Tire Inflation Pressures - Mitsubishi MIRAGE Service Manual

Tires
Maximum Pressure
Maximum Pressure indicates the maximum
permissible cold tire inflation pressure for
this tire.
Tire Identification Number (TIN)
The TIN may be found on one or both sides
of the tire but the date code may only be on
one side. Look for the TIN on the outboard
side of tires as mounted on the vehicle. If the
TIN is not found on the outboard side then
9
you will find it on the inboard side of the tire.
EXAMPLE: DOT MA L9 ABCD 1504
Department of Transportation
This symbol certifies that the tire is
in compliance with the U.S.
DOT
Department of Transportation tire
safety standards, and is approved
for highway use.
Code representing the tire manu-
MA
facturing location. (2 digits)
Code representing the tire size. (2
L9 digits)
ABCD Code used by tire manufacturer. (1
to 4 digits)
9-14 Vehicle care and maintenance
Number representing the week in
15 which the tire was manufactured.
(2 digits)
Number representing the year in
04 which the tire was manufactured.
(2 digits)
Treadwear, Traction and Temper-
ature Grades
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-half
1
(1 / ) times as well on the government course
2
as a tire graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may depart signifi-
cantly from the norm due to variations in
driving habits, service practices and differ-
ences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
I n f o r ma t i o n P r o v i d e d b y :
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade C corre-
sponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Fed-
eral Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.

Tire inflation pressures

Proper tire inflation pressure is essential for
the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle. The wrong tire pressure will cause
problems in three major areas:
 Safety
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