2001 HONDA PASSPORT flat tire

Drivin
g Tip s

Before Drivin g .......... . 15 6
Startin g th e Engin e .... . 15 7
Ne w Vehicl e Break-I n .... . 15 8

Parkin g ............... . 15 8

Brake s ................ . 15 9

Tire s ................. . 16 3
Inflatio n ............ . 16 4

Inspectio n ........... . 16 5
Maintenanc e ......... . 16 6
Tir e Rotatio n ......... . 16 6
Replacin g Tire s

an d Wheel s ......... . 16 6

Wheel s an d Tire s ..... . 16 7

Tractio n ............. . 16 8

Tir e Chain s ........ . 16 8
Whee l Replacemen t
Consideration s ...... . 16 9
Fue l Econom y .......... . 17 0
Three-Wa y Catalyti c
Converte r ............ . 17 2 Operatio
n i n
Foreig n Countrie s ...... . 17 3
Accessorie s & Modification s 17 3
Carryin g Carg o .......... . 17 5
Traile r Towin g .......... . 17 8
Traile r Hitche s ....... . 18 0
Safet y Chai n ......... . 18 1
Traile r Light s ......... . 18 1
Tire s ................ . 18 1
Traile r Brake s ........ . 18 1
Equipmen t Chec k ..... . 18 2
Limite d Sli p Differentia l .. . 18 2
Drivin g Tip s

Befor
e Drivin g
Drivin g Guideline s

You r Hond a ha s highe r groun d
clearanc e tha n a passenge r ca r
designe d fo r us e onl y o n
pavement . Highe r groun d
clearanc e ha s man y advantage s
fo r off-roa d driving . I t allow s yo u
t o trave l ove r bumps , obstacles ,
an d roug h terrain . It als o provide s
goo d visibilit y s o yo u ca n
anticipat e problem s earlier .
Thes e advantage s com e a t som e
cost . Becaus e you r vehicl e is
talle r an d ride s highe r of f th e
ground , i t ha s a hig h cente r o f
gravity . Thi s mean s tha t you r
vehicl e ca n ti p o r rol l ove r i f yo u
mak e abrup t turns . Utilit y
vehicle s hav e a significantl y
highe r rollove r rat e tha n othe r
type s o f vehicles . T
o preven t rollove r o r los s o f
control :
Tak e corner s a t slowe r speed s
tha n yo u woul d wit h a
passenger car .
Avoi d shar p turn s an d abrup t
maneuver s wheneve r possible .
D o no t modif y you r vehicl e i n
an y wa y tha t woul d rais e th e
cente r o f gravit y (see page 174 ).
D o no t carr y heav y carg o o n
th e roo f (see page 177 ).
Fo r off-roa d drivin g guidelines ,
se e th e Off-Road Driving
Information booklet tha t cam e
wit h you r vehicle .

Befor e Enterin g th e Vehicl e

1 . Chec k tha t th e windows ,
mirrors , light s an d reflector s
ar e clea n an d unobstructed .2
. Chec k th e tire s t o se e i f the y
ar e lo w o r flat . Yo u wil l nee d
a pressure gaug e t o tel l i f tire s
ar e properl y inflated .
3 . Chec k tha t al l light s work .
4 . Chec k fo r flui d leaks .
5 . B e sur e everythin g is properl y

stowed .

6 . Chec k th e are a behin d th e
vehicl e i f yo u ar e abou t t o
bac k up .

Befor e Drivin g th e Vehicl e

1 . Loc k al l doors .
2 . Adjus t th e sea t an d an y
movabl e hea d restraints .
3 . Adjus t th e insid e an d outsid e
mirrors .
4 . Chec k tha t al l th e indicato r
light s wor k whe n th e ke y
Drivin g Tip s

distance
s wil l b e longe r an d
vehicl e contro l mor e limited .
Whil e drivin g o n a surfac e wit h
reduce d traction , avoi d maneuver s
involvin g sudde n steering ,
acceleration , o r brakin g (includin g
engin e brakin g du e t o shiftin g t o
lowe r gear) , tha t coul d cause th e
tire s t o skid .
Driver s ma y no t realiz e th e
surfac e i s slipper y unti l th e
vehicl e i s skidding .
Lear n t o recogniz e warnin g
clues—suc h a s enoug h wate r o r
ic e o n th e roa d to mak e a
"mirrore d surface"—an d slo w
dow n whe n ther e is an y doubt .
Als o se e "Traction " unde r "Tires "
i n thi s section . T
o safel y operat e you r vehicle ,
you r tire s mus t b e th e prope r typ e
an d size , i n goo d conditio n wit h
adequat e tread , an d correctl y
inflated . Th e followin g page s giv e
mor e detaile d informatio n o n ho w
an d whe n t o chec k ai r pressure ,
ho w to inspec t you r tire s fo r
damag e an d wear , an d wha t t o d o
whe n you r tire s nee d t o b e

replaced .

Drivin g Tip s

Rapi
d slowin g dow n o r

speeding-u p ca n caus e los s
o f contro l o n slipper y
surfaces . I f yo u crash , yo u
ca n b e injured .

Us e extr a car e whe n drivin g

o n slipper y surfaces .
Using tire s tha t ar e excessivel y
wor n o r improperl y inflate d ca n
caus e a cras h in whic h yo u
ca n b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s in thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g tir e

inflatio n an d maintenance .

Tire
s

Inflatio
n
Keepin g th e tire s properl y inflate d
provide s th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , trea d life , an d ridin g
comfort . Underinflate d tire s wea r
unevenly , adversel y affec t handlin g
an d fue l economy , an d ar e mor e
likel y t o fai l fro m bein g overheated .
Overinflate d tire s ca n mak e you r
vehicl e rid e mor e harshly , ar e
mor e pron e t o damag e fro m roa d
hazards , an d wea r unevenly .
W e recommen d tha t yo u visuall y
chec k you r tire s ever y day . I f yo u
thin k a tir e migh t b e low , chec k i t
immediatel y wit h a tir e gauge .
Us e a gaug e t o measure th e ai r
pressur e a t leas t onc e a month .
Eve n tire s tha t ar e i n goo d
conditio n ma y los e on e t o tw o ps i
pe r month . Remembe r t o chec k
th e spar e tir e a t th e sam e tim e yo u
chec k al l th e othe r tires . Chec
k th e pressur e i n th e tire s
whe n the y ar e cold . Thi s mean s
th e vehicl e ha s bee n parke d fo r a t
leas t thre e hours . I f yo u hav e t o
driv e th e vehicl e befor e checkin g
th e tir e pressure , th e tire s ca n stil l
b e considere d "cold " i f yo u driv e
les s tha n 1 mil e (1. 6 km) .
I f yo u chec k th e pressur e whe n
th e tire s ar e ho t (th e vehicl e ha s
bee n drive n severa l miles) , yo u
wil l se e reading s 4 to 6 ps i (2 8 t o
4 1 kPa , 0. 3 t o 0. 4 kg/cm 2) highe r
tha n th e col d reading . Thi s i s
normal . D o no t le t ai r ou t t o
matc h th e specifie d col d pressure .
Th e tir e wil l b e underinflated .
Yo u shoul d ge t you r ow n tir e
pressur e gaug e an d us e it a t al l
times . Tha t make s i t easie r fo r
yo u t o tel l i f a pressur e los s i s
cause d b y a tir e proble m an d no t a
variatio n betwee n gauges .
Recommended
Tire Pressures for

Normal Driving
Th e followin g char t show s th e
recommende d col d tir e pressure s
fo r mos t norma l drivin g
condition s an d speeds .
Drivin g Tip s

Thes
e pressure s ar e als o give n o n
th e tir e informatio n labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb . Tubeles
s tire s hav e som e abilit y t o
self-sea l i f the y ar e punctured .
However , becaus e leakag e is ofte n
ver y slow , yo u shoul d loo k
closel y fo r puncture s i f a tir e
start s losin g pressure .

