The traction grades, from highest tolowest are AA, A, B, and C. The gradesrepresent the tire’s ability to stop on wetpavement as measured under controlledconditions on specified government testsurfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tiremarked C may have poor tractionperformance.
Temperature A B C
WARNING: The temperature gradefor this tire is established for a tire thatis properly inflated and not overloaded.Excessive speed, underinflation, orexcessive loading, either separately orin combination, can cause heat buildupand possible tire failure.
The temperature grades are A (thehighest), B and C, representing the tire’sresistance to the generation of heat andits ability to dissipate heat when testedunder controlled conditions on aspecified indoor laboratory test wheel.Sustained high temperature can causethe material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessivetemperature can lead to sudden tirefailure. The grade C corresponds to alevel of performance which allpassenger car tires must meet under theFederal Motor Vehicle Safety StandardNo. 139. Grades B and A representhigher levels of performance on thelaboratory test wheel than the minimumrequired by law.
Glossary of Tire Terminology
*Tire label: A label showing the originalequipment tire sizes, recommendedinflation pressure and the maximumweight the vehicle can carry.
*Tire Identification Number (TIN): Anumber on the sidewall of each tire
providing information about the tirebrand and manufacturing plant, tire sizeand date of manufacture. Also referredto as DOT code.
*Inflation pressure: A measure of theamount of air in a tire.
*Standard load: A class of P-metric orMetric tires designed to carry amaximum load at set pressure. Forexample: For P-metric tires 35 psi(2.4 bar) and for Metric tires 36 psi(2.5 bar). Increasing the inflationpressure beyond this pressure will notincrease the tire’s load carryingcapability.
*Extra load: A class of P-metric or Metrictires designed to carry a heaviermaximum load at 42 psi (2.9 bar).Increasing the inflation pressure beyondthis pressure will not increase the tire’sload carrying capability.
*kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of airpressure.
*PSI: Pounds per square inch, a standard
unit of air pressure.
*Cold tire pressure: The tire pressurewhen the vehicle has been stationaryand out of direct sunlight for an hour ormore and prior to the vehicle beingdriven for 1 mi (1.6 km).
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A. P: Indicates a tire, designated by theTire and Rim Association, that may beused for service on cars, sport utilityvehicles, minivans and light trucks. Note:If your tire size does not begin with aletter this may mean it is designated byeither the European Tire and RimTechnical Organization or the Japan TireManufacturing Association.
B. 215: Indicates the nominal width ofthe tire in millimeters from sidewall edgeto sidewall edge. In general, the largerthe number, the wider the tire.
C. 65: Indicates the aspect ratio whichgives the tire's ratio of height to width.
D. R: Indicates a radial type tire.
E. 15: Indicates the wheel or rim
diameter in inches. If you change yourwheel size, you will have to purchasenew tires to match the new wheeldiameter.
F. 95: Indicates the tire's load index. Itis an index that relates to how muchweight a tire can carry. You may find thisinformation in your owner’s manual. Ifnot, contact a local tire dealer.
Note:You may not find this informationon all tires because it is not required byfederal law.
G. H: Indicates the tire's speed rating.The speed rating denotes the speed atwhich a tire is designed to be driven forextended periods of time under astandard condition of load and inflationpressure. The tires on your vehicle mayoperate at different conditions for loadand inflation pressure. These speedratings may need to be adjusted for thedifference in conditions. The ratings
range from 81 mph (130 km/h) to186 mph (299 km/h). These ratings arelisted in the following chart.
Note:You may not find this informationon all tires because it is not required byfederal law.
Speed ratingLetter rating
81 mph (130 km/h)M
87 mph (140 km/h)N
99 mph (159 km/h)Q
106 mph (171 km/h)R
112 mph (180 km/h)S
118 mph (190 km/h)T
124 mph (200 km/h)U
130 mph (210 km/h)H
149 mph (240 km/h)V
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*Traction: The traction grades, fromhighest to lowest are AA, A, B, and C.The grades represent the tire's ability tostop on wet pavement as measuredunder controlled conditions on specifiedgovernment test surfaces of asphalt andconcrete. A tire marked C may havepoor traction performance.
*Temperature: The temperature gradesare A (the highest), B and C,representing the tire's resistance to thegeneration of heat and its ability todissipate heat when tested undercontrolled conditions on a specifiedindoor laboratory test wheel.
M. Maximum Inflation Pressure:Indicates the tire manufacturers'maximum permissible pressure or the
pressure at which the maximum loadcan be carried by the tire. This pressureis normally higher than the vehiclemanufacturer's recommended coldinflation pressure which can be foundon the Safety Compliance CertificationLabel (affixed to either the door hingepillar, door-latch post, or the door edgethat meets the door-latch post, next to
the driver's seating position), or TireLabel which is located on the B-Pillar orthe edge of the driver’s door. The coldinflation pressure should never be setlower than the recommended pressureon the vehicle label.
The tire suppliers may have additionalmarkings, notes or warnings such asstandard load or radial tubeless.
Additional Information Contained onthe Tire Sidewall for LT Type Tires
Note:Tire Quality Grades do not applyto this type of tire.
LT type tires have some additional
information beyond those of P type tires;these differences are described below.
A. LT: Indicates a tire, designated by theTire and Rim Association, that isintended for service on light trucks.
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BC
BDE142544
B. Load Range and Load InflationLimits: Indicates the tire's load-carryingcapabilities and its inflation limits.
C. Maximum Load Dual lb (kg) at psi(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum loadand tire pressure when the tire is usedas a dual, defined as four tires on therear axle (a total of six or more tires onthe vehicle).
D. Maximum Load Single lb (kg) at psi(kPa) cold: Indicates the maximum loadand tire pressure when the tire is usedas a single, defined as two tires (total)on the rear axle.
Information on T Type Tires
T145/80D16 is an example of a tire size.
Note:The temporary tire size for yourvehicle may be different from thisexample. Tire Quality Grades do notapply to this type of tire.
T type tires have some additionalinformation beyond those of P type tires;these differences are described below:
A. T: Indicates a type of tire, designatedby the Tire and Rim Association, that isintended for temporary service on cars,sport utility vehicles, minivans and lighttrucks.
B. 145: Indicates the nominal width ofthe tire in millimeters from sidewall edgeto sidewall edge. In general, the largerthe number, the wider the tire.
C. 80: Indicates the aspect ratio whichgives the tire's ratio of height to width.Numbers of 70 or lower indicate a shortsidewall.
D. D: Indicates a diagonal type tire.
R: Indicates a radial type tire.
E. 16: Indicates the wheel or rimdiameter in inches. If you change your
wheel size, you will have to purchasenew tires to match the new wheeldiameter.
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BCDE
E142545
Check the tire pressure periodically (at leastmonthly) using an accurate tire gauge. SeeWhen Inflating Your Tires in this chapter.
Understanding Your Tire PressureMonitoring System
The tire pressure monitoring systemmeasures pressure in your road tires andsends the tire pressure readings to yourvehicle. You can view the tire pressurereadings through the information display.See General Information (page 108). The lowtire pressure warning light will turn on if thetire pressure is significantly low. Once thelight is illuminated, your tires areunder-inflated and need to be inflated to themanufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.Even if the light turns on and a short timelater turns off, your tire pressure still needsto be checked.
When Your Temporary Spare Tire isInstalled
When one of your road tires needs to bereplaced with the temporary spare, thesystem will continue to identify an issue toremind you that the damaged road wheeland tire assembly needs to be repaired andput back on your vehicle.
To restore the full function of the tirepressure monitoring system, have thedamaged road wheel and tire assemblyrepaired and remounted on your vehicle.
When You Believe Your System is NotOperating Properly
The main function of the tire pressuremonitoring system is to warn you when yourtires need air. It can also warn you in theevent the system is no longer capable offunctioning as intended. See the followingchart for information concerning your tirepressure monitoring system:
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Customer action requiredPossible causeLow tire pressure warning light
Make sure tires are at the proper pressure. See Inflating your tiresin this chapter. After inflating your tires to the manufacturer’srecommended pressure as shown on the Tire Label (located onthe edge of driver’s door or the B-Pillar), the vehicle must be drivenfor at least two minutes over 20 mph (32 km/h) before the lightturns off.
Tire(s) under-inflated
Solid warning lightRepair the damaged road wheel and tire assembly and reinstallit on the vehicle to restore system function. For a description onhow the system functions, see When Your Temporary Spare Tireis Installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
If the tires are properly inflated and the spare tire is not in use butthe light remains on, contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.TPMS malfunction
Repair the damaged road wheel and tire assembly and reinstallit on the vehicle to restore system function. For a description onhow the system functions, see When Your Temporary Spare Tireis Installed in this section.
Spare tire in use
Flashing warning light
If the tires are properly inflated and the spare tire is not in use butthe light remains on, contact your authorized dealer as soon aspossible.TPMS malfunction
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When Inflating Your Tires
WARNING: Do not use the tirepressure displayed in the information displayas a tire pressure gauge. Failure to followthis instruction could result in personal injuryor death.
When putting air into your tires (such as at agas station or in your garage), the tirepressure monitoring system may not respondimmediately to the air added to your tires.
It may take up to two minutes of driving over20 mph (32 km/h) for the light to turn off afteryou have filled your tires to therecommended inflation pressure.
How Temperature Affects Your TirePressure
The tire pressure monitoring system monitorstire pressure in each pneumatic tire. Whiledriving in a normal manner, a typicalpassenger tire inflation pressure mayincrease about 2–4 psi (14–28 kPa) from acold start situation. If the vehicle is stationaryovernight with the outside temperature
significantly lower than the daytimetemperature, the tire pressure may decreaseabout 3 psi (21 kPa) for a drop of 30°F (17°C)in ambient temperature. This lower pressurevalue may be detected by the tire pressuremonitoring system as being significantlylower than the recommended inflationpressure and activate the system warninglight for low tire pressure. If the low tirepressure warning light is on, visually checkeach tire to verify that no tire is flat. If one ormore tires are flat, repair as necessary.Check the air pressure in the road tires. Ifany tire is under-inflated, carefully drive thevehicle to the nearest location where air canbe added to the tires. Inflate all the tires tothe recommended inflation pressure.
CHANGING A ROAD WHEEL
WARNING: The tire pressuremonitoring system is not a substitute formanually checking tire pressures. You shouldperiodically check tire pressures using apressure gauge. Failure to correctly maintaintire pressures could increase the risk of tirefailure, loss of control, vehicle rollover andpersonal injury.
WARNING: If the tire pressure monitorsensor becomes damaged it may notfunction.
Note:You should only use tire sealants inroadside emergencies as they may causedamage to the tire pressure monitoringsystem sensor.
Note:The tire pressure monitoring systemindicator light illuminates when the sparetire is in use. To restore the full function ofthe monitoring system, all road wheelsequipped with tire pressure monitoringsensors must be mounted on the vehicle.
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BULB SPECIFICATION CHART
The specified replacement bulbs are in thechart below. Headlamp bulbs must bemarked with an authorized D.O.T.(Department of Transportation) for NorthAmerica to affirm lamp performance, lightbrightness and pattern and safe visibility. Thecorrect bulbs will not damage the lampassembly or void the lamp assembly warrantyand will provide quality bulb burn time.
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Capacities and SpecificationsE240523