2008 Suzuki XL7 Owner's Manual - Page 195

SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE Traction: The friction between the tire and the road surface. The amount of grip provided. Tread: The portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road. Treadwear Indicators: Narrow bands, sometimes called wear bars, that show across the tread of a tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread remains. Refer to "When It Is Time for New Tires" in this section. UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards): A tire information system that provides consumers with ratings for a tire's traction, temperature, and treadwear. Ratings are determined by tire manufacturers using government testing procedures. The ratings are molded into the sidewall of the tire. Refer to "Uniform Tire Quality Grading" in this section. Vehicle Capacity Weight: The number of designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs (68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. Refer to "Loading Your Vehicle" in "Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle" in the "Driving Your Vehicle" section. Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire: Load on an individual tire due to curb weight, accessory weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight. Vehicle Placard: A label permanently attached to a vehicle showing the vehicle's capacity weight and the original equipment tire size and recommended inflation pressure. Refer to "Tire and Loading Information Label" under "Loading Your Vehicle" in "Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle" in the "Driving Your Vehicle" section. A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Information label is attached to your vehicle. This label shows your vehicle's original equipment tires and the correct inflation pressures for your tires when they are cold. The recommended cold tire inflation pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum amount of air pressure needed to support your vehicle's maximum load carrying capacity. For additional information regarding how much weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of the Tire and Loading Information label, refer to "Loading Your Vehicle" in "Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle" in the "Driving Your Vehicle" section. How you load your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride comfort. Never load your vehicle with more weight than it was designed to carry. When to Check Check your tires once a month or more. Do not forget to check the compact spare tire, it should be at 60 psi (420 kPa). For additional information regarding the compact spare tire, refer to "Compact Spare Tire" in this section. How to Check Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly inflated simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly inflated even when they are under-inflated. Inflation - Tire Pressure Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate effectively. CAUTION Do not let anyone tell you that underinflation or over-inflation is all right. It is not. If your tires do not have enough air (under-inflation), you can get the following: • Too much flexing • Too much heat • Tire overloading • Premature or irregular wear • Poor handling • Reduced fuel economy If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you can get the following: • Unusual wear • Poor handling • Rough ride • Needless damage from road hazards 5-30