2000 Acura TL tires

Tires
Recommended Tire Pressures forNormal Driving
The following chart shows the recommended cold tire pressures for
most normal driving conditions andspeeds. Tire pressures for high
speed driving are the same as for
normal driving.Tire Size
P205/60R1691V Cold Tire Pressure
for Normal Driving
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
2)
The compact spare tire pressure is:60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
2)
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. Inspection
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.
CONTINUED
Maintenance

Tires
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
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. Maintenance
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.
The tires were properly balanced by the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time before they
are worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you feel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire
should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel for repair. Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires
installed. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. Your car's
original tires were dynamic or "spin"
balanced at the factory. For best
results, have the installer perform a dynamic balance.
Improper wheel weights can damage
your car's aluminum wheels. Use only Genuine Acura wheel weights for
balancing.
Maintenance
NOTICE

Tires
Tire Rotation
Front
(For Non-directional (For Directional Tires and Wheels) Tires and Wheels)
To help increase tire life and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated. When shopping for replacement
tires, you may find that some tires
are "directional." This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to-back. Replacing Tires and Wheels
The tires that came with your car were selected to match the perform-
ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination ofhandling, ride comfort, and long life.
You should replace them with radial tires of the same size, load range,speed rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire's sidewall). Mixing radial and
bias-ply tires on your car can reduce its braking ability, traction, and
steering accuracy.
CONTINUED
Maintenance
Front

Tires
Installing improper tires on your
car can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this owner's manual.
It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible or necessary, then replace the two
front tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can seriously affect your car's handling. The ABS works by comparing the
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can affect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure you use an identical style
aluminum alloy wheel that originally
came on your Acura. Replacement
wheels are available at your Acura dealer. Wheels and TiresWheel:
16x61/2JJ
Tire: P205/60R16 91V
See page 284 for information about
DOT Tire Quality Grading.
Maintenance

Tires
Winter DrivingTires that are marked "M+S" or "All Season" on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable for most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed for optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate performance in winter driving.
For the best performance in snowyor icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under certain conditions.
Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your
Acura, make sure they are radial tires of the same size and load rangeas the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your car's handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car's original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommen- dations.
Traction Devices
Mount traction devices only when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Make sure they are the correct size for your tires. Install
them only on the front tires.
Because your Acura has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE class "S"
cable-type traction devices.Link-type "chains" should not be
used. No matter how tight they seem
to be installed, they can come into contact with the body andsuspension, causing serious damage. When installing traction devices,
follow the manufacturer'sinstructions and mount them as
tightly as you can. Drive slowly with
them installed. If you hear them coming in contact with the body or
chassis, stop and investigate. Make
sure the traction devices are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brakes or suspension.
Remove them as soon as you start driving on cleared roads.
Cables that are the wrong size or
improperly installed can damage your
car's brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if they are hitting
any part of the car.
Maintenance
NOTICE

Storing Your Car
If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things youshould do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
• Fill the fuel tank.
• Change the engine oil and filter (see page 203).
• Wash and dry the exterior completely.
• Clean the interior. Make sure the carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
• Leave the parking brake off. Put the transmission in Park. • Block the rear wheels.
• If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should besupported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
• Leave one window open slightly (if the car is being stored indoors).
• Disconnect the battery. • Support the front wiper blade arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
• To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. • Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
• If possible, run the engine for a while periodically (preferably oncea month).
If you store your car for 12 months or longer, have your Acura dealer
perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule (Normal Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page 192). The
replacements called for in the maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
Maintenance

Compact Spare Tire
Your car has a compact spare tirethat takes up less space. Use thisspare 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: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2) Follow these 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 compact spare tire is designed especially to fit
your car. Do not use your sparetire on another vehicle unless it is
the same make and model.
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
The compact spare tire has a shortertread 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.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

Emergency Towing
If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
There are three popular types of professional towing equipment:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
This is the best way to transport
your Acura.
Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground. This is an acceptable way to tow your
Acura.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the car off
the ground. Your car's suspension and body can be seriously damaged.
This method of towing is unacceptable.
If your Acura cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment with the front
wheels off the ground. If, due to damage, your car must be towed
with the front wheels on the ground, do the following.
• Release the parking brake.
• Start the engine.
• Shift to D5, then to N.
• Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start theengine, your car must be transported
with the front wheels off the ground.
• With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the car no
farther than 50 miles (80 km), and
keep the speed below 35 mph (55
km/h).
CONTINUED
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE