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Tires and wheels
451
Tire care and maintenance
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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 every
other week. For more information on
checking tire inflation pressure, see
“Recommended tire inflation
pressure” (Y page 456).
Tire inspection
Every time you check the tire inflation
pressure, you should also inspect your tires
for the following:
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excessive treadwear (Y page 451)
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cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber
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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:
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Driving style
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Tire inflation pressure
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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).
Operation
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