Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires
To safely operate your vehicle, your tires must be of the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and properly inflated.
1Checking Tires
3WARNING
Using tires that are excessively worn or
improperly inflated can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
■
Inflation guidelines
Properly inflated tires provide the best combination of handling, tread life, and comfort.
Refer to the driver’s doorjamb label or specification’s page for the specified pressure.
Follow all instructions in this owner’s
manual regarding tire inflation and
maintenance.
Underinflated tires wear unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and
are more likely to fail from overheating.
Overinflated tires make your vehicle ride harshly, are more prone to road hazards,
and wear unevenly.
Measure the air pressure when tires are cold. This
means the vehicle has been parked for at least three
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). If
necessary, add or release air until the specified
pressure is reached.
Every day before you drive, look at each of the tires. If one looks lower than the
others, check the pressure with a tire gauge.
At least once a month or before long trips, use a gauge to measure the pressure in
all tires, including the spare. Even tires in good condition can lose 1 to 2 psi (10 to
20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month.
If checked when hot, tire pressure can be as much as
4–6 psi (30–40 kPa, 0.3–0.4 kgf/cm2) higher than if
checked when cold.
■
Inspection guidelines
Have a dealer check the tires if you feel a consistent
vibration while driving. New tires and any that have
been removed and reinstalled should be properly
balanced.
Every time you check inflation, also examine the tires and valve stems.
Look for:
• Bumps or bulges on the side or in the tread. Replace the tire if you find any cuts,
splits, or cracks in the side of the tire. Replace it if you see fabric or cord.
• Remove any foreign objects and inspect for air leaks.
• Uneven tread wear. Have a dealer check the wheel alignment.
• Excessive tread wear.
2 Wear Indicators P. 470
• Cracks or other damage around valve stem.
465
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuTire and Loading Information Label
Tire and Loading Information Label
The label attached to the driver’s doorjamb provides necessary tire and loading
information.
1Tire and Loading Information Label
The tire and loading information label attached to the
driver’s doorjamb contains:
a
b
The number of people your vehicle can carry.
The total weight your vehicle can carry. Do not
exceed this weight.
Label
Example
c
d
The original tire sizes for front, rear, and spare.
The proper cold tire pressure for front, rear, and
spare.
1Tire Sizes
Tire Labeling
Following is an example of tire size with an
explanation of what each component means.
215/70R16 100S
215: Tire width in millimeters.
70: Aspect ratio (the tire’s section height as a
percentage of its width).
The tires that came on your vehicle have a
number of markings. Those you should be
aware of are described below.
Example
Tire Size
Tire
Identification
Number (TIN)
Maximum
Tire Load
R: Tire construction code (R indicates radial).
16: Rim diameter in inches.
Maximum
Tire Pressure
Tire Size
100: Load index (a numerical code associated with
the maximum load the tire can carry).
S: Speed symbol (an alphabetical code indicating the
maximum speed rating).
Tire Sizes
■
Whenever tires are replaced, they should be replaced with tires of the same size.
466
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuTire Labeling
1Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Tire Identification Number (TIN)
■
DOT B97R FW6X 2209
The tire identification number (TIN) is a group of numbers and letters that look like
the example in the side column. TIN is located on the sidewall of the tire.
DOT: This indicates that the tire meets all
requirements of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
B97R: Manufacturer's identification mark.
FW6X: Tire type code.
22 09: Date of manufacture.
Glossary of Tire Terminology
Cold Tire Pressure – The tire air pressure when the vehicle has been parked for at
least three hours or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Load Rating – Means the maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure.
■
Year
Week
Maximum Inflation Pressure – The maximum tire air pressure that the tire can
hold.
Maximum Load Rating – Means the load rating for a tire at the maximum
permissible inflation pressure for that tire.
Recommended Inflation Pressure – The cold tire inflation pressure recommended
by the manufacturer.
Treadwear Indicators (TWI) – Means the projections within the principal grooves
designed to give a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread.
