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due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences
in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction
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
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
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing
the tire's resistance to thegeneration of heat and its ability
to dissipate heat 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 temperature 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 Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade
for this tire is established 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.Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned and
balanced at the factory to provide the
longest tire life and best overall
performance. Adjustments to wheel
alignment and tire balancing are not
necessary on a regular basis. Consider
an alignment check if there is unusual
tire wear or the vehicle is significantly
pulling to one side or the other. Some
slight pull to the left or right,
depending on the crown of the road
and/or other road surface variations
such as troughs or ruts, is normal.
If the vehicle is vibrating when driving
on a smooth road, the tires and
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
See your dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts
should be replaced. If the wheel leaks
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If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while driving, especially if the tires are
maintained properly. If air goes out of
a tire, it is much more likely to leak
out slowly. But if there ever is a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates
a drag that pulls the vehicle toward
that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering
wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a
stop, well off the road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and may
require the same correction as used in
a skid. Stop pressing the accelerator
pedal and steer to straighten the
vehicle. It may be very bumpy and
noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off
the road, if possible.{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash. Never
attempt to re-inflate a tire that has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat. Have your
dealer or an authorized tire service
center repair or replace the flat tire
as soon as possible.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the appropriate
safety equipment and training. If a
jack is provided with the vehicle, it
is designed only for changing a flat
tire. If it is used for anything else,
you or others could be badly injured(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
or killed if the vehicle slips off the
jack. If a jack is provided with the
vehicle, only use it for changing a
flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard Warning
Flashers 0171.
{Warning
Changing a tire can be dangerous.
The vehicle can slip off the jack and
roll over or fall causing injury or
death. Find a level place to change
the tire. To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in P (Park). (Continued)
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332 VEHICLE CARE
Warning (Continued)
3. For vehicles with four-wheeldrive with an N (Neutral)
transfer case position, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive
gear —not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
5. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
6. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of
the tire at the opposite corner
of the tire being changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a guide
to assist in the placement of the
wheel blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to use the jack and change a tire.
Tire Changing
Before changing a flat tire, see
“Hands-Free Operation ”under Liftgate
0 40.
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
The equipment needed to change a
flat tire is stored in the rear of the
vehicle, on the driver side, behind a
door in the trim panel.
1. Jack Knob
2. Wing Nut Retaining the
Wheel Blocks
3. Wing Nut Retaining the Tool Bag
If equipped, the tow eye bolt
will be in a bag secured to
the tool bag.
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7. Tilt the tire toward the vehiclewith some slack in the cable to
access the tire/wheel retainer.
Tilt the retainer and pull it and
the cable and spring through the
center of the wheel.
8. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat
0 331 for more information.
2. If the vehicle has a center cap
that covers the wheel fasteners,
place the chisel end of the wheel
wrench in the slot on the wheel
and gently pry the cap out.
3. Use the wheel wrench to loosenall the wheel nuts. Turn the
wheel wrench counterclockwise
to loosen the wheel nuts. Do not
remove the wheel nuts yet.
{Warning
To avoid personal injury and
vehicle damage, disable the power
assist steps before using a jack or
placing an object under the vehicle.
See Power Assist Steps 048.
Jacking Locations (Overall View)
4. Position the jack under the vehicle, as shown.
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Left Front Shown, Right Front SimilarFront Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a front tire of the vehicle, use
the jack handle and only one
jack handle extension. Attach the
wheel wrench to the jack handle
extension. Attach the jack handle
to the jack. Position the jack on
the frame behind the flat tire
where the frame sections overlap.
Turn the wheel wrench clockwise
to raise the vehicle. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the ground
so there is enough room for the
spare tire to clear the ground.Rear Position
Rear Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a rear tire of the vehicle, use
the jack handle (2) and both jack
handle extensions (3). Attach the
wheel wrench (4) to the jack
handle extensions (3). Attach the
jack handle (2) to the jack (1).
Use the jacking pad (5) provided
on the rear axle. Turn the wheel
wrench (4) clockwise to raise the
vehicle. Raise the vehicle far
enough off the ground so there is
enough room for the spare tire to
clear the ground.
{Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is
lifted on a jack is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack, you could
be badly injured or killed. Never get
under a vehicle when it is
supported only by a jack.
{Warning
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage
the vehicle and even make the
vehicle fall. To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure
to fit the jack lift head into the
proper location before raising the
vehicle.
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5. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
6. Take off the flat tire.
7. Remove any rust or dirt from thewheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause a crash. When
changing a wheel, remove any rust
or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, a cloth or a paper towel
can be used; however, use a scraper
or wire brush later to remove all
rust or dirt.
8. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of the nuts
toward the wheel after mounting
the spare tire.
{Warning
Never use oil or grease on bolts or
nuts because the nuts might come
loose. The vehicle's wheel could fall
off, causing a crash.
9. Tighten each wheel nut by hand. Then use the wheel wrench to
tighten the nuts until the wheel
is held against the hub.
10. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the
vehicle. Lower the jack
completely.
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11. Tighten the nuts firmly in acrisscross sequence as shown by
turning the wheel wrench
clockwise.
{Warning
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause the
wheels to become loose or come off.
The wheel nuts should be tightened
with a torque wrench to the proper
torque specification after replacing.
Follow the torque specification
supplied by the aftermarket
manufacturer when using accessory
locking wheel nuts. See Capacities
and Specifications 0374 for original
equipment wheel nut torque
specifications.
Caution
Improperly tightened wheel nuts
can lead to brake pulsation and
rotor damage. To avoid expensive
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
brake repairs, evenly tighten the
wheel nuts in the proper sequence
and to the proper torque
specification. SeeCapacities and
Specifications 0374 for the wheel
nut torque specification.
When reinstalling the regular wheel
and tire, also reinstall the center cap,
if equipped. Line up the tab on the
center cap with the slot in the wheel.
The cap only goes in one way. Place
the cap on the wheel and press until it
snaps into place.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools
{Warning
Storing a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place.
{Warning
Failure to follow these tire storage
instructions carefully could result
in personal injury or property
damage if the hoist cable fails or if
the tire comes loose. Make sure the
tire is stored securely before
driving.
Caution
Storing an aluminum wheel with a
flat tire under your vehicle for an
extended period of time or with the
valve stem pointing up can damage
the wheel. Always stow the wheel
(Continued)
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Incorrectly Stored
8. Reinstall the spare tire lock.
9. Reinstall the hoist shaft access cover.
If equipped, reinstall the hitch
cover and turn the retainers
clockwise.
To store the tools: 1. Return the tools (wheel wrench, jack handle, and jack handle
extensions) to the tool bag.
2. Assemble the wheel blocks and jack together with the wing nut. 3. Position the jack and wheel
blocks in the driver side trim
panel over the wheelhouse.
4. Turn the jack knob clockwise until the jack is secured tight in
the mounting bracket. Be sure to
position the holes in the base of
the jack onto the pin in the
mounting bracket.
5. Use the retaining bracket to fasten the tool bag on the stud
and turn the wing nut clockwise
to secure.
6. Close the trim panel door.
Full-Size Spare Tire
If this vehicle came with a full-size
spare tire, it was fully inflated when
new, however, it can lose air over
time. Check the inflation pressure
regularly.
See Tire Pressure 0317 and Vehicle
Load Limits 0196. For instructions on
how to remove, install, or store a
spare tire, see Tire Changing0332. If equipped with a temporary use
full-size spare tire, it is indicated on
the tire sidewall. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling 0313. This spare tire should
not be driven on over 112 km/h
(70 mph), or 88 km/h (55 mph) when
pulling a trailer, at the proper
inflation pressure. Repair and replace
the road tire as soon as it is
convenient, and stow the spare tire for
future use.
Caution
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive
and a different size spare tire is
installed, do not drive in four-wheel
drive until the flat tire is repaired
and/or replaced. The vehicle could
be damaged and the repairs would
not be covered by the warranty.
Never use four-wheel drive when a
different size spare tire is installed
on the vehicle.
The vehicle may have a different size
spare tire than the road tires originally
installed on the vehicle. This spare tire
was developed for use on this vehicle,