Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the tread for
cuts and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts, cracks and
bulges. Check the wheel bolts for tightness. Check the
tires (including spare) for proper cold inflation pres-
sure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights
and exterior lights while you work the controls. Check
turn signal and high beam indicator lights on the
instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for
fuel, engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if
gasoline fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering
fluid (if equipped), or brake fluid leaks are suspected.
The cause should be located and corrected immediately.
64 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
POWER STEERING ....................199
PARKING BRAKE .....................200
SPORT MODE ....................... .201
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped .......201
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped .....202
BRAKE SYSTEM ..................... .202
ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . .203
▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . .203
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ..............204
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ...........204
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) ................205
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) .........206
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light ...........209
TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION ............210
▫ Tire Markings ...................... .210
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ..........213▫
Tire Terminology And Definitions .........214
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ..........215
TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION .......219
▫ Tire Pressure ...................... .219
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................220
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . .221
▫ Radial Ply Tires .....................221
▫ Tire Types ......................... .222
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped ............223
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ..............224
▫ Tire Spinning ...................... .227
▫ T
read Wear Indicators .................227
▫ Life Of Tire ....................... .228
▫ Replacement Tires ....................228
TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) ......230
TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS . . . .230
182 STARTING AND OPERATING
Spare Tires — If Equipped
NOTE:For vehicles equipped with Tire Service Kit
instead of a spare tire, please refer to the “Tire Service
Kit” section located in your Owner ’s Information kit for
further information.
CAUTION!
Because of the reduced ground clearance, do not
take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
with a compact or limited-use temporary spare
installed. Damage to the vehicle may result.
Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire And
Wheel — If Equipped
Your vehicle may be equipped with a spare tire and
wheel equivalent in look and function to the original
equipment tire and wheel found on the front or rear
axle of your vehicle. This spare tire may be used in the
tire rotation for your vehicle. If your vehicle has this
option, refer to an authorized tire dealer for the recom-
mended tire rotation pattern.
Compact Spare Tire — If Equipped
The compact spare is for temporary emergency use
only. You can identify if your vehicle is equipped with
a compact spare by looking at the spare tire description
on the Tire and Loading Information Placard located on
the driver ’s side door opening or on the sidewall of the
tire. Compact spare tire descriptions begin with the
letter “T” or “S” preceding the size designation. Ex-
ample: T145/80D18 103M.
T, S = Temporary Spare Tire
Since this tire has limited tread life, the original equip-
ment tire should be repaired (or replaced) and rein-
stalled on your vehicle at the first opportunity.
Do not install a wheel cover or attempt to mount a
conventional tire on the compact spare wheel, since the
wheel is designed specifically for the compact spare
tire. Do not install more than one compact spare tire and
wheel on the vehicle at any given time.
224 STARTING AND OPERATING
WARNING!
Compact and Collapsible spares are for temporary
emergency use only. With these spares, do not drive
more than 50 mph (80 km/h). Temporary use spares
have limited tread life. When the tread is worn to
the tread wear indicators, the temporary use spare
tire needs to be replaced. Be sure to follow the
warnings, which apply to your spare. Failure to do
so could result in spare tire failure and loss of
vehicle control.
Collapsible Spare Tire — If Equipped
The collapsible spare is for temporary emergency use
only. You can identify if your vehicle is equipped with
a collapsible spare by looking at the spare tire descrip-
tion on the Tire and Loading Information Placard
located on the driver ’s side door opening or on the
sidewall of the tire.
Collapsible spare tire description example: 165/80-17
101P.
Since this tire has limited tread life, the original equip-
ment tire should be repaired (or replaced) and rein-
stalled on your vehicle at the first opportunity.Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is properly
installed to the vehicle. Inflate the collapsible tire using
the electric air pump before lowering the vehicle.
Do not install a wheel cover or attempt to mount a
conventional tire on the collapsible spare wheel, since
the wheel is designed specifically for the collapsible
spare tire.
WARNING!
Compact and Collapsible spares are for temporary
emergency use only. With these spares, do not drive
more than 50 mph (80 km/h). Temporary use spares
have limited tread life. When the tread is worn to
the tread wear indicators, the temporary use spare
tire needs to be replaced. Be sure to follow the
warnings, which apply to your spare. Failure to do
so could result in spare tire failure and loss of
vehicle control.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 225
Full Size Spare — If Equipped
The full size spare is for temporary emergency use only.
