Tire
s
To safely operate your car, your tires must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread,and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced.
Inflatio
n
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of handling, tread life and riding
comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear
unevenly.
We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge. Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1
to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month. Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all the
other tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car
has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure, the tires can still be considered
"cold" if you drive less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
Maintenanc e
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
Tire
s
The compact spare tire pressure is: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)
These pressures are also given on the tire information label on thedriver's doorjamb.
Tubeless tires have some ability to self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look closely for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.
Inspectio n
Every time you check inflation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear. You should look for: Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions. Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or cord. Excessive tread wear.
Your car's tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide
band running across the tread. This shows there is less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire.
Maintenanc e
In addition to proper inflation, correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Maintenanc e
INDICATO
R
LOCATIO N
MARK S
TREA D WEA R
INDICATOR S
Compac
t Spar e Tir e
Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use this spare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:6 0 ps i (42 0 kP a , 4. 2 kgf/cm 2
)
Follow thes
e precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the folding spare tire
is designed especially to fit your
car. Do not use your spare tire on
another car unless it is the same
make and model.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacementshould be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MAR K
TREA D WEA R INDICATO R BA R
Inde
x
Turning on.................................... 61
Head Restraints............................... 77
Heating and Cooling........................ 90
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 133
High-Low Beam Switch.................. 61
High-mount Brake Light............... 204
Hood Latch..................................... 183
Hood, Opening the........................ 120
Horn................................................... 60
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 172
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 181
Hydroplaning.................................. 146
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 244If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 241
Ignition Keys............................................... 69
Switch............................................ 69
Immobilizer System......................... 69 Important Safety Precautions.......... 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument Panel.............................................. 53
Infant Restraint................................ 29
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 192 Jacking up the Car......................... 222
Jack, Tire........................................ 221
Jump Starting................................. 227
Lights
Bulb Replacement..................... 202
Indicator........................................ 53
Parking.......................................... 61
Turn Signal................................... 62
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 71
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 71
Fuel Fill Door............................. 119
Glove Box..................................... 75
Power Door.................................. 72
Trunk............................................ 73
Low Coolant Level......................... 123
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 55
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 134
Low Oil Pressure Indicator... 54, 231
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 246
Luggage.......................................... 127
Maintenance................................... 153 Owner Maintenance Checks.... 165
Record................................. 163-164
CONTINUED
Inside Mirror.................................... 81
Inspection, Tire.............................. 192
Instrument Panel............................. 52
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 62
Interior Cleaning............................ 214
Interior Light.................................... 87
Introduction......................................... i
Keys................................................... 69
Label, Certification........................ 244
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 62
Lap Belt............................................. 43
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 42
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 49
Leather, Cleaning.......................... 214
Inde
x
SRS, Additional Information
SRS Components......................... 45
SRS Service................................... 47
SRS Indicator............................. 47, 55
START (Ignition Key Position) ..... 71
Starting the Engine........................ 133 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 133
With a Dead Battery................. 227
Steam Coming from Engine......... 229
Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 65
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 71
Stereo Sound System...................... 98
Storing Your Car............................ 210
Supplemental Restraint System..... 45 Servicing....................................... 47
SRS Indicator......................... 47, 55
System Components.................... 45
Synthetic Oil................................... 169
Tachometer...................................... 57
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 204 Taking Care of the Unexpected.. 219
Tape Player..................................... 111
Technical Descriptions
Driving In Foreign Countries... 251
Emissions Control Systems...... 252
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 250
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 254
Technical Information................... 243
Temperature Gauge........................ 58
Tether Attachment Points.............. 40
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 254
Time, Setting the............................. 83
Timing Belt..................................... 191
Tire Chains..................................... 197 Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 221
Tires................................................ 192 Air Pressure............................... 192
Checking Wear.......................... 194Compact Spare........................... 220
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 248
Inflation....................................... 192
Inspection................................... 194
Maintenance............................... 194
Replacing.................................... 195
Rotating....................................... 195
Snow............................................ 197
Specifications............................. 247
Tools, Tire Changing.................... 221
Towing
A Trailer...................................... 147
Emergency Wrecker................. 241
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level,
Automatic............................... 178
Checking Fluid Level, Manual.................................... 179
Fluid Selection............................ 178
Identification Number............... 244
Shifting the Automatic..............136
Shifting the Manual................... 134
Treadwear...................................... 248
Trip Meter........................................ 57
Trunk................................................. 73
Opening......................................... 73
Open Monitor Light.................... 55
Turn Signals..................................... 62
Underside, Cleaning...................... 216
Unexpected, Taking Care of the........................................... 219