2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER ABARTH Owners Manual

Tire Terminology And
Definitions
TermDefinition
B-Pillar The
vehicle B-Pillar is the structural member of the body located behind the front
door.
Cold Tire Inflation Pressure Cold tire inflation pressure is defined as the tire pressure after the vehicle has not
been driven for at least three hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) after sitting
for a minimum of three hours. Inflation pressure is measured in units of PSI (pounds
per square inch) or kPa (kilopascals).
Maximum Inflation Pressure The maximum inflation pressure is the maximum permissible cold tire inflation
pressure for this tire. The maximum inflation pressure is molded into the sidewall.
Recommended Cold Tire Inflation Pressure Vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold tire inflation pressure as shown on the
tire placard.
Tire Placard A label permanently attached to the vehicle describing the vehicle’s loading
capacity, the original equipment tire sizes and the recommended cold tire inflation
pressures.
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Tire Loading And Tire Pressure
Note:
The proper cold tire inflation pressure is
listed on the driver’s side B-Pillar or the
rear edge of the driver's side door.Tire And Loading Information
Placard
This placard tells you important
information about the:
Number of people that can be
carried in the vehicle.
Total weight your vehicle can carry.
Tire size designed for your vehicle.
Cold tire inflation pressures for the
front, rear, and spare tires.
Loading
The vehicle maximum load on the tire
must not exceed the load carrying
capacity of the tire on your vehicle. You
will not exceed the tire's load carrying
capacity if you adhere to the loading
conditions, tire size, and cold tire
inflation pressures specified on the Tire
and Loading Information placard in
“Vehicle Loading” in the “Starting And
Operating” section of this manual.
Note:
Under a maximum loaded vehicle
condition, gross axle weight ratings
(GAWRs) for the front and rear axles
must not be exceeded. For further
information on GAWRs, vehicle loading,
and trailer towing, refer to “Vehicle
Loading” in the “Starting And
Operating” section of this manual.
To determine the maximum loading
conditions of your vehicle, locate the
statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on the Tire
and Loading Information placard. The
combined weight of occupants,
cargo/luggage and trailer tongue weight
(if applicable) should never exceed the
weight referenced here.
GUID-0806092796USExample Tire Placard Location (Door)
GUID-0806092795USExample Tire Placard Location(B-Pillar)
GUID-054900418-high.tifTire And Loading InformationPlacard
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Steps For Determining Correct
Load Limit—
(1) Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg
or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle's
placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from XXX
kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if “XXX” amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb passengers in your vehicle,the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5x150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.
Metric Example For Load Limit
For example, if “XXX” amount equals
635 kg and there will be five 68 kg passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 295 kg (635-340 (5x68) =
295 kg) as shown in step 4.
Note:
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. The following table
shows examples on how to calculate
total load, cargo/luggage, and towing
capacities of your vehicle with varying
seating configurations and number and
size of occupants. This table is for
illustration purposes only and may not
be accurate for the seating and load
carry capacity of your vehicle.
For the following example, the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 865 lbs
(392 kg).
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Warning!
Overloading of your tires is dangerous. Overloading can cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling, and increase your stopping distance. Use
tires of the recommended load capacity for your vehicle. Never overload them.
GUID-054900419-high.tif
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Tires — General
Information
Tire Pressure
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential
to the safe and satisfactory operation of
your vehicle. Four primary areas are
affected by improper tire pressure:
Safety and Vehicle Stability
Economy
Tread Wear
Ride Comfort
Safety
Warning!
Improperly inflated tires are dangerous
and can cause collisions.
Underinflation increases tire flexing and
can result in overheating and tire failure.
Overinflation reduces a tire's ability to
cushion shock. Objects on the road and
chuckholes can cause damage that result
in tire failure.
Overinflated or underinflated tires can
affect vehicle handling and can fail
suddenly, resulting in loss of vehicle
control.
Unequal tire pressures can cause
steering problems. You could lose control
of your vehicle.
Unequal tire pressures from one side of
the vehicle to the other can cause the
vehicle to drift to the right or left.
Always drive with each tire inflated to
the recommended cold tire inflation
pressure.
Both under-inflation and over-inflation
affect the stability of the vehicle and can
produce a feeling of sluggish response
or over responsiveness in the steering.
Note:
Unequal tire pressures from side to
side may cause erratic and
unpredictable steering response.
Unequal tire pressure from side to
side may cause the vehicle to drift left
or right.
Fuel Economy
Underinflated tires will increase tire
rolling resistance resulting in higher fuel
consumption.
Tread Wear
Improper cold tire inflation pressures
can cause abnormal wear patterns and
reduced tread life, resulting in the need
for earlier tire replacement.
Ride Comfort And Vehicle Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a
comfortable ride. Over-inflation
produces a jarring and uncomfortable
ride.
Tire Inflation Pressures
The proper cold tire inflation pressure is
listed on the driver's side B-Pillar or rear
edge of the driver's side door.
At least once a month:
Check and adjust tire pressure with a
good quality pocket-type pressure
gauge. Do not make a visual judgement
when determining proper inflation. Tires
may look properly inflated even when
they are under-inflated.
Inspect tires for signs of tire wear or
visible damage.
Caution!
After inspecting or adjusting the tire
pressure, always reinstall the valve stem
cap. This will prevent moisture and dirt
from entering the valve stem, which could
damage the valve stem.
Inflation pressures specified on the
placard are always “cold tire inflation
pressure”. Cold tire inflation pressure is
defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km) after sitting for a minimum of
three hours. The cold tire inflation
pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded into
the tire sidewall.
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Check tire pressures more often if
subject to a wide range of outdoor
temperatures, as tire pressures vary
with temperature changes.
Tire pressures change by approximately
1 psi (7 kPa) per 12°F (7°C) of air
temperature change. Keep this in mind
when checking tire pressure inside a
garage, especially in the Winter.
Example: If garage temperature = 68°F
(20°C) and the outside temperature =
32°F (0°C) then the cold tire inflation
pressure should be increased by 3 psi
(21 kPa), which equals 1 psi (7 kPa) for
every 12°F (7°C) for this outside
temperature condition.
Tire pressure may increase from 2 to
6 psi (13 to 40 kPa) during operation.
DO NOT reduce this normal pressure
build up or your tire pressure will be too
low.
Tire Pressures For High Speed
Operation
The manufacturer advocates driving at
safe speeds and within posted speed
limits. Where speed limits or conditions
are such that the vehicle can be driven
at high speeds, maintaining correct tire
inflation pressure is very important.
Increased tire pressure and reduced
vehicle loading may be required for
high-speed vehicle operation. Refer to
your authorized tire dealer or original
equipment vehicle dealer forrecommended safe operating speeds,
loading and cold tire inflation pressures.
Warning!
High speed driving with your vehicle under
maximum load is dangerous. The added
strain on your tires could cause them to
fail. You could have a serious collision. Do
not drive a vehicle loaded to the maximum
capacity at continuous speeds above
75 mph (120 km/h).
Radial Ply Tires
Warning!
Combining radial ply tires with other types
of tires on your vehicle will cause your
vehicle to handle poorly. The instability
could cause a collision. Always use radial
ply tires in sets of four. Never combine
them with other types of tires.
Tire Repair
If your tire becomes damaged, it may
be repaired if it meets the following
criteria:
The tire has not been driven on when
flat.
The damage is only on the tread
section of your tire (sidewall damage is
not repairable).
The puncture is no greater than a ¼
of an inch (6 mm).
Consult an authorized tire dealer for tire
repairs and additional information.
Damaged Run Flat tires, or Run Flat
tires that have experienced a loss of
pressure should be replaced
immediately with another Run Flat tire
of identical size and service description
(Load Index and Speed Symbol).
Run Flat Tires — If Equipped
Run Flat tires allow you the capability to
drive 50 miles (80 km) at 50 mph
(80 km/h) after a rapid loss of inflation
pressure. This rapid loss of inflation is
referred to as the Run Flat mode. A Run
Flat mode occurs when the tire inflation
pressure is of/or below 14 psi (96 kPa).
Once a Run Flat tire reaches the run flat
mode it has limited driving capabilities
and needs to be replaced immediately.
A Run Flat tire is not repairable.
It is not recommended driving a vehicle
loaded at full capacity or to tow a trailer
while a tire is in the run flat mode.
See the tire pressure monitoring section
for more information.
Tire Spinning
When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice
conditions, do not spin your vehicle's
wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously
without stopping.