This tire may look like the originally equipped tire on
the front or rear axle of your vehicle, but it is not. This
spare tire may have limited tread life. When the tread is
worn to the tread wear indicators, the temporary use
full size spare tire needs to be replaced. Since it is not
the same as your original equipment tire, replace (or
repair) the original equipment tire and reinstall on the
vehicle at the first opportunity.
Limited Use Spare — If Equipped
The limited use spare tire is for temporary emergency
use only. This tire is identified by a label located on the
limited use spare wheel. This label contains the driving
limitations for this spare. This tire may look like the
original equipped tire on the front or rear axle of your
vehicle, but it is not. Installation of this limited use
spare tire affects vehicle handling. Since it is not the
same as your original equipment tire, replace (or repair)
the original equipment tire and reinstall on the vehicle
at the first opportunity.
WARNING!
Limited use spares are for emergency use only.
Installation of this limited use spare tire affects
vehicle handling. With this tire, do not drive more
than the speed listed on the limit use spare wheel.
Keep inflated to the cold tire inflation pressures
listed on your Tire and Loading Information Plac-
ard located on the driver ’s side B-Pillar or the rear
edge of the driver ’s side door. Replace (or repair)
the original equipment tire at the first opportunity
and reinstall it on your vehicle. Failure to do so
could result in loss of vehicle control.
226 STARTING AND OPERATING
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 fail-
ure. 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.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a balance of
many characteristics. They should be inspected regu-
larly 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 Certi-
fication 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 informa-
tion 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.
228 STARTING AND OPERATING
TPMS Warnings
The Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light will flash on
and off for 75 seconds and remain on solid when a
system fault is detected, an audible chime will be
activated and the “Service Tire Pressure Monitoring
System” text message will display. If the ignition key is
cycled, this sequence will repeat providing the system
fault still exists. The Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale
Light will turn off when the fault condition no longer
exists. A system fault can occur with any of the follow-
ing scenarios:
•Jamming due to electronic devices or driving next to
facilities emitting the same radio frequencies as the
TPM sensors.
• Installing some form of aftermarket window tinting
that affects radio wave signals.
• Snow or ice around the wheels or wheel housings.
• Using tire chains on the vehicle.
• Using wheels/tires not equipped with TPM sensors.
NOTE: Your vehicle may be equipped with a compact
spare wheel and tire assembly. •
The compact spare tire does not have a tire pressure
monitoring sensor. Therefore, the TPMS will not
monitor the tire pressure in the compact spare tire.
• If you install the compact spare tire in place of a road
tire that has a pressure below the low-pressure
warning limit, upon the next ignition key cycle, a
chime will sound, the Tire Pressure Monitoring Tell-
tale Light and the Low inflation pressure left or right
front / rear tire message will still turn ON due to the
low tire.
• However, after driving the vehicle for up to 20
minutes above 15 mph (24 km/h), the Tire Pressure
Monitoring Telltale Light will flash on and off for 75
seconds and then remain on solid and the “Service
Tire Pressure Monitoring System” message will be
displayed.
• This occurs for each subsequent ignition key cycle, a
chime will sound and the Tire Pressure Monitoring
Telltale Light will flash on and off for 75 seconds and
then remain on solid and the “Service Tire Pressure
Monitoring System” message will be displayed.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 235
•Once you repair or replace the original road tire and
reinstall it on the vehicle in place of the compact
spare tire, the TPMS will update automatically and
the Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light will turn
OFF, as long as no tire pressure is below the low-
pressure warning limit in any of the four active road
tires. The vehicle may need to be driven for up to 20
minutes above 15 mph (24 km/h) in order for the
TPMS to receive this information.
TPM System With (TFT) Tire Pressure Display
Screen
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses wireless
technology with wheel rim mounted electronic sensors
to monitor tire pressure levels. Sensors, mounted to
each wheel as part of the valve stem, transmit tire
pressure readings to the receiver module.
The TPMS consists of the following components:
• Receiver module
• Four Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors
• Various Tire Pressure Monitoring System messages,
which display in the instrument cluster
• Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
Tire Pressure Monitoring Low Pressure Warnings
The “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light” will
illuminate in the instrument cluster and a chime will
sound when tire pressure is low in one or more of the
four active road tires. In addition, the instrument
cluster will display a low pressure text message and
a graphic showing the low tire pressure tire high-
lighted in a different color.
Should this occur, you should stop as soon as possible
and inflate the tires with low pressure to the vehicle’s
recommended cold placard pressure value. Once the
system receives the updated tire pressures, the system
Low Tire Indicator
236 STARTING AND OPERATING