
460 6-1. Specifications
Tire size
■Typical tire size information
The illustration indicates typical
tire size.
Tire use
(P = Passenger car,
T = Temporary use)
Section width (millimeters)
Aspect ratio
(tire height to section width)
Tire construction code
(R = Radial, D = Diagonal)
Wheel diameter (inches)
Load index (2 or 3 digits)
Speed symbol
(alphabet with one letter)
■Tire dimensions
Section width
Tire height
Wheel diameter

462 6-1. Specifications
■Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1-1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance 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 AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C,
and they represent the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turn-
ing) traction.
■Temperature A, B, C
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 speci-
fied indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passen-
ger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dard No.109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the labo-
ratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.

464 6-1. Specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Normal occupant
weight150 lb. (68 kg) times the number of occupants
specified in the second column of Table 1
* that
follows
Occupant distributionDistribution of occupants in a vehicle as speci-
fied in the third column of Table 1
* below
Production options
weightThe combined weight of installed regular pro-
duction options weighing over 5 lb. (2.3 kg) in
excess of the standard items which they
replace, not previously considered in curb
weight or accessory weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim
RimA metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are seated
Rim diameter
(Wheel diameter)Nominal diameter of the bead seat
Rim size designation Rim diameter and width
Rim type designationThe industry manufacturer's designation for a
rim by style or code
Rim width Nominal distance between rim flanges
Vehicle capacity
weight (Total load
capacity)The rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lb.
(68 kg) times the vehicle's designated seating
capacity
Vehicle maximum load
on the tireThe load on an individual tire that is determined
by distributing to each axle its share of the
maximum loaded vehicle weight, and dividing
by two
Vehicle normal load
on the tireThe 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
Ta b l e 1
* below), and dividing by two

467 6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
Tire related termMeaning
Ply A layer of rubber-coated parallel cords
Ply separationA parting of rubber compound between adja-
cent plies
Pneumatic tireA 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 tireA 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 widthThe linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding ele-
vations due to labeling, decoration, or protec-
tive bands
SidewallThat portion of a tire between the tread and
bead
Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from the
cord material in the sidewall
Snow tireA 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
Signal 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 mThe rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and
may be any rim listed as appropriate for use
with that tire

468 6-1. Specifications
*: Table 1 Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load
for various designated seating capacities
Tire related termMeaning
TreadThat portion of a tire that comes into contact
with the road
Tread ribA tread section running circumferentially
around a tire
Tread separation Pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass
Treadwear indicators
(TWI)The projections within the principal grooves
designed to give a visual indication of the
degrees of wear of the tread
Wheel-holding fixtureThe fixture used to hold the wheel and tire
assembly securely during testing
Designated seating
capacity, Number of
occupantsVehicle normal load,
Number of occupantsOccupant distribution in
a normally loaded vehi-
cle
2 through 4 2 2 in front
5 through 10 32 in front, 1 in second
seat
11 through 15 52 in front, 1 in second
seat, 1 in third seat, 1
in fourth seat
16 through 20 72 in front, 2 in second
seat, 2 in third seat, 1
in fourth seat

486
Abbreviation list
Abbreviation/Acronym list
ABBREVIATIONSMEANING
2WD 2 Wheel Drive
4WD 4 Wheel Drive
A/C Air Conditioning
ABS Anti-lock Brake System
ACC Accessory
ALR Automatic Locking Retractor
AWD All Wheel Drive
CRS Child Restraint System
ECU Electronic Control Unit
EDR Event Data Recorder
ELR Emergency Locking Retractor
EPS Electric Power Steering
GAWR Gross Axle Weight Rating
GCWR Gross Combination Weight Rating
GVWR Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
I/M Emission inspection and maintenance
LATCH Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children
LED Light Emitting Diode
M + S Mud and Snow
MMT Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl
MTBE Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether
OBD On Board Diagnostics
SRS Supplemental Restraint System
TIN Tire Identification Number
TPMS Tire Pressure Warning System
TRAC Traction Control
TWR Trailer Weight Rating

488
Alphabetical index
Alphabetical index
A/C ............................................. 186
ABS ........................................... 152
Active Torque Control 4WD
system .................................... 152
Air conditioning filter............... 365
Air conditioning system
Air conditioning filter .............. 365
Air conditioning
system ................................ 186
Airbags
Airbag operating conditions.....76
Airbag precautions for your
child ......................................80
Airbag warning light............... 398
Curtain shield airbag
operating conditions..............76
Curtain shield airbag
precautions ...........................80
Front passenger occupant
classification system .............85
General airbag precautions .....80
Locations of airbags ................73
Modification and disposal of
airbags ..................................84
Proper driving posture .......71, 80
Side airbag operating
conditions..............................76
Side airbag precautions ..........80
SRS airbags ............................73
Antenna..................................... 205
Anti-lock brake system............ 152
Ashtray...................................... 293
Assist grips .............................. 300
Audio input ............................... 246Audio system
Antenna................................. 205
Audio input ............................ 246
AUX port ............................... 246
CD player/changer ................ 207
iPod ....................................... 225
MP3/WMA disc ..................... 215
Optimal use ........................... 242
Portable music player ........... 246
Radio..................................... 203
Steering wheel audio
switch.................................. 248
Type ...................................... 194
USB memory......................... 234
Automatic transmission
Automatic transmission ......... 122
If the shift lever cannot be
shifted from P ..................... 423
S mode.................................. 124
AUX port ................................... 246
Auxiliary boxes ................ 288, 303A

495 Alphabetical index
Seat belts
Adjusting the seat belt ............ 48
Automatic Locking
Retractor .............................. 49
Child restraint system
installation ............................ 94
Cleaning and maintaining
the seat belts...................... 318
Emergency Locking
Retractor .............................. 49
How to wear your seat belt ..... 48
How your child should wear
the seat belt ......................... 50
Pregnant women, proper seat
belt use ................................ 50
Reminder light ...................... 400
Seat belt extenders ................ 50
Seat belt pretensioners .......... 49
Seatback table ......................... 299
Seating capacity ...................... 161
Seats
Adjustment ............................. 40
Adjustment precautions .......... 42
Child seats/child restraint
system installation................ 94
Cleaning ............................... 317
Head restraint ......................... 46
Properly sitting in the seat ...... 71
Rear seat folding down........... 44
Seatback table...................... 299
Service reminder
indicators .............................. 135Shift lever
Automatic transmission .........122
If the shift lever cannot
be shifted from P................. 423
Manual transmission .............127
Shift lock system .....................423
Side airbags................................73
Side marker lights
Replacing light bulbs .............378
Switch....................................138
Wattage .................................453
Side mirror
Adjusting .................................57
Spare tire
Inflation pressure...................358
Storage location ....................408
Spark plug ................................446
Specifications...........................438
Speedometer ............................132
Steering
Column lock release..............120
Steering wheel
Adjustment ..............................54
Audio switches ......................248
Stop lights
Replacing light bulbs .............378
Wattage .................................453
Storage feature.........................283
Storage precautions ................157
Stuck
If your vehicle becomes
stuck ...................................433
Sun visors.................................290S