Tires
It is important to familiarize yourself with the following terms: ● Cold tire pressure:
• The measured pressure after the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours, or
• The measured pressure when the vehicle is driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three hours.
● Maximum inflation pressure: the maximum permissible cold tire inflation pressure for this tire.
● Recommended inflation pressure: the inflation pressure for optimum tire performance.
● Intended outboard sidewall: • The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white let-
tering or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name molding that is higher or deeper than the same molding on the other sidewall of the tire, or
• The outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that must always face outward when mounted on a vehicle.
● Passenger car tire: a tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that have a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less.
● Light truck (LT) tire: a tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily intended for use on lightweight trucks or mul- tipurpose passenger vehicles.
● Tread: portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road.
● Tread rib: a tread section running circumferentially around a tire.
● Tread separation: pulling away of the tread from the tire carcass.
● Carcass: the tire structure, except tread and sidewall rub- ber which, when inflated, bears the load.
● Sidewall: portion of a tire between the tread and bead. ● Section width: the linear distance between the exteriors of
the sidewalls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due to labeling, decoration, or protective bands.
● Bead: the part of the tire that is made of steel wires, wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is shaped to fit the rim.
● Ply: a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords.
WARNING! ● Driving with tires that are worn, damaged or
improperly inflated is dangerous. These type tire conditions will adversely affect vehi- cle performance. These type tire conditions can also cause a tread sep- aration or blowout which may result in an accident causing serious injury or death.
● Tires, including spare tire, degrade over time with age even when they are not being used. It is recom- mended that tires over 6 years generally be replaced even if damage is not obvious.
Vehicle care and maintenance
● Cord: the strands forming the plies in the tire. ● Rim: a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated. ● Rim diameter: nominal diameter of the bead seat. ● Groove: the space between two adjacent tread ribs.
Tire Markings
Size Designation EXAMPLE:P215/65R15
NOTE ● European/Japanese metric tire sizing is based on
European/Japanese design standards. Tires designed to these standards have the tire size molded into the sidewall beginning with the section width. The letter “P” is absent from this tire size designation. Exam- ple: 215/65R15 96H.
● LT (Light Truck) -metric tire sizing is based on U.S.A. design standards. The size designation for LT-metric tires is the same as for P-metric tires except for the letters “LT” that are molded into the sidewall preceding the size designation. Example: LT235/85R16.
● Temporary spare tires are high pressure compact spares designed for temporary emergency use only. Tires designed to this standard have the letter “T” molded into the sidewall preceding the size designa- tion. Example: T145/80D18 103M.
P Passenger car tire size based on U.S.A. design standards
215 Section width in millimeters (MM.) 65 Aspect ratio in percent (%)
Ratio of section height to section width of tire.
R Construction code • “R” means radial construction. • “D” means diagonal or bias construction.
15 Rim diameter in inches (in)
Vehicle care and maintenance
Service Description EXAMPLE: 95H
Maximum Load
Maximum load indicates the maximum load this tire is designed to carry.
Maximum Pressure
Maximum Pressure indicates the maximum permissible cold tire inflation pressure for this tire. Tire Identification Number (TIN)
The TIN may be found on both sides of the tire but the date code and optional code may only be on one side. Look for the TIN on the outboard side of tires as mounted on the vehicle. If the TIN is not found on the outboard side then you will find it on the inboard side of the tire. EXAMPLE: DOT MA L9 ABCD 1504
95 Load index A numerical code associated with the maxi- mum load a tire can carry.
H
Speed symbol A symbol indicating the range of speeds at which a tire can carry a load corresponding to its load index under certain operating condi- tions. The maximum speed corresponding to the speed symbol should only be achieved under specified operating conditions. (i.e. tire pres- sure, vehicle loading, road conditions and posted speed limits)
WARNING! ● Overloading of your tire is dangerous. Over-
loading can cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling, and increase your stopping distance. Use tires of the recommended load capacity for your vehicle. Never overload them.
DOT Department of Transportation This symbol certifies that the tire is in compli- ance with the U.S. Department of Transporta- tion tire safety standards, and is approved for highway use.
MA Code representing the tire manufacturing location. (2 digits)
L9 ABCD
Code representing the tire size. (2 digits) Code used by tire manufacturer. (1 to 4 digits)
15 Number representing the week in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits)
04 Number representing the year in which the tire was manufactured. (2 digits)
Vehicle care and maintenance
Treadwear, Traction and Temperature 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 (11/2) times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative perfor- mance 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, B and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave- ment as measured under controlled conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction performance. Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C, represent- ing 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 tempera- ture can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire fail- ure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi- cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Tire inflation pressures
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential for the safe and satis- factory operation of your vehicle. The wrong tire pressure will cause problems in three major areas:
● Safety Too little pressure increases flexing in the tire and can cause tire failure. Too much pressure can cause a tire to lose its ability to cushion shock. Objects on the road and potholes could then cause tire damage that may result in tire failure.
● Economy The wrong tire pressure can cause uneven wear patterns in the tire tread. These abnormal wear patterns will reduce the tread life, and the tire will have to be replaced sooner. Too little pressure also makes it harder for the tire to roll, and this uses up more fuel.
● Ride comfort and vehicle stability The superior riding experience built into your vehicle partly depends on the correct tire pressure. Too much pressure gives an uncomfortable and jarring ride. Too lit- tle pressure feels as if your vehicle is slow to respond. Unequal tire pressures can make steering your vehicle uneven and unpredictable.
