tire size DODGE NEON 2000 Service User Guide

CONDITION POSSIBLE CAUSES CORRECTION
WHINE OR GROWL (POWER
STEERING PUMP)**1. Low fluid level. 1. Fill power steering fluid reservoir
to proper level and check for leaks.
2. Power steering hose touching
vehicle body or frame.2. Adjust hose to proper position by
loosening, repositioning, and
tightening fitting to specified torque.
Do not bend tubing. Replace hose if
damaged.
3. Extreme wear of power steering
pump internal components.3. Replace power steering pump and
flush system as necessary.
SUCKING AIR SOUND 1. Loose clamp on power steering
fluid return hose.1. Tighten or replace hose clamp.
2. Missing O-Ring on power steering
hose connection.2. Inspect connection and replace
O-Ring as required.
3. Low power steering fluid level. 3. Fill power steering fluid reservoir
to proper level and check for leaks.
4. Air leak between power steering
fluid reservoir and power steering
pump.4. Replace power steering pump
(with reservoir).
SQUEAK OR RUBBING SOUND 1. Steering column shroud rubbing. 1. Realign shrouds as necessary.
2. Steering column shaft rubbing. 2. Move or realign item rubbing
shaft.
3. Steering column shaft dry-rubbing
seal at dash panel.3. Lubricate contact surface.
4. Steering gear internally noisy. 4. Replace steering gear.
SCRUBBING OR KNOCKING
NOISE.1. Incorrect tire or wheel size. 1. Replace incorrect size tire or
wheel with size used as original
equipment.
2. Interference between steering
gear and other vehicle components.2. Check for bent or misaligned
components and correct as
necessary.
3. Steering gear internal stops worn
excessively.3. Replace steering gear.
NOTE: * There is some noise in all power steering
systems. One of the most common is a hissing
sound evident when turning the steering wheel
when at a standstill or when parking and the steer-
ing wheel is at the end of its travel. Hiss is a very
high frequency noise similar to that experienced
while slowly closing a water tap. The noise is
present in every valve and results when high veloc-
ity fluid passes valve orifice edges. There is no
relationship between this noise and the perfor-
mance of the steering system.NOTE: ** Power steering pump growl results from
the development of high pressure fluid flow. Nor-
mally this noise level should not be high enough to
be objectionable.
PLSTEERING 19 - 5
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING (Continued)

TIRE IDENTIFICATION
Tire type, size, aspect ratio and speed rating are
encoded in the letters and numbers imprinted on the
side wall of the tire. Refer to the chart to decipher
the tire identification code (Fig. 2).
Performance tires will have a speed rating letter
after the aspect ratio number. For example, the letter
ªSº indicates that the tire is speed rated up to 112
mph (180 km/h). The speed rating is not always
printed on the tire sidewall.
²Q -up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
²T -up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
²U -up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
²H -up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
²V -up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
²Z -more than 149 mph (240 km/h) (consult the
tire manufacturer for the specific speed rating)
An All Season type tire will have eitherM+S,M
& S or M-S (indicating mud and snow traction)
imprinted on the side wall.
TIRE CHAINS
Refer to the owners manual supplied with the vehi-
cle to determine whether the use of tire chains is per-
mitted on this vehicle.
RADIAL-PLY TIRES
Radial-ply tires improve handling, tread life and
ride quality, and decrease rolling resistance.
Radial-ply tires must always be used in sets of
four. Under no circumstances should they be used on
the front only. They may be mixed with temporary
spare tires when necessary. A maximum speed of 50
MPH is recommended while a temporary spare is in
use.
Radial-ply tires have the same load-carrying capac-
ity as other types of tires of the same size. They also
use the same recommended inflation pressures.
The use of oversized tires, either in the front or
rear of the vehicle, can cause vehicle drive train fail-
ure. This could also cause inaccurate wheel speed
Fig. 1 Tire (Typical)
1 ± CAST ALUMINUM WHEEL
2 ± WEIGHTS
3 ± CENTER CAP
4 ± WHEEL COVER5 ± MOUNTING NUTS
6 ± VALVE STEM
7 ± STEEL WHEEL
8 ± TIRE
22 - 2 TIRES AND WHEELSPL
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

