New car and/or tire buyers.
Read the following from Tire Tech, it could prevent/save you from wrapping around a pole!
Tires are comprised of many layers of rubber, steel and fabric. Due to these different components, your new tires require a break-in period to ensure that they deliver their normal ride quality and maximum performance. As tires are cured, a "release lubricant is applied to prevent them from sticking in their mold". Some of the "lubricant stays on the surface of your tires", "reducing traction until it is worn away". Five hundred miles of easy acceleration, cornering and braking will allow the mold release lubricant to wear off, allowing the other tire components to begin working together. It is also important to note that your old tires probably had very little tread depth remaining when you felt it was time to replace them. As any autocrosser or racer who has tread rubber shaved off of his tires will tell you, low tread depth tires respond quicker."Don't be surprised if your new tires are a little slower to respond (even if you use the exact same tire as before). Their new, full depth brings with it a little more tread squirm until they wear down.
NOTE: Be careful whenever you explore the capabilities of your new tires. Remember that every tire requires a break-in period for optimum performance
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Page 285 of the owners manual.
CHECKING ENGINE OIL LEVEL
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface and apply
the parking brake.
2. Run the engine until it reaches "operating
temperature".
3. Turn off the engine. Wait more than 15
minutes for the oil to drain back into
the oil pan.
4. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean.
Reinsert it all the way.
5. Remove the dipstick again and check the oil
level. It should be within the range*1 . If the
oil level is below*2 , remove the oil filler cap
and pour recommended oil through the
opening. Do not overfill*3 .
6. Recheck oil level with the dipstick.
It is normal to add some oil between oil
maintenance intervals or during the breakin
period, depending on the severity of
operating conditions.
CAUTION
Oil level should be checked regularly.
Operating the engine with an insufficient
amount of oil can damage the
engine, and such damage is not covered
by warranty.
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