2012 MITSUBISHI LANCER tires

6-10 For emergencies
6
NOTE
The chocks shown in the illustration do not come with
your vehicle. It is recommended that you purchase chocks
or blocks and keep them in the vehicle for use if needed.

If chocks or blocks are not available, use stones or any
other objects that are large enough to hold the wheel in
position.
6. Get the jack, bar and wheel nut wrench ready.
Refer to “Tools and jack” on page 6-7.Spare tire information
N00849600298
Compact spare tireThe compact spare tire is designed to save space in the trunk.
Its lighter weight makes it easier to use if a flat tire occurs.
WA R N I N G
!
Be sure to apply chocks or blocks to the correct tire
when jacking up the vehicle. If the vehicle moves
while jacked up, the jack could slip out of position,
leading to an accident.
WA R N I N G
!
Tires, including spare tire, degrade over time with
age even when they are not being used. It is recom-
mended that tires over 6 years generally be replaced
even if damage is not obvious.
CAUTION
!
While the compact spare tire is stowed, the inflation
pressure should be checked at least once a month to
assure that it remains at the recommended inflation
pressure. See the tire and loading information plac-
ard attached to the driver’s door sill.
Refer to “Tire and loading information placard” on
page 9-4.
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 7-32.
The compact spare tire should be used only tempo-
rarily. While the compact spare tire is being used,
the tire pressure monitoring system will not function
properly. Have the tire replaced or repaired at an
authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair
facility of your choice as soon as possible.
If your vehicle has aluminum type wheels, you can
use the same wheel nuts on the compact spare tire
wheel.
Do not go over 50 mph (80 km/h) when driving with
the compact spare tire.
Avoid fast starting and braking when driving with
the compact spare tire.
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For emergencies
6-11
6
To remove the compact spare tire
N00849700228
1. Lift up the luggage floor board.
For front-wheel drive vehicles, pull the luggage floor
board (A) rearward to release the hooks (B), and then lift
it up.

Do not drive through automatic car washes and over
obstacles that could possibly damage the underside
of your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is
smaller than the original tire, there is less clearance
between the ground and your vehicle.
Because the compact spare tire is designed only for
your vehicle, do not use it on any other vehicle.
Do not put the compact spare tire on a different
wheel, and do not put standard tires, snow tires,
wheel covers or trim rings on the compact spare
wheel. Otherwise, you could damage these parts or
other parts on your vehicle.
Do not use snow chain with your compact spare tire.
Using a chain could cause damage to your vehicle
and loss of the chains.
CAUTION
!
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For emergencies
6-15
6
5. Remove the wheel nuts with the wheel nut wrench, then
take the wheel off. 6. Clean out any mud, etc. on the hub surface (F), hub bolts
(G) or in the installation holes (H) in the wheel, and then
mount the spare tire.
The jack should not be used for any purpose other
than to change a tire.
No one should be in your vehicle when using the
jack.
Do not start or run the engine while your vehicle is
on the jack.
Do not turn the raised wheel. The tires that are still
on the ground could turn and make your vehicle fall
off the jack.
CAUTION
!
Handle the wheel carefully when changing the tire,
to avoid scratching the wheel surface.
WA R N I N G
!
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For emergencies
6-25
6
On wet roads 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 7-37 and “Tire chains” on page 7-37.

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.
CAUTION
!
Avoid flooded roads. Water is often deeper than it
looks, and you could be seriously hurt by driving
into flood water.
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.
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.
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6-26 For emergencies
6
On a bumpy or rutted road
Drive as slow as possible when driving on bumpy or rut-
ted roads or over potholes etc.
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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7
Vehicle care and maintenance
Service precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 2
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 3
Engine hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 4
View of the engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 7
Engine oil and oil filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 8
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 12
Air cleaner filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 15
Manual transaxle oil (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . .7- 18
Continuously variable transmission (CVT) fluid
(if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 18
Twin Clutch Sportronic shift transmission
(Twin Clutch SST) fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . .7- 19
Transfer oil (All-wheel drive models) . . . . . . . . . .7- 19
Rear axle oil (All-wheel drive models) . . . . . . . . .7- 20
AWC control fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 20
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 21
Brake fluid/Clutch fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . . . .7- 21
Power steering fluid (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . . . .7- 22
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 23
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7- 29
Clutch pedal free play (if so equipped) . . . . . . . . .7- 38Brake pedal free play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 38
Parking brake lever stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 39
Parking brake break-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 39
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 40
Emission-control system maintenance . . . . . . . . . 7- 40
General maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 43
For cold and snowy weather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 45
Fusible links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 45
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 46
Replacement of light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 55
Vehicle care precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 88
Cleaning the inside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 89
Cleaning the outside of your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 7- 91
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Vehicle care and maintenance
7-29
7 Tires
N00939200481
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, including spare tire, degrade over time with
age even when they are not being used. It is recom-
mended that tires over 6 years generally be replaced
even if damage is not obvious.
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7-30 Vehicle care and maintenance
7

Cord: the strands forming the plies in the tire.

Rim: a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated.

Rim diameter: nominal diameter of the bead seat.

Groove: the space between two adjacent tread ribs.Tire Markings
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.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)
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