flat tire DODGE SPRINTER 2007 2.G Owner's Manual

227 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
For more information on tire load rating,
refer to "Tire size designation, load and
speed rating" (\2page 222).
For information on calculating total and
cargo load capacities, refer to "Tire and
loading information" (\2page 205). 1Maximum permissible tire inflation
pressure
This is the maximum permissible tire infla-
tion pressure for the tire.Always follow the recommended tire infla-
tion pressure (\2page 210) for proper tire
inflation.Warning
G
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the tire
and loading information placard on the driv-
er’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
Overloading the tires can also result in han-
dling or steering problems, or brake failure.
Never overload them.
The vehicle maximum load on the tire must
not exceed the load carrying capacity of the
tire on your vehicle.
You will not exceed the tire’s load carrying
capacity if you adhere to the loading condi-
tions, tire size and cold tire inflation pres-
sures specified on the tire and loading
information placard.
Maximum tire inflation pressureiFor illustrative purposes only. The actu-
al data on tires is specific to each vehi-
cle and may vary from the data shown
in the above illustration.
Warning
G
Never exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure. Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adverse-
ly 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 com-
fort, wear unevenly, increase stopping dis-
tance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road de-
bris, potholes etc.

228 OperationTires and wheels
4
1Plies in side wall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the side wall
and under the tread.Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
automatic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that
these items are available as factory-in-
stalled equipment (whether installed or
not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or
bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between the tire
section height and the section width ex-
pressed in percentage.Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
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 driv-
en no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with stan-
dard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and additional
optional equipment, but without passen-
gers and cargo.Tire ply materialiFor illustrative purposes only. The actu-
al data on tires is specific to each vehi-
cle and may vary from the data shown
in the above illustration.
Tire and loading terminology

229 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
DOT (D
epartment O
f T
ransportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes that
the tire meets the requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
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 indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GTW (G
ross T
railer W
eight)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus
the weight of all cargo, equipment, luggage
etc. loaded on the trailer.GVW (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the vehi-
cle including fuel, tools, spare wheel, in-
stalled accessories, passengers and cargo
and, if applicable, trailer tongue load. The
GVW must never exceed the GVWR indicat-
ed on the certification label located on the
driver’s door B-pillar.
GVWR (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
This is the maximum permissible vehicle
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (weight of
the vehicle including all options, passen-
gers, fuel, and cargo and, if applicable,
trailer tongue load). It is indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
Kilopascal (kPa)
The metric unit for air pressure. There are
6.9kPa to 1psi; another metric unit for air
pressure is bars. there are 100 kilopascals
(kPa) to 1 bar.Maximum load rating
The maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight and production op-
tions weight.
Maximum tire inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is de-
signed to seat, multiplied by 68 kilograms
(150 lbs).
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle
at their designated seating positions.

230 OperationTires and wheels
4
Production options weight
The combined weight of those installed
regular production options weighing over
5 lbs (2.3 kilograms) in excess of those
standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or ac-
cessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.
PSI (P
ounds per S
quare I
nch)
A standard unit of measure for air pres-
sure. Another metric unit for air pressure is
bar or kilopascal (kPa).
Recommended tire inflation pressure
Recommended tire inflation pressure list-
ed on the placard located on driver’s door
B-pillar for normal driving conditions. Pro-
vides best handling, tread life and riding
comfort.Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated.
Side wall
The portion of a tire between the tread and
the bead.
TIN (T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
Unique identifier which facilitates efforts
by tire manufacturers to notify purchasers
in recall situations or other safety matters
concerning tires and gives purchases the
means to easily identify such tires. The TIN
is comprised of the “manufacturer’s identi-
fication mark”, “tire size”, “tire type code”
and “date of manufacture”.
Tire load rating
Numerical code associated with the maxi-
mum load a tire can support.Tire ply composition and material used
This indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and side wall. Tire manufac-
turers also must indicate the ply materials
in the tire and side wall, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
Tire speed rating
Part of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is approved.
Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the road
via the tires. The amount of grip provided.
Tread
The portion of a tire that comes into con-
tact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators
Narrow bands, sometimes called
“wear bars” that show across the tread of
a tire when only
1/16
in (1.6 mm) of tread
remains.

232 OperationTires and wheels
4
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 in-
flation pressure" (\2page 210).
Rotation pattern for single and dual rear
wheelsSingle rear wheels:
\1Rotate the tires by axle. Never change
the direction of rotation of your tires.
\1Make sure that on one axle just one
type of tire (same size, type construc-
tion, load and speed rating) is used.
!
CAUTION
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitor*, each wheel has an
electronic component.
Tire mounting tools should not be ap-
plied in the area of the valve, as this
could damage the electronic compo-
nents.
Have the tires changed only at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Warning
G
In order to avoid loosing a wheel and in or-
der to reduce the risk of fatal or serious in-
juries or vehicle damage, please follow
these safety instructions:
\4Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
\4Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
\4If a wheel hub thread is damaged, you
must not drive the vehicle. Consult an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Only use genuine wheel bolts approved
by the vehicle manufacturer and speci-
fied for your vehicle’s rims. Check tight-
ness of wheel bolts or nuts regularly and
retighten with a torque wrench, if neces-
sary. Tighten wheel bolts or nuts in a
crisscross pattern. For information on
mounting bolts and tightening torques,
refer to "Installing a wheel"
(\2page 320).
\4After changing a wheel, the wheel bolts
or nuts must be retightened after the ve-
hicle has been driven for about 30 miles
(50 km).
\4If new or repainted rims are fitted, the
wheel bolts or nuts must be retightened
again after about 600 to 3000 miles
(about 1000 to 5000 km).

