Braking
Driving safety 6-5
6
Stay at low speeds at first so that the transaxle, transfer case and rear axle oil have time to spread to all the lubrication points. Manual transaxle can be harder to shift in cold weather conditions. This is normal and shifting will get easier as the transaxlewarms up. Check the engine antifreeze. If there is not enough coolant because of aleak or from engine overheating, add Mit-subishi Motors Genuine Super Long Life Coolant Premium or equivalent. Please read this section in conjunctionwith the “Engine coolant” on page 9-8.
[For RALLIART vehicles sold in U.S.A.] Mitsubishi Motors recommends that the standard equipment tires be replaced with winter tires when the vehicle is going to be used in winter.The standard equipment tires provided with this vehicle are summer tires and use a high-grip compound that provides supe-rior grip. The road grip, however, is reduced in win- ter.When replacing the standard equipmenttires with winter tires, all four tires must be replaced using radial identicalsize win- ter tires.
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All the parts of the brake system are criticalto safety. Have the vehicle serviced by anauthorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice at regular inter- vals according to the “WARRANTY ANDMAINTENANCE MANUAL”. Check the brake system while driving at a low speed immediately after starting, espe-cially when the brakes are wet, to confirm they work normally. A film of water can be formed on the brakediscs or brake drums and prevent normal braking after driving in heavy rain or through large puddles, or after the vehicle is washed.If this occurs, dry the brakes out by driving slowly while lightly depressing the brake pedal. On snowy roads, ice can form on the braking system, making the brakes less effective.While driving in such conditions, pay close attention to preceding and following vehicles and to the condition of
the road surface. From
WA R N I N GNever open the radiator cap when the radiator is hot. You could be seriously burned.
NOTE
As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pres- sure monitoring system, there is a risk of damage to the tire inflation pressure sensorswhen the tire is replaced on the rim. Tire replacement should, therefore, be performed only by an authorized Mitsubishi Motorsdealer. If you use new wheels w
ith new tire inflation
pressure sensors, their ID codes must be pro- grammed into the tire pressure monitoringsystem. Refer to “Whenever the tires and wheels are replaced with new ones” on page 5-108.
Braking When brakes are wet When driving in cold weather
Loading information 6-8 Driving safety
6
well as “the combined weight of occupants and cargo” (A), which is called the vehicle capacity weight. The weight of roof road is included in the definition of “cargo” whendetermining the vehicle capacity weight. This placard also tells you the size and recom- mended inflation pressure for the originalequipment tires on your vehicle. For more information, refer to “Tires” on page 9-17. Ty p e 1
Ty p e 2
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1.Locate the statement “The com- bined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’splacard.2.Determine the combined weightof the driver and passengers thatwill be riding in your vehicle.3.Subtract the combined weight ofthe driver and passengers fromXXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For exam- ple, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five150 lbs. passengers in your vehi- cle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650lbs. (1400 - 750 (5 x 150) =650 lbs.)5.Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the availablecargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
How to change a tire 8-8 For emergencies
8
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1. Lift up the luggage floor board. For front-wheel drive vehicles, pull the luggage floor board (A) rearward to release the hooks (B), and then lift it up. 2. To remove the spare tire, remove the installation clamp (C) by turning it coun-terclockwise.
Do not go over 50 mph (80 km/h) when driv- ing with the compact spare tire. Avoid fast starting and braking when driving with the compact spare tire. Do not drive through automatic car washes and over obstacles that could possibly dam-age the underside of your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is smaller than the original tire, there is less clearance betweenthe ground and your vehicle. Because the compact spare tire is designed only for your vehicle, do not use it on any other vehicle. Do not put the compact spare tire on a differ- ent wheel, and do not put standard tires, snow tires, wheel covers or trim rings on thecompact spare wheel. Otherwise, you could damage these parts or other parts on your vehicle. Do not use snow chain with your compact spare tire. Using a chain could cause damageto your vehicle and loss of the chains.CAUTION
To remove the compact spare tire
NOTE
The clamp cannot be used for a normal size tire. Store a normal size tire under the lug- gage floor board. Put the spare tire under the vehicle body near the jack. This makes it safer if the jack slips out of position.
