driven several kilometers at speeds
greater than 48 km/h, see your autho-
rized dealer as soon as possible to
have the problem diagnosed and
corrected.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” (located in the instru-
ment cluster) starts to flash as soon as
the tires lose traction and the ESC
system becomes active. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” also flashes when TCS is ac-
tive. If the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” begins
to flash during acceleration, ease up
on the accelerator and apply as little
throttle as possible. Be sure to adapt
your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions.
NOTE:
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light”
and the “ESC OFF Indicator
Light” come on momentarily
each time the ignition switch is
turned ON. Each time the ignition is turned
ON, the ESC system will be ON
even if it was turned off
previously.
The ESC system will make buzz- ing or clicking sounds when it is
active. This is normal; the
sounds will stop when ESC be-
comes inactive following the
maneuver that caused the ESC
activation.
The “ESC OFF Indicator
Light” indicates the Elec-
tronic Stability Control
(ESC) is in Partial OFF
mode.
SYNCHRONIZING ESC
If the power supply is inter-
rupted (battery disconnected
or discharged), the “ESC
Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” may illuminate with the
engine running. If this should occur,
turn the steering wheel completely to
the left and then to the right. The “ESC
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light” should go out. However, if the
light remains on, have the ESC and
BAS checked at your authorized dealer
as soon as possible.
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:
Safety
WARNING!
Improperly inflated tires are dan-
gerous and can cause collisions.
Under-inflation increases tire flexing and can result in over-
heating and tire failure.
(Continued)
224
WARNING!(Continued)
Over-inflation reduces a tire'sability 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.
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. Both under-inflation and over-
inflation affect the stability of the ve-
hicle and can produce a feeling of
sluggish response or over responsive-
ness in the steering.
NOTE:
Unequal tire pressures from side
to side may cause erratic and
unpredictable steering re-
sponse.
Unequal tire pressure from side to side may cause the vehicle to
drift left or right.
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. At least once a month:
Check and adjust tire pressure with
a good quality pocket-type pressure
gauge. Do not make a visual judge-
ment when determining proper in-
flation. Tires may look properly in-
flated even when they are under-
inflated.
Inspect tires for signs of tire wear or visible damage.
CAUTION!
After inspecting or adjusting the
tire pressure, always reinstall the
valve stem cap. This will prevent
moisture and dirt from entering the
valve stem, which could damage
the valve stem.
Inflation pressures specified on the
placard are always “cold tire inflation
pressure”. Cold tire inflation pressure
is defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than
1.6 km after a three hour period. The
cold tire inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sure molded into the tire sidewall.
225
Check tire pressures more often if
subject to a wide range of outdoor
temperatures, as tire pressures vary
with temperature changes.
Tire pressures change by approxi-
mately 7 kPa per 7°C of air tempera-
ture change. Keep this in mind when
checking tire pressure inside a garage,
especially in the winter.
Example: If garage temperature =
20°C and the outside temperature =
0°C then the cold tire inflation pres-
sure should be increased by 21 kPa,
which equals 7 kPa for every 7°C for
this outside temperature condition.
Tire pressure may increase from 13 to
40 kPa during operation. DO NOT
reduce this normal pressure build up
or your tire pressure will be too low.Tire Pressures For High
Speed Operation
The manufacturer advocates driving
at safe speeds and within posted speed
limits. Where speed limits or condi-
tions are such that the vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, maintaining
correct tire inflation pressure is very
important. Increased tire pressure
and reduced vehicle loading may be
required for high-speed vehicle op-
eration. Refer to your authorized tire
dealer or original equipment vehicle
dealer for recommended safe operat-
ing speeds, loading and cold tire infla-
tion pressures.
WARNING!
High speed driving with your ve-
hicle under maximum load is dan-
gerous. The added strain on your
tires could cause them to fail. You
could have a serious collision. Do
not drive a vehicle loaded to the
maximum capacity at continuous
speeds above 120 km/h.
Radial Ply Tires
WARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with
other types of tires on your vehicle
will cause your vehicle to handle
poorly. The instability could cause
a collision. Always use radial ply
tires in sets of four. Never combine
them with other types of tires.
Tire Repair
If your tire becomes damaged, it may
be repaired if it meets the following
criteria:
The tire has not been driven on when flat.
The damage is only on the tread section of your tire (sidewall dam-
age is not repairable).
The puncture is no greater than 6 mm.
Consult an authorized tire dealer for
tire repairs and additional informa-
tion.
226
Damaged Run Flat tires, or Run Flat
tires that have experienced a loss of
pressure should be replaced immedi-
ately with another Run Flat tire of
identical size and service description
(Load Index and Speed Code).
