Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-15
9
Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure for optimum tire perfor-mance. Intended outboard sidewall: • The sidewall that c
ontains a whitewall,
bears white letteri
ng or bears manufac-
turer, brand, and/or model name molding that is higher or deeper than the samemolding on the other sidewall of the tire, or • The outward facing si
dewall of an asym-
metrical tire that has a particular side that must always face outward whenmounted on a vehicle.
Passenger car tire: a
tire intended for use
on passenger cars, multipurpose passen-ger vehicles, and trucks that have a gross vehicle weight rati
ng (GVWR) of 10,000
pounds or less. Light truck (LT) tire: a tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily intended for use on lightweight truc
ks or multipurpose
passenger vehicles. Tread: portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road. Tread rib: a tread se
ction 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 line
ar distance between
the exteriors of the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due tolabeling, 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.
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Tires 9-16 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
EXAMPLE: 95H
Maximum load indicates the maxi- mum load this tire is designed to carry.
R
Construction code •“R” means radial construc- tion. •“D” means diagonal or bias construction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)
NOTE
European/Japanese metric tire sizing is based on European/Jap- anese design standards. Tires designed to these standards havethe tire size molded into the sidewall beginning with the sec- tion width. The letter “P” isabsent from this tire size desig- nation. Example: 215/65R15 96H.
LT (Light Truck) -metric tiresizing is based on U.S.A. design standards. The size designation for LT-metric tires is the same asfor P-metric tires except for the letters “LT” that are molded into the sidewall preceding the sizedesignation. Example: LT235/85R16.Temporary spare tires are highpressure compact spares designed for temporary emer-gency use only. Tires designed to this standard have the letter “T” molded into the sidewallpreceding the si
ze designation.
Example: T145/80D18 103M.
Service Description 95
Load index A numerical code associated 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 symbol should only be achieved under specified operating conditions. (i.e. tire pressure, vehicle loading, road condi- tions and posted speed limits)
Maximum Load
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Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-17
9
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 datecode may only be on one side. Look for the TIN on the outboard side of tires as mounted on the vehicle. If theTIN is not found on the 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 testedunder controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half (11/2) times as well on th
e government course
as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance
of tires depends upon th
e actual conditions of
their use, however, and may depart signifi-cantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differ-
ences in road characteristics and climate. The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions onspecified government te
st surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
WA R N I N GOverloading of your tire is dangerous. Overloading can cause tire failure, affect vehi- cle handling, and increaseyour stopping distance. Use tires of the recommended load capacity for your vehicle.Never overload them.
Maximum Pressure Tire Identification Number (TIN)
DOT
Department of Transporta- tion This symbol certifies that the tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of Trans- portation tire safety stan- dards, and is approved for highway use.
MA
Code representing the tire manufacturing location. (2 digits)
L9 ABC D
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 was manufactured. (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 9-18 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the tire’s resistance to thegeneration of heat and
its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor la
boratory test wheel.
Sustained high temper
ature can cause the
material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can leadto sudden tire failure. The grade C corre- sponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Fed- eral Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels ofperformance on the labora
tory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
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Proper tire inflation pres
sure is essential for
the safe and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. The wrong tire
pressure will cause
problems in three major areas: Safety Too little pressure increases flexing in the tire 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 pressu
re can cause uneven
wear patterns in the tire tread. These abnormal wear patter
ns 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 e
xperience built into
your vehicle partly depends on the correct tire pressure. Too much pressure gives an uncomfortable and ja
rring ride. Too little
pressure feels as if
your vehicle is slow to
respond. Unequal tire pressure
s can make steering
your vehicle uneven and unpredictable.
The tire pressure for your vehicle under nor- mal driving conditions 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 infl
ation pressures under
normal driving conditions 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 change severely, becaus
e tire pressures change with
outdoor temperatures. The pressures listed are always “cold in
flation pressure”.
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 seve
ral miles, your tire
inflation pressure may increase 2 to 6 psi (14 to 41 kPa) from the cold inflation pressure.Do not let air out of the tires to get back to the specified cold pressure, or your tires 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:
TemperatureTire inflation pressures
Item
Tire size
Front
Rear
Normal tire
P215/70R16 P225/55R18
240 KPA, 35 PSI
240 KPA, 35 PSI
Compact spare wheel
T155/90D16
420 KPA, 60
PSI
Item
Tire size
Front
Rear
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Tires
Vehicle care and maintenance 9-19
9
Keep your tires inflated to the recom- mended pressures. (See the tire and load-ing information placard attached to the driver’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” se
ction on page 9-20.
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Tread wear indicators ar
e built into the origi-
nal equipment tires on
your vehicle to help
you know when your tires should be replaced. Many states have la
ws requiring that you
replace your tires at this point.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 (1.6mm). When the bands appear next to one another in two or more places
, replace your tires.
Replacing tires and wheels
CAUTIONAvoid using different size tires from the one listed and the combined use of different types of tires, as this can affect driving safety.Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 11-7. On all-wheel drive vehi
cles, always use tires
of the same size, same
type, and same brand,
and which have no wear differences. Using tires that differ in si
ze, type, brand or the
degree of wear, will increase the differential oil temperature, resulting in possible damage to the driving system. Further, the drive trainwill be subjected to ex
cessive loading, possi-
bly leading to oil leakage, component sei- zure, or other serious problems.
