Allmand NIGHT-LITE GR Série Manuel D'utilisation page 24

separably, to the non-pneumatic tire and provides the
connection between the tire and the vehicle.
Wheel-holding fixture means the fixture used to hold the
wheel and tire assembly securely during testing.
4. TIRE SAFETY - EVERYTHING RIDES ON IT
The National Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has
published a brochure (DOT HS 809 361) that discusses all
aspects of Tire Safety, as required by 49 CFR 575.6. This
brochure is reproduced in part below. It can be obtained and
downloaded from NHTSA, free of charge, from the following
web site:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/TireSafety/ridesonit/
tires_index.html
Studies of tire safety show that maintaining proper tire
pressure, observing tire and vehicle load limits (not carrying
more weight in your vehicle than your tires or vehicle can
safely handle), avoiding road hazards, and inspecting
tires for cuts, slashes, and other irregularities are the most
important things you can do to avoid tire failure, such as tread
separation or blowout and flat tires. These actions, along with
other care and maintenance activities, can also:
• Improve vehicle handling
• Help protect you and others from avoidable breakdowns
and accidents
• Improve fuel economy
• Increase the life of your tires
This booklet presents a comprehensive overview of tire
safety, including information on the following topics:
• Basic tire maintenance
• Uniform Tire Quality Grading System
• Fundamental characteristics of tires
• Tire safety tips. Use this information to make tire safety a
regular part of your vehicle maintenance routine.
Recognize that the time you spend is minimal compared with
the inconvenience and safety consequences of a flat tire or
other tire failure.
SAFETY FIRST–BASIC TIRE MAINTENANCE
Properly maintained tires improve the steering, stopping,
traction, and load-carrying capability of your vehicle.
Underinflated tires and overloaded vehicles are a major
cause of tire failure. Therefore, as mentioned above, to avoid
flat tires and other types of tire failure, you should maintain
proper tire pressure, observe tire and vehicle load limits,
avoid road hazards, and regularly inspect your tires.
FINDING YOUR VEHICLE'S RECOMMENDED TIRE
PRESSURE AND LOAD LIMITS
Tire information placards and vehicle certification labels
contain information on tires and load limits. These labels
indicate the vehicle manufacturer's information including:
• Recommended tire size
• Recommended tire inflation pressure
• Vehicle capacity weight (VCW – the maximum occupant
and cargo weight a vehicle is designed to carry)
24
• Front and rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWR – the
maximum weight the axle systems are designed to carry).
Both placards and certification labels are permanently
attached to the trailer near the left front.
UNDERSTANDING TIRE PRESSURE AND LOAD LIMITS
Tire inflation pressure is the level of air in the tire that
provides it with load-carrying capacity and affects the overall
performance of the vehicle. The tire inflation pressure is a
number that indicates the amount of air pressure– measured
in pounds per square inch (psi)–a tire requires to be properly
inflated. (You will also find this number on the vehicle
information placard expressed in kilopascals (kpa), which is
the metric measure used internationally.)
Manufacturers of passenger vehicles and light trucks
determine this number based on the vehicle's design load
limit, that is, the greatest amount of weight a vehicle can
safely carry and the vehicle's tire size. The proper tire
pressure for your vehicle is referred to as the "recommended
cold inflation pressure." (As you will read below, it is difficult
to obtain the recommended tire pressure if your tires are not
cold.)
Because tires are designed to be used on more than one type
of vehicle, tire manufacturers list the "maximum permissible
inflation pressure" on the tire sidewall. This number is the
greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the
tire under normal driving conditions.
CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE
It is important to check your vehicle's tire pressure at least
once a month for the following reasons:
• Most tires may naturally lose air over time.
• Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or
other object or if you strike the curb when parking.
• With radial tires, it is usually not possible to determine
underinflation by visual inspection.
For convenience, purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in
your vehicle. Gauges can be purchased at tire dealerships,
auto supply stores, and other retail outlets.
The recommended tire inflation pressure that vehicle
manufacturers provide reflects the proper psi when a
tire is cold. The term cold does not relate to the outside
temperature. Rather, a cold tire is one that has not been
driven on for at least three hours.
When you drive, your tires get warmer, causing the air
pressure within them to increase. Therefore, to get an
accurate tire pressure reading, you must measure tire
pressure when the tires are cold or compensate for the extra
pressure in warm tires.
STEPS FOR MAINTAINING PROPER TIRE PRESSURE
• Step 1: Locate the recommended tire pressure on the
vehicle's tire information placard, certification label, or in
the owner's manual.
• Step 2: Record the tire pressure of all tires.
• Step 3: If the tire pressure is too high in any of the tires,
slowly release air by gently pressing on the tire valve
www.allmand.com