233 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Dual rear wheels:
\1Rotate front tires by axle and the outer
rear tire side to side if there is no ap-
proved direction of rotation.
The tires used on dual wheel assem-
blies should be matched for wear to
prevent overloading one tire in a set.
\1To check if tires are even, lay a straight
edge across all four tires.
The straight edge should touch all the
tires.
For information on wheel change, see the
“Practical hints” section (\2page 320).
!
CAUTION
3500 dual rear tires have only one ap-
proved direction of rotation. This is to
accommodate the asymmetrical de-
sign (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 to
maintain the correct placement of the
tire on the wheel relative to the tire/
wheel position on the vehicle. For ex-
ample, 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 asymmet-
rical tires and the white writing of the
OWL tires will maintain proper position.

242 OperationCleaning and care of the vehicle
4
Automatic car wash
You can clean the vehicle in an automatic
car wash from the very start. It is prefera-
ble to use a car wash that does not have
brushes.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be-
fore you drive into the car wash.
\1Remove the radio / telephone antenna
and fold the exterior mirrors in before
driving into the automatic car wash.After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windshield and the wiper
blades. This prevents smears and reduces
wiping noises which can be caused by res-
idue on the windshield.High-pressure cleaners
\1The minimum distance that must be
maintained between the vehicle and
the nozzle of the high-pressure cleaner
is:
\4approximately 2.2 ft (70 cm) for
round-spray jets
\4approximately 1 ft (30 cm) for 25°
flat-spray jets and concentrated-
power jets
\1Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle.Care of the vehicle!
CAUTION
After cleaning your vehicle, especially
the wheel rims with rim cleaner, do not
simply park the vehicle and leave it.
Rim cleaners can promote corrosion of
the brake discs and the brake pads /
linings. Before parking and leaving the
vehicle after cleaning, always warm the
vehicle up to normal operating temper-
ature first.
!
CAUTION
Make sure that the automatic car wash
is suitable for the size of the vehicle.
If you do not remove the radio / tele-
phone antenna and fold in the exterior
mirrors, there is a possibility that the
antenna, the exterior mirrors or the ve-
hicle could be damaged by the auto-
matic car wash.
!
CAUTION
Make sure that the windshield wiper
switch is set to 0 (\2page 126), other-
wise the rain sensor could be activated,
for example, and the windshield wipers
could be triggered unintentionally. This
could cause damage to the vehicle.
!
CAUTION
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with
round-spray jets for cleaning the tires.
You could otherwise damage the tires.
Have damaged tires replaced.
!
CAUTION
To avoid damage, do not aim directly at
the door joints, brake hoses, electrical
components, connectors or seals.

249
5 Practical hints
What to do if ... ......... 250
Display messages ......... 281
Where will I find...? ......... 299
Changing bulbs ......... 306
Changing the batteries ......... 315
Fuel system ......... 317
Replacing the wiper blades ......... 319
Flat tire ......... 320
Battery ......... 335
Jump-starting ......... 340
Towing ......... 342
Fuses ......... 345

278 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...
5
Problem
Possible cause / result
Suggested solutions
X
USA only:
Combination low tire pressure/
TPMS malfunction telltale for
TPMS lights up continuously.
Canada only:
Low tire pressure telltale for
TPMS lights up continuously.
WARNING
G
The TPMS detects a loss of pressure in at
least one tire.
\1Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrupt steering and braking
maneuvers. Observe the traffic situa-
tion around you.
\1Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display.
If the tire inflation pressure in the respec-
tive tire(s) has (have) been corrected, the
combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after a few
minutes of driving.
X
USA only:
Combination low tire pressure/
TPMS malfunction telltale for
TPMS flashes 60 seconds and
then stays illuminated.

There is a malfunction in the TPMS.
\1Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display.
\1Have the TPMS checked at an autho-
rized Sprinter Dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
After the malfunction has been remedied,
the combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after a few
minutes of driving.

279 Practical hints
What to do if ...
5
Warning!
G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or the tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires).
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitor-
ing System (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illu-
minates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significant-
ly underinflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehi-
cle’s handling and stopping ability. Please
note that the TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er’s responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of
the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is com-
bined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately 1 minute
and then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may not
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of in-
compatible replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing
one or more tires or wheels on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue
to function properly.