The correct tire pressure for your vehicle is listed on the plac- ard attached to the driver’s door sill. (Refer to “Tire and loading information placard” on page 9-4.)
Vehicle care and maintenance
The recommended inflation pressures should be used for the tires listed below.
Tire pressures should be checked, and adjusted if necessary, at least once a month. Pressures should be checked more often whenever weather temperatures change severely, because tire pressures change with outdoor temperatures. The pressures listed on the placard are always “cold inflation pressure”. Cold inflation pressure is measured after the vehicle has been parked for at least three hours or is driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) after having been parked for three hours. Cold inflation pressure must not go above the maximum values molded into the tire sidewall. After driving several miles, your tire inflation pressure may increase 14 to 41 KPA, 2 to 6 PSI from the cold inflation pressure. Do not let air out of the tires to get back to the specified cold pressure, or your tire pressure will be too low. Check your tires each time you refuel. If one tire looks lower than the others, check the pressure for all of them.
You should also take the following safety precautions: ● Keep your tires inflated to the recommended pressures.
(See the tire and loading information placard attached to the driver’s door sill.)
● Stay within the recommended load limits. ● Make sure that the weight of any load in your vehicle is
evenly distributed. ● Drive at safe speeds. ● After filling your tires to the correct pressure, check them
for damage and air leaks. Be sure to reinstall the caps on the valve stems.
Item Tire size Front Rear Normal tire P235/45R18 220 KPA,
32 PSI 220 KPA,
32 PSI Compact spare tire T125/70D16 420 KPA, 60 PSI
Vehicle care and maintenance
Replacing tires and wheels
Tire maintenance
The following maintenance steps are recommended: ● Check tire pressures regularly. ● Have regular maintenance done on the wheel balance and
front and rear suspension alignment. ● Rotate your tires regularly as described in the “Tire rota-
tion” section on page 7-26.
CAUTION! ● Avoid using different size tires and wheels from the
ones listed, and avoid the combined use of different types of tires and wheels. Using different size or type tires and wheels may affect driving safety. Refer to “Tires and wheels” on page 9-8.
● Even if a wheel has the same rim size and offset as the specified type of wheel, its shape may prevent it from being fitted correctly. Consult an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice before using wheels that you have.
● As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, use only Mitsubishi genuine wheels. Other wheels do not permit correct installation of tire inflation pressure sensors and can cause air leakage and sensor failure, which would not be cov- ered by your vehicle’s warranty. See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer when you replace a tire or wheel.
Vehicle care and maintenance
Tread wear indicators
Tread wear indicators are built into the original equipment tires on your vehicle to help you know when your tires should be replaced. Many states have laws requiring that you replace your tires at this point. These indicators are molded into the bottom of the tread grooves and will appear when the tire tread is worn down to 1/16 inch (1.6 mm). When the bands appear next to one another in two or more places, replace your tires. NOTE
● Tire wear indicators can have different marks and loca- tions depending on the tire manufacturer.
Tire rotation
To even out the wear on your tires and make them last longer, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation recommends that you rotate your tires at the mileage listed in the “WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL”. However, the timing for tire rotation may vary according to your vehicle condition, road surface conditions, and your own personal driving habits. Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires as soon as possible. When rotating tires, check for uneven wear, damage, and wheel alignment. Abnormal wear is usually caused by a wrong tire pressure, wheels that are not aligned properly, wheels that are out-of-balance, or severe braking. Check with an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer or a repair facility of your choice to find out the reason for uneven tread wear. The first tire rotation is the most important one. It will allow all your tires to wear evenly.
1- Location of the tread wear indicator 2- Tread wear indicator
Vehicle care and maintenance
7 CAUTION!
● A compact spare tire can be installed temporarily in place of a tire that has been removed during the tire rotation. However, it must not be included in the regular tire rotation sequence.
Tires that do not have arrows showing rotation direction
Tires that have arrows showing rotation direction
Front
Front
CAUTION! ● If the tires have arrows (A) indicating the correct
direction of rotation, swap the front and rear tires on the left-hand side of the vehicle and the front and rear tires on the right-hand side of the vehicle sepa- rately. Keep each tire on its original side of the vehi- cle. When installing the tires, make sure the arrows point in the direction in which the wheels will turn when the vehicle moves forward. Any tire whose arrow points in the wrong direction will not perform to its full potential.
Vehicle care and maintenance
Snow tires
In some areas of the country, snow tires are required for winter driving. If snow tires are required in your area, you must choose snow tires of the same size and type as the original tires provided with your vehicle. Snow tires should also be installed on all four wheels. Otherwise your safety and vehicle handling can be reduced. Even where laws may permit it, snow tires should not be oper- ated at sustained speeds over 75 mph (120 km/h).
CAUTION! ● Avoid the combined use of different types of tires.
Using different types of tires can affect vehicle per- formance and safety.
Front
CAUTION! ● Change to tapered nuts when using snow tires with
steel wheels.
● As your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system, use only Mitsubishi genuine wheels. Other wheels do not permit correct installation of tire inflation pressure sensors and can cause air leakage and sensor failure, which would not be cov- ered by your vehicle’s warranty. See an authorized Mitsubishi Motors dealer when you replace a tire or wheel.
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