377
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uDOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
Continued
Maintenance
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
The tires on your vehicle m eet all U.S. Federal Safety
Requirements. All tires are also graded for treadwear, traction,
and temperature performance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards. The following explains these
gradings.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on th e tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maximum section width.
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested un der controlled conditions 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
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual co nditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practi ces and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
■Uniform Tire Quality Grading
■Treadwear
1 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
For example:
Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uDOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
378
Maintenance
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 test surfaces of asph alt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction performance.
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate h eat when tested under 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 temp erature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
■Traction
■Temperature
1 Traction
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
1Temperature
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is establishe d for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
379
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uWear Indicators
Maintenance
Wear Indicators
The groove where the wear indicator is
located is 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) shallower than
elsewhere on the tire. If the tread has worn so
that the indicator is ex posed, replace the tire.
Worn out tires have po or traction on wet
roads.
Tire Service Life
The life of your tires is dependent on many factors, including driving habits, road
conditions, vehicle loading, inflation pressure, maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even wh en the tires are not in use).
In addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance, it is
recommended that you have annual inspections performed once the tires reach five
years old. All tires, including the spare, should be removed from service after 10
years from the date of manufacture, regardle ss of their condition or state of wear.
Example of a Wear
Indicator mark
380
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire and Wheel Replacement
Maintenance
Tire and Wheel Replacement
Replace your tires with radials of the sa me size, load range, speed rating, and
maximum cold tire pressure ra ting (as shown on the tire’s sidewall). Using tires of a
different size or construction can cause the ABS, vehicle stability assist (VSA ®), hill
start assist, and the All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with intelligent control system
* to work
incorrectly.
It is best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that isn’t possible, replace the
front or rear tires in pairs.
If you replace a wheel, only use TPMS sp ecified wheels approved for your vehicle.
Make sure that the wheel’s specifications match those of the original wheels.
1 Tire and Wheel Replacement
3WARNING
Installing improper tires on your vehicle can
affect handling and stability. This can cause
a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or
killed.
Always use the size and type of tires
recommended in this owner’s manual.
* Not available on all models
381
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire Rotation
Maintenance
Tire Rotation
Rotating tires according to the maintena nce messages on the multi-information
display helps to distribute wear more evenly and increase tire life.
■Tires without rotation marks
Rotate the tires as shown here.
■Tires with rotation marksRotate the tires as shown here.
1Tire Rotation
Tires with directional trea d patterns should only be
rotated front to back (not fr om one side to the other).
Directional tires should be mounted with the rotation
indication mark facing forward, as shown below.
FRONT
Rotation MarkFront
Front
382
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uWinter Tires
Maintenance
Winter Tires
If driving on snowy or frozen roads, mount all season marked “M+S” tires, snow
tires, or tire chains; reduce speed; and ma intain sufficient distance between vehicles
when driving.
Be particularly careful when operating the steering wheel or brakes to prevent
skidding.
Use tire chains, snow tires, or all season ti res when necessary or according to the law.
When mounting, refer to the following points.
For winter tires:
• Select the size and load ranges that are the same as the original tires.
• Mount the tires to all four wheels.
For tire chains:
• Install them on the front tires only.
• Because your vehicle has limited tire clearance, we strongly recommend using the
chains listed below:
• Follow the chain manufacturer’s instruction when installing. Mount them as
tightly as you can.
• Check that the chains do not to uch the brake lines or suspension.
• Drive slowly.
Cable-type: SCC Radial Chain TC2212MM
1Winter Tires
NOTICE
Traction devices that are th e wrong size or improperly
installed can damage your vehicle’s brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop driving if they are
hitting any part of the vehicle.
When tire chains are mounted, follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructi ons regarding vehicle
operational limits.
If your vehicle is equipped with summer tires, be
aware that these tires are not designed for winter
driving conditions. For more information, contact a
dealer.
3WARNING
Using the wrong chains, or not properly
installing chains, can damage the brake
lines and cause a crash in which you can be
seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instruction s in this owner’s
manual regarding the selection and use of
tire chains.