How to change a tire 8-12 For emergencies
8
9. Tighten the nuts in the order shown in the illustration until each nut has been tight- ened to the torque listed here. 65 to 80 ft-lb (88 to 108 N•m)
10. Lower the jack all the way and remove it.
11. Check the tire inflation pressure. The rec-
ommended tire pressure for your vehicle is listed on the tire and loading informa- tion placard attached to the driver’s doorsill as shown in the illustration. Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 9-21.
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Reverse the removing procedure when stor-ing the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and wheel nut wrench. Refer to “To remove the compact spare tire”on page 8-8 and “Tools and jack” on page 8-5.
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Wrap the tip of the bar with a cloth, insert it deeply into the notch provided in the wheelcover, and pry the cover away from the wheel.
CAUTION Never use your foot or a pipe extension to apply added force to the wheel nut wrench when tightening the wheel nuts. If you do so, you can over-tighten the wheel nuts anddamage the wheel, wheel nuts and hub bolts.
CAUTION Driving with an improperly inflated tire can cause an accident. If
you have no choice but
to drive with an under-inflated tire, keep your speed down and avoid sudden steering or braking, if possible. Inflate the tire to thecorrect pressure as soon as possible. Refer to “Tire inflation pressures” on page 9-21. After changing the tire and driving the vehi- cle about 620 miles (1,000 km), retighten the wheel nuts to make sure that they have notcome loose.
If the steering wheel vibrates when driving after changing the tire, have the tire checked for balance at your nearest authorized Mit- subishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice. Do not mix one type of tire with another or use a different size from the one listed. Thiswould cause early wear and poor handling.
To store the flat tire or spare tire, jack, bar and wheel nut wrench Wheel covers
(if so equipped)
To remove
CAUTION
Tires 9-18 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
Sidewall: portion of a tire between the tread and bead. Section width: the linear 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 sec- tion width of tire.
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.
Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-19
9
EXAMPLE: 95H
Maximum load indicates the maxi- mum load this tire is designed to carry.
Maximum Pressure indicates the maximum permissible cold tire infla- tion pressure for this tire. The TIN may be found on one or both sides of the tire but the date code may only be on one side. Look for the TIN on the outboard side of tires as mounted on the vehicle. If the TIN is not found on the outboard sidethen you will find it on the inboard side of the tire.
LT (Light Truck) -metric tiresizing 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 associatedwith 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 corresponding toits load index under certain operating conditions. The maximum speed corre-sponding to the speed symbol should only be achieved under specified operating condi-tions. (i.e. tire pressure, vehi- cle loading, road conditions and posted speed limits)
Maximum Load
WA R N I N GOverloading of your tire is dangerous. 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)
Tires 9-20 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
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
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.
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 Tr a c t i o n
Temperature
Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-21
9
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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 sill of the driver’s door. (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 often whenever weather temperatures changeseverely, because tire pressures change with outdoor temperatures. The pressures listed on the placard are always “cold inflation pres-sure”. Cold inflation pressure is measured after the vehicle has been parked for at least threehours 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 tire inflation pressure may increase 14 to 41 KPA, 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:
Tire inflation pressures
Except for vehicles with turbo- charger
Item
Tire size
Front
Rear
Normal tire
P205/60 R16
250 KPA, 36 PSI
250 KPA, 36 PSI
P215/45 R18
240 KPA, 35 PSI
240 KPA, 35 PSI
Compact spare tire
T125/70 D16 T125/90D16
420 KPA, 60 PSI
Vehicles with turbocharger
Item
Tire size
Front
Rear
Normal tire
P215/45 R18215/45R
18
240 KPA, 35 PSI
240 KPA, 35 PSI
Compact spare tire
T125/90 D16
420 KPA, 60 PSI
Item
Tire size
Front
Rear