
Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-13
9
Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure for optimum tire perfor- mance. Intended outboard sidewall: • The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white lettering or bears manufac- turer, brand, and/or model name moldingthat is higher or deeper than the same molding on the other sidewall of the tire, or• The outward facing sidewall of an asym-metrical tire that has a particular side that must always face outward when mounted on a vehicle.
Passenger car tire: a tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passen- ger vehicles, and trucks, that have a grossvehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less. Light truck (LT) tire: a tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily intended for use on lightweight trucks or multipurpose passenger vehicles. Tread: portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road. Tread rib: a tread section running circum- ferentially around a tire. Tread separation: pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass. Carcass: the tire structure, except tread and sidewall rubber which, when inflated, bears the load.
Sidewall: portion of a tire between the tread and bead. Section width: the li
near distance between
the exteriors of the sidewalls of aninflated tire, excluding elevations due to labeling, decoration, or protective bands. 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. Ply: a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cord: the strands forming the plies in the tire. Rim: a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire beads are seated. Rim diameter: nominal diameter of the bead seat. Groove: the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
EXAMPLE: P215/65R15Tire Markings Size Designation P
Passenger car tire size based on U.S.A. design standards
215
Section width in millimeters (mm.)
65
Aspect ratio in percent (%) Ratio of section height to section width of tire.
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Tires 9-14 Vehicle care and maintenance
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EXAMPLE: 95H
Maximum load indicates the maxi- mum load this tire is designed tocarry.
R
Construction code •“R” means radial construc- tion. •“D” means diagonal or biasconstruction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)
NOTE
European/Japanese metric tire sizing is based on European/Jap- anese design standards. Tiresdesigned to these standards have the tire size molded into the sidewall beginning with the sec-tion width. The letter “P” is absent from this tire size desig- nation. Example: 215/65R1596H.
LT (Light Truck) -metric tire sizing is based on U.S.A. design standards. The size designationfor LT-metric tires is the same as for P-metric tires except for the letters “LT” that are molded intothe sidewall preceding the size designation. Example: LT235/85R16.Temporary spare tires are highpressure compact sparesdesigned for temporary emer- gency use only. Tires designed to this standard have the letter“T” molded into the sidewall preceding the size designation. Example: T145/80D18 103M.
Service Description 95
Load index A numerical code associ-ated with the maximum load a tire can carry.
NOTE
H
Speed symbol A symbol indicating the range of speeds at which a tire can carry a load corre-sponding to its load index under certain operating con- ditions.The maximum speed corre- sponding to the speed sym- bol should only be achievedunder specified operating conditions. (i.e. tire pressure, vehicle loading, road condi-tions and posted speed lim- its)
Maximum Load
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Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-15
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Maximum Pressure indicates the maximum permissible cold tire infla- tion pressure for this tire. The TIN may be found on both sides of the tire but the date code and optional code may only be on one side. Look for the TIN on the out- board side of tires as mounted on the vehicle. If the TIN is not found onthe outboard side then you will find it on the inboard side of the tire.
EXAMPLE: DOT MA L9 ABCD 1504
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one- half (1
1/2) times as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tiresdepends upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due tovariations in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and climate. The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Thosegrades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
WA R N I N GOverloading of your tire isdangerous. Overloading can cause tire failure, affect vehi-cle handling, and increase your stopping distance. Use tires of the recommended loadcapacity for your vehicle. Never overload them.
Maximum Pressure Tire Identification Number (TIN)
DOT
Department of Transporta- tion This symbol certifies thatthe tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation tire safetystandards, and is approved for highway use.
MA
Code representing the tire manufacturing location. (2 digits)
L9 ABCD
Code representing the tire size. (2 digits)Code used by tire manufac- turer. (1 to 4 digits)
15
Number representing the week in which the tire wasmanufactured. (2 digits)
04
Number representing the year in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits)
Treadwear, Traction and Temper- ature Grades Treadwear Traction
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Tires 9-16 Vehicle care and maintenance
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under controlled conditions on speci- fied government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction perfor- mance. The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the generation ofheat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled condi- tions on a specified indoor laboratorytest wheel. Sustained high tempera- ture can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, andexcessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C cor- responds to a level of performancewhich all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi- cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory testwheel than the minimum required by law.
