2003 HONDA CIVIC COUPE Owners Manual

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.
To saf ely operate your car, your tires
must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread,
and correctly inf lated. The f ollowing
pages give more detailed inf ormation
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.
Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e, and riding
comf ort. Underinf lated tires wear
unevenly, adversely af f ect handling
and f uel economy, and are more
likely to f ail f rom being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to
damage f rom road hazards, and wear
unevenly.Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car
has been parked f or at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
bef ore checking the tire pressure,
the tires can still be considered
‘‘cold’’ if you drive less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven
several miles), you will see readings
4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4
kgf /cm ) higher than the cold
reading. This is normal. Do not let
air out to match the specified cold
pressure. The tire will be
underinf lated.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose 1 to 2 psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2
kgf /cm ) per month. Remember to
checkthesparetireatthesametime
you check all the other tires.
Inf lation
Tires
Maint enance232
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.
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Youshouldgetyourowntire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier f or you to tell if a
pressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between
gauges.
The following chart shows the
recommended cold tire pressures f or
most normal driving conditions and
speeds.Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
These pressures are also given on
thetireinformationlabelonthe
driver’s doorjamb.
Tubeless tires have some ability to
self -seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is of ten
very slow, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.
Honda strongly recommends that
you not drive f aster than posted
speed limits and conditions allow. If
you decide it is safe to drive at high
speeds, be sure to adjust the cold tire
pressuresasshowninthenext
column. If you do not adjust the tire
pressure, excessive heat can build up
and cause sudden tire f ailure.When you return to normal speed
driving, be sure to readjust the tire
pressure f or normal driving. You
should wait until the tires are cold
bef ore adjusting the tire pressure.
Tire Pressures f or high speed
driving are the same as f or normal
driving.
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
for Normal Driving
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure for Normal Driving Cold Tire Pressure for
Speeds over 100 mph
(160 km/h)
Tire SizeU.S. DX, HX, LX and Canadian DX
models only U.S. EX and Canadian LX, Si models
only(U.S.: DX, HX, LX, Canada: DX)
(U.S.: EX, Canada: LX, Si) (U.S.: DX, HX, LX, Canada: DX)
Tires
Maint enance
Recommended T ire Pressures f or
Normal Driving
T ire Pressure A djust ment f or HighSpeed Driving
233
30 psi (210 kPa , 2.1kgf/cm
)
P185/70R14 87S
P185/65R15 86H 30 psi (210 kPa , 2.1 kgf/cm
) P185/70R14 87S 35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4
kgf/cm
)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
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Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Excessive tread wear. In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord. The tires were properly balanced by
the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time bef ore they
are worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you f eel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire
should always be rebalanced if it is
removed f rom the wheel f or repair.
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 lef t 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.
Inspection
Maintenance
Tires
Maint enance234
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR
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When shopping f or 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.
Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires
installed. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. Your car’s
original tires were dynamic or ‘‘spin’’
balanced at the f actory. For best
results, have the installer perf orm a
dynamic balance.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
10,000 miles (16,000 km). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated.
Tire Rotation
Tires
Maint enance235
Front Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
Improper wheel weights can damage
your car’s aluminum wheels. Use only
Genuine Honda wheel weights f or
balancing.
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The tires that came with your car
were selected to match the perform-
ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comf ort, and long lif e.
Youshouldreplacethemwithradial
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. It is best to replace all f our tires atthesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, then replace the two
f ront tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously af f ect your car’s handling.TheABSworksbycomparingthe
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can af f ect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work
inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Honda
dealer.
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tires
Maint enance236
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.
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Tires that are marked ‘‘M S’’ or
‘‘All Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable f or most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed f or
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
perf ormance in winter driving.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions. If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
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
areclear.Checkwiththetiredealer
f or maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Wheels:
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading.
Tires:
(U.S.: HX)
(U.S.: DX, HX, LX, Canada: DX)
(U.S.: EX, Canada: LX, Si)
(U.S.: DX, LX, Canada: DX)
(Canada: LX)
(U.S.: EX, Canada: Si)
(Aluminum Wheel)
(Aluminum Wheel)
290
CONT INUED
Snow T iresWheels and Tires Winter Driving
Tires
Maint enance237
14x51/2JJ
P185/65R15 86H
P185/70R14 87S
14x51/2JJ
15x6JJ
15x6JJ
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Mount traction devices only when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size f or your tires. Install
them only on the front tires.
Because your Honda has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class ‘‘S’’
cable-type traction devices.
Metal link-type ‘‘chains’’ should not
be used. No matter how tight they
seem to be installed, they can come
into contact with the body and
suspension, causing serious damage.When installing traction devices,
f ollow the manuf acturer’s
instructions and mount them as
tightlyasyoucan.Driveslowlywith
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
youstartdrivingonclearedroads.
Tires
Maint enance
T ract ion Devices
238
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.
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Check the operation of your car’s
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an
unsaf e condition by reducing your
car’s visibility and the ability to
signal your intentions to other
drivers.
CONT INUED
Lights
Maint enance239
HEADLIGHT
PARKING LIGHT
TURN SIGNAL/SIDE MARKER LIGHT
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