2012 MITSUBISHI iMiEV wheel

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
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6-20 For emergencies
6
WA R N I N G
!
Never tow the vehicle with rear wheels (drive
wheels) on the ground. This may cause damage to
the electric motors. Also this may cause a fire, if wir-
ing in the electric motor unit room becomes dam-
aged.Towing with all wheels on the ground
Towing with front wheels off the ground
CAUTION
!
Never tow the vehicle using a sling type truck.
Doing so will damage the bumper and/or body.
CAUTION
!
Never attempt to tow the vehicle using another vehi-
cle with a rope.
Never tow another vehicle using your i-MiEVTowing with a sling-type truck
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For emergencies
6-21
6
If a wheel gets stuck in a ditch, do not try to tow the vehicle.
Please contact a certified i-MiEV dealer or a commercial tow
truck service for assistance.
There may be local regulations concerning towing in your area.
Obey the regulations in the area where you are driving your
vehicle.Towing the vehicle by a tow truckTowing with rear wheels off the ground
Place the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL) position. Turn
the electric motor switch to the “ACC” position and secure the
steering wheel in a straight-ahead position with a rope or tie-
down strap. Never place the electric motor switch in the
“LOCK” or “ON” position when towing.
WA R N I N G
!
Never get under your vehicle after it has been lifted
by a tow truck.
Never ride in a vehicle that is being towed.
CAUTION
!
If the transmission or the steering system has a
problem or damage, transport the vehicle on a flat-
bed truck or tow the vehicle with the all wheels off
the ground.
If the electric motor switch is in the “ON” position,
the Active Stability Control (ASC) system may oper-
ate, resulting in an accident. Make sure the electric
motor switch is in the “ACC” position before tow-
ing.
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6-22 For emergencies
6Operation under adverse driving conditions
N00837200747
If your vehicle becomes stuck in sand, mud or
snow If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow, sand, or mud, it can
often be moved by a rocking motion. Rock your vehicle back
and forth to free it.
Do not spin the wheels. Constant efforts to free a stuck vehicle
can cause transmission failure.
If your vehicle is still stuck after several rocking attempts, call
for a commercial tow truck service.
On wet roads
WA R N I N G
!
When trying to rock your vehicle out of a stuck posi-
tion, make sure that there are no people nearby. The
rocking motion can make your vehicle suddenly
lurch forward or backward, and injure any
bystanders.
CAUTION
!
Do not drive on a flooded road. If you drive on a
flooded road, not only the electric motor unit stops
but also a failure like electric leakage or short circuit
may occur.
If you inevitably had to run on a flooded road and
the vehicle was exposed to water, be sure to have
your vehicle inspected by a certified i-MiEV dealer.
When driving in rain, on water-covered roads, or
through a car wash, water could get into the brake
discs and make them fail temporarily. In such cases,
lightly press the brake pedal to see if they are work-
ing properly. If they are not, press the pedal lightly
several times while driving to dry the brake pads or
linings, then check them again.
When driving in rain, a layer of water may form
between the tires and the road surface (aquaplan-
ing). This loosens your tires’ grip on the road, mak-
ing it difficult to steer or brake properly. When
driving on a wet road:
• Drive your vehicle at a safe speed.
• Do not drive on worn tires.
• Always keep the tires at the correct inflation pres-
sures.
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For emergencies
6-23
6
On snowy or icy roads
When driving on a road covered with snow or ice, use
snow tires. Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle.
There may be state or local regulations about using snow
tires. Always check the regulations in your local area
before using them. Refer to the section entitled “Snow
tires” on page 7-24 and “Tire chains” on page 7-24.

Drive slowly. Do not make sudden starts or stops, sharp
turns, or slam on the brakes.

Allow extra distance between your vehicle and the vehicle
in front of you, and avoid sudden braking.

If a skid occurs when the accelerator pedal is depressed,
take your foot off the pedal. Steer gently in the direction
of the skid.

Your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system
(ABS), hold the brake pedal down firmly and keep it
depressed. Do not pump the brake pedal which will result
in reduced braking performance.

After parking on snowy or icy road, it may be difficult to
move your vehicle due to freeze-up of the brake. Depress
the accelerator pedal little by little to move the vehicle
after confirming safety of the vehicle.
On a bumpy or rutted road
Drive as slow as possible when driving on bumpy or rut-
ted roads or over potholes etc.
CAUTION
!
Do not depress the accelerator pedal rapidly. The
vehicle could start moving when it breaks free from
the ice, possibly resulting in an accident.
CAUTION
!
Driving on bumpy, rutted roads or over potholes can
damage the tires and wheels.
Wheels with low-profiles tires or under-inflated tires
are especially at risk for damage.
The vehicle’s body, bumper, muffler and other parts
may be damaged if the vehicle is:
• driven over a step (for example, at the entrance or
exit of a parking lot);
• parked too closely against a curb or parking block,
or by the side of a road with curbstones;
• driven on a steep slope.
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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.)
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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
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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.
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