spare wheel MITSUBISHI DIAMANTE 1900 Repair Manual

GENERALINFORMATIONAND MAlNTENANdE 1-31
When rotating “unidirectional tires,” make sure
that they always roll in the same direction. This
means that a tire used on the left side of the vehicle
must not be switched to the right side and vice-versa.
Such tires should only be rotated front-to-rear or
rear-to-front, while always remaining on the same
side of the vehicle. These tires are marked on the
sidewall as to the direction of rotation; observe the
marks when reinstalling the tire(s).
Some styled or “mag” wheels may have different
offsets front to rear. In these cases, the rear wheels
must not be used up front and vice-versa. Further-
more, if these wheels are equipped with unidirectional
tires, they cannot be rotated unless the tire is re-
mounted for the proper direction of rotation.
*The compact or space-saver spare is
strictly for emergency use. it must never be
included in the tire rotation or placed on the
vehicle for everyday use. check the installed tire for any sign of interference
with the body or suspension while the vehicle is stop-
ping, turning sharply or heavily loaded.
Snow Tires
Good radial tires can produce a big advantage in
slippery weather, but in snow, a street radial tire does
not have sufficient tread to provide traction and con-
trol. The small grooves of a street tire quickly pack
with snow and the tire behaves like a billiard ball on a
marble floor, The more open, chunky tread of a snow
tire will self-clean as the tire turns, providing much
better grip on snowy surfaces.
To satisfy municipalities requiring snow tires dur-
ing weather emergencies, most snow tires carry either
an M + S designation after the tire size stamped on
the sidewall, or the designation “all-season.” In gen-
eral, no change in tire size is necessary when buying
snow tires.
Most manufacturers stronqlv recommend the use styled wheels, see if inexpensive steel
wheels are available, Although the look of
the vehicle will change, the expensive
wheels will be protected from salt, curb hits
and pothole damage.
TIRESTORAGE
If they are mounted on wheels, store the tires at
proper inflation pressure. All tires should be kept in a
cool, dry place. If they are stored in the garage or
basement, do not let them stand on a concrete floor;
set them on strips of wood, a mat or a large stack of
newspaper. Keeping them away from direct moisture
is of paramount importance. Tires should not be
stored upright, but in a flat position.
INFLATION & INSPECTION
b See Figures 140 thru 147
TIRE DESIGN
p See Figure 139
for maximum satisfaction, tires should be used in
sets of four. Mixing of different types (radial, bias-
belted, fiberglass belted) must be avoided. In most
cases, the vehicle manufacturer has designated a
type of tire on which the vehicle will perform best.
Your first choice when replacing tires should be to
use the same type of tire that the manufacturer rec-
ommends.
When radial tires are used, tire sizes and wheel di-
ameters should be selected to maintain ground clear-
ante and tire load caoacitv eauivalent to the oriainal
specified tire. Radial tiresshould always be used in
sets of four. of 4 snow tires on their
lehicies for reasons of stabil-
ity. If snow tires are fitter
1 only to the drive wheels, the
opposite end of the vehil cle may become very unsta-
ble when braking or turn
ring on slippery surfaces.
This instability can lead to unpleasant endings if the
A*:,,“- r-..l, ^_.. ..& ^_^^, &I.
UIIVU MII I LUUII~~MLL iue slide in time.
Note that snow tires, whether 2 or 4, will affect ve-
hicle handling in all non-snow situations. The stiffer,
heavier snow tires will noticeably change the turning
and braking characteristics of the vehicle. Once the
snow tires are installed, you must re-learn the behav-
ior of the vehicle and drive accordingly.
*Consider buying extra wheels on which to
mount the snow tires. Once done, the “snow
iheeis” can be installed and removed as
needed. This eliminates the potential
dam- age to tires or wheels from seasonal removal
and installation. Even if your vehicle has
lb The importance of proper tire inflation cannot be
overemphasized. A tire employs air as part of its
structure. It is designed around the supporting
strength of the air at a specified pressure. For this
reason, improper inflation drastically reduces the
tire’s ability to perform as intended. A tire will lose
some air in day-to-day use; having to add a few
pounds of air periodically is not necessarily a sign of
a leaking tire.
Two items should be a permanent fixture in every
glove compartment: an accurate tire pressure gauge
and a tread depth gauge. Check the tire pressure (in-
eluding the spare) regularly with a pocket type gauge.
Too often, the gauge on the end of the air hose at
vnr rr corner narane is not accurate because it suffers
~rs check tire oressure when the
Radial tires should never be used on only the
XI I._.