Inspectio n

Ever y tim e yo u chec k inflation ,
yo u shoul d als o examin e th e tire s
fo r damage , foreig n objects , an d

wear .

Yo u shoul d loo k for : Bump
s o r bulge s i n th e trea d o r
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e the tir e
i f yo u fin d eithe r o f these
conditions . Cuts
, splits , o r crack s i n th e
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e
i f yo u ca n see fabric . Excessiv
e trea d wear . You
r vehicle' s tire s hav e wea r
indicator s molde d int o th e tread .
Whe n th e trea d wear s dow n to tha t
point , yo u wil l se e a 1/ 2 inc h (12. 7
mm ) wid e ban d runnin g acros s th e
tread . Thi s show s tha t ther e is les s
tha n 1/1 6 inc h (1. 6 mm ) o f trea d
lef t o n th e tire . A tir e tha t i s thi s
wor n give s ver y littl e tractio n o n
we t roads . Yo u shoul d replac e th e
tir e if yo u ca n see th e trea d wea r
Drivin g Tip s

LABE
L TREA
D
WEA R
INDICATOR S

indicato
r i n thre e o r mor e place s

aroun d th e tire .

Maintenanc e

I n additio n t o prope r inflation ,
correc t whee l alignmen t help s t o
decrease tir e wear . Yo u shoul d get
you r vehicle' s suspensio n part s
inspecte d often , an d aligne d whe n

needed .

Th e tire s wer e properl y balance d
a t th e factory . The y ma y need to
b e rebalance d a t som e tim e befor e
the y ar e wor n out . Hav e you r
deale r chec k th e tire s i f yo u fee l a
consisten t vibratio n whil e driving .
A tir e shoul d alway s b e
rebalance d i f i t i s remove d fro m
th e whee l fo r repair .
Mak e sur e th e installe r balance s
th e wheel s whe n yo u hav e ne w
tire s installed . Thi s increase s ridin
g comfor t an d tir e life . You r
vehicle' s origina l tire s wer e
dynami c o r "spin " balance d a t th e
factory . Fo r bes t results , hav e th e
installe r perfor m a dynami c

balance .

Tir e Rotatio n

T o hel p increas e tir e lif e an d
distribut e wea r mor e evenly , yo u
shoul d hav e th e tire s rotate d ever y
7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km) .
Mov
e th e tire s t o th e position s
show n i n th e diagra m eac h tim e

the y ar e rotated .

Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s

Th e tire s tha t cam e wit h you r
vehicl e wer e selecte d t o matc h it s
performanc e capabilitie s whil e
providin g th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , rid e comfort , an d lon g
life . Yo u shoul d replac e the m wit h
radia l tire s o f th e same size , loa d
range , spee d rating , an d maximu m
col d tir e pressur e ratin g (a s show n
o n th e tire' s sidewall) . Mixin g
radia l an d bias-pl y tire s o n you r
vehicl e ca n reduc e it s brakin g
ability , traction , an d steerin g

accuracy .

Drivin g Tip s
FRON
T
5 WHEE L
4 WHEE L

Tractio
n

A decreas e i n driving , cornering ,
an d brakin g tractio n occur s whe n
water , snow , ice , gravel , o r othe r
material s ar e o n th e road . Vehicl e
spee d shoul d b e adjuste d to th e
roa d conditions .
Whe n drivin g o n we t o r slush y
roads , a wedg e o f wate r ca n buil d
u p betwee n th e tir e an d road . Thi s
i s know n a s hydroplanin g an d
ma y caus e partia l o r complet e los s
o f traction , vehicl e control , an d
stoppin g ability . T o reduc e th e
chanc e o f tractio n loss , follo w
thes e tips :
1 . Slo w dow n durin g rainstorm s
o r whe n road s ar e slushy .
2 . Slo w dow n if th e roa d ha s
standin g wate r o r puddles . 3.
Replac e tire s whe n the y ar e
wor n t o a poin t wher e 1/1 6
inc h (1. 6 mm ) o r les s trea d
remains , o r cor d o r fabri c
ca n b e seen .
4 . Kee p th e tire s properl y
inflated .

