07 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation
your tire pressures frequently and adjust them
to the proper pressure, which can be found on
the vehicle's tire information placard or certifi-
cation label.
Inflation placard
NOTE
The placards shown indicate inflation pres-
sure for the tires installed on the car at the
factory only.
Checking tire pressure
Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pres-
sure, including the spare, at least once a month
and before long trips. You are strongly urged
to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as auto-
matic service station gauges may be inaccu-
rate.
Cold tires
Inflation pressure should be checked when the
tires are cold.
The tires are considered to be cold when
they have the same temperature as the sur-
rounding (ambient) air.
Use the recommended cold inflation pressure
for optimum tire performance and wear.
Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause
uneven treadwear patterns.
This temperature is normally reached after the
car has been parked for at least 3 hours.
Tire inflation placard
After driving a distance of approximately 1 mile
(1.6 km), the tires are considered to be hot. If
you have to drive farther than this distance to
pump your tire(s), check and record the tire
pressure first and add the appropriate air pres-
sure when you get to the pump.
Check tire inflation pressure regularly.
WARNING
Tables listing the recommended inflation pres-
sure for your vehicle can be found beginning
on page 183. A tire inflation pressure placard
is also located on the driver's side B-pillar (the
structural member at the side of the vehicle, at
the rear of the driver's door opening). This plac-
ard indicates the designation of the factory-
mounted tires on your vehicle, as well as load
limits and inflation pressure.
Under-inflation is the most common
•
cause of tire failure and may result in
severe tire cracking, tread separation,
or "blowout," with unexpected loss of
vehicle control and increased risk of
injury.
If checking tire pressure when the tire is hot,
never "bleed" or reduce air pressure. The tires
are hot from driving and it is normal for pres-
sures to increase above recommended cold
pressures. A hot tire at or below recommended
cold inflation pressure could be significantly
under-inflated.
07
Under-inflated tires reduce the load car-
rying capacity of your vehicle.
•
When weather temperature changes occur, tire
inflation pressures also change. A 10-degree
temperature drop causes a corresponding
drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check
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