7-48
Maintenance
4. Tire ply composition andmaterial
The number of layers or plies of rub-
ber-coated fabric in the tire. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate the
materials in the tire, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
The letter "R" means radial ply con-
struction; the letter "D" means diago-
nal or bias ply construction; and the
letter "B" means belted-bias ply con-
struction.
5. Maximum permissible infla-tion pressure
This number is the greatest amount
of air pressure that should be put in
the tire. Do not exceed the maximum
permissible inflation pressure. Refer
to the Tire and Loading Information
label for recommended inflation
pressure.
6. Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that
can be carried by the tire. When
replacing the tires on the vehicle,
always use a tire that has the same
load rating as the factory installed
tire.
7. Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width.
For example:
TREAD wear 200
TRACTION AA
TEMPERATURE A
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a compara-
tive 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
graded 150 would wear one-and-a-
half times (1½) as well on the gov-
ernment 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.
These grades are molded on the
sidewalls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on your vehicle
may vary with respect to grade.
7-49
7
Maintenance
Traction - AA, A, B & C
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 spec-
ified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction perform-
ance.
Temperature - A, B & C
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
when tested under controlled condi-
tions 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. Grade C
responds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the labora-
tory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include accelera-
tion, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteristics.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
under-inflation, over-inflation,
or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination,
can cause heat build-up and
possible sudden tire failure.
This may cause loss of vehicle
control resulting in an accident.
WARNING
I-5
Hazard Warning Flasher ...................................................6-2
If the Engine Overheats ....................................................6-7
If the Engine Will Not Start ..............................................6-3If the Engine Doesn't Turn Over or Turns Over Slowly ....................................................6-3
If the Engine Turns Over Normally but Doesn't Start ..............................................................6-3
If you Have a Flat Tire ...................................................6-15 With Spare Tire ..........................................................6-15
With Tire Mobility Kit (TMK)...................................6-23
Ignition Switch..................................................................5-6 Engine Start/Stop Button ..............................................5-9
Key Ignition Switch .....................................................5-6
Important Safety Precautions............................................2-2 Air Bag Hazards ...........................................................2-2
Always Wear Your Seat Belt ........................................2-2
Control Your Speed ......................................................2-3
Driver Distraction.........................................................2-2
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe Condition ..........................2-3
Restrain All Children....................................................2-2 In Case of an Emergency While Driving .........................6-2
If the Engine Stalls at a Crossroad or Crossing ...........6-2
If the Engine Stalls While Driving...............................6-2
If you Have a Flat Tire While Driving.........................6-3
Instrument cluster ...........................................................3-63 Instrument Cluster Control .........................................3-65
LCD Display Control .................................................3-66
Instrument panel overview ...............................................1-5
Interior features .............................................................3-150 Clock ........................................................................\
3-155
Clothes Hanger .........................................................3-155
Cup Holder ...............................................................3-152
Floor Mat Anchor(s) .................................................3-156
Luggage Net Holder .................................................3-157
Power Outlet.............................................................3-154
Side Curtain ..............................................................3-157
Sunvisor ....................................................................3-15\
3
Wireless Cellular Phone Charging System ..............3-150
Interior overview...............................................................1-4
Jump Starting ....................................................................6-4
I
Index
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I
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