Chrysler Town, Dodge Caravan. Manual — part 430

Fig. 8 Static Unbalance & Balance

1 - HEAVY SPOT

4 - CORRECTIVE WEIGHT LOCATION

2 - CENTER LINE OF SPINDLE

5 - TIRE OR WHEEL TRAMP, OR WHEEL HOP

3 - ADD BALANCE WEIGHTS HERE

Fig. 9 Dynamic Unbalance & Balance

1 - CENTER LINE OF SPINDLE

3 - CORRECTIVE WEIGHT LOCATION

2 - ADD BALANCE WEIGHTS HERE

4 - HEAVY SPOT WHEEL SHIMMY AND VIBRATION

22 - 6

TIRES/WHEELS

RS

TIRES/WHEELS (Continued)

STANDARD PROCEDURE - TIRE AND WHEEL
MATCH MOUNTING

Wheels and tires are match mounted at the factory.

This means that the high spot of the tire is matched
to the low spot on the wheel rim. This technique is
used to reduce runout in the wheel and tire assem-
bly. The high spot on the tire is marked with a paint
mark or a bright colored adhesive label on the out-
board sidewall. The low spot on the wheel is identi-
fied with a label on the outside of the rim and a dot
or line in the drop well area of the rim (inside where
the tire mounts). If the outside label has been
removed, the tire will have to be removed to locate
the dot or line on the inside of the rim. The tire can
then be match mounted to the tire.

Information on match mounting the tire to the

wheel can be found in Tire and Wheel Runout/Match
Mounting, items (2) through (5), within Diagnosis
And Testing - Tire And Wheel Vibration. (Refer to 22
- TIRES/WHEELS - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING)

STANDARD PROCEDURE - TIRE AND WHEEL
ROTATION

NON-DIRECTIONAL TREAD PATTERN TIRES

Tires on the front and rear axles operate at differ-

ent loads and perform different functions. For these
reasons, they wear at unequal rates, and tend to
develop irregular wear patterns. These effects can be
reduced by timely rotation of tires. The benefits of
rotation are especially worthwhile. Rotation will
increase tread life, help to maintain mud, snow, and
wet traction levels, and contribute to a smooth, quiet
ride.

The suggested rotation method is the forward-cross

tire rotation method (Fig. 11). This method takes

advantage of current tire industry practice which
allows rotation of radial-ply tires. Other rotation
methods may be used, but may not have all the ben-
efits of the recommended method.

NOTE: Only the 4 tire rotation method may be used
if the vehicle is equipped with a low mileage or tem-
porary spare tire.

DIRECTIONAL TREAD PATTERN TIRES

Some vehicles are fitted with special high-perfor-

mance tires having a directional tread pattern. These
tires are designed to improve traction on wet pave-
ment. To obtain the full benefits of this design, the
tires must be installed so that they rotate in the cor-
rect direction. This is indicated by arrows on the tire
sidewalls.

When wheels and tires are being installed, extra

care is needed to ensure that this direction of rota-
tion is maintained.

Refer to Owner’s Manual for rotation schedule.

REMOVAL

REMOVAL - TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY
(ALUMINUM WHEEL)

(1) Raise the vehicle so the tire and wheel assem-

bly clears ground level.

(2) Remove the 5 wheel mounting nuts from the

studs.

(3) Remove the tire and wheel from the hub.

Fig. 10 Aluminum Wheel Weight

1 - TIRE
2 - WHEEL
3 - WHEEL WEIGHT

Fig. 11 Forward-Cross Tire Rotation Method

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TIRES/WHEELS

22 - 7

TIRES/WHEELS (Continued)

REMOVAL - TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY
(STEEL WHEEL)

(1) Raise the vehicle so the tire and wheel assem-

bly clears ground level.

(2) Noting the location of the valve stem in rela-

tionship to the wheel mounting nuts, remove the
three wheel mounting nuts securing the wheel cover
to the wheel and hub (Fig. 12).

CAUTION: When removing the wheel cover, do not
pry the wheel cover from the wheel. This can result
in damage to the wheel cover. The wheel cover is
removed by pulling it off the wheel by hand.

(3) Grasp the wheel cover at the edges in line with

the remaining installed wheel mounting nuts and
pull straight outward from the wheel. This will pop
the wheel cover retaining tabs over the two remain-
ing wheel nuts, removing the wheel cover from the
vehicle.

