4.The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For ex-
ample, if the XXX amount equals
1400 lbs. and there will be five
150 lb. passengers in your vehi-
cle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs. (1400 − 750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs) or (640 − 340 (5 x 70) =
300 kg.)
5.Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being
loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed
the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step
4.
Before driving a loaded vehicle,
confirm that you do not exceed
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for your vehicle. (See
“Measurement of weights” (P.10-15).)
Also check tires for proper inflation
pressures. See the Tire and Loading
Information label.
WARNING
.Properly secure all cargo
with ropes or straps to help
prevent it from sliding or
shifting. Do not place cargo
higher than the seatbacks.
In a sudden stop or collision,
unsecured cargo could
cause personal injury.
.Do not load your vehicle any
heavier than the GVWR or
the maximum front and rear
GAWRs. If you do, parts of
your vehicle can break, tire
damage could occur, or it
can change the way your
vehicle handles. This could
result in loss of control and
cause personal injury.
.Overloading not only can
shorten the life of your ve-
hicle and the tire, but can
cause unsafe vehicle hand-
ling and longer braking dis-
tances. This may cause a
premature tire failure, whichcould result in a serious
accident and personal in-
jury. Failures caused by
overloading are not covered
by the vehicle’s warranty.
MEASUREMENT OF WEIGHTS
Secure loose items to prevent
weight shifts that could affect the
balance of your vehicle. When the
vehicle is loaded, drive to a scale
and weigh the front and the rear
wheels separately to determine
axle loads. Individual axle loads
should not exceed either of the
Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR).
The total of the axle loads should
not exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). These rat-
ings are given on the vehicle certi-
fication label. If weight ratings are
exceeded, move or remove items to
bring all weights below the ratings. Do not tow a trailer with your
vehicle.
Technical and consumer information10-15
TOWING A TRAILER
FLAT TOWING FOR ALL–WHEEL
DRIVE VEHICLE (if so equipped)
Towing your vehicle with all four wheels
on the ground is sometimes called flat
towing. This method is sometimes used
when towing a vehicle behind a recrea-
tional vehicle, such as a motor home.
DOT (Department Of Transportation)
Quality Grades: All passenger car tires
must conform to federal safety require-
ments in addition to these grades.
Quality grades can be found where ap-
plicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tempera-
ture A
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon ac-
tual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road charac-
teristics and climate.
TRACTION AA, A, B AND C
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B and C. Those grades
represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