467
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuDOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
The tires on your vehicle meet all U.S. Federal Safety
Requirements. All tires are also graded for treadwear, traction,
and temperature performance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards. The following explains these
gradings.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
1Uniform Tire Quality Grading
■
For example:
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maximum section width.
Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
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 variations in
driving habits, service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades.
468
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuDOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
1Traction
Traction
■
Warning: The traction grade
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.
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
1Temperature
Temperature
■
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.
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 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 Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
469
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuWear Indicators
Wear Indicators
The groove where the wear indicator is
Example of a Wear
Indicator mark
located is 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) shallower than
elsewhere on the tire. If the tread has worn so
that the indicator is exposed, replace the tire.
Worn out tires have poor traction on wet
roads.
Tire Service Life
The life of your tires is dependent on many factors, including driving habits, road
conditions, vehicle loading, inflation pressure, maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even when the tires are not in use).
In addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance, it is
recommended that you have annual inspections performed once the tires reach five
years old. All tires, including the spare, should be removed from service after 10
years from the date of manufacture, regardless of their condition or state of wear.
470
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuTire and Wheel Replacement
1Tire and Wheel Replacement
Tire and Wheel Replacement
Replace your tires with radials of the same size, load range, speed rating, and
maximum cold tire pressure rating (as shown on the tire’s sidewall). Using tires of a
different size or construction can cause the ABS, vehicle stability assist (VSA®), hill
start assist, and the AWD* system to work incorrectly.
3WARNING
Installing improper tires on your vehicle can
affect handling and stability. This can cause
a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or
killed.
It is best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that isn’t possible, replace the
front or rear tires in pairs.
Always use the size and type of tires
recommended in this owner’s manual.
Make sure that the wheel’s specifications match those of the original wheels.
If you replace a wheel, only use TPMS specified wheels approved for your vehicle.
* Not available on all models
471
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuTire Rotation
Tire Rotation
Rotating tires according to the maintenance messages on the information display*/
multi-information display*/intelligent multi-information display (i-MID) helps to
distribute wear more evenly and increase tire life.
1Tire Rotation
Tires with directional tread patterns should only be
rotated front to back (not from one side to the other).
Directional tires should be mounted with the rotation
indication mark facing forward, as shown below.
■
Tires without rotation marks
Rotate the tires as shown here.
Front
Front
Direction Mark
■
Tires with rotation marks
Rotate the tires as shown here.
Front
* Not available on all models
472
uuChecking and Maintaining TiresuWinter Tires
Winter Tires
If driving on snowy or frozen roads, mount all season marked “M+S” tires, snow
tires, or tire chains; reduce speed; and maintain sufficient distance between vehicles
when driving.
1Winter Tires
3WARNING
Using the wrong chains, or not properly
installing chains, can damage the brake
lines and cause a crash in which you can be
seriously injured or killed.
Be particularly careful when operating the steering wheel or brakes to prevent
skidding.
Use tire chains, snow tires, or all season tires when necessary or according to the law.
When mounting, refer to the following points.
Follow all instructions in this owner's
manual regarding the selection and use of
tire chains.
For winter tires:
• Select the size and load ranges that are the same as the original tires.
• Mount the tires to all four wheels.
For tire chains:
• Install them on the front tires only.
• Because your vehicle has limited tire clearance, we strongly recommend using the
chains listed below:
NOTICE
Traction devices that are the wrong size or improperly
installed can damage your vehicle's brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop driving if they are
hitting any part of the vehicle.
When tire chains are mounted, follow the chain
manufacturer's instructions regarding vehicle
operational limits.
Models with 215/70R16 tires
Cable-type: SCC Radial Chain SC1042
Models with 225/65R17 or P225/60R18 99H tires
Cable-type: SCC Radial Chain TC2111MM
If your vehicle is equipped with summer tires, be
aware that these tires are not designed for winter
driving conditions. For more information, contact a
dealer.
• Follow the chain manufacturer's instruction when installing. Mount them as
tightly as you can.
• Check that the chains do not touch the brake lines or suspension.
• Drive slowly.
473
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