
427
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Tire ply composition and materials
Plies are layers of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cords are the
strands which form the plies in a tire.
Radial tires or bias-ply tires
A radial tire has “RADIAL” on the sidewall. A tire not marked
“RADIAL” is a bias-ply tire.
TUBELESS or TUBE TYPE
A tubeless tire does not have a tube and air is directly filled in the
tire. A tube type tire has a tube inside the tire and the tube main-
tains the air pressure.
Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure (→P. 3 1 1 )
Maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( →P. 420)
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
Summer tire or all season tire ( →P. 3 1 1 )
An all season tire has “M+S” on the sidewall. A tire not marked
“M+S” is a summer tire.
“TEMPORARY USE ONLY” ( →P. 383)
A compact spare tire is identified by the phrase “TEMPORARY
USE ONLY” molded into its sidewall. This tire is designed for tem-
porary emergency use only.

432
6-1. Specifications
Warning: The temperature grades of a tire assume that it 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
pressure 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, shown on the sidewall of
the tire
Recommended
inflation 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
vehicle weight The sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight
(d) Production options weight

434
6-1. Specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Vehicle normal load
on the tire The load on an individual tire that is determined
by distributing to each axle its share of curb
weight, accessory weight, and normal occu-
pant weight (distributed in accordance with
Table 1
* below), and dividing by two
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 extending 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

435
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Tire related termMeaning
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
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 manufacturer, 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 asymmet-
rical tire that has a particular side that must
always face outward when mounted on a vehi-
cle
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

436
6-1. Specifications
Tire related termMeaning
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.
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

473
Alphabetical index
Daytime running light system ................................... 203
Defogger
Rear window......................... 250
Side mirror ............................ 250
Dimension ................................ 410
Dinghy towing ......................... 231
Display
Multi-information display....... 195
Trip information .................... 196
Do-it-yourself maintenance .... 289
Door courtesy lights Door courtesy lights.............. 253
Wattage ................................ 421
Doors Door lock .................... 23, 37, 42
Door windows ......................... 70
Side mirrors ............................ 67
Driver's seatbelt
reminder light ........................ 367
Driving
Break-in tips ......................... 149
Correct posture....................... 85
Procedures ........................... 146
Winter drive tips.................... 226 Electric power steering ...........215
Emergency, in case of
If the access key does not operate properly............394
If the engine will not start ...... 389
If the select lever cannot
be shifted from P.................392
If the vehicle has a discharged battery ..............398
If the warning buzzer sounds ................................364
If the warning light
turns on ...............................364
If you have a flat tire .............378
If you lose your keys .............393
If you think something is wrong ..................................362
If your vehicle becomes
stuck ...................................406
If your vehicle needs to be towed .............................355
If your vehicle overheats ....... 403DE

478
Alphabetical index
SeatsAdjustment ..............................51
Adjustment precautions...........52
Child seats/child restraint system installation ..............136
Cleaning ................................ 276
Head restraint..........................56
Properly sitting in the seat.......85
Seat heaters.......................... 266
Service reminder indicators ..............................190
Shift lever
Automatic transmission ......... 172
If the select lever cannot
be shifted from P.................392
Manual transmission ............. 179
Shift lock system ..................... 392
Side airbags................................87
Side maker lights Replacing light bulbs ............. 337
Switch.................................... 200
Wattage.................................421
Side mirror
Adjusting and folding...............67
Keyless access with
push button start system Antenna location .....................25
“Keyless access” entry function .................................23
Starting the engine ................ 160 Spare tire
Inflation pressure .................. 420
Storage location .................... 378
Spark plug ................................ 416
Specifications .......................... 410
Speedometer
Speedometer ........................ 185
Steering
Column lock release ............... 65
Steering wheel Adjustment .............................. 65
Storage feature ........................ 255
Stuck
If your vehicle becomes
stuck ................................... 406
Sun visors ................................ 260
Switch Driving mode selector
switch.................................. 174
Engine switch................ 160, 169
Fog light switch ..................... 206
Hazard light switch ................ 354
Hazard warning flasher switch.................................. 354
Ignition switch ............... 160, 169
Light switches ....................... 200
“ODO/TRIP” switch ............... 187
Power door lock
switch.................................... 43
Power window switch .............. 70
Transmission shift
switches ...................... 175, 177
Window lock switch ................. 70
Wiper and washer switch.................................. 207

479
Alphabetical index
TachometerTachometer .......................... 185
Tail lights
Switch ................................... 200
Theft deterrent system Alarm ...................................... 81
Engine immobilizer system..... 77
Theft prevention labels ............. 80
Tire inflation pressure ............ 420
Tire information Glossary ............................... 432
Size ...................................... 429
Tire identification number ..... 428
Uniform tire quality grading ............................... 430
Tires
Chains .................................. 228
Checking .............................. 308
Compact spare tire ............... 378
If you have a flat tire ............. 378
Inflation pressure .................. 315
Inflation pressure sensor ...... 308
Information ........................... 426
Replacing ............................. 378
Rotating tires ........................ 308
Size ...................................... 420
Snow tires............................. 226
Spare tire.............................. 378
Tire pressure monitoring system................................ 367 Tools .........................................378
Towing
Dinghy towing........................231
Emergency towing.................355
TRAC .........................................215
Traction control........................215
Transmission shift switches .........................175, 177
Transmitter Locking/Unlocking ...................37
Replacing the battery ............325
Transmitter ..............................37
Trip meter .................................185
Trunk lid Opener ....................................45
Trunk light Wattage .................................421
Turn signal lights
Replacing light bulbs .............337
Switch....................................182
Wattage .................................421
USB port ...................................252
Vanity lights Vanity lights ...........................261
Wattage .................................421
Vanity mirrors...........................261
Vehicle identification number ...................................411
Vehicle stability control
(VSC) .......................................215
Vehicle stability control
(VSC) SPORT mode ...............217T
U
V