1990 HONDA PRELUDE wheel

Tires (cont'd)
Tire Chains
When required, tire chains should be installed on the front wheels. If
you are using metal type chains, make sure they are designated SAEClass "S". You may also use plastic or cable type "chains". Use
only the correct size chains recommended for your tire size andmake sure they are installed following the chain manufacturer's

instructions.
Once tire chains are installed, drive at less than 19 mph (30km/h) on
roads covered with snow or ice. To minimize tire and chain wear,
avoid driving on cleared roads with chains installed.

CAUTION:

Improper installation or loose tire chains may damage your car's
chassis and fenders.
NOTE:
Keep the manufacturer's installation instructions in your glove box

for future reference.

Tire Balancing
Unbalanced tires may affect handling and tire wear. A tire should
always be rebalanced after it has been dismounted from the wheel.
Your original tires were properly balanced before the car left the
factory, but may need rebalancing at some time during the life of the
tire. Tire balancing for the COMPACT spare is not necessary.

CAUTION:

Use only genuine Honda aluminum wheel weights if your car is
equipped with aluminum wheels. Non-genuine Honda wheel
weights may corrode and damage the aluminum wheel.
Tire Rotation Tires may wear unevenly when used for a long time at the same position on the car. To avoid this, rotate the tires every 7,500 miles
(12,000 km). If abnormal or uneven wear develops between
rotations, the cause should be found and corrected as soon as
possible. The illustration shows how the tires can be rotated. The
COMPACT spare tire must not be included in tire rotation.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

NOTE:

Brake pads should be inspected for wear whenever the tires are

rotated.

Tire Traction
Worn tires or slippery road surfaces can reduce driving, cornering and braking traction. To reduce the possibility of losing traction,
slow down when the road gets slippery, replace tires when wearindicators are visible, and KEEP TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED.
Tire Replacement
The original tires on your carhave tread wear indicators toindicate when they should bereplaced. The indicators appear
as bands about 12.7 mm (1/2 in)
wide when the tire tread depth is less than 1.6 mm (1/16 in).
When indicators appear across

two or more grooves in a row,

you shoul d
replace the tire.

Driving on worn-out or under-inflated tires is very hazardous, and
will reduce braking effectiveness, steering accuracy and traction.

When replacing tires, use only the recommended tire size. Wheel rim widths and offsets must be those recommended by American
Honda Motor Co., Inc. Contact the Zone Office nearest you as
shown on the inside of the back cover.

Tires and wheels other than those recommended may be unsafe. Do not mix radial and bias ply tires on the same car. INDICATOR
LOCATION MARKS TREAD WEAR
INDICATORSProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Washing

NOTE:

Retract the headlights before washing the car. However, make sure

the headlight lenses are cleaned periodically.

Rinse all loose dirt off the car by spraying it with lukewarm or cold

water. Do not use hot water.
Wash using a soft bristle brush, sponge, or cloth with water
containing a mild detergent, such as a liquid dishwashing detergent.
Remove oil, tar, tree sap, etc., with tar remover or turpentine.
Remove road salt, insects, etc., with mild detergent and lukewarm
water. Any of these substances may damage the finish if left on
painted surfaces.

Rinse the car well. Promptly wipe with a chamois or soft towel toprevent water-spotting. Do not let water or soap air-dry on painted

surfaces.
During wiping, inspect the surface for stone chips and scratches;paint them with touch-up paint so they won't rust (touch-up paint

is available through your Honda dealer).
For further instructions on corrosion protection, refer to the Rust

Prevention section on page 112.

Aluminum Alloy Wheels (Si with 4WS or ALB)
CAUTION:
Wash the wheels after driving on snowy or icy roads where salt

has been applied.

Avoid off-road driving. Brush, rocks, dirt and severe impact may
damage the wheels.
Install tire chains carefully. Improperly installed chains can cause

damage to the wheels.
Honda aluminum alloy wheels are treated with a protective
finish. Wash them with a low-phosphate detergent and sponge.
Do not use abrasive cleaners or stiff brushes. Always install aluminum wheels in sets of four. If mixed with
other types, the car's handing may be affected.