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Proper tire inflation pressure is essential for the safe and satisfactory operation of yourvehicle. The wrong tire pressure will cause problems in three major areas: Safety Too little pressure increases flexing in thetire and can cause tire failure. Too muchpressure can cause a tire to lose its ability to cushion shock. Objects on the road and potholes could then cause tire damage thatmay result in tire failure. Economy The wrong tire pressure can cause unevenwear patterns in the tire tread. These abnormal wear patterns will reduce the tread life, and the tire will have to bereplaced sooner. Too little pressure also makes it harder for the tire to roll, and this uses up more fuel. Ride comfort and vehicle stability The superior riding experience built into your vehicle partly depends on the correcttire pressure. Too much pressure gives an uncomfortable and jarring ride. Too little pressure feels as if your vehicle is slow torespond. Unequal tire pressures can make steering your vehicle uneven and unpredictable.
The correct tire pressure for your vehicle is listed on the placard attached to the driver’s door sill. (Refer to “Tire and loading information plac-ard” on page 11-3.) The recommended inflation pressures should be used for the tires listed below. Tire pressures should be checked, and adjusted if necessary, at least once a month. Pressures should be checked more oftenwhenever weather temperatures change severely, because tire pressures change with outdoor temperatures. The pressures listed onthe placard are always “cold inflation pres- sure”. Cold inflation pressure is measured after thevehicle has been parked for at least three hours or is driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three hours.Cold inflation pressure must not go above the maximum values molded into the tire side- wall. After driving several miles, your tireinflation pressure may increase 14 to 41 KPA,
Temperature
Tire inflation pressures
Item
Tire size
Front
Rear
Normal tire 245/40R18
220 KPA, 32 PSI
220 KPA, 32 PSI
Compact spare tire
T145/70R1
8
420 KPA, 60
PSI
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Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-17
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2 to 6 PSI from the cold inflation pressure. Do not let air out of the tires to get back to the specified cold pressure, or your tire pressure will be too low.Check your tires each time you refuel. If one tire looks lower than the others, check the pressure for all of them.You should also take the following safety pre- cautions: Keep your tires inflated to the recom- mended pressures. (See the tire and load-ing information placard attached to thedriver’s door sill.) Stay within the recommended load limits. Make sure that the weight of any load in your vehicle is evenly distributed. Drive at safe speeds. After filling your tires to the correct pres- sure, check them for damage and air leaks. Be sure to reinstall the caps on the valve stems.
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The following maintenance steps are recom- mended: Check tire pressures regularly.
Have regular maintenance done on the wheel balance and front and rear suspen- sion alignment. Rotate your tires regularly as described in the “Tire rotation” section on page 9-18.
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The standard-equipment tires use a high-gripcompound that gives superior grip.However, they wear more quickly than typi- cal passenger-car tires. Tread wear indicators are built into the origi- nal equipment tires on your vehicle to help you know when your tire
s should be replaced.
Many states have laws requiring that you replace your tires at this point.
Replacing tires and wheels
CAUTION Avoid using different size tires and wheels from the ones listed, and avoid the com- bined use of different types of tires and wheels. Using different size or type tires andwheels may affect driving safety. Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 11-5.
Always use tires of the same size, same type, and same brand, and which have no wear dif- ferences. Using tires that differ in size, type, brand or the degree of wear, will increase the differential oil temperature, resulting in pos-sible damage to the driving system. Further, the drive train will be
subjected to excessive
loading, possibly leading to oil leakage,component seizure, or other serious prob- lems. Even if a wheel has the same rim size and offset as the specified type of wheel, its shape may prevent it from being fitted cor-rectly. Consult an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice before using wheels that you have. As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pres- sure monitoring system, use only Mitsubishigenuine wheels. Other wheels do not permit correct installa- tion of tire inflation pressure sensors and cancause air leakage and sensor failure, which would not be covered by your vehicle’s war- ranty.
Tire maintenance
CAUTION
Tread wear indicators 1- Location of the tread wear indicator 2- Tread wear indicator
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Tires 9-18 Vehicle care and maintenance
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These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to 1/16 inch (1.6 mm).When the bands appear next to one another in two or more places, replace your tires.
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To even out the wear on your tires and makethem last longer, Mitsubishi Motors Corpora- tion recommends that you rotate your tires atthe mileage listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”. However, the timing for tire rotation mayvary according to your vehicle condition, road surface conditions, and your own per- sonal driving habits. Any time you noticeunusual wear, rotate your tires as soon as pos- sible. When rotating tires, check for uneven wear, damage, and wheel alignment. Abnormalwear is usually caused by a wrong tire pres- sure, wheels that are not aligned properly,
wheels that are out-of-balance, or severe braking. Check with an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice tofind out the reason for uneven tread wear. The first tire rotation is the most important one. It will allow all your
tires to wear evenly.
NOTE
Tire wear indicators can have different marks and locations depending on the tire manufac- turer.
