tread section running circumferentially
around a tire.

Tread separation: pulling away of the tread from the tire
carcass.

Carcass: the tire structure, except tread and sidewall rub-
ber which, when inflated, bears the load.

Sidewall: portion of a tire between the tread and bead.

Section width: the linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due
to labeling, decoration, or protective bands.

Bead: the part of the tire that is made of steel wires,
wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to
fit the rim.

Ply: a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.
WA R N I N G
!
Driving with tires that are worn, damaged or
improperly inflated is dangerous.
These type tire conditions will adversely affect vehi-
cle performance.
These type tire conditions can also cause a tread sep-
aration or blowout which may result in an accident
causing serious injury or death.
Tires degrade over time with age even when they are
not being used. It is recommended that tires over 6
years generally be replaced even if damage is not
obvious.
BK0140800US.book 18 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

7-20 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Service DescriptionEXAMPLE: 95H
Maximum Load
Maximum load indicates the maximum load this tire is
designed to carry.Maximum Pressure
Maximum Pressure indicates the maximum permissible
cold tire inflation pressure for this tire.
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

95Load index
A numerical code associated with the maxi-
mum 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 condi-
tions.
The maximum speed corresponding to the
speed symbol should only be achieved under
specified operating conditions. (i.e. tire pres-
sure, vehicle loading, road conditions and
posted speed limits)
WA R N I N G
!
Overloading of your tire is dangerous. Over-
loading 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.
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
location. (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)
BK0140800US.book 20 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

Vehicle care and maintenance
7-21
7
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 relative perfor-
mance 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
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and
C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave-
ment 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, represent-
ing 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 tempera-
ture 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 Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Tire inflation pressures
N00939300860
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 power.

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 sill of the driver’s door.
(Refer to “Tire and loading information placard” on page 9-4.)
BK0140800US.book 21 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

7-22 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
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.
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 sill of the driver’s door.)

Stay within the recommended load limits.

Make sure that the weight of any load in your vehicle is
evenly distributed.

Drive at safe speeds.
After filling your tires to the correct pressure, check them
for damage and air leaks. Be sure to reinstall the caps on
the valve stems.
Tire size
Front
Rear
145/65R15 72H 250 KPA, 36 PSI —
175/60R15 81H — 250 KPA, 36 PSI
BK0140800US.book 22 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

Vehicle care and maintenance
7-23
7
Replacing tires and wheels
N00939600427
Tire maintenance
N00939700170
The following maintenance steps are recommended:

Check tire pressures regularly.

Have regular maintenance done on the wheel balance and
front and rear suspension alignment.
Tread wear indicators
N00939800214
Tread wear indicators are built into the original equipment tires
on your vehicle to help you know when your tires should be
replaced. Many states have laws requiring that you replace
your tires at this point.
These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread
grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to
1/16 inch (1.6 mm).
When the bands appear next to one another in two or more
places, replace your tires. NOTE
Tire wear indicators can have different marks and loca-
tions depending on the tire manufacturer.
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.
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 a certified
i-MiEV dealer 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
sensor damage, as it will not be possible to install the
tire pressure sensor properly.
1- Location of the tread wear indicator
2- Tread wear indicator
BK0140800US.book 23 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分

7-24 Vehicle care and maintenance
7
Tire rotation
N00939900518
Because the front and rear tires and wheels are not the same
size, do not rotate the front and rear tires.
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
WA R N I N G
!
Rotating tires would compromise the stability and
drivability of the vehicle and could lead to a serious
accident.
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
sensor 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.
BK0140800US.book 24 ページ ２０１１年９月２９日　木曜日　午後３時２８分