2003 SUBARU IMPREZA tire pressure

In case of emergency
9-3
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Temporary spare tire (if equipped)
The temporary spare tire is smaller and lighter than
a conventional tire and is designed for emergency
use only. Remove the temporary spare tire and re-
install the conventional tire as soon as possible be-
cause the spare tire is designed only for temporary use.
Check the inflation pressure of the temporary spare
tire periodically to keep the tire ready for use. The
correct pressure is 60 psi (4.2 kg/cm2
, 420 kPa) .
When using the temporary spare tire, note the fol-lowing: Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
Do not put a tire chain on the temporary spare tire.
Because of the smaller tire size, a tire chain will not
fit properly. Do not use two or more temporary spare tires at
the same time. Do not drive over obstacles. This tire has a smaller
diameter, so road clearance is reduced.
1) Tread wear indicator bar
2) Indicator location mark
When the wear indicator appears on the tread, re-
place the tire.

Maintenance and service
11-2
Tire inspection 11-41. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire pressures and wear 11-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel balance 11-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wear indicators 11-45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire rotation 11-46
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Tire replacement 11-47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel replacement 11-48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel covers 11-49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Aluminum wheels (If equipped) 11-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield washer fluid 11-50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacement of windshield wiper blades 11-51 . .
Battery 11-54
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Fuses 11-56
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Main fuse 11-59
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Installation of accessories 11-60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing bulbs 11-61 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Headlight 11-62
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Front turn signal light and parking light 11-64 . . . . . .
Front fog light (if equipped) 11-68 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Front side marker light 11-69 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rear combination lights 11-70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
License plate light 11-72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dome light, map light and cargo area light 11-73 . . .
Trunk light 11-74
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High mount stop light 11-74 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maintenance and service
11-42
proach the curbs as squarely as possible. Also,
make sure the tires are not pressed against thecurb when you park the vehicle.If you feel unusual vibration while driving or
find it difficult to steer the vehicle in a straight
line, one of the tires and/or wheels may be dam- aged. Drive slowly to the nearest authorized
SUBARU dealer and have the vehicle inspected. Tire pressures and wear
Maintaining the correct tire pressures helps to maxi-
mize the tires ’ service lives and is essential for good
running performance. Check and, if necessary, ad-
just the pressure of each tire (including the spare) at least once a month (for example, during a fuel stop)
and before any long journey.
Check the tire pressures when the tires are cold.
Use a pressure gauge to adjust the tire pressures to
the values shown on the tire placard. The tire plac-
ard is located on the door pillar on the driver ’s side.
Driving even a short distance warms up the tires
and increases the tire pressures. Also, the tire pres-
sures are affected by the ambient temperature. It is
best to check tire pressure outdoors before driving the vehicle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside it ex-
pands, causing the tire pressure to increase. Be
careful not to mistakenly release air from a warm tire
to reduce its pressure.

Maintenance and service
11-43
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NOTE The air pressure in a tire increases by approxi-
mately 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kg/cm 2
) when the tire
becomes warm. The tires are considered cold when the vehicle
has been parked for at least three hours or hasbeen driven less than one mile (1.6 km).
WARNING
Do not let air out of warm tires to adjust
pressrue. Doing so will result in low tire pres- sure.
Incorrect tire pressures detract from controllability
and ride comfort, and they cause the tires to wear
abnormally.
Correct tire pressure (tread worn evenly)
Roadholding is good, and steering is responsive.
Rolling resistance is low, so fuel consumption is
also lower.

Maintenance and service
11-44
Abnormally low tire pressure (tread worn at
shoulders)
Rolling resistance is high, so fuel consumption is
also higher.
Abnormally high tire pressure (tread worn in
center)Ride comfort is poor. Also, the tire magnifies the
effects of road-surface bumps and dips, possibly
resulting in vehicle damage.
If the tire placard shows tire pressures for the ve-
hicle when fully loaded and for the vehicle when
towing a trailer, adjust the tire pressures to the val-
ues that match current loading conditions.

Maintenance and service
11-45
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WARNING
Driving at high speeds with excessively low tire pressures can cause the tires to deform
severely and to rapidly become hot. A sharp
increase in temperature could cause tread
separation, and destruction of the tires. The resulting loss of vehicle control could lead toan accident.
Wheel balance
Each wheel was correctly balanced when your ve-
hicle was new, but the wheels will become unbal-
anced as the tires become worn during use. Wheel
imbalance causes the steering wheel to vibrate
slightly at certain vehicle speeds and detracts fromthe vehicle ’s straight-line stability. It can also cause
steering and suspension system problems and ab-
normal tire wear. If you suspect that the wheels are
not correctly balanced, have them checked and ad-
justed by your SUBARU dealer. Also have them ad-
justed after tire repairs and after tire rotation. NOTE Loss of correct wheel alignment* causes the tires to wear on one side and reduces the ve-
hicle’ s running stability. Contact your SUBARU dealer if you notice abnormal tire wear.
* : The suspension system is designed to hold each wheel
at a certain alignment (relative to the other wheels and to
the road) for optimum straight-line stability and cornering
performance.
Wear indicators
A) New tread
B) Worn tread
1) Tread wear indicator
Each tire incorporates a tread wear indicator, which
becomes visible when the depth of the tread
grooves decreases to 0.063 in. (1.6 mm). A tire must

Maintenance and service
11-46
be replaced when the tread wear indicator appears
as a solid band across the tread.
WARNING
When a tire’s tread wear indicator becomes
visible, the tire is worn beyond the acceptable
limit and must be replaced immediately. With atire in this condition, driving at high speeds inwet weather can cause the vehicle to hydro-plane. The resulting loss of vehicle control can lead to an accident.
NOTE
For safety, inspect tire tread regularly and re-
place the tires before their tread wear indicators
become visible.
Tire rotation
Tire wear varies from wheel to wheel. To maximize
the life of each tire and ensure that the tires wear
uniformly, it is best to rotate the tires every 7,500
miles (12,500 km). Rotating the tires involves switch-
ing the front and rear tires on the right-hand side of
the vehicle and similarly switching the front and rear
tires on the left-hand side of the vehicle. (Each tire must be kept on its original side of the vehicle.)
Replace any damaged or unevenly worn tire at the
time of rotation. After tire rotation, adjust the tire
pressures and make sure the wheel nuts are cor-
rectly tightened.

Specifications
12-5
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Tires
Tire size
P195/60R15 87HP205/55R16 89V215/45R17 87W
Wheel size15 × 6 JJ16 × 6 1
/2 JJ17
× 7 JJ
PressureFront32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kg/cm 2
)33 psi
(230 kPa, 2.3 kg/cm 2
)
Rear29 psi (200 kPa, 2.0 kg/cm 2
)32 psi
(220 kPa, 2.2 kg/cm 2
)
Temporary spare tireSizeT135/70 D16
Pressure60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kg/cm 2
)
Wheel alignment
Item
SedanWagon
2.5-liter non-turbo2.0-liter turbo2.5-liter non-turbo2.0-liter turbo
RSWRXTSOUTBACK SPORTWRX
Drive systemAWD
To eFront0 mm (0 in)
Rear0 mm (0 in)
CamberFront–0°15’–0 °25’–0 °10’–0 °05’–0 °20’
Rear–1 °25’–1 °30’–1 °15’–1 °10’–1 °20’