395Continued
Handling the Unexpected
If a Tire Goes Flat
Changing a Flat Tire*
If a tire goes flat while driving, grasp the steering wheel firmly, and brake gradually
to reduce speed. Then, stop in a safe plac e. Replace the flat tire with a compact
spare tire. Go to a dealer as soon as possib le to have the full-size tire repaired or
replaced.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, non-slip pery surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever to
(P.
3. Turn on the hazard warning lights and set the power mode to VEHICLE OFF
(LOCK).
1Changing a Flat Tire*
Periodically check the tire pressure of the compact
spare. It should be set to the specified pressure.
Specified Pressure: 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm
2)
When driving with the compact spare tire, keep the
vehicle speed under 50 mph (80 km/h). Replace with
a full-size tire as soon as possible.
The compact spare tire and wheel in your vehicle are
specifically for this model. Do not use them with
another vehicle. Do not us e another type of compact
spare tire or wheel with your vehicle.
Do not mount tire chains on a compact spare tire.
If a chain-mounted front tire goes flat, remove one of
the full-size rear tires and replace it with the compact
spare tire. Remove the flat front tire and replace it
with the full-size tire that was removed from the rear.
Mount the tire chains on the front tire.
Do not use a puncture-repairi ng agent on a flat tire,
as it can damage the tire pressure sensor.
* Not available on all models
446
Index
Mirrors....................................................... 159
Adjusting ................................................. 159
Door ........................................................ 160
Exterior .................................................... 160
Interior Rearview...................................... 159
Modifications (and Accessories) ............... 342
Moonroof .................................................. 143
MP3 .................................................... 202, 210
Multi-Information Display .......................... 94
Multi-View Rear Camera .......................... 338
N
Numbers (Identification).......................... 432
O
Odometer.................................................... 97
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines .............. 266
Oil (Engine) ............................................... 353
Adding .................................................... 355
Checking ................................................. 354
Displaying Oil Life .................................... 347
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .................. 67, 420
Recommended Engine Oil ................ 353, 431
Viscosity .......................................... 353, 431
On Demand Multi-Use Display
TM................. 4
Opening/Closing Hood ....................................................... 352
Moonroof ................................................ 143
Power Windows ...................................... 140 Tailgate ................................................... 131
Outside Temperature Display .................... 98
Overheating .............................................. 418
P
Paddle Shifters
(Sequential Shift Mode) ......................... 277
Pandora® ................................................... 208
Panic Mode ............................................... 139
Parking ...................................................... 330
Parking Brake ........................................... 318
Parking Brake and Brake System
Indicator ............................................ 66, 422
Parking Sensor System ............................. 331
Passenger Airbag Off Indicator ................. 48
Passing Indicators ..................................... 147
Power Tailgate ......................................... 133
Power Windows ....................................... 140
Precautions While Driving ....................... 273
Driving Guidelines for Your Utility
Vehicle .................................................. 273
Rain ........................................................ 273
Pregnant Women ....................................... 35
Puncture (Tire) .................................. 395, 401
R
Radiator.................................................... 359
Radio (AM/FM) ......................................... 198
Radio (SiriusXM ®)..................................... 200
Radio Data System (RDS) ......................... 199
Range .......................................................... 99
RDS (Radio Data System) ......................... 199
Readiness Codes (Emissions Testing) ...... 435
Rear Defogger/Heated Door Mirror Button ..................................................... 155
Rear Seat Heaters ..................................... 179
Rear Seats (Folding Down) ...................... 167
Rearview Mirror ....................................... 159
Refueling .................................................. 339
Fuel Gauge ............................................... 93
Gasoline ......................................... 339, 430
Low Fuel Indicator..................................... 69
Regulations .............................. 316, 377, 433
Remote Engine Start with Vehicle
Feedback ................................................. 270
Remote Transmitter ................................. 125
Replacement
Battery ............................................ 384, 385
Bulbs ...................................................... 363
Front Wiper Blade Rubber ....................... 370
Fuses .............................................. 424, 425
Rear Wiper Blade Rubber ........................ 372
Tires........................................................ 380
Reporting Safety Defects ......................... 434
Resetting a Trip Meter ............................... 98
Reverse Tilt Door Mirror .......................... 160