Tire care and maintenance
G
Warning!
Regularly check the tires for damage.
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation
pressure loss. As a result, you could lose
control of your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the tire
tread is worn to minimum tread depth, or if
the tires have sustained damage, replace
them.
Check the tire inflation pressure at least once
a month. For more information on checking
tire inflation pressure, see “Recommended
tire inflation pressure” (
Y
page 374).
Tire inspection
Every time you check the tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your tires
for the following:
R
excessive treadwear (
Y
page 386)
R
cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber
R
bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in the
tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Make sure you also inspect the spare tire
periodically for condition and inflation. Spare
tires will age and become worn over time even
if never used, and thus should be inspected
and replaced when necessary.
Life of tire
G
Warning!
Tires and spare tire should be replaced after
6 years, regardless of the remaining tread.
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:
R
Driving style
R
Tire inflation pressure
R
Distance driven
Tread depth
G
Warning!
Although the applicable federal motor vehicle
safety laws consider a tire to be worn when
the treadwear indicators (TWI) become visible
at approximately
1
/
16
in (1.6 mm), we
recommend that you do not allow your tires
to wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches
1
/
8
in (3 mm), the adhesion
properties on a wet road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Do not allow your tires to wear down too far.
Adhesion properties on wet roads are sharply
reduced at tread depths of less than
1
/
8
in
(3 mm).
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six places
on the tread circumference and become
visible at a tread depth of approximately
1
/
16
in (1.6 mm), at which point the tire is
considered worn and should be replaced.
The recommended minimum tire tread depth
for summer tires is
1
/
8
in (3 mm). The
recommended minimum tire tread depth for
winter tires is
1
/
6
in (4 mm).
Treadwear indicator
:
appears as a solid
band across the tread.
386
Tires and wheels
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