tire pressure DODGE SPRINTER 2008 2.G User Guide

197 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
3
Specified tire inflation pressures must
be maintained. This applies particularly
if the tires are subject to extreme oper-
ating conditions (e.g. high speeds, heavy
loads, high ambient temperatures).For detailed information on tires, see
"Tires and wheels" (
\2
page 341).
HydroplaningDepending on the depth of the water lay-
er 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.
Warning
G
Although the applicable federal motor ve-
hicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the Treadwear Indicators
(TWI) become visible at approximately 1/
16 in (1.6 mm), do not allow your tires to
wear down to that level. As tread depth
approaches 1/8 in (3 mm) for summer
tires or 1/6 in (4 mm) for winter tires, the
adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction var-
ies widely.
Warning
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire af-
fects the ability to steer or brake the vehi-
cle. You may lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire or driving
at high speed with a flat tire will cause ex-
cessive heat buildup and possibly a fire.
nf_BA.book Page 197 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

277 Controls in detail
Transporting
3
For more information about the maxi-
mum roof load and roof carrier systems,
please refer to the "Technical data" sec-
tion (
\2
page 599).
Before loading
\1
Check the tire pressures and correct
them if necessary (
\2
page 365).
\1
Clean the load compartment floor.
The load compartment floor must be
dry, cleanly swept and free of oil and
dust to reduce the risk of the load
slipping.
\1
If necessary, place anti-slip mats on
the load compartment floor.
Warning
G
After an accident, have a damaged load
compartment floor or damaged load sur-
face, the lashing eyes and lashing materi-
als inspected by a specialist workshop
having the necessary technical expertise
and tools to carry out the required work. The manufacturer recommends that you
use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must
be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
!
CAUTION
If you are using a roof carrier system,
observe the maximum roof load and
maximum load-bearing capacity of
the roof carrier system.
!
CAUTION
As soon as the anti-slip mats start to
show signs of permanent deforma-
tion, squashed areas or tears/holes,
they are unsuitable for securing loads
and must be replaced.
nf_BA.book Page 277 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

278 Controls in detailTransporting
3
During loading
\1
Observe the maximum permissible
axle loads and permissible gross
weight for the vehicle.
\1
Observe the notes on load distribu-
tion (
\2
page 279).
\1
Secure the load (
\2
page 280). All
country-specific legal requirements
must be observed.
Checks after loading
\1Securing a load:
before each jour-
ney and at regular intervals during
longer journeys, check whether the
load is properly secured and take ad-
ditional securing measures, if neces-
sary.
\1Doors:
close the sliding doors and
rear doors.
\1Tire pressure:
adjust the tire pres-
sure in accordance with the vehicle's
load (
\2
page 365).
\1Driving characteristics:
adapt your
driving style to the load.
!
CAUTION
In passenger vans with the maximum
number of seats, the maximum pay-
load would cause the permissible
rear axle load to be exceeded.
iBear in mind that your vehicle's un-
laden weight is increased by the in-
stallation of optional equipment and
accessories.
Warning
G
Make sure that the sliding doors and rear
doors are always closed when the engine
is running.
Otherwise, exhaust fumes could enter the
vehicle interior and poison you.
nf_BA.book Page 278 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

312 OperationDriving tips
4
You will find information about the
speed limit for your tires under “Tires
and wheels” in this section
(\2
page 383).
Check regularly, e.g. weekly or when re-
fueling:
\4
the vehicle lighting
\4
the condition of the tires
(\2
page 346) and the tire pressures
(
\2
page 361)
\4
the engine oil level (
\2
page 322)
\4
the brake fluid level (
\2
page 331)
\4
the fluid level in the windshield wash-
er system / headlamp cleaning sys-
tem reservoir (
\2
page 333)
\4
the contamination level of the rear
air-conditioning air cleaner
(\2
page 414)
Your vehicle is equipped with monolith-
ic-type catalytic converters, an impor-
tant element in conjunction with the
oxygen sensors to achieve substantial
control of the pollutants in the exhaust
emissions. Keep your vehicle in proper
operating condition by following our rec-
ommended maintenance instructions as
outlined in your Service Booklet.
Warning
G
Exceeding the permissible maximum
speed can cause tire damage, which
could lead to loss of control of the vehi-
cle.
As the driver, you must find out about the
maximum speed of the vehicle and the re-
sulting permissible maximum speed of
the tires (tire and tire pressure).
Never exceed the speed limit for your
tires under any circumstances
(\2page 383).
Regular checks
Catalytic converter (gasoline engine)
nf_BA.book Page 312 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

341 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
\3 Tires and wheelsThe tires on a new vehicle provide a bal-
ance of many characteristics. They
should be inspected regularly for wear
and correct cold tire inflation pressure.
The vehicle manufacturer strongly rec-
ommends using tires equivalent to the
originals in size, quality and perfor-
mance when a replacement becomes
necessary.Refer to the tire and loading information
placard
1 or to the tire inflation pressure
placard on the driver’s door B-pillar
(
\2
page 362) for the size designation of
your tire.
The service description and load identifi-
cation will be found on the original
equipment tire. Failure to use equivalent
replacement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your
Sprinter vehicle.Contact an authorized Sprinter Dealer or
an authorized tire dealer with any ques-
tions you may have on tire specifications
or capability.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).
nf_BA.book Page 341 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

