Page 377 of 434

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.
Page 378 of 434

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)
Page 379 of 434

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
Page 380 of 434

Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-21
9
N00939300844
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
Page 381 of 434

Tires 9-22 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
Keep your tires inflated to the recom- mended pressures. (See the tire and load- ing information placard attached to the sill of the driver’s door.) 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 airleaks. Be sure to reinstall the caps on thevalve stems.
N00939600368
N00939700154
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 9-23.
N00939800214
Tread wear indicators are built into the origi- nal equipment tires on your vehicle to help you know when your tires should be replaced.Many states have laws requiring that you replace your tires at this point. These indicators are molded into the bottomof the tread grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to 1/16 inch (1.6 mm).
Replacing tires and wheels
CAUTION Avoid using different size tires and wheels from the ones listed, and avoid the combined use of different types of tires and wheels.Using different size or type tires and wheels may affect driving safety. Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 11-5.
For All-wheel drive vehicles, always use tires of the same size, same type, and same brand, and which have no wear differences. Using tires that differ in size, type, brand or the degree of wear, will increase the differen-tial oil temperature, resulting in possible damage to the driving system. Further, the drive train will be subjected to excessiveloading, 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, itsshape may prevent it from being fitted cor- rectly. Consult an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of yourchoice before using wheels that you have. 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 maintenance
CAUTION
Tr e a d w e a r i n d i c a t o r s 1- Location of the tread wear indicator 2- Tread wear indicator
Page 382 of 434

Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-23
9
When the bands appear next to one another in two or more places, replace your tires.
N00939900390
To even out the wear on your tires and makethem last longer, Mitsubishi Motors Corpora- tion recommends that you rotate your tires at the mileage listed in the “WARRANTY ANDMAINTENANCE MANUAL”. However, the timing for tire rotation may vary according to your vehicle condition,road surface conditions, and your own per- sonal driving habits. Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as soon as pos-sible. When rotating tires, check for uneven wear, damage, and wheel alignment. Abnormal wear 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 to find 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 the
wheels 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
Page 383 of 434

Clutch pedal free play (if so equipped) 9-24 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
N00940000359
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).
N00940100129 N00940201097
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)
N00940301333
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.
N00940400180
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
Page 384 of 434

Parking brake break-in
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-25
9
slowly and count the number of clicks of the ratchet. Parking brake lever stroke: 3 to 5 notches Also check to see if the lever stays gripped by the ratchet after pulling.
N00936200031
Break-in the parking brake linings wheneverthe brake performance of the parking brake is insufficient or whenever the parking brake linings and/or discs are replaced, in order toassure the best brake performance. This procedure is described in the vehicle ser- vice manual and can be carried out by anauthorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer.
N00940700170
Check the wiper blades occasionally. Cleanthem regularly to remove deposits of salt androad film. Use a sponge or cloth and a mild detergent or non-abrasive cleaner to clean the blades and glass areas.Replace the blades if they continue to streak or smear. If the blades are frozen to the windshield or rear window, do not operate the wipers until the ice has melted and the blades are freed,otherwise the wiper motor may be damaged.
N00940800201
Your vehicle is equipped with an emission-control system that meets all the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and Environment Canada. The emission-con- trol system is made of: a positive crankcase ventilation system an evaporative emission-control system an exhaust emission-control system
The maintenance services listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL” must be performed at the times or mileages listed to keep the emission-con-trol system working properly. These, and allthe other “general” maintenance services listed in this manual, need to be performed to keep your vehicle running properly and reli-ably. You may need more frequent maintenance if you drive your vehicle in harsh conditions such as dusty areas or
do a lot of start-and-
stop driving. To be sure the emission-control system works properly, have your vehicle inspected and maintained by an authorized MitsubishiMotors dealer or a repair facility of your choice following the schedule in the “WAR- RANTY AND MAINTENANCE MAN-UAL”. You should also have an inspection and ser- vice any time you suspect a malfunction.
Parking brake break-in
Wiper blades
NOTE
Do not run the wipers on dry glass for a long time. This wears out the rubber and can scratch the glass.
During cold weather Emission-control system maintenance