signals when the vehicle is equipped with Anti-Lock
Brakes.
The use of tires from different manufactures on the
same vehicle is NOT recommended. The proper tire
pressure should be maintained on all four tires.
SPARE TIRE±TEMPORARY
The temporary spare tire is designed for emer-
gency use only. The original tire should be repaired
or replaced at the first opportunity, then reinstalled.
Do not exceed speeds of 50 M. P. H. when using the
temporary spare tire. Refer to Owner's Manual for
complete details.
REPLACEMENT TIRES
The original equipment tires provide a proper bal-
ance of many characteristics such as:
²Ride
²Noise
²Handling
²Durability
²Tread life
²Traction
²Rolling resistance
²Speed capabilityIt is recommend that tires equivalent to the origi-
nal equipment tires be used when replacement is
needed.
Failure to use equivalent replacement tires may
adversely affect the safety and handling of the vehi-
cle.
The use of oversize tires may cause interference
with vehicle components. Under extremes of suspen-
sion and steering travel, interference with vehicle
components may cause tire damage.
WARNING: FAILURE TO EQUIP THE VEHICLE WITH
TIRES HAVING ADEQUATE SPEED CAPABILITY
CAN RESULT IN SUDDEN TIRE FAILURE.
DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
Tread wear indicators are molded into the bottom
of the tread grooves. When tread depth is 1.6 mm
(1/16 in.), the tread wear indicators will appear as a
13 mm (1/2 in.) band (Fig. 3).
Tire replacement is necessary when indicators
appear in two or more grooves or if localized balding
occurs.
Fig. 2 Tire Identification
Fig. 3 Tread Wear Indicators
1 ± TREAD ACCEPTABLE
2 ± TREAD UNACCEPTABLE
3 ± WEAR INDICATOR
PLTIRES AND WHEELS 22 - 3
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)

CLEANING AND INSPECTION
CLEANING TIRES
Remove the protective coating on the tires before
delivery of a vehicle. This coating may cause deteri-
oration of the tires.
To remove the protective coating, apply warm
water and let it soak for a few minutes. Afterwards,
scrub the coating away with a soft bristle brush.Steam cleaning may also be used to remove the coat-
ing.
NOTE: DO NOT use gasoline, mineral oil, oil-based
solvent or a wire brush for cleaning.
SPECIFICATIONS
TIRE SPECIFICATIONS
The following guide should help you understand the tire designations:
P Passenger car tire (or ªTº for temporary-use tire).
185 Nominal width of tire in millimeters.
70 Tire height-to-width ratio.
R Radial-ply tire (or ªDº for bias-ply tire).
14 Nominal rim diameter in inches.
Do not install smaller than minimum size tires shown on the tire inflation placard on the vehicle.
PLTIRES AND WHEELS 22 - 9

(3) Grasp the wheel cover and pull straight out-
ward. This will remove the wheel cover from the
wheel.
(4) Remove the wheel mounting nuts from the
studs (Fig. 16).
(5) Remove the tire and wheel assembly from the
hub.
INSTALLATION
CAUTION: Installing the wheel mounting nuts with-
out having good metal-to-mental contact between
the back of the wheel and the hub mounted brake
disc or drum could cause the wheel to bind and
eventually cause loosening of the wheel mounting
nuts.
(1) Install the tire and wheel assembly on the hub
studs against the hub mounted brake disc or drum
using the hub pilot as a guide.
CAUTION: When installing the tire and wheel
assembly, never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
(2) Install and lightly tighten the wheel nuts in
the proper sequence (Fig. 17).
(3) Lower the vehicle.
(4) Progressively tighten the 5 wheel nuts in the
proper sequence until tightened to half of the speci-
fied torque (Fig. 17). Finally, tighten the wheel nutsin the proper sequence to a torque of 135 N´m (100
ft. lbs.).
(5) Align the valve notch in the wheel cover with
the valve stem on the wheel (Fig. 15). Align the
wheel cover retaining nuts with the externally
threaded wheel nuts.
(6) By hand, start to thread all 5 of the wheel
cover retaining nuts onto the externally threaded
wheel nuts.
NOTE: When tightening the wheel cover retaining
nuts it is recommended that a hand wrench be used
and not an impact wrench. Use of an impact wrench
could result in damage to the lock-on wheel cover
retaining nuts.
(7) Tighten each of the wheel cover retaining nuts.
If the retaining nut ªjumpsº a thread (slips), which is
an override feature of the retaining nut, retighten
the retaining nut to a point just prior to this occur-
ring. To avoid rattling of the wheel cover be sure all
five retaining nuts are correctly tightened.
SPECIFICATIONS
WHEEL SPECIFICATIONS
Wheel:
Wheel Mounting Stud Size...... M12x1.5mm
Wheel Mounting Nut Hex Size......... 19mm
Wheel Mounting Nut Torque..... 115±155 N´m
(85 to 115 ft. lbs.)
Fig. 16 Wheel Nuts
1 ± WHEEL
2 ± EXTERNALLY THREADED WHEEL NUTS
3 ± TIRE
Fig. 17 Wheel Nut Tightening Sequence
PLTIRES AND WHEELS 22 - 17
REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION (Continued)