Page 323 of 368
3238-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
■Tire dimensionsSection width
Tire height
Wheel diameter
Bead
Sidewall
Shoulder
Tread
Belt
Inner liner
Reinforcing rubber
Carcass
Rim lines
Bead wires
Chafer
1
2
3
Tire section names
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Page 325 of 368

3258-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
■Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C,
and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turn-
ing) traction.
■Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the hi ghest), B, and C, representing
the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissi-
pate heat when tested under cont rolled 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 lead
to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all pas-
senger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher le vels of performance on the labo-
ratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades for this tire are established for a
tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.
Page 327 of 368

3278-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Occupant distributionDistribution of occupants in a vehicle as speci-
fied in the third column of Table 1
* below
Production options
weight
The combined weight of installed regular pro-
duction options weighing over 5 lb. (2.3 kg) in
excess of the standard items which they
replace, not previously considered in curb
weight or accessory weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy
duty battery, and special trim
Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated
Rim diameter
(Wheel diameter)Nominal diameter of the bead seat
Rim size designationRim diameter and width
Rim type designationThe industry manufacturer’s designation for a
rim by style or code
Rim widthNominal distance between rim flanges
Vehicle capacity
weight
(Total load capacity)The rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lb.
(68 kg) times the vehicle’s designated seating
capacity
Vehicle maximum load
on the tire
The load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its share of
the maximum loaded vehicle weight, and
dividing by two
Vehicle normal load on
the tire
The load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its share of
curb weight, accessory weight, and normal
occupant weight (distributed in accordance
with Table 1
* below), and dividing by two
Tire related termMeaning
Page 330 of 368

3308-1. Specifications
Overall width
The linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, including ele-
vations due to labeling, decorations, or protec-
tive bands or ribs
Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars,
multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks,
that have a gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) of 10,000 lb. or less
PlyA layer of rubber-coated parallel cords
Ply separationA parting of rubber compound between adja-
cent plies
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemi-
cals, fabric and steel or other materials, that,
when mounted on an automotive wheel, pro-
vides the traction and contains the gas or fluid
that sustains the load
Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid at substantially 90
degrees to the centerline of the tread
Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and
at higher inflation pressures than the corre-
sponding standard tire
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding ele-
vations due to labeling, decoration, or protec-
tive bands
SidewallThat portion of a tire between the tread and
bead
Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from the
cord material in the sidewall
Tire related termMeaning
Page 331 of 368

3318-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Snow tire
A tire that attains a traction index equal to or
greater than 110, compared to the ASTM E-
1136 Standard Reference Test Tire, when
using the snow traction test as described in
ASTM F-1805-00, Standard Test Method for
Single Wheel Driving Traction in a Straight
Line on Snow-and Ice-Covered Surfaces, and
which is marked with an Alpine Symbol ( )
on at least one sidewall
Test rim
The rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and
may be any rim listed as appropriate for use
with that tire
TreadThat portion of a tire that comes into contact
with the road
Tread ribA tread section running circumferentially
around a tire
Tread separationPulling away of the tread from the tire carcass
Treadwear indicators
(TWI)The projections within the principal grooves
designed to give a visual indication of the
degrees of wear of the tread
Wheel-holding fixtureThe fixture used to hold the wheel and tire
assembly securely during testing
Tire related termMeaning
Page 353 of 368

353What to do if... (Troubleshooting)
●Vehicles with a manual transmission:
Did you turn the key while firmly depressing the clutch pedal? (P. 136)
●Vehicles with an automatic transmission:
Is the shift lever in P? (P. 136)
●Is the battery discharged? ( P. 297)
●Is the engine switch in the “ON” position?
If you cannot release the shift lever by depressing the brake pedal with the
engine switch in the “ON” position. ( P. 296)
●It is locked to prevent theft of the vehicle if the key is pulled from the engine
switch. (P. 137)
●Is the window lock switch pressed?
The power window except for the one at the driver’s seat cannot be oper-
ated if the window lock switch is pressed. ( P. 113)
If you think something is wrong
The engine does not start
The shift lever cannot be shifted from P even if you depress
the brake pedal (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
The steering wheel cannot be turned after the engine is
stopped
The windows do not open or close by operating the power
window switches
Page 356 of 368

356Alphabetical index
Back doorBack door................................ 94
Luggage compartment light ....................................... 95
Back-up lights Replacing light bulb .............. 258
Wattage ................................ 316
Battery ...................................... 219 If the battery is discharged.... 297
Preparing and checking before winter....................... 167
Warning light ......................... 272
Bottle holders .......................... 186
Brake
Fluid ...................................... 314
Parking brake........................ 143
Warning light ......................... 272
Brake assist ............................. 162
Break-in tips ............................ 119
Brightness control Instrument panel light control................................... 77 Care .................................. 194, 197
Aluminum wheels ................. 195
Exterior ................................. 194
Interior .................................. 197
Seat belts.............................. 198
Chains ...................................... 168
Child restraint system............... 53 Infant seats, definition............. 54
Infant seats, installation .......... 59
Convertible seat, definition ..... 54
Convertible seat,installation ...................... 59, 60
Installing CRS with LATCH
anchors ................................ 58
Installing CRS with seat belts .............................. 59
Installing CRS with top tether strap ........................... 63
Booster seats, definition ......... 54
Booster seats, installation....... 62
Child safety ................................ 52 Airbag precautions.................. 36
Back door precautions ............ 95
Battery precautions............... 220
Child restraint system ............. 53
How your child should wear
the seat belt.......................... 29
Installing child restraints ......... 57
Power window lock switch .... 113
Power window precautions ... 114
Rear door child-protectors ...... 92
Removed key battery
precautions......................... 242
Seat belt precautions .............. 30
Child-protectors ........................ 92
Cleaning ........................... 194, 197 Aluminum wheels ................. 195
Exterior ................................. 194
Interior .................................. 197
Seat belts.............................. 198
BC
Page 364 of 368

364Alphabetical index
Seat belt reminder light........... 274
Seat belts.................................... 26Child restra int system
installation ............................ 57
Cleaning and maintaining the seat belt ........................ 198
Emergency Locking Retractor
(ELR) .................................... 29
How to wear your seat belt ..... 26
How your child should wear the seat belt .......................... 29
Pregnant women, proper seat belt use ......................... 31
Reminder light and buzzer .... 274
Seat belt pretensioners ........... 29
SRS warning light ................. 273
Seats ................................... 98, 101 Adjustment .............................. 98
Adjustment precautions ........ 100
Child seats/child restraint system installation ................ 57
Cleaning................................ 197
Folding down the rear
seatbacks ........................... 101
Head restraints ..................... 104
Properly sitting in the seat ...... 24
Sensor Inside rear view mirror .......... 109 Shift lever ......................... 139, 141
Automatic transmission ........ 139
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P ................ 296
Manual transmission............. 141
Shift lock system ..................... 296
Side airbags ............................... 34
Side doors .................................. 89
Side mirrors ............................. 111 Adjusting and folding ............ 111
Snow tires ................................ 167
Spare tire .................................. 282 Inflation pressure .................. 315
Storage location.................... 282
Spark plug ................................ 312
Specifications .......................... 306
Speedometer.............................. 76
Steering lock ............................ 137
Steering wheel ......................... 107 Adjustment............................ 107
Audio switches...................... 180
Stop lights
Replacing light bulbs ............ 255
Wattage ................................ 316
Storage feature ........................ 184
Stuck
If the vehicle becomes stuck ................................... 303
Sun visors ................................ 190
S