
500 6-1. Specifications
Typical DOT and tire identification number (TIN)DOT symbol*
Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
Tire manufacturer's identifica-
tion mark
Tire size code
Manufacturer's optional tire
type code (3 or 4 letters)
Manufacturing week
Manufacturing year
*: The DOT symbol certifies thatthe tire conforms to applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards.
Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( P. 384)
Maximum cold tire in flation pressure ( P. 494)
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
Summer tire or all season tire ( P. 385)
An all season tire has “M+S” on the sidewall. A tire not marked
“M+S” is a summer tire.

504 6-1. Specifications
Warning: The temperature grades for this tire are established for a
tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire fail-
ure.
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation pres-
sure Tire pressure when the vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more, or has not
been driven more than 1 mile or 1.5 km under
that condition
Maximum inflation
pressure The maximum cold inflated
pressure to which a
tire may be inflated, s hown on the sidewall of
the tire
Recommended infla-
tion pressure Cold tire inflation pressure recommended by a
manufacturer
Accessory weight The combined weight (in excess of those stan-
dard items which may be replaced) of auto-
matic transmission, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, radio
and heater, to the extent that these items are
available as factory-installed equipment
(whether installed or not)
Curb weight The weight of a motor vehicle with standard
equipment, including the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil and coolant, and if so equipped, air
conditioning and additional weight optional
engine
Maximum loaded vehi-
cle weight The sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight
(d) Production options weight

506 6-1. Specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Weather side The surface area of the rim not covered by the
inflated tire
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
Bead separation A breakdown of the bond between components
in the bead
Bias ply tire A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid at alternate angles
substantially less than 90 degrees to the cen-
terline of the tread
Carcass The tire structure, except tread and sidewall
rubber which, when inflated, bears the load
Chunking The breaking away of pieces of the tread or
sidewall
Cord The strands forming the plies in the tire
Cord separation The parting of cords from adjacent rubber com-
pounds
Cracking Any parting within the tread, sidewall, or inner-
liner of the tire ext
ending to cord material
CT A pneumatic tire with an inverted flange tire
and rim system in which the rim is designed
with rim flanges pointed radially inward and the
tire is designed to fit on the underside of the
rim in a manner that encloses the rim flanges
inside the air cavity of the tire
Extra load tire A tire designed to operate at higher loads and
at higher inflation pressures than the corre-
sponding standard tire
Groove The space between two adjacent tread ribs
Innerliner The layer(s) forming the inside surface of a
tubeless tire that contains the inflating medium
within the tire

507
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Innerliner separation The parting of the innerliner from cord material
in the carcass
Intended outboard
sidewall (a) The sidewall that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering, or bears manufac-
turer, brand, and/or model name molding
that is higher or deeper than the same
molding on the other sidewall of the tire, or
(b) The outward facing sidewall of an asym- metrical tire that has a particular side that
must always face outward when mounted
on a vehicle
Light truck (LT) tire A tire designated by its manufacturer as prima-
rily intended for use on lightweight trucks or
multipurpose passenger vehicles
Load rating The maximum load that a tire is rated to carry
for a given inflation pressure
Maximum load rating The load rating for a tire at the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure for that tire
Maximum permissible
inflation pressure The maximum cold inflation pressure to which
a tire may be inflated
Measuring rim The rim on which a tire is fitted for physical
dimension requirements
Open splice Any parting at any junction of tread, sidewall, or
innerliner that extends to cord material
Outer diameter The overall diameter of an inflated new tire
Overall width The linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, including eleva-
tions due to labeling, decorations, or protective
bands or ribs
Passenger car tire A tire intended for use on passenger cars, mul-
tipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that
have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of
10,000 lb. or less.

