WHEELS AND TIRES Tire Safety Information
Tire safety information will cover
aspects of the following information:
Tire Markings, Tire Identification
Numbers, Tire Terminology and
Definitions, Tire Pressures, and Tire
Loading.
Tire Markings Note:
P (Passenger) — Metric tire sizing is
based on U.S. design standards.
P-Metric tires have the letter “P”
molded into the sidewall preceding the
size designation. Example:
P215/65R15 95H.
European — Metric tire sizing is
based on European design standards.
Tires designed to this standard have
the tire size molded into the sidewall
beginning with the section width. The
letter "P" is absent from this tire size
designation. Example: 215/
65R15 96H.
LT (Light Truck) — Metric tire sizing
is based on U.S. design standards.
The size designation for LT-Metric tires
is the same as for P-Metric tires except
for the letters “LT” that are molded into
the sidewall preceding the size
designation. Example: LT235/85R16. Temporary spare tires are designed
for temporary emergency use only.
Temporary high pressure compact
spare tires have the letter “T” or “S”
molded into the sidewall preceding the
size designation. Example:
T145/80D18 103M.
High flotation tire sizing is based on
U.S. design standards and it begins
with the tire diameter molded into the
sidewall. Example: 31x10.5 R15 LT.0601085395US
Tire Markings
1 — U.S. DOT
Safety Standards
Code (TIN) 4 — Maximum
Load
2 — Size Desi-
gnation 5 — Maximum
Pressure
3 — Service De-
scription 6 — Treadwear,
Traction and
Temperature
Grades
238
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
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 becomes a 1/16 of an inch (1.6 mm).
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.
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 Indicators” in this section.
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.0806104865NA
Tire Tread
1—WornTire
2—NewTire
248
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
original equipment or an authorized tire
dealer for recommended safe operating
speeds, loading and cold tire inflation
pressures.
While studded tires improve
performance on ice, skid and traction
capability on wet or dry surfaces may
be poorer than that of non-studded
tires. Some states prohibit studded
tires; therefore, local laws should be
checked before using these tire types.
Spare Tires — If
Equipped
Note: For vehicles equipped with Tire
Service Kit instead of a spare tire,
please refer to “Tire Service Kit” in “In
Case Of Emergency” 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
recommended 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.
Example: T145/80D18 103M.
T,S=Te mporary Spare Tire
Since this tire has limited tread life, the
original equipment tire should be
repaired (or replaced) and reinstalled 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. 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 description 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 equipment tire should be
repaired (or replaced) and reinstalled 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.
250
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
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.
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 limited use spare wheel. Keep inflated
to the cold tire inflation pressures listed on
your Tire and Loading Information Placard
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. Wheel And Wheel Trim
Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially
aluminum and chrome plated wheels,
should be cleaned regularly using mild
(neutral Ph) soap and water to maintain
their luster and to prevent corrosion.
Wash wheels with the same soap
solution recommended for the body of
the vehicle.
Your wheels are susceptible to
deterioration caused by salt, sodium
chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium
chloride, etc., and other road chemicals
used to melt ice or control dust on dirt
roads. Use a soft cloth or sponge and
mild soap to wipe away promptly. Do
not use harsh chemicals or a stiff brush.
They can damage the wheel’s
protective coating that helps keep them
from corroding and tarnishing.
Note: Many aftermarket wheel
cleaners contain strong acids or strong
alkaline additives that can harm the
wheel surface.
251
Caution!To avoid damage to your vehicle or tires,
observe the following precautions:
Because of restricted traction device
clearance between tires and other
suspension components, it is important
that only traction devices in good condition
are used. Broken devices can cause
serious damage. Stop the vehicle
immediately if noise occurs that could
indicate device breakage. Remove the
damaged parts of the device before further
use.
Install device as tightly as possible and
then retighten after driving about ½ mile
(0.8 km).
Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns
and large bumps, especially with a loaded
vehicle.
Do not drive for a prolonged period on
dry pavement.
Observe the traction device
manufacturer’s instructions on the method
of installation, operating speed, and
conditions for use. Always use the
suggested operating speed of the device
manufacturer’s if it is less than 30 mph
(48 km/h).