(4) Remove the two remaining wheel mounting

nuts from the hub’s studs.

(5) Remove the wheel and tire from the hub.

INSTALLATION

INSTALLATION - TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY
(ALUMINUM WHEEL)

NOTE: Never use oil or grease on studs or wheel
mounting nuts.

(1) Position the tire and wheel assembly on the

wheel mounting studs using the hub pilot as a guide.

Place and hold the wheel flush up against the mount-
ing surface.

(2) Loosely install all 5 wheel mounting nuts.

Lightly snug the wheel nuts, then progressively
tighten them in the proper sequence (Fig. 13).
Tighten wheel mounting nuts to 135 N·m (100 ft.
lbs.).

(3) Lower the vehicle.

INSTALLATION - TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY
(STEEL WHEEL)

NOTE: Never use oil or grease on studs or wheel
mounting nuts.

(1) Position the tire and wheel assembly on the

wheel mounting studs using the hub pilot as a guide.
Place and hold the wheel flush up against the mount-
ing surface.

NOTE: Wheel mounting nuts must be installed on
the studs as shown (Fig. 14) to allow proper instal-
lation of the wheel cover.

(2) Using the valve stem as an index placed at the

12 O’clock position, install and lightly tighten two
wheel mounting nuts on the studs located at the 4
O’clock and 8 O’clock positions as shown (Fig. 14).

(3) Place the wheel cover on the wheel in the fol-

lowing fashion:

(a) Align the valve notch in the wheel cover with

the valve stem on the wheel.

(b) At the same time, align the two holes in the

wheel cover having the retaining tabs with the two
installed wheel nuts (Fig. 15).

(c) Press in on center of wheel cover until wheel

cover retaining tabs push past and engage rear of
previously installed wheel mounting nuts (Fig. 15).
This will hold the wheel cover in place.

Fig. 12 NUTS SECURING WHEEL COVER

1 - VALVE STEM
2 - BOLT-ON WHEEL COVER
3 - NUTS SECURING WHEEL COVER

Fig. 13 Tightening Sequence

22 - 8

TIRES/WHEELS

RS

TIRES/WHEELS (Continued)

(4) Install and lightly tighten the three remain-

ing wheel mounting nuts, securing the wheel cover in
place (Fig. 12).

(5) Progressively tighten all five wheel mounting

nuts in the proper sequence (Fig. 16). Tighten wheel
nuts to a torque of 135 N·m (100 ft. lbs.).

(6) Lower the vehicle.

TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING

DESCRIPTION

Some versions of this vehicle are equipped with a

Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) system. It monitors
air pressure in the four road tires (excludes spare).
Pressure in the spare tire is not monitored.

There is a sensor (transmitter) in each of the vehi-

cle’s four road wheels. The system alerts the driver
when

tire

pressure

falls

outside

predetermined

thresholds (pressure too low or too high). A message
is then displayed on the Electronic Vehicle Informa-
tion Center (EVIC) located in the overhead console.

For further information, refer to the Owners Man-

ual or the appropriate diagnostic information.

OPERATION

The Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM) system uses

radio and sensor technology to monitor tire air pres-
sure levels. Sensors, mounted to each road wheel as
part of the valve stem, transmit tire pressure read-
ings to a receiver located in the overhead console.
These transmissions occur once every minute at
speeds over 20 mph (32 km/h). The Tire Pressure
Monitoring system remains active even if no tire
pressure related message is displayed in the EVIC.

If any road tire pressure has exceeded the low or

high pressure threshold (refer to chart below), the
TPM system will display a message in the EVIC and
sound a chime. This message will be displayed for
the rest of the ignition cycle, or until either the Low/
High Tire pressure condition has been corrected. If
the C/T, MENU, STEP or RESET button is pressed,
the

message

is

replaced

by

the

new

message

requested; however, if the Low/High Tire condition
has not been corrected, the Low/High Tire pressure
message will again be displayed.

Fig. 14 TWO WHEEL MOUNTING NUTS INSTALLED

1 - WHEEL
2 - VALVE STEM
3 - HUB PILOT
4 - NUTS

Fig. 15 WHEEL COVER INSTALLATION OVER TWO

NUTS

1 - RETAINING TABS
2 - VALVE STEM
3 - BOLT-ON WHEEL COVER

Fig. 16 NUT TIGHTENING SEQUENCE

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TIRES/WHEELS

22 - 9

TIRES/WHEELS (Continued)