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Refer to “Freeing A Stuck Vehicle” in “In
Case Of Emergency” for further
information.
Warning!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous.
Forces generated by excessive wheel
speeds may cause tire damage or failure. A
tire could explode and injure someone. Do
not spin your vehicle's wheels faster than
30 mph (48 km/h) for more than
30 seconds continuously when you are
stuck, and do not let anyone near a
spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicators are in the original
equipment tires to help you in
determining when your tires should be
replaced.These indicators are molded into the
bottom of the tread grooves. They will
appear as bands when the tread depth
becomesa1/16ofaninch(1.6mm).
When the tread is worn to the tread
wear indicators, the tire should be
replaced. Refer to “Replacement Tires”
in this section for further information.
Life Of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent
upon varying factors including, but not
limited to:
Driving style.
Tire pressure - Improper cold tire
inflation pressures can cause uneven
wear patterns to develop across the tire
tread. These abnormal wear patterns
will reduce tread life, resulting in the
need for earlier tire replacement.
Distance driven.
Performance tires, tires with a speed
rating of V or higher, and Summer tires
typically have a reduced tread life.
Rotation of these tires per the vehicle
maintenance schedule is highly
recommended.
Warning!
Tires and the spare tire should be replaced
after six years, regardless of the remaining
tread. Failure to follow this warning can
result in sudden tire failure. You could lose
control and have a collision resulting in
serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact with
oil, grease, and gasoline.
GUID-0806104865NATire Tread
1—WornTire
2—NewTire
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Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a
balance of many characteristics. They
should be inspected regularly for wear
and correct cold tire inflation pressures.
The manufacturer strongly recommends
that you use tires equivalent to the
originals in size, quality and
performance when replacement is
needed. Refer to the paragraph on
“Tread Wear Indicator”. Refer to the Tire
and Loading Information placard or the
Vehicle Certification Label for the size
designation of your tire. The Load Index
and Speed Symbol for your tire will be
found on the original equipment tire
sidewall. See the Tire Sizing Chart
example found in the “Tire Safety
Information” section of this manual for
more information relating to the Load
Index and Speed Symbol of a tire.
It is recommended to replace the two
front tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle’s handling. If you
ever replace a wheel, make sure that
the wheel’s specifications match those
of the original wheels.
It is recommended you contact your
authorized tire dealer or original
equipment dealer with any questions
you may have on tire specifications or
capability. Failure to use equivalent
replacement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your
vehicle.Warning!
Do not use a tire, wheel size, load rating,
or speed rating other than that specified for
your vehicle. Some combinations of
unapproved tires and wheels may change
suspension dimensions and performance
characteristics, resulting in changes to
steering, handling, and braking of your
vehicle. This can cause unpredictable
handling and stress to steering and
suspension components. You could lose
control and have a collision resulting in
serious injury or death. Use only the tire
and wheel sizes with load ratings approved
for your vehicle.
Never use a tire with a smaller load
index or capacity, other than what was
originally equipped on your vehicle. Using a
tire with a smaller load index could result in
tire overloading and failure. You could lose
control and have a collision.
Failure to equip your vehicle with tires
having adequate speed capability can
result in sudden tire failure and loss of
vehicle control.
Caution!
Replacing original tires with tires of a
different size may result in false
speedometer and odometer readings.
Tire Types
All Season Tires — If Equipped
All Season tires provide traction for all
seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall and
Winter). Traction levels may vary
between different all season tires. All
season tires can be identified by the
M+S, M&S, M/S or MS designation on
the tire sidewall. Use all season tires
only in sets of four; failure to do so may
adversely affect the safety and handling
of your vehicle.
Summer Or Three Season Tires
— If Equipped
Summer tires provide traction in both
wet and dry conditions, and are not
intended to be driven in snow or on ice.
If your vehicle is equipped with Summer
tires, be aware these tires are not
designed for Winter or cold driving
conditions. Install Winter tires on your
vehicle when ambient temperatures are
less than 40°F (5°C) or if roads are
covered with ice or snow. For more
information, contact an authorized
dealer.
Summer tires do not contain the all
season designation or mountain/
snowflake symbol on the tire sidewall.
Use Summer tires only in sets of four;
failure to do so may adversely affect the
safety and handling of your vehicle.
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