(cont'd)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Appearance Care (cont'd)
Rust Prevention
Rusting is likely to occur in parts of the car where water is trapped
or where there is continual dampness. Water will collect inside doors and body panels if drain holes
become clogged.
Water which seeps under or soaks floor mats will subject floor sections to prolonged wetness or dampness. Road dirt or sand, which collects and fills recesses on the
underside of the car, retains moisture long after the rest of the
car has dried.
The removal of paint and undercoating by stones, gravel, and minor accidents immediately exposes metal to air and moisture.Rusting is increased by high humidity and by the presence of
corrosive substances in the air or on the roads.
Salt used for road de-icing will coat the bottom of the ear and
hasten rusting.Localities with high humidity have greater potential for rust
problems, especially where salt is also present on the road or in
moist sea air.
Industrial pollution will accelerate the deterioration of paint
finishes and promote rusting.
Preventive Service Check all drain holes in doors and body panels for clogging and clear
if necessary. When washing your car, also clean the underside of the car by using high pressure water; above subframe, inside
front fender, rear suspension, inside rear wheel housing, and
under rear bumper.
After washing your car or after heavy rain, check for leaks. While checking for leaks, lift the floor mats in the passenger, cargo and
spare tire areas, and check beneath them. Water can collect in
these areas and remain unseen for prolonged periods. Dry any wet areas of your car's interior. Remove and dry wet floor mats. Haveleaks repaired as soon as possible.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Spare Tire
COMPACT Spare Tire Your car is supplied with a COMPACT spare tire and wheel for
temporary use only in the event of a flat tire. Use the COMPACT
spare only when you have to, and only to go as far as the next
garage or dealer to have the regular tire repaired and reinstalled.
Because you will rarely use the COMPACT spare, be sure to
regularly check its condition and air pressure (415 kPa, 60 psi), so it
will be ready when you need it. This type of tire holds less air at
higher pressure than a regular tire, so it will inflate (or deflate if there
is a leak) more rapidly; check its pressure often and add air gradually
if it needs any. The COMPACT spare tire has

a different tire size, air
pressure requirement, tread

life and maximum speed rating
than the four regular tires on
your car. Disregarding these
warnings may result in tire
failure, loss of vehicle control and possible injury to vehicle

occupants.
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) under any circumstances
when using the COMPACT spare. Do not mount snow chains on the COMPACT spare. They will
not fit properly and will damage the tire and possibly your car. If
you must use the COMPACT spare when driving on roads
covered with snow or ice, use it as one of the rear tires and
mount chains only on the front two regular tires.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

The COMPACT spare tire has
a much shorter tread life than
regular tires. Replace the tire
as soon as tread wear
indicators appear as solid
bands across the tread.Replace with a tire of exactly

the same size and construction.

The COMPACT spare tire and wheel set was designed especially for your car; do not use it on any other vehicle; do not
install any other tire on this wheel which is not identical to the
original in size and construction, and do not use the COMPACTspare tire on any other wheel.
Because the COMPACT spare is smaller in size and higher in airpressure than a regular tire, it will ride more harshly with less
ground clearance and may have less traction on some road
surfaces. Drive cautiously. INDICATOR
LOCATION
MARK
TREAD
WEAR
INDICATORProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

Changing a Flat Tire
Do not attempt to change a tire unless the car is on firm, level
ground and well out of the flow of traffic.
Park the car on a firm, level surface, apply the parking brake, turn
on the hazard warning switch and put the transmission in gear (Park
for automatic).

1. Remove the jack, lug wrench/jack handle and jack handle extension (in the tool bag) from the location shown.

NOTE:

To remove the jack, release its tension against the mount by turning

the screw counterclockwise.

2. Remove the spare tire.
3. Place blocks in front and back of the wheel diagonally opposite the tire you are changing.
JACK

COMPACT SPARE

TOOL BAGProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s

4. (2.0 Si,Si)

Remove the center cap from the wheel cover by turning the lock

to 90°.

(Si with 4WS or ALB)
Remove the center cap from the wheel by prying it out with a
common flat screwdriver (not provided in the tool bag).
(2.0 Si,Si)

CAUTION:
(On the Si model with 4WS or ALB)
Hold the center cap with your hand then pry it off using a rag to
protect the
cap and the wheel.

5. Use the lug wrench to loosen the wheel lug nuts
counterclockwise one-half turn.
Follow tire changing preparations and procedures carefully to
reduce the possibility of injury. The jack
is designed for changing
tires only.
STAND CLEAR, DO NOT get under the car and DO NOT
run the engine when the car Is supported only by the jack.
6. Place the jack under the jack point nearest the wheel you are removing; align the jack head so the car frame will fit in the recess
as you raise the jack.
To reduce the possibility of injury, be sure to use the jack provided with the car and the correct jacking points; never use any otherpart of the car for jack support.
RAG

(cont'd)

CENTER CAP


CENTER CAP
(Si with 4WS or ALB)
FLAT

SCREWDRIVERProCarManuals.comMain Menu t s