Do not use traction devices on a
compact spare tire. Caution!Using snow chains with tires with
non-original dimensions may damage the
vehicle.
Using different size or type (M+S, snow,
etc.) tires between front and rear axle may
adversely affect vehicle driveability, with the
risk of losing control of the vehicle and
resulting accidents.
Tire Rotation
Recommendations
The front and rear tires are subject to
different loads and stress due to
steering, maneuver and braking. For
this reason they are subject to uneven
wear. To resolve this problem, tires
should be rotated at the appropriate
time.
The following rotation methods must
NOT be used with one-way
unidirectional tires! This type of tires can
only be switched from the front axle to
the rear axle and vice versa, keeping
them on the same side of the vehicle.
Rotate one-way unidirectional tires
and radial tires that have an
asymmetrical tread pattern only from
front to rear, not from side to side. Tire
performance will be reduced if rotated
from side to side. Tire rotation means moving the wheels
to a different position, with respect to
the vehicle. During rotation, inspect tires
for correct balance.
The single wheel will therefore operate
on a different axle and, where possible,
on the opposite side of the vehicle.
Note:
Rotate tires periodically. Irregular tire
wear is dangerous. To equalize tread
wear for maintaining good
performance in handling and braking,
rotate the tires every 6,200 miles
(10,000 km), or sooner if irregular wear
develops.
To equalize tread wear, rotate the
tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) at
the latest or sooner if irregular wear
develops. FCA recommends to rotate
every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) to help
increase tire life and distribute wear
more evenly. 07031402-FRT-001
Rotation Diagram
253
Because your vehicle is not
equipped with a spare tire, you cannot
do a tire rotation safely with the jack
that may come with your vehicle if so
equipped. Contact an authorized
dealer for tire rotation.
Also, inspect them for uneven wear and
damage. Abnormal wear is usually
caused by one or a combination of the
following:
Incorrect tire pressure
Improper wheel alignment
Out-of-balance wheel
Severe braking
After rotation, inflate all tire pressures to
specification and inspect the wheel nuts
for tightness.
With Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS)
The TPM system must be initialized
after adjusting the tire pressure, to
make the system operate normally.
Refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System” in “Safety” for further
information.
Rotate unidirectional tires and radial
tires that have an asymmetrical tread
pattern only from front to rear, not from
side to side. Tire performance will be
reduced if rotated from side to side. DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION
UNIFORM TIRE
QUALITY GRADES The following tire grading
categories were established by the
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. The specific grade
rating assigned by the tire's
manufacturer in each category is
shown on the sidewall of the tires
on your vehicle.
All passenger vehicle tires must
conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these
grades. Treadwear
The Treadwear grade is a
comparative rating, based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and one-half
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 significantly from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices, and
differences in road characteristics
and climate. Traction Grades
The Traction grades, from highest
to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
These grades 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 straight-ahead
braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics. Temperature Grades
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 heat,
254
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
INDEX About Your Brakes .......... .150
ABS system ............... .112
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS) ..... .156
Adaptive Front Lighting System
(AFS) ...................42
Additives, Fuel ............. .174
Advanced Keyless Entry System
Key Left In Trunk ............21
Key left In Vehicle ...........21
Locking Doors .............21
Passive Entry ..............21
Request Switch ............21
Unlocking Doors ............21
AirBag............... .131,135
Advance Front Air Bag . . . .131,135
Air Bag Warning Light ...... .147
Event Data Recorder (EDR) .145,222
FrontAirBag ............ .147
Maintaining Your Air Bag
System ............... .145
Air Bag Maintenance ......... .145
Air Pressure, Tires ........... .246
Alarm
Vehicle Security Alarm ..... .24,25
Alarm (Security Alarm) ....... .24,25
Aluminium wheel maintenance . . . .259
Automatic Dimming Mirror ........36
Automatic Headlights ...........40 Automatic Temperature Control
(ATC) ...................52
Automatic Transmission ....... .153
Auxiliary Power Outlet ..........63
B-Pillar Location ............ .242
Battery (maintenance) ......... .234
Battery charging procedure ..... .235
Battery recharging ........... .235
Blind Spot Monitoring ......... .114
Body and underbody warranty . . . .256
Body lubrication ............ .235
Bodywork (care and maintenance). .256
Boot, Convertible Top Lowering ....70
Boot, Convertible Top Precautions . .73
Boot, Convertible Top Raising .....71
Brake System .............. .150
Brake/clutch fluid (level check) . . . .233
Brakes ............... .150,271
Bright-metal maintenance ......
.259
Camera,
Rear ..............
.167
Carbon Monoxide Warning ..... .175
Center Seat Storage Compartment .......................60
Certification Label ........... .176
Changing A Flat Tire .... .203,204,237
Chart, Tire Sizing ............ .239
Check Engine Light (Malfunction
Indicator Light) ........... .110 Checking levels ............. .231
Child Restraint ............. .128
Child Restraints
Child Restraints .......... .128
Clean Air Gasoline ........... .173
Cleaning
Wheels ............... .251
Climate Control ..............45
Close The Hood ..............69
Compact Spare Tire .......... .250
Contract, Service ........... .281
Convertible Top ..............70
Convertible top maintenance .... .260
Cooling
Air Conditioning ............50
Cupholders .................64
Customer Assistance ......... .280
Data Recorder, Event ......... .145
Daytime Running Lights .........40
Diagnostic System, Onboard .... .109
Dimensions ............... .274
Disabled Vehicle Towing .... .220,221
Driver's Seat Back Tilt ..........33
Driving in flooded area ........ .181
Driving tips ............... .178
Electric power steering ..........74
Electric Remote Mirrors .........37
INDEX
Replacing exterior light bulbs .... .187
Replacing fuses ............ .194
Replacing interior light bulbs .... .194
Reporting Safety Defects ...... .282
Restraint, Head ..............34
Restraints, Child ............ .128
Safety Defects, Reporting ...... .282
Safety Information, Tire ........ .238
safety systems ............. .112
Saving fuel and protection of the
environment ............. .178
Scheduled servicing .......... .224
Seat Belt
Energy Management Feature . . .128
Lap/Shoulder Belts ..... .123,125
Pregnant Women ......... .124
Seat Belt Extender ........ .126
Seat Belt Pretensioner ...... .127
Seat Belt Reminder ........ .127
Seat Belt Reminder .......... .127
Seat Belts ................ .122
Child Restraint ........... .128
Extender .............. .126
Front Seat .......... .122,123
Pregnant Women ......... .124
Pretensioners ........... .127
Rear Seat .............. .123
Seats .....................33 Adjustment ...............33
Heated .................33
Seatback Release ..........33
Tilting ..................33
Seats and fabric parts (cleaning) . . .262
Security Alarm
Security Alarm .......... .24,25
Sentry Key
Key Programming ..........24
Service Assistance .......... .280
Service Contract ............ .281
Service Manuals ............ .283
Shift Lever Override
.......... .156
Shift
position indication ........ .154
Shoulder Belts .......... .123,125
Signals, Turn ................41
Snow chains .............. .252
Snow Tires ............... .249
Spare Tire .......... .203,250,251
Sport Mode ............... .158
Starting ............... .20,218
Engine Fails To Start ....... .218
Starting And Operating ...... .20,218
Starting Procedures ........ .20,218
Starting the engine .......... .149
Steering ................. .273
Column Lock .............35
Tilt Column ...............35 Wheel, Tilt ...............35
Storage ...................60
Storing the vehicle ........... .255
Sun Visor ..................61
Supplemental Restraint System -
AirBag ............. .131,135
Suspensions .............. .272
Symbols ....................3
Tilt Steering Column ...........35
Tire And Loading Information
Placard ................ .242
Tire chains ................ .180
Tire Markings .............. .238
Tire Rotation .............. .253
Tire Safety Information ........ .238
Tire Service Kit ............. .208
Tires.............. .246,250,254
Aging (Life Of Tires) ........ .248
Air Pressure ............ .246
Changing ........ .203,204,237
Compact Spare .......... .250
Flat Changing ........... .208
General Information .....
.246,250
High
Speed ............
.247
Inflation Pressures ........ .246
Jacking ......... .203,204,237
Life Of Tires ............ .248
Load Capacity ........ .242,243