345 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
For information on tire and wheel sizes
with load ratings, refer to "Tire and load-
ing information" (
\2
page 303).Cuts and punctures in radial tires are re-
pairable only in the tread area because
of side wall flexing. Consult an autho-
rized tire dealer for radial tire repairs.
Radial-ply tiresWarning
G
Combining radial ply tires with other types
of tires on your Sprinter vehicle will
change the vehicle’s handling characteris-
tics and may lead to an accident resulting
in death, severe personal injuries and
property damage. Always use radial ply
tires in sets of 4 (or 6, in case of vehicles
with dual rear wheels).
Never combine them with other types of
tires.
Tire valves (snap-in valves)Warning
G
Sprinter vehicle tire valves are tested and ap-
proved under rough operating conditions.The installation of additional hub caps or
other wheel simulators could cause dam-
age to the tire valve and lead to a loss of
tire pressure at the valve stem.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
Do not install any of these parts on your
Sprinter vehicle. To help ensure safe and
reliable operation of your Sprinter vehicle,
only use parts and accessories tested and
approved by the vehicle manufacturer for
your Sprinter vehicle.
nf_BA.book Page 345 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

346 OperationTires and wheels
4
\4
Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.
\4
Tires must be of the correct size for
the rim.
\4
Break in new tires for approximately
65 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.
\4
Regularly check the tires and rims
for damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss or
damage to the tire beads.
\4
If the vehicle is heavily loaded, check
tire inflation pressure and correct as
required.
\4
Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths under
1/8in (3 mm) for sum-
mer tires and
1/6in (4 mm) for win-
ter tires.
\4
When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first.
!
CAUTION
Vehicles not equipped with Tire Pres-
sure Monitoring System (TPMS)*:
For safety reasons, whenever you
change a tire, you must also change
the tire valve.
The following tire valves from the
company Schrader must be used on
the vehicles not equipped with
TPMS*:
\4
TR 600 for vehicle model type
2500
\4
TR 418 for vehicle model type
3500
Other tire valves could be damaged
by the specified tire pressures.
Important guidelines
nf_BA.book Page 346 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

347 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly, i.e. at least each time
you refuel the vehicle. The preferred in-
terval for checking the tire inflation pres-
sure, however, is before each trip.
For more information on checking tire
inflation pressure, refer to "Recom-
mended tire inflation pressure"
(\2
page 361).
Tire inspectionEvery time when checking the tire infla-
tion pressure, the tires should also be in-
spected for the following:\4
excessive treadwear, refer to "Tread
depth".
\4
the condition of the tread depths, i.e.
uneven tread wear or excessive
treadwear on one side. Turn the front
wheels to full lock if necessary to en-
able you to check the inner edge of
the front tires more easily. You must
also always check the inside of the
tire tread on the rear wheels.
\4
cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber
Tire care and maintenanceWarning
G
Regularly check the tires for damage.
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation
pressure loss. As a result, you could lose
control of your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
nf_BA.book Page 347 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

348 OperationTires and wheels
4
\4
bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits
in the tread or side of the tire
\4
foreign objects between the tires
(on vehicles with twin tires)
Replace the tire if any of the above con-
ditions is found.
Also inspect the spare tire periodically
for condition and inflation. Spare tires
will age and become worn over time
even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when neces-
sary.
Tire damageTire damage can be caused
by:
\4
the vehicle’s operating conditions
\4
tire aging
\4
curbs
\4
foreign objects
\4
insufficient or excessive tire inflation
pressures
\4
weather and environmental influenc-
es
\4
contact with oil, grease, fuel, etc.
Warning
G
Driving over curbs or sharp-edged objects
can cause damage to the tire substruc-
ture which is not visible from the outside.
Damage to the tire substructure cannot
be detected until later and can cause the
tire to burst.
You could lose control of the
vehicle as a result, cause an accident and
injure yourself or others.
Avoid driving up against curbs or parking
the vehicle with part of the tire tread sur-
face on the curb.
nf_BA.book Page 348 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

349 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Life of tireThe service life of a tire depends on vary-
ing factors including but not limited to:\4
Driving style
\4
Tire inflation pressure
\4
Distance driven
Tread depthDo not allow your tires to wear down too
far. Adhesion properties on wet roads
are sharply reduced at tread depths un-
der
1/8in (3 mm) for summer tires and
1/6in (4 mm) for winter tires.
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.Recommended minimum tire tread
depth:
\4
Summer tires
1/8in (3 mm)
\4
Winter tires
1/6in (4 mm)
Warning
G
Tires and spare tire should be replaced af-
ter 6 years, regardless of the remaining
tread.
nf_BA.book Page 349 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM