Briggs & Stratton Allmand NIGHT-LITE GR Serie Manual Del Operario página 29

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
stem with the edge of your tire gauge until you get to the
correct pressure.
• Step 4: If the tire pressure is too low, note the difference
between the measured tire pressure and the correct tire
pressure. These "missing" pounds of pressure are what
you will need to add.
• Step 5: At a service station, add the missing pounds of air
pressure to each tire that is underinflated.
• Step 6: Check all the tires to make sure they have the
same air pressure (except in cases in which the front
and rear tires are supposed to have different amounts of
pressure).
If you have been driving your vehicle and think that a tire
is underinflated, fill it to the recommended cold inflation
pressure indicated on your vehicle's tire information placard
or certification label. While your tire may still be slightly
underinflated due to the extra pounds of pressure in the warm
tire, it is safer to drive with air pressure that is slightly lower
than the vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold inflation
pressure than to drive with a significantly underinflated tire.
Since this is a temporary fix, don't forget to recheck and
adjust the tire's pressure when you can obtain a cold reading.
TIRE SIZE
To maintain tire safety, purchase new tires that are the
same size as the vehicle's original tires or another size
recommended by the manufacturer. Look at the tire
information placard, the owner's manual, or the sidewall of the
tire you are replacing to find this information. If you have any
doubt about the correct size to choose, consult with the tire
dealer.
TIRE TREAD
The tire tread provides the gripping action and traction that
prevent your vehicle from slipping or sliding, especially when
the road is wet or icy. In general, tires are not safe and should
be replaced when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch.
Tires have built-in treadwear indicators that let you know
when it is time to replace your tires. These indicators are
raised sections spaced intermittently in the bottom of the
tread grooves. When they appear "even" with the outside of
the tread, it is time to replace your tires. Another method for
checking tread depth is to place a penny in the tread with
Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see
the top of Lincoln's head, you are ready for new tires.
TIRE BALANCE AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT
To avoid vibration or shaking of the vehicle when a
tire rotates, the tire must be properly balanced. This
balance is achieved by positioning weights on the wheel to
counterbalance heavy spots on the wheel-and-tire assembly.
A wheel alignment adjusts the angles of the wheels so
that they are positioned correctly relative to the vehicle's
frame. This adjustment maximizes the life of your tires.
These adjustments require special equipment and should be
performed by a qualified technician.
TIRE REPAIR
The proper repair of a punctured tire requires a plug for the
hole and a patch for the area inside the tire that surrounds the
puncture hole. Punctures through the tread can be repaired
if they are not too large, but punctures to the sidewall should
not be repaired. Tires must be removed from the rim to be
properly inspected before being plugged and patched.
TIRE FUNDAMENTALS
Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized
information on the sidewall of all tires. This information
identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics of the
tire and also provides a tire identification number for safety
standard certification and in case of a recall.
Information on Passenger Vehicle Tires
Please refer to Figure 27 and the information following.
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