Tire Pressure And Load Limits - Helio O Series Owner's Manual

TIRE PRESSURE AND LOAD LIMITS

Your vehicle's recommended tire pressure and load limits
Tire information placards and vehicle certification labels contain
information on tires and load limits. These labels indicate
the vehicle manufacturer's information, including:
• Recommended tire size
• Recommended tire inflation pressure
• Vehicle capacity weight (VCW – the maximum occupant and cargo
weight a vehicle is designed to carry)
• Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR – the maximum weight the axle
systems are designed to carry).
When taking the trailer out of storage, inspect the tires carefully
and make sure there are no cracks in the grooves and no cord
is apparent. Cracks in the sidewall may indicate internal damage
or separation in the tire.
Tires and load limits
Tire inflation pressure is the level of air in the tire that provides it
with load-carrying capacity and affects the overall performance of
the vehicle. The tire inflation pressure is a number that indicates
the amount of air pressure – measured in pounds per square inch
(psi) – a tire requires to be properly inflated. This number can also
be expressed in kilopascals (kPa), which is the metric measure used
internationally.
Vehicle manufacturers determine this number based on the vehicle's
tire size and the vehicle's design load limit, that is, the greatest amount
of weight a vehicle can safely carry. The proper tire pressure for your
vehicle is referred to as the "recommended cold inflation pressure."
To get an accurate tire pressure reading, you must measure tire
pressure when the tires are cold. A cold tire is one that has not been
driven on for at least three hours. When you drive, your tires get
warmer, causing the air pressure within them to increase. Therefore,
you can only get an accurate tire pressure reading if the tires are cold.
Checking tire pressure
Given that tires are designed to be used on several types of
vehicles, tire manufacturers provide the maximum permissible
inflation pressure on the tire's sidewall. This number represents
the maximum inflation pressure to which a tire may be inflated
under normal driving conditions.
Note:
It is important to check your vehicle's tire pressure at least once
a month for the following reasons:
• Most tires may naturally lose air over time.
• Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or if you strike
the curb when parking.
• With radial tires, it is usually not possible to determine underinflation
by visual inspection. For convenience, purchase a tire pressure
gauge to keep in your vehicle.
TIRE SAFETY TIPS
Preventing tire damage
• Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or other object in
the road.
• Do not run over foreign objects in the roadway, and try not to
strike the curb when parking.
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