Only Mitsubishi Motors Authorized wheels should be used, beca
use your vehicle is
equipped with a tire pr
essure 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
Tread wear indicator 1- Location of the tread wear indicator 2- Tread wear indicator
NOTE
Tire wear indicators ca
n have different marks
and locations dependi
ng on the tire manufac-
turer.
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Tires 9-20 Vehicle care and maintenance
9
N00939901528
To even out the wear on your tires and make them last longer, Mitsubishi Motors Corpora- tion recommends that y
ou rotate your tires at
the 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 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 ar
e not aligned properly,
wheels that are out-of-balance, or severe braking. Check with an author
ized 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.
N00940000320
In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter driving. If snow tires are required in your area, you must choose snowtires of the same size
and type as the original
tires provided with your vehicle. Snow tires should also be installe
d 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).
Tire rotation
CAUTION A compact spare tire can be installed tempo- rarily in place of a tire
that has been removed
during the tire rotation. However, it must notbe included in the regular tire rotation sequence. If the tires have arrows (A) indicating the correct direction of ro
tation, swap the front
and rear tires on the le
ft-hand side of the
vehicle and the front
and rear tires on the
right-hand side of th
e vehicle separately.
Keep each tire on its original side of the vehicle. When installing the tires, make surethe arrows point in the
direction in which the
wheels will turn when the vehicle moves for- ward. Any tire whose arrow points in thewrong direction will not
perform to its full
potential.
Tires that do not have arrows showing rotation direction Tires that have arrows s
howing rotation direction
Front Front
CAUTION Avoid the combined use of different types of tires. Using different t
ypes of tires can affect
vehicle performance and safety.
Snow tires
Front
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Cleaning the outside of your vehicle Vehicle care and maintenance 9-43
9
cloth in one direction.
After polishing, flush
the compound from the surface and apply acoat 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 tires carefully for damage to the paint caused by flying stones, etc. The
paint code number for
your vehicle can be found on the vehicle information code plate located on the front passenger door sill.
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Use a sponge or chamois to clean these parts.If the vehicle wax sticks to a gray or blackrough surface of the bumper, molding or lights, 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, andapply a nonabrasive automotive wax. If the chrome is severely da
maged or pitted, use a
commercially 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 ea
sily with water.
Rinse off the detergent after washing thewheel.
3. Dry the wheel thoroughly 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 cleaner
can be used to remove
wax, oil, grease, dead
insects, etc. After washing the glass, wipe itdry with a clean, dry, soft cloth.
N00946700068
Use a soft cloth and gl
ass cleaner to remove
grease, dead insects, etc., from the wiper blades.
Damaged paint Cleaning plastic parts
CAUTION Do not use a scrubbing brush or other rough scrubber as these may
damage the plastic
surface.
Do not use wax containing compounds (pol- ishing powder) which ma
y damage the plas-
tic surface. Do not let plastic parts get soiled with gaso- line, oil, brake fluids
, engine oils, greases,
paint thinner, and sulfur
ic acid (battery elec-
trolyte), as such substa
nces will cause stains,
cracks, or discoloration.If any of these get on a plastic part, wipe them up with a soft cloth or chamois and a mild solution of soap and water. Then rinsethem immediately with water.
Chrome parts Aluminum wheels (if so equipped)
CAUTION
CAUTION Do not use a brush or
other hard implement
on the wheels. Do not use any cleaner th
at contains an abra-
sive substance or is ac
idic or alkaline. Doing
so could cause the coating on the wheels to peel or become disc
olored 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 corr
osion. Rinse off such
substances as soon as possible.
Window glass Wiper blades
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Consumer information (For vehicles sold in U.S.A.) 10-2 Customer assistance/Re
porting Safety Defects
10
N01047100171
This information is provided in compliance with the requirements of the National High- way Traffic Safety Ad
ministration, Depart-
ment of Transportation. It provides the purchasers and/or prospective purchasers with information on repor
ting safety defects.
DOT quality grades - Al
l passenger vehicle
tires must conform to
Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades. The spe- cific grade rating in each grade category isshown on the side wall of the tires on your vehicle. The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specifiedgovernment test course
. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half (11/2) 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 signifi- cantly from the norm due to variations indriving habits, service practices and differ- ences in road characteristics and climate. The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specified government te
st surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance. The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, representing the ti
re’s resistance to the
generation of heat and it
s ability to dissipate
heat when tested un
der controlled conditions
on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can leadto sudden tire failure. The grade C corre- sponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Fed-eral Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the labora
tory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
N01047201498
If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform theNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addi- tion to notifying Mitsubishi MotorsCorporation.
Consumer information (For vehicles sold in U.S.A.) Uniform tire quality grading Treadwear
Traction AA, A, B, C
WA R N I N G The traction grade assi
gned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking tractiontests, and does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplani
ng, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature A, B, C
WA R N I N G The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properlyinflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation
, or excessive load-
ing, either separately
or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Reporting Safety Defects
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