508 6-1. Specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Ply A layer of rubber-coated parallel cords
Ply separation A 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
Sidewall That portion of a tire between the tread and
bead
Sidewall separation The 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

531
Abbreviation list
TPMS Tire Pressure Warning System
TRAC Traction control VIN Vehicle Identification Number
VSC Vehicle Stability Control
ABBREVIATIONSMEANING

538 Alphabetical index
Seat beltsAdjusting the seat belt .............70
Automatic Locking
Retractor ...............................73
Child restraint system
installation ........................... 123
Cleaning and maintaining the seat belts ...................... 350
Emergency Locking Retractor ...............................73
How to wear your seat belt......70
How your child should wear
the seat belt ..........................74
Pregnant women,
proper seat belt use ..............73
Reminder light ....................... 438
Seat belt extenders .................75
Seat belt pretensioners ...........72
Seat heaters.............................. 335
Seating capacity....................... 215
Seats Adjustment ........................50, 55
Adjustment precaution ......54, 63
Child seats/child restraint system installation .............. 123
Cleaning ................................ 349
Head restraints ........................66
Properly sitting in the seat .......99
Seat heaters .......................... 335
Service reminder indicators .............................. 161
Shift lever
Automatic transmission ......... 152
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P................. 469
Shift lock system ..................... 469
Side airbags.............................. 101
Side marker lights Replacing light bulbs ............. 413
Switch.................................... 167
Wattage ................................. 495
Side mirrors Adjusting and folding ...............81 Smart key system
Entry function .......................... 26
Starting the engine ................ 145
Spare tire Inflation pressure .................. 494
Storage location .................... 449
Spark plug ................................ 491
Specifications .......................... 484
Speech command switch ........ 286
Speedometer ............................ 158
Steering Column lock release ..... 147, 150
Steering wheel Adjustment .............................. 78
Audio switches ...................... 278
Stop lights Replacing light bulbs ............. 413
Wattage................................. 495
Storage feature ........................ 319
Storage precautions ................ 212
Stuck If your vehicle becomes stuck ................................... 478
Sun visors ................................ 327
Switch Emergency flasher switch ..... 424
Engine switch ................ 146, 149
Fog light switch ..................... 171
Hazard light switch ................ 424
Ignition switch ............... 146, 149
Light switches ....................... 167
Power door lock switch ........... 43
Power window switches .......... 83
Window lock switch ................. 83
Wiper and washer
switch.......................... 173, 177S

539
Alphabetical index
Tachometer .............................. 158
Tail lights
Replacing light bulbs ............ 413
Switch ................................... 167
Wattage ................................ 495
Talk switch ............................... 286
Telephone switch .................... 286
Theft deterrent system Engine immobilizer system..... 95
Theft prevention labels ............. 98
Tire inflation pressure ............ 388
Tire information Glossary ............................... 504
Size ...................................... 501
Tire identification number ..... 500
Uniform tire quality grading ............................... 502
Tires Chains .................................. 217
Checking .............................. 381
If you have a flat tire ............. 449
Inflation pressure .................. 388
Information ........................... 499
Replacing ............................. 449
Rotating tires ........................ 381
Size ...................................... 494
Snow tires............................. 217
Tire pressure warning system........................ 381, 438
Tools......................................... 449
Total load capacity .................. 215
Towing Dinghy towing ....................... 231
Emergency towing ................ 426
Trailer towing ........................ 221
Traction control ....................... 191
TRAC ........................................ 191
Trip information....................... 164
Trip meter................................. 158
Turn signal lights Replacing light bulbs ............ 413
Switch ................................... 155
Wattage ................................ 495 Utility vehicle precautions ......204
Valet key .....................................24
Vanity lights
Vanity lights ...........................328
Wattage .................................495
Vanity mirrors...........................328
Vehicle identification
number ...................................486
Vehicle Stability Control..........191
VSC............................................191
Warning buzzers
Brake system ........................436
Seat belt reminder .................438
Warning lights Active Torque Control 4WD system ...............437, 438
Anti-lock brake system ..........437
Automatic transmission fluid temperature ................. 438
Brake assist system ..............437
Brake system ........................436
Charging system .... ...............437
Cruise control indicator light .....................................437
Electric power steering ..........437
Engine oil pressure ...............437
Low fuel level ........................438
Low washer fluid ...................438
Maintenance required
reminder light ......................438
Malfunction indicator lamp ....437
Open door .............................438
Pretensioners ........................437
Seat belt reminder light .........438
Slip indicator light ..................437
Smart key system... ...............442
SRS airbags ..........................437
Tire pressure warning light ....438TU
V
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