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232
T i re s and w heel s
the time it was manufactured . For the
location of the label
c::>
page
229, fig . 156.
Most ti res lose a ir naturally over time. They
can also lose some a ir if you drive ove r a pot-
ho le or hit a curb while parking . It is usua lly
not possible to see whether the radial tires
used today are under inflated just by looking
at them.
Therefore, be sure to check tire pressures at
least once a month and always before going
on a long tr ip. Make sure to take the number
of people and the amount of luggage into ac-
count when adjusting tire pressure for a trip -
even one that you would not consider to be
"long." See
c::>
page 233 , Tires and vehicle
load limits
for more important information .
Always use an accurate t ire pressure gauge
when checking and adjusting inflation pres-
sures . Check all of the t ires and be sure not to
forget the spare t ire . If the pressure in any tire
is too high when the tire is "cold ," let air out
of the tire slowly with the edge of the tire
gauge and keep checking the pressure until
you reach the pressure that is correct for the
load (passengers and luggage) and kind of
driving you plan to do .
If the pressure in any tire is too low, note the
diffe rence between the pressure in the cold
tire and the pressure you need and add the air
that you need to reach the cor rect pressure for
the vehicle load (passengers and luggage) for
the tires on your veh icle as list ed on the on
your veh icle and in this manual and the kind
of dr iving you pla n to do .
Never exceed th e maximum inflatio n pres-
sure listed on th e tire sidewall for any rea-
son.
Remember that the vehicle manufacturer, not
the tire manufacturer, determ ines the correct
tire pressure for t he t ires on your vehicle .
It is important to check the tire pressure when
the tires are cold .
- Read the req uired ti re pressure from the tire
pressure label. The tire pressure labe l is lo-
cated on the driver's side B-pillar.
- Turn the valve stem cap counter -clockwise
to remove it from the tire valve.
- Place the air pressure gauge on the va lve.
- The tire pressu res should only be checked
and adj usted when the tires are cold. The
slightly raised pressures of warm tires must
not be reduced.
- Adjust the tire pressure to the load you are
carrying.
- Reinst all t he valve stem cap on the va lve.
When should I check the tire pressure?
The correct tire pressure is especially impor-
tant at high speeds. The pressure should
the refore be che cked at least once a mo nth
and always before sta rting a jo urney. Do not
forget to check the ti re press ure for the spare
whee l
c::>
page 247.
When should
I
adjust the tire pressures?
Adjust the t ire pressure to the load you are
carrying. After cha ng ing a whee l or rep lacing
whee ls you have to adjust the ti re press ures
on all whee ls. In addition, you must then
store the new tire pressures in the tire pres-
sure monitoring system c::> page 243 .
A
WARNING
Incorrect tire pressures and/or underinfla-
tion can lead sudden tire fa ilure, loss of
control, collision, serious personal injury
or even death.
- When the warning symbol
RIJ
appears in
the instrument cluster, stop and inspect
the t ires.
- Incorrect tire pressure and/or underinfla-
tion can cause increased tire wear and
can affect the handling of the vehicle and
stopping abi lity.
- Inco rrect tire pressures and/or underin -
flation can a lso lead to s udden t ire fail-
ure, including a blowout a nd sudden de-
f lation, ca using loss of veh icle cont ro l.
- The driver is responsible for the correct
tire pressures for all tires on the veh icle.
The appli cable pressure values a re locat -
ed on a sticker on the dr iver's side B-pil-
lar.
~
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