TIRES — GENERAL
INFORMATION
TIRE PRESSURE
Proper tire inflation pressure is essen-
tial to the safe and satisfactory opera-
tion of your vehicle. Three primary
areas are affected by improper tire
pressure:
SafetyWARNING!
Improperly inflated tires are dan-gerous and can cause collisions.
Under-inflation increases tire
flexing and can result in over-
heating and tire failure.
Over-inflation reduces a tire's ability to cushion shock. Objects
on the road and chuckholes can
cause damage that result in tire
failure.
Over-inflated or under-inflated
tires can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, resulting in
loss of vehicle control.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
Unequal tire pressures can cause steering problems. You could lose
control of your vehicle.
Unequal tire pressures from one side of the vehicle to the other can
cause the vehicle to drift to the
right or left.
Always drive with each tire in- flated to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure.
Economy
Improper inflation pressures can
cause uneven wear patterns to de-
velop across the tire tread. These ab-
normal wear patterns will reduce
tread life resulting in a need for earlier
tire replacement. Under-inflation also
increases tire rolling resistance result-
ing in higher fuel consumption.
Ride Comfort And Vehicle
Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a
comfortable ride. Over-inflation pro-
duces a jarring and uncomfortable
ride. TIRE INFLATION
PRESSURES
The proper cold tire inflation pressure
is listed on the driver's side B-Pillar or
rear edge of the driver's side door.
Some vehicles may have Supplemen-
tal Tire Pressure Information for ve-
hicle loads that are less than the maxi-
mum loaded vehicle condition. These
pressure conditions will be found in
the “Supplemental Tire Pressure In-
formation” section of this manual.
The pressure should be checked and
adjusted as well as inspecting for signs
of tire wear or visible damage at least
once a month. Use a good quality
pocket-type gauge to check tire pres-
sure. Do not make a visual judgement
when determining proper inflation.
Radial tires may look properly in-
flated even when they are under-
inflated.
157
Over 40 auto manufacturer's world
wide have issued and endorsed con-
sistent gasoline specifications (the
Worldwide Fuel Charter, WWFC)
which define fuel properties necessary
to deliver enhanced emissions, perfor-
mance, and durability for your ve-
hicle. The manufacturer recommends
the use of gasoline that meets the
WWFC specifications if they are
available.
METHANOL(Methyl or Wood Alcohol) is used in a
variety of concentrations when blended
with unleaded gasoline. You may find
fuels containing 3% or more methanol
along with other alcohols called cosol-
vents. Problems that result from using
methanol/gasoline or E-85 Ethanol
blends are not the responsibility of the
manufacturer. While MTBE is an oxy-
genate made from Methanol, it does not
have the negative effects of Methanol.
CAUTION!Do not use gasolines containing
Methanol or E-85 Ethanol. Use of
these blends may result in starting
and driveability problems and may
damage critical fuel system compo-
nents.ETHANOL
The manufacturer recommends that
your vehicle be operated on fuel con-
taining no more than 10% ethanol.
Purchasing your fuel from a reputable
supplier may reduce the risk of ex-
ceeding this 10% limit and/or of re-
ceiving fuel with abnormal properties.
It should also be noted that an in-
crease in fuel consumption should be
expected when using ethanol-blended
fuels, due to the lower energy content
of ethanol. Problems that result from
using methanol/gasoline or E-85
ethanol blends are not the responsibil-
ity of the manufacturer. While MTBE
is an oxygenate made from Methanol,
it does not have the negative effects of
Methanol.
CAUTION!
Use of fuel with Ethanol content
higher than 10% may result in en-
gine malfunction, starting and op-
erating difficulties, and materials
degradation. These adverse effects
could result in permanent damage
to your vehicle.
CLEAN AIR GASOLINEMany gasolines are now being blended
to contribute to cleaner air, especially in
those areas where air pollution levels are
high. These new blends provide a
cleaner burning fuel and some are re-
ferred to as “reformulated gasoline.”The manufacturer supports these ef-
forts toward cleaner air. You can help
by using these blends as they become
available.
165