I f you r vehicl e ha s sno w tires , b e

sur e the y ar e th e same size , loa d

range an d constructio n typ e a s you r

othe r tires . Vehicl e spee d shoul d b e

limite d to a maximu m of 7 5 mp h
(12 0 km/h ) whe n equippe d wit h
eithe r passenger vehicle-typ e o r

truck-typ e sno w tires .

Tire Chains
T o preven t tir e chain s fro m
damagin g you r vehicle : Instal
l th e chain s o n th e rea r
tire s a s tightl y a s possible . Tighte
n the m again afte r
drivin g 1/ 4 t o 1/ 2 mil e (0. 4 t o
0. 8 kilometer) . Usin g chain s o n
th e fron t tire s i s no t
recommended . The y ma y
contac t th e bod y an d possibl y
damag e th e vehicle . I f yo u
inten d t o us e chain s o n th e
fron t tires , b e sur e ther e is
enoug h clearance .
D o no t excee d 4 5 mp h
(7 0 km/h ) o r th e chai n
manufacturer' s suggeste d spee d

limi t i f i t i s lower .

Driv e in a restraine d manne r

an d avoi d larg e bumps ,

potholes , sever e turn s o r othe r

maneuver s tha t coul d caus e th e

vehicl e to bounc e u p an d down .

Follo w th e chai n

manufacturer' s instructions .

Drivin g Tip s

Whee
l Replacemen t
Consideration s

Damage d wheel s mus t b e
replaced . Fo r example , replac e
wheel s i f the y ar e bent , cracke d o r
heavil y rusted , o r i f whee l nut s
ofte n become loose . Als o replac e
wheel s tha t lea k ai r (excep t some
aluminu m wheel s tha t ca n b e
repaired) . See you r Hond a dealer .
D o no t us e ben t wheel s tha t hav e
bee n straightened , an d d o no t us e
tube s i n leakin g wheel s designe d
fo r tubeles s tires . Suc h wheel s
ma y hav e structura l damag e an d
coul d fai l withou t warning .
Maximu m loads , maximu m
inflatio n pressures , whee l
identificatio n codes , an d whee l
size s ar e stampe d o n eac h wheel .
Service-teste d an d approve d wheel
s ar e availabl e fro m you r
Hond a dealer .
Whe n obtainin g wheel s fo r an y
reaso n fro m an y othe r source , th e
replacemen t wheel s shoul d b e
equa l i n loa d capacity , inflatio n
pressur e capacity , diameter , width ,
offse t an d mountin g configuratio n
t o thos e originall y installe d o n
you r vehicle . A whee l o f th e
wron g siz e o r typ e ma y adversel y
affec t loa d carryin g capacity ,
whee l an d bearin g life , brak e
cooling , speedometer/odomete r
calibration , stoppin g ability ,
headligh t aim , bumpe r height ,
vehicl e groun d clearance , an d tir e
o r tir e chai n clearanc e t o th e bod y
an d chassis . Replacemen t wit h
use d wheel s is no t advised : The y
ma y hav e bee n subjecte d to hars h treatmen
t o r ver y hig h mileag e an d
coul d fai l withou t warning .
Installin g wheel s and/o r tire s tha t
hav e a highe r loa d carryin g limi t
tha n thos e tha t originall y cam e o n
you r vehicl e doe s no t increas e th e
GAW R o r GVW R o f th e vehicle .
Drivin g Tip s