‘-’ --“‘“’ J s too much abuse. Alwa!
tires are cold, as pressure increases with tempera-
ture. If you must move the vehicle to check the tire
front axle.
When selecting tires, pay attention to the original
size as marked on the tire. Most tires are described
using an industry size code sometimes referred to as
P-Metric. This allows the exact identification of the
tire specifications, regardless of the manufacturer. If
selecting a different tire size or brand, remember to
METRIC TIRE SIZES
(MILLIMETERS)
145 CDNStRUCtlDN l-6-E
R - RADIAL
D
WA9
Fig. 139 P-Metric tire coding Fig. 140 Tires should be checked frequently
I I Fig. 141 Tires with deep cuts, or cuts which
for any sion of auncture or damaoe
buioe, should be replaced immediately
l DRIVE WHEEL HEAW
ACCELERATION
l OVERINFLATION
*LACK OF ROTATION
Fig. 142 Examples of inflation-related tire
RADIAL TIRE
fig. 143 Radial tires have a characteristic
sidewall bulge; don’t try to measure pres-
sure by looking at the tire. Use a quality air
pressure gauge

.
8-2 SUSPENSION AND STEERING
b
REMOVAL &INSTALLATION
# See Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2. Remove the jack, tire iron and, if necessary,
the spare tire from their storage compartments.
3. Check the owners manual, or refer to Section
1 of this manual for the jacking points on your vehi-
cle. Then, place the jack in the proper position,
4. If equipped with lug nut trim caps, remove
them by either unscrewing or pulling them off the lug
nuts, as appropriate. Consult the owners manual, if
necessary.
5. If equipped with a wheel cover or hub cap,
insert the tapered end of the tire iron in the groove
and pry off the cover.
6. Apply the parking brake and block the diago-
nally opposite wheel with a wheel chock or two.
*Wheel chocks may be purchased at your
local auto parts store, or a block of wood cut
into wedges may be used. If possible, keep
one or two of the chocks in your tire storage
compartment, in case any of the tires has to
be removed on the side of the road. 7. If equipped with an automatic
transmission/transaxle, place the selector lever in P
or Park; with a manual transmission/transaxle, place
the shifter in Reverse.
8. With the tires still on the ground, use the tire
iron/wrench to break the lug nuts loose.
*If a nut is stuck, never use heat to loosen it
or damage to the wheel and bearings may
occur. If the nuts are seized, one or two
heavy hammer blows directly on the end of
the bolt usually loosens the rust. Be careful,
as continued pounding will likely damage the
brake drum or rotor.
9. Using the jack, raise the vehicle until the tire
is clear of the ground. Support the vehicle safely us-
ing jackstands.
10. Remove the lug nuts, then remove the tire
and wheel assembly.
To install:
11. Make sure the wheel and hub mating sur-
faces, as well as the wheel lug studs, are clean and
free of all foreign material. Always remove rust from
the wheel mounting surface and the brake rotor or
drum. Failure to do so may cause the lug nuts to
loosen in service.
12. Install the tire and wheel assembly and hand-
tighten the lug nuts. 13. Using the tire wrench, tighten all the lug nuts,
in a crisscross pattern, until they are snug.
14. Raise the vehicle and withdraw the jackstand,
then lower the vehicle.
15. Using a torque wrench, tighten the lug nuts in
a crisscross pattern to 65-80 ft. lbs. ( 90-l 10 Nm).
Check your owners manual or refer to Section 1 of
this manual for the proper tightening sequence.
Do not overtighten the lug nuts, as this may
cause the wheel studs to stretch or the brake
disc (rotor) to warp.
16. If so equipped, install the wheel cover or hub
cap. Make sure the valve stem protrudes through the
proper opening before tapping the wheel cover into
position.
17. If equipped, install the lug nut trim caps by
pushing them or screwing them on, as applicable.
18. Remove the jack from under the vehicle, and
place the jack and tire iron/wrench in their storage
compartments. Remove the wheel chock(s).
19. If you have removed a flat or damaged tire,
place it in the storage compartment of the vehicle and
take it to your local repair station to have it fixed or
replaced as soon as possible.
Inspect the tires for lacerations, puncture marks,
nails and other sharp objects. Repair or replace as
necessary. Also check the tires for treadwear and air
pressure as outlined in Section 1 of this manual.
Check the wheel assemblies for dents, cracks, rust
and metal fatigue. Repair or replace as necessary.
REMOVAL&INSTALLATION
Fig. 3 Place the jackstands under the vehi-
cle to support the vehicle’s weight before