2019 DODGE JOURNEY traction control

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.
WARNING!
Do not use Summer tires in snow/ice conditions. You could lose
vehicle control, resulting in severe injury or death. Driving too fast
for conditions also creates the possibility of loss of vehicle control.
Snow Tires
Some areas of the country require the use of snow tires during the Winter.
Snow tires can be identified by a “mountain/snowflake” symbol on the
tire sidewall.If you need snow tires, select tires equivalent in size
and type to the original equipment tires. Use snow
tires only in sets of four; failure to do so may adversely
affect the safety and handling of your vehicle.
Snow tires generally have lower speed ratings than
what was originally equipped with your vehicle and
should not be operated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h). For
speeds above 75 mph (120 km/h) refer to original equipment or an
TIRES
19

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM
TIRE QUALITY GRADES
The following tire grading categories were established by the Na-
tional 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 require-
ments 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, corner-
ing, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADES23

TIRE SPINNING
Do not spin wheels in excess of 35 mph (55 km/h) as indicated on the
speedometer. Excessive speed in a free-running, unloaded tire can cause
it to “explode” from centrifugal force. The energy released by such an
explosion is sufficient to cause serious physical injury or death. Never
allow anyone to stand near or behind the spinning tire.
When in mud, sand, snow, ice or other slippery conditions, do not engage
in excessive wheel spin. Accelerating the motor excessively, particularly
with automatic transmission vehicles, may cause a drive tire that has lost
traction to spin beyond its speed capability. This is also true when
balancing a drive tire/wheel assembly on the vehicle using the vehicle
engine to spin the tire/wheel assembly.
HIGH SPEED DRIVING CAN BE DANGEROUS
Correct inflation pressure is especially important.However, at high
speeds, even with the correct inflation pressure, a road hazard, for
example is more difficult to avoid and if contact is made, has a greater
chance of causing tire damage than at a lower speed. Moreover, driving
at high speed reduces the reaction time available to avoid accidents and
bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
If you see any damage to a tire or wheel, replace it with the spare at
once and visit a participating BFGoodrich Tire Retailer.
Exceeding the maximum speeds shown on the following page for each
type of BFGoodrich tire will cause the tire to build up excessive heat
which can cause tire damage that could result in sudden tire destruction
and rapid air loss. Failure to control a vehicle when one or more tires
experience a sudden air loss can lead to an accident.
In any case, you should not exceed reasonable speeds as indicated by
the legal limits and driving conditions.
BFGOODRICH TIRES
33

HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES
Many new vehicles come equipped from the factory with high perfor-
mance and/or low aspect ratio tires. Generally, these tires provide
increased vehicle handling capability, but may also have numerous
engineering performance trade-offs associated with their designs.
•Low aspect ratio tires, with reduced sidewall height, may be more
susceptible to damage from potholes, road hazards, and other objects
such as curbs. This is true for the wheels as well. Therefore, as with all
other tires, it is important to drive with care and maintain proper
inflation pressure and load conditions. See “Tire Inflation Pressure”
and “Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life” in this manual.
• Some sports cars and other handling performance enhanced vehicles,
including sedans and light trucks/SUVs, may be originally equipped
with high performance tires that are more optimized for warmer
weather use. Colder, winter weather traction may be reduced for these
types of tires. Winter tires may be recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer for colder weather application. See “Winter Tires,” the
next section in this manual.
• High performance tires may also wear more quickly, ride more firmly,
and produce more noise during operation.
Consult your vehicle owner ’s manual and tire information placard, or a
qualified tire service professional, for more information and specifics
regarding these types of tires.
WINTER TIRES
WARNING!
Winter driving presents special challenges for vehicle mobility. The
use of winter tires (including studs and chains)—while improving
traction performance in snow and ice—requires special care with
regard to acceleration, braking, cornering, and speed. It is important
to drive with care, not only on snow and ice, but on dry and wet
roads as well.
In winter driving conditions, vehicle control and safe operation under
braking and cornering is especially dependent upon the rear tires. For
this reason, winter tires are best applied to all wheel positions. Some
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
64

Ply Composition and Materials:The actual number of plies in the
sidewall and tread area and the generic name(s) of their cord material(s)
are marked on at least one sidewall. For example:
• TREAD 2 PLY POLYESTER + 2 STEEL
• SIDEWALL 2 PLY POLYESTER
Radial: Radial ply tires will have the word radialon at least one
sidewall. An “R” in the tire size designation also indicates radial ply
construction.
Tubeless or Tube Type: Tires are marked as either “tubeless” or “tube
type,” whichever is applicable, on at least one sidewall.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (“UTQG”) standards are intended to
assist you in making an informed choice in your purchase of passenger
car tires by providing information indicating relative performance of
these tires in the areas of tread wear, wet braking traction (straight-
ahead), and temperature resistance. All passenger car 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
(1 1/2) 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
variation 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. Warning: The traction grade assigned to a tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
79

TIRE SPEED RATINGS
Falken recommends replacing your tire(s) with the same speed rating as
the original tires equipped on your vehicle.
It is okay to use a lower speed rated tire when using winter tires.
However, speeds should be reduced to match the tires new “maximum”
speed capability.
Any tire that is repaired, damaged, abused, altered from its original state
or retreaded voids the speed rating on that particular tire and should be
considered a non-speed rated tire.
WARNING!
Falken does not recommend the use of mixing different speed
ratings on a vehicle. This can cause poor handling and
unpredictable steering.
HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES
Various new vehicles come equipped with high performance and/or low
aspect ratio tires from the factory. These tires generally provide increased
vehicle handling characteristics, but may also have engineering perfor-
mance trade-offs related with their designs. Low aspect ratio tires have
reduced sidewall heights and may be more vulnerable to damage from
road hazards, potholes, and other objects, like curbs. Your vehicle’s
wheels are susceptible to these same dangers as well. Some vehicles may
be originally equipped with high performance tires that are designed for
warmer weather use reducing traction in colder, winter weather condi-
tions. High performance tires also pose the possibility of wearing more
quickly, giving a stiffer ride, and producing louder noise than standard
all-season tires during operation. Refer to your vehicle owner ’s manual,
tire information placard,
WINTER TIRES
Falken recommends all four tires be replaced when replacing your
original equipment tires and installing winter tires for the winter months.
WARNING!
Never use just two winter tires. It could lead to adverse handling,
loss of control, which could cause serious injury or death.
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION100

MAX LOAD AND INFLATION
The maximum load and inflation pressure is marked on the tire sidewall
in English and metric units.
PLY COMPOSITION AND MATERIALS
The number of plies and their generic composition of cord materials in
the sidewall and tread areas can be found on at least one sidewall of a
tire.
RADIAL MARKING
A radial ply tire will have the word “radial” marked on at least one
sidewall. An “R” found in the tire size marking also refers to the tire
being a radial ply tire.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING SYSTEM (UTQG)
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQG) were created to
help you make an informed decision when purchasing passenger car tires
by providing relative information about a tire’s treadwear, traction, and
temperature characteristics. Here is a breakdown of the different catego-
ries that the UTQG grades:
TREAD WEAR
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire graded150would wear one and a
half (1½) 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
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, BandC. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specific government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
107

WARNING!
The traction grades 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, andC, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions or on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce in tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade Ccorresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.109. Grades Band Arepresent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than minimum
required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade for each tie is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, under-
inflation, or excessive loading either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
108