Tire rotation
CAUTION A compact spare tire can be installed tempo- rarily in place of a tire that has been removedduring the tire rotation. However, it must not be included in the regular tire rotation sequence.Tires that do not have
arrows showing rotation
direction Front Tires that have arrows showing rotation direction Front
CAUTION If the tires have arrows (A) indicating the correct direction of rotation, swap the front and rear tires on the left-hand side of the vehicle and the front and rear tires on the right-hand side of the vehicle separately.Keep each tire on its original side of the vehicle. When installing the tires, make sure the arrows point in the direction in which thewheels will turn when the vehicle moves for- ward. Any tire whose
arrow points in the
wrong direction will not perform to its fullpotential.CAUTION Avoid the combined use of different types of tires. Using different types of tires can affectvehicle performance and safety.
Front
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Clutch pedal free play (if so equipped) Vehicle care and maintenance 9-19
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In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter driving. If snow tires arerequired in your area, you must choose snow tires of the same size and type as the original tires provided with your vehicle. Snow tiresshould also be installed on all four wheels. Otherwise your safety and vehicle handling can be reduced.Even where laws may permit it, snow tiresshould not be operated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h).
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To check the clutch pedal free play (A), turn off the engine and press the pedal until you feel resistance. Clutch pedal free play: .2 to .4 inch (4 to 9 mm)
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To check the brake pedal free play (A), turnoff the engine and press the brake pedal sev-eral times with your foot. Then press the pedal down with your fingers until you first feel resistance. Brake pedal free play: .1 to .3 inch (3 to 8 mm) If the free play is not within these limits, take your vehicle to an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice for adjustment.
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Check the parking brake lever travel occa-sionally. To check this, pull the lever up
Snow tires
CAUTION If flange nuts are used on your vehicle, change to tapered nuts when using snow tireswith steel wheels. Only Mitsubishi Motors genuine wheels should be used, because your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring sys- tem.Use of another type of wheel risks air leaks and sensor damage, as it will not be possible to install the tire pressure sensor properly.
Tire chains
CAUTION Tire chains cannot be used on your vehicle. The clearance between the chains and the body is not sufficient to allow proper clear- ance, and the vehicle body might be dam-aged.
Clutch pedal free play
(if so
equipped)
Brake pedal free play Parking brake lever stroke
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Cleaning the outside of your vehicle 9-44 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
cloth in one direction. After polishing, flush the compound from the surface and apply a coat of wax to regain a beautiful luster.
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Small cracks and scratches in the paint coatshould be touched up as soon as possible with touch-up paint to prevent corrosion.Check body areas facing the road or the tirescarefully for damage to the paint caused by flying stones, etc. The
paint code number for
your vehicle can be found on the vehicleinformation code plate in the engine compart- ment.
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Use a sponge or chamois to clean these parts.If a vehicle wax sticks to a gray or black rough surface of the bumper, molding orlights, the surface may appear white in color. In this case, wipe it off using lukewarm water and a soft cloth or chamois.
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To prevent spots and corrosion of chromeparts, wash with water, dry thoroughly, and apply a nonabrasive automotive wax. If the chrome is severely damaged or pitted, use acommercially available chrome polish.
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1. Remove dirt using a wet sponge.2. Use a mild detergent on any dirt that can- not be removed easily with water. Rinse off the detergent after washing thewheel. 3. Dry the wheel thoroug
hly using a chamois
leather or a soft cloth.
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The window glass can
usually be cleaned
using only a sponge and water. Glass cleanercan be used to remove wax, oil, grease, dead insects, etc. After washing the glass, wipe it dry with a clean, dry, soft cloth.
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Use a soft cloth and gl
ass cleaner to remove
grease, dead insects, etc., from the wiperblades. Replace the wiper blades when they no longer clean the windshield properly.
Damaged paint Cleaning plastic parts
CAUTION Do not use a scrubbing brush or other rough scrubber as these may damage the plasticsurface.
Do not use wax containing compounds (pol- ishing powder) which may damage the plas- tic surface. Do not let the plastic parts get soiled with gasoline, oil, brake fluids, engine oils, greases, paint thinner, and sulfuric acid (bat- tery electrolyte). These fluids, etc., maycrack, stain or discolor the plastic parts. If any of these get on the plastic parts, wipe them up with a soft cloth or chamois and amild solution of soap and water. Then rinse them immediately with water.
Chrome parts Aluminum wheels
CAUTION
CAUTION Do not use a brush or other hard implement on the wheels. Doing so could scratch the wheels. Do not use any cleaner that contains an abra- sive substance or is acidic or alkaline. Doing so could cause the coating on the wheels to peel or become discolored or stained. Do not directly apply hot water using a steam cleaner or by any other means. Contact with seawater or road salt used for de-icing can cause corrosion. Rinse off suchsubstances as soon as possible.
Window glass Wiper blades
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