Tire Types
All Season Tires (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
All Season tires provide traction for
all seasons (spring, summer, fall and
winter). Traction levels may vary be-
tween different all season tires. All
season tires can be identified by the
M+S, M&S, M/S or MS designation on
the tire sidewall. Use all season tires
only in sets of four; failure to do so
may adversely affect the safety and
handling of your vehicle.
Summer Or Three Season Tires
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
Summer tires provide traction in both
wet and dry conditions, and are not
intended to be driven in snow or on
ice. If your vehicle is equipped withsummer tires, be aware these tires are
not designed for winter or cold driving
conditions. For more information,
contact a authorized dealer. Summer
tires do not contain the all season
designation or mountain/snowflake
symbol on the tire sidewall.
Use summer tires only in sets of four;
failure to do so may adversely affect
the safety and handling of your ve-
hicle.
Snow Tires
Some areas of the country require the
use of snow tires during the winter.
Snow tires can be identified by a
mountain/snowflake symbol on the
tire sidewall.
If you need snow tires, select tires
equivalent in size and type to the
original equipment tires. Use snow
tires only in sets of four; failure to do
so may adversely affect the safety and
handling of your vehicle.
Snow tires generally have lower speed
ratings than what was originally
equipped with your vehicle and
should not be operated at sustained
speeds over 120 km/h. For speeds
above 120 km/h refer to original
equipment or an authorized tire
dealer for recommended safe operat-
ing speeds, loading and cold tire infla-
tion pressures.
While studded tires improve perfor-
mance on ice, skid and traction capa-
bility on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded tires.
Some states prohibit studded tires;
therefore, local laws should be
checked before using these tire types.
Run Flat Tires (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
Run Flat tires allow you the capability
to drive 80 km at 80 km/h after a
rapid loss of inflation pressure. This
rapid loss of inflation is referred to as
the Run Flat mode. A Run Flat mode
occurs when the tire inflation pressure
is of/or below 96 kPa. Once a Run
Flat tire reaches the run flat mode it
has limited driving capabilities and
needs to be replaced immediately. A
Run Flat tire is not repairable.
227
It is not recommended driving a ve-
hicle loaded at full capacity or to tow
a trailer while a tire is in the run flat
mode.
See the tire pressure monitoring sec-
tion for more information.
Spare Tires (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
NOTE: For vehicles equipped
with TIREFIT instead of a spare
tire, please refer to “TIREFIT KIT”
in “In an emergency” for further
information.
CAUTION!
Because of the reduced ground
clearance, do not take your vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with a compact, full size or limited-
use temporary spare installed.
Damage to the vehicle may result.Spare Tire Matching Original
Equipped Tire And Wheel (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a
spare tire and wheel equivalent in
look and function to the original
equipment tire and wheel found on
the front or rear axle of your vehicle.
This spare tire may be used in the tire
rotation for your vehicle. If your ve-
hicle has this option, refer to an au-
thorized tire dealer for the recom-
mended tire rotation pattern.
Compact Spare Tire (for
versions/markets, where
provided)The compact spare is for temporary
emergency use only. You can identify if
your vehicle is equipped with a com-
pact spare by looking at the spare tire
description on the Tire and Loading
Information Placard located on the
driver’s side door opening or on the
sidewall of the tire. Compact spare tire
descriptions begin with the letter “T”
or “S” preceding the size designation.
Example: T145/80D18 103M.
T, S = Temporary Spare Tire
Since this tire has limited tread life,
the original equipment tire should be
repaired (or replaced) and reinstalled
on your vehicle at the first opportu-
nity.
Do not install a wheel cover or at-
tempt to mount a conventional tire on
the compact spare wheel, since the
wheel is designed specifically for the
compact spare tire. Do not install
more than one compact spare tire and
wheel on the vehicle at any given time.
WARNING!
Compact spares are for temporary
emergency use only. With these
spares, do not drive more than
80 km/h. Temporary use spares
have limited tread life. When the
tread is worn to the tread wear in-
dicators, the temporary use spare
tire needs to be replaced. Be sure to
follow the warnings, which apply to
your spare. Failure to do so could
result in spare tire failure and loss
of vehicle control.
228
Full Size Spare (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
The full size spare is for temporary
emergency use only. This tire may
look like the originally equipped tire
on the front or rear axle of your ve-
hicle, but it is not. This spare tire may
have limited tread life. When the
tread is worn to the tread wear indi-
cators, the temporary use full size
spare tire needs to be replaced. Since
it is not the same as your original
equipment tire, replace (or repair) the
original equipment tire and reinstall
on the vehicle at the first opportunity.
Limited-Use Spare (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
The limited-use spare tire is for tem-
porary emergency use only. This tire is
identified by a label located on the
limited-use spare wheel. This label
contains the driving limitations for
this spare. This tire may look like the
original equipped tire on the front or
rear axle of your vehicle, but it is not.
Installation of this limited-use sparetire affects vehicle handling. Since it is
not the same as your original equip-
ment tire, replace (or repair) the origi-
nal equipment tire and reinstall on the
vehicle at the first opportunity.
WARNING!
Limited-use spares are for emer-
gency use only. Installation of this
limited-use spare tire affects ve-
hicle handling. With this tire, do
not drive more than the speed listed
on the limit-use spare wheel. Keep
inflated to the cold tire inflation
pressures listed on your Tire and
Loading Information Placard lo-
cated on the driver’s side B-Pillar or
the rear edge of the driver’s side
door. Replace (or repair) the origi-
nal equipment tire at the first op-
portunity and reinstall it on your
vehicle. Failure to do so could result
in loss of vehicle control.
Tire Spinning
When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice
conditions, do not spin your vehicle's
wheels above 48 km/h or for longer
than 30 seconds continuously without
stopping.
Refer to “Freeing A Stuck Vehicle” in
“In an emergency” for further infor-
mation.
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be danger-
ous. Forces generated by excessive
wheel speeds may cause tire dam-
age or failure. A tire could explode
and injure someone. Do not spin
your vehicle's wheels faster than
48 km/h for more than 30 seconds
continuously when you are stuck,
and do not let anyone near a spin-
ning wheel, no matter what the
speed.
229
Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicators are in the origi-
nal equipment tires to help you in
determining when your tires should
be replaced.
These indicators are molded into the
bottom of the tread grooves. They will
appear as bands when the tread depth
becomes 2 mm. When the tread is
worn to the tread wear indicators, the
tire should be replaced. Refer to “Re-
placement Tires” in this section for
further information.
Life Of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent
upon varying factors including, but
not limited to:
Driving style
Tire pressure
Distance driven
Performance tires, tires with aspeed rating of V or higher, and
summer tires typically have a re-
duced tread life. Rotation of these
tires per the vehicle maintenance
schedule is highly recommended.
WARNING!
Tires and the spare tire should be
replaced after six years, regardless
of the remaining tread. Failure to
follow this warning can result in
sudden tire failure. You could lose
control and have a collision result-
ing in serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease, and gasoline.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide
a balance of many characteristics.
They should be inspected regularly
for wear and correct cold tire inflation
pressure. The manufacturer strongly
recommends that you use tires
equivalent to the originals in size,
quality and performance when re-
placement is needed. Refer to the
paragraph on “Tread Wear Indica-
tors”. Refer to the Tire and Loading
Information placard or the Vehicle
Certification Label for the size desig-
nation of your tire. The Load Index
and Speed Symbol for your tire will be
found on the original equipment tire
sidewall. See the Tire Sizing Chart
example found in the Tire Safety In-
formation section of this manual for
more information relating to the Load
Index and Speed Symbol of a tire.
It is recommended to replace the two
front tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle’s handling. If you
ever replace a wheel, make sure that
the wheel’s specifications match those
of the original wheels.
1 — Worn Tire
2—NewTire
230
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or
tires, observe the following precau-
tions:
Because of restricted traction de-vice clearance between tires and
other suspension components, it
is important that only traction
devices in good condition are
used. Broken devices can cause
serious damage. Stop the vehicle
immediately if noise occurs that
could indicate device breakage.
Remove the damaged parts of the
device before further use.
Install device as tightly as pos- sible and then retighten after
driving about 0.8 km.
Do not exceed 48 km/h.
Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns and large bumps, especially
with a loaded vehicle.
Do not drive for prolonged period on dry pavement.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
Observe the traction devicemanufacturer’s instructions on
the method of installation, oper-
ating speed, and conditions for
use. Always use the suggested op-
erating speed of the device manu-
facturer’s if it is less than
48 km/h.
Do not use traction devices on a compact spare tire.
TIRE ROTATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
The tires on the front and rear of your
vehicle operate at different loads and
perform different steering, handling,
and braking functions. For these rea-
sons, they wear at unequal rates.
These effects can be reduced by
timely rotation of tires. The benefits
of rotation are especially worthwhile
with aggressive tread designs such as
those on all season type tires. Rotation will increase tread life, help to main-
tain mud, snow and wet traction lev-
els, and contribute to a smooth, quiet
ride.
NOTE: Rotate tires at the first
sign of irregular wear.
TIRE PRESSURE
MONITOR SYSTEM
(TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) will warn the driver of a low
tire pressure based on the vehicle rec-
ommended cold placard pressure.
The tire pressure will vary with tem-
perature by about 0.07 BAR for every
7°C. This means that when the out-
side temperature decreases, the tire
pressure will decrease. Tire pressure
should always be set based on cold
inflation tire pressure. This is defined
as the tire pressure after the vehicle
has not been driven for at least three
hours, or driven less than 1.6 km after
a three hour period. The cold tire in-
flation pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded
into the tire sidewall. Refer to “Tires –
232