wheel DODGE SPRINTER 2006 1.G Owner's Guide

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If a tire does not have an arrow on the sidewall
indicating the direction of rotation, the wheel can be
mounted either way.
NOTE: The Tire Identification Number (TIN) must
always be visible on the outboard side of the tire.
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 treadwear indicator appears as a solid band across
the tread.
WARNING!
Spare wheels may be mounted against the direc-
tion of rotation (spinning) even with a unidirec-
tional tire for temporary use only until the regular
drive wheel has been repaired or replaced.
Always observe and follow applicable temporary
use restrictions and speed limitations indicated
on the spare wheel.
Have a spare wheel that was mounted against the
direction of rotation replaced with a regular road
wheel as soon as possible.
WARNING!
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or ride
distubance, or you suspect that possible damage
to your vehicle has occurred, you should turn on
the hazard warning flashers, carefully slow down,
and drive with caution to an area which is a safe
distance from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody for
possible damage. If the vehicle or tires appear
unsafe, have the vehicle towed to the nearest
authorized Sprinter dealer or tire dealer for
repairs.

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Vehicles type 2500 C/HC/SHC
The vehicles are factory equipped with "L" or "N"-rated
tires, which have a speed rating of 74 mph (120 km/h)
or 87 mph (140 km/h) respectively.
Vehicles type 3500 C/HC/SHC
The vehicles are factory equipped with "L", "N" or "R"-
rated tires, which have a speed rating of 74 mph (120
km/h), 87 mph (140 km/h) or 106 mph (170 km/h)
respectively.
Tire Grip
Tire grip is greatly reduced on a wet, snow covered or
icy road. Speed and driving style must therefore be
adapted to suit road conditions. The safe speed on a
wet, snow covered or icy road is always lower than on
a dry road.
Below a tread depth of 1/8 in (3 mm), tire grip begins
to decrease rapidly on wet roads.
Pay particular attention to the condition of the road
whenever the outside temperatures are close to the
freezing point.Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer on the road,
hydroplaning may occur, even at low speeds and with
new tires. Reduce vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in
the road, and apply brakes cautiously in the rain.
In winter, install M+S radial tires with a minimum
tread depth of approximately 1/6 in (4 mm) on all
wheels to ensure normal balanced handling
characteristics. On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still considerably
greater than when the road is not covered with snow or
ice. Exercise appropriate caution.
For information on winter tires, refer to "Winter
Operation".
WARNING!
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be
substantially reduced. Under such weather condi-
tions, drive, steer and brake with extreme caution.

186 STARTING AND OPERATING
Recommended Tire Inflation Pressure
The tire inflation pressure (including the spare wheel)
should be checked regularly and adjusted as well asinspecting for signs of tire wear or visible damage. Use
a good quality pocket-type gauge to check tire inflation
pressure.
Do not make a visual judgement when determining
proper inflation. Radial tires may look properly
inflated even when they are underinflated.
The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly, i.e. at least each time you refuel the vehicle,
and should only be adjusted on cold tires. The
preferred interval for checking the tire inflation
pressure, however, is before each trip.
The tires can be considered cold if the vehicle has been
parked for at least 3 hours or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km) at an ambient temperature of approximately
68 °F (20 °C).
Follow recommended cold tire inflation pressures
listed on Tire and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar.
Keeping the tires properly inflated provides the best
handling, tread life and riding comfort.
The pressure difference between the tires on a single
axle should not exceed 1.5 psi (10 kPa).
WARNING!
Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Warranty.
WARNING!
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires can
adversely affect handling and ride comfort, wear
unevenly, increase stopping distance, and result
in sudden deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or damaged by
road debris, potholes etc.

194 STARTING AND OPERATING
For example, a load rating of 115 corresponds to a
maximum load of 2680 lbs (1215 kg) the tire is designed
to support.
If two values are given (as illustrated), the first value,
preceding the slash "/", applies to single tires (rear
axle).
The second value, succeeding the slash "/", applies to
twin tires (dual wheel rear axle).
The commercial vehicle tires based on European
standards may have an additional value in the
parentheses (as illustrated). In such case, the value
preceding the parentheses is valid for European
countries and the parenthesized for the USA and
Canada.
Refer also to "Maximum Tire Load" where the
maximum load associated with the load index is
indicated in kilograms and lbs.
NOTE: Tire load rating (6) and tire speed rating (7) are
also referred to as "service description".
WARNING!
The tire load rating must always be at least half of
the GAWR of your vehicle. Otherwise, tire failure
may be the result which may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury to you or others.
For information on GAWR, refer to "Tire and
Loading Terminology".
Always replace rims and tires with the same
designation, manufacturer and type as shown on
the original part.
WARNING!
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified
load limit as indicated on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard on the driver’s door B-pillar.
Overloading the tires can overheat them, possibly
causing a blowout.
Overloading the tires can also result in handling
or steering problems, or brake failure.

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visible on the outboard side of the tire and if applicable
that the direction of rotation is correct when
remounting the tire.
Rotation (spinning) direction, refer to "Direction of
Rotation".
DOT (Department Of Transportation)
A tire branding symbol (1) which denotes the tire
meets requirements of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
Manufacturer’s Identification Mark
Themanufacturer’s identificationmark (2) denotes the
tire manufacturer.
New tires have a mark with two symbols.
Retreaded tires have a mark with four symbols. For
more information on retreaded tires, refer to "Tires and
Wheels".
Tire Size
The code (3) indicates the tire size.Tire Type Code
The code (4) may, at the option of the manufacturer, be
used as a descriptive code for identifying significant
characteristics of the tire.
Date of Manufacture
The date of manufacture (5) identifies the week and
year of manufacture.
The first two figures identify the week, starting with
“01” to represent the first full week of the calendar
year. The second two figures represent the year.
For example, "0301" represents the 3rd week of 2001.
NOTE: Prior to July 2000, tire manufacturers were only
required to have 1 number to represent the year in
which the tire was manufactured.
For example, "031" could represent the 3rd week of
1981 or 1991.
NOTE: If the date of manufacture code indicated on the
tire is less than 4 figures, do not use it.

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Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
Cold Tire Inflation Pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle has been
sitting for at least 3 hours or d r i v e n n o m o r e t h a n 1 m i l e
(1.6 km).
Curb Weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with standard
equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel,
oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air conditioning
and additional optional equipment, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT (Department of Transportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes the tire meets
requirements of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible axle weight.
The gross vehicle weight on each axle must never
exceed the GAWR for the front and rear axle indicatedon the Certification Label located below the driver’s
seat on an outward facing position of the mounting
pillar.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight of
all cargo, equipment, luggage etc. loaded on the trailer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the vehicle
including fuel, tools, spare wheel, installed accessories,
passengers and cargo and, if applicable, trailer tongue
load. The GWV must never exceed the GWVR
indicated on the Certification Label located below the
driver’s seat on an outward facing position of the
mounting pillar.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
This is themaximum permissible vehicle weight of the
fully loaded vehicle (weight of the vehicle including all
options, passengers, fuel, and cargo and, if applicable,
trailer tongue load). It is indicated on the Certification
Label located below the driver’s seat on an outward
facing position of the mounting pillar.

204 STARTING AND OPERATING
Vehicle Capacity Weight
Rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kilograms (150
lbs) times the vehicle’s designated seating capacity.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire
Load on an individual tire that is determined by
distributing to each axle its share of the maximum
loaded vehicle weight and dividing it by two.
Rotating Tires
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles operate at
different loads and perform different steering, driving
and braking functions. For these reasons, they wear at
unequal rates, and develop irregular wear patterns.
These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of tires.
The benefits of rotation are especially worthwhile with
aggressive tread designs such as those on On/Off
Road type tires. Rotation will increase tread life, help tomaintain mud, snow, and wet traction levels, and
contribute to a smooth, quiet ride.
If applicable to your vehicle's tire configuration, tires
can be rotated according to the tire manufacturer’s
recommended intervals in the tire manufacturer’s
warranty pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should be rotated
every 10000 miles (16000 km), or sooner if necessary,
according to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction must be
maintained when fitted, see "Direction of Rotation".
Rotate tires before the characteristic tire wear pattern
becomes visible (shoulder wear on front tires and
treadcenter wear on rear tires).
The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear should be
corrected prior to rotation being performed.
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of wheels and
brake disks, i.e. the inner side of the wheels/tires,
during each rotation. Check for and ensure proper tire
inflation pressure, refer to "Recommended Tire
Inflation Pressure".
WARNING!
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the tires are of
the same dimension.

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Rotation pattern for single and dual rear wheels
Single Rear Wheels:
 Rotate the tires by axle. Never change the direction
of rotation of your tires. Make sure that on one axle
just one type of tire (same size, type construction,
load and speed rating) is used.
Dual Rear Wheels:
 Rotate front tires by axle and the outer rear tire side
to side if there is no approved direction of rotation.
The tires used on dual wheel assemblies should be
WARNING!
In order to avoid loosing a wheel and in order to re-
duce the risk of fatal or serious injuries or vehicle
damage, please follow these safety instructions:
 Always replace wheel bolts that are damaged or
rusted.
 Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
 If a wheel hub thread is damaged, you must not
drive the vehicle. Consult a qualified specialist
workshop.
 Only use genuine wheel bolts approved from the
vehicle manufacturer and specified for your
vehicle’s rims. Check tightness of wheel bolts or
nuts regularly and retighten with a torque wrench,
if necessary. Tighten wheel bolts or nuts in a cross-
pattern sequence. After changing a wheel, the
wheel bolts or nuts must be tightened once the
vehicle has been driven for about 30 miles (50 km).
If new or repainted wheels are fitted, the wheel
bolts or nuts must be retightened again after about
600 to 3000 miles (about 1000 to 5000 km).

206 STARTING AND OPERATING
matched for wear to prevent overloading one tire in
a set.
 To check if tires are even, lay a straight edge across
all four tires.
The straight edge should touch all the tires.Alignment and Balance
Poor suspension alignment may result in:
 Fast tire wear
 Uneven tire wear, such as feathering and one-sided
wear
 Vehicle pull to right or left
Tires may also cause the vehicle to pull to the left or
right.
Alignment will not correct this condition. See an
authorized Sprinter Dealer for proper diagnosis.
Improper alignment will not cause vehicle vibration.
Vibration may be a result of tire and wheel out-of-
balance.
Proper balancing will reduce vibration and avoid tire
cupping and spotty wear.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures below 45°F
(7°C) and whenever wintry road conditions prevail.
Winter tires should be of the same size and type
construction as the summer tires. Winter tires should
also be operated as printed at the Tire and Loading
WARNING!
3500 Dual Rear Tires have only one approved di-
rection of rotation. This is to accomodate the asy-
metrical design (tread pattern) of the ON/OFF
road tire and the use of Outline White Letter
(OWL) tires.
When replacing a flat tire, the spare tire may have
to be remounted on the rim or installed at a
different location tomaintain the correct
placement of the tire on the wheel relative to the
tire/wheel position on the vehicle. For example, if
the spare is used to replace an outer rear tire it will
have to remounted on the rim so that the wheel is
dished inward. That way the tread design of
asymmetrical tires and the white writing of the
OWL tires will maintain proper position.

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Information placard, refer to "Tires and Wheels". Not
all M+S rated radial-ply tires provide special winter
performance. Make sure the tires you use show M+S
and the mountain/snowflake marking.on the tire
sidewall. These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rubber
Association of Canada (RAC) and have been designed
specifically for use in snow conditions. Use of winter
tires is the only way to achieve the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS and ESP
® in winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure all winter tires mounted
are of the same make and have the same tread design.
Always observe the speed rating of the winter tires
installed on your vehicle. If the maximum speed for
which your tires are rated is below the speed rating of
your vehicle, you must place a notice to this effectwhere it will be seen by the driver. Such notices are
available at your tire dealer or any authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
While studded tires improve performance on ice, skid
and traction capability on wet or dry surfaces may be
poorer than that of non-studded tires. Some states
prohibit studded tires; therefore, local laws should be
checked before using these tire types.
SNOW CHAINS
Use "Class U" chains , or other traction aids that meet
SAE Type "U" specifications.
WARNING!
Winter tires with a tread depth under 1/6 in (4 mm)
must be replaced. They are no longer suitable for
winter operation.
WARNING!
If you use your spare tire when winter tires are fit-
ted on the other wheels, be aware that the differ-
ence in tire characteristics may very well impair
turning stability and that overall driving stability
may be reduced. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter tire at
the nearest authorized Sprinter Dealer.