Page 490 of 627
9-35
In case of emergency
– CONTINUED –
Station wagon: Open the center lid, remove the left
hand part of the lid, and take out the jack handle.
For how to use the jack, refer to “Flat tires”. !
Other maintenance tools
In addition to a jack and a jack handle, the tool bucket
on your vehicle contains the following maintenance
tools.
Screwdriver
Towing hook
Wheel nut wrench
Hex-headed wrench (only for vehicles with moon- roof)
UB9504BA
UB9217BA
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11 -4 9
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
Tires and wheels !Types of tires
You should be familiar with type of tires present on your vehicle. ! All season tires
The factory-installed tires on your new vehicle are all
season tires.
All season tires are designed to provide an adequate
measure of traction, handling and braking perfor-
mance in year-round driving including snowy and icy
road conditions. However all season tires do not offer
as much traction performance as winter (snow) tires in
heavy or loose snow or on icy roads.
All season tires are identified by “ALL SEASON” and/
or “M+S” (Mud & Snow) on the tire sidewall. ! Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed capability tires best suit-
ed for highway driving under dry conditions.
Summer tires are inadequate for driving on slippery
roads such as on snow-covered or icy roads.
If you drive your vehicle on snow-covered or icy roads,
we strongly recommend the use of winter (snow) tires.
When installing winter tires, be sure to replace all four
tires. !
Winter (snow) tires
Winter tires are best suited for driving on snow-cov-
ered and icy roads. However winter tires do not per-
form as well as summer tires and all season tires on
roads other than snow-covered and icy roads. ! Tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) (if equipped)
The tire pressure monitoring system provides the driv-
er with a warning message indicating by sending a sig-
nal from a sensor that is installed in each wheel when
tire pressure is severely low. The tire pressure moni-
toring system will activate only when the vehicle is
driven. Also, this system may not react immediately to
a sudden drop in tire pressure (for example, a blow-
out caused by running over a sharp object).
If you adjust the tire pressures in a warm garage and
will then drive the vehicle in cold outside air, the result-
ing drop in tire pressures may cause the low tire pres-
sure warning light to come on. To avoid this problem
when adjusting the tire pressures in a warm garage,
inflate the tires to pressures higher than those shown
on the tire placard. Specifically, inflate them by an ex-
tra 1 psi (6.9 kPa, 0.07 kgf/cm 2
) for every difference of
10 °F (5.6 °C) between the temperature in the garage
and the temperature outside. By way of example, the
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11 -5 1
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
fore, you should have the work performed by a SUBA-
RU dealer.
If the low tire pressure warning light does not
come on briefly after the ignition switch is
turned ON or the light is flashing, you should
have your Tire Pressure Monitoring System
checked at a SUBARU dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
If this light comes on while driving, never brake
suddenly and keep driving straight ahead while
gradually reducing speed. Then slowly pull off
the road to a safe place. Otherwise an accident
involving serious vehicle damage and serious
personal injury could occur.
If this light still comes on while driving after ad-
justing the tire pressure, a tire may have signif-
icant damage and a fast leak that causes the
tire to lose air rapidly. If you have a flat tire, re-
place it with a spare tire as soon as possible.
When a spare tire is mounted or a wheel rim is
replaced without the original pressure sensor/
transmitter being transferred, the low tire pres-
sure warning light will flash. This indicates the
TPMS is unable to monitor all four road wheels.
Contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as possi- ble for tire and sensor replacement and/or sys-
tem resetting. If the light flashes, promptly con-
tact a SUBARU dealer to have the system in-
spected.
! Tire inspection
Check on a daily basis that the tires are free from se-
rious damage, nails, and stones. At the same time,
check the tires for abnormal wear.
Contact your SUBARU dealer immediately if you find
any problem.
NOTE " When the wheels and tires strike curbs or are
subjected to harsh treatment as when the vehicle
is driven on a rough surface, they can suffer dam-
age that cannot be seen with the naked eye. This
type of damage does not become evident until
time has passed. Try not to drive over curbs, pot-
holes or on other rough surfaces. If doing so is un-
avoidable, keep the vehicle’s speed down to a
walking pace or less, and approach the curbs as
squarely as possible. Also, make sure the tires are
not pressed against the curb when you park thevehicle. " If you feel unusual vibration while driving or find
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11 -5 7
Maintenance and service
– CONTINUED –
tires. Doing so can dangerously reduce control-
lability, resulting in an accident.
! Wheel replacement
When replacing wheels due, for example, to damage,
make sure the replacement wheels match the specifi-
cations of the wheels that are fitted as standard equip-
ment. Replacement wheels are available from SUBA-
RU dealers.
Use only those wheels that are specified for
your vehicle. Wheels not meeting specifica-
tions could interfere with brake caliper opera-
tion and may cause the tires to rub against the
wheel well housing during turns. The resulting
loss of vehicle control could lead to an acci-
dent.
Aluminum wheels
Aluminum wheels can be scratched and damaged
easily. Handle them carefully to maintain their appear-
ance, performance, and safety. " When any of the wheels is removed and replaced
for tire rotation or to change a flat, always check the
tightness of the wheel nuts after driving approximately
600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose, tighten it to
the specified torque." Never apply oil to the threaded parts, wheel nuts, or
tapered surface of the wheel." Never let the wheel rub against sharp protrusions or
curbs. " Be sure to fit tire chains on uniformly and completely
around the tire, otherwise the chains may scratch the
wheel." When wheel nuts, balance weights, or the center
cap is replaced, be sure to replace them with genuine
SUBARU parts designed for aluminum wheels.
Page 596 of 627
12-11
Specifications
– CONTINUED –
Vehicle identification
1 2
8
6
54 3
7
UBC200BB
1) Emission control label
2) Vehicle identification number
3) Certification and bar code label
4) Tire inflation pressure label
5) Vehicle identification number plate
6) Model number plate
7) Radio noise label (Canada- spec. models)
8) Fuel label
Page 598 of 627

13-1
13
Consumer information and Reporting safety defectsTire information ............................................. 13-2Tire labeling ....................................................... 13-2
Recommended tire inflation pressure ............ 13-6
Glossary of tire terminology ............................ 13-8
Tire care – maintenance and safety practices ......................................................... 13-9
Vehicle load limit – how to determine ............. 13-10
Determining compatibility of tire and vehicle
load capacities ............................................... 13-14
Adverse safety consequences of overloading
on handling and stopping and on tires ........ 13-15
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit ..... 13-15
Uniform tire quality grading standards ....... 13-16 Treadwear .......................................................... 13-16
Traction AA, A, B, C .......................................... 13-16
Temperature A, B, C ......................................... 13-17
Reporting safety defects (USA) ................... 13-18
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13-3
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
– CONTINUED –
First, the number designation is its load index.
Second, the letter designation indicates the tire’s
speed rating.
Example:
(7) Load Index: A numerical code which speci-
fies the maximum load a tire can carry at the
speed indicated by its speed symbol, at maxi-
mum inflation pressure.
For example, “97” means 1,609 lbs (730 kg), “90”
means 1,323 lbs (600 kg), “89” means 1,278 lbs (580 kg)
Load indices apply only to the tire, not to
the vehicle. Putting a load rated tire on any
vehicle does not mean the vehicle can be
loaded up to the tire’s rated load.
(8) Speed Rating: An alphabetical system de- scribing a tire’s capability to travel at established
and predetermined speeds.
For example, “H” means 130 mph (210 km/h)
"
Speed ratings apply only to the tire, not
to the vehicle. Putting a speed rated tire on
any vehicle does not mean the vehicle can
be operated at the tire’s rated speed. " The speed rating is void if the tires are
worn out, damaged, repaired, retreaded, or
otherwise altered from their original condi-
tion. If tires are repaired, retreaded, or oth-
erwise altered, they may not be suitable for
original equipment tire designed loads and
speeds.
! Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Tire Identification Number (TIN) is marked on the
intended outboard sidewall. The TIN is com-
posed of four groups. Here is a brief review of the
TIN with a breakdown of its individual elements.
P 225 / 60 R 16 97 H Size designation (6) (7)
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13-4
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
(1) Manufacturer’s Identification Mark
(2) Tire Size
(3) Tire Type Code
(4) Date of Manufacture
The first two figures identify the week, starting
with “01” to represent the first full week of the cal-
endar year; the second two figures represent the
year. For example, 0101 means the 1st week of
2001. !
Other markings
The following makings are also placed on the
sidewall. " Maximum permissible inflation pressure
The maximum cold inflation pressure to which
this tire may be inflated. For example, “300 kpa
(44 PSI) MAX. PRESS” " Maximum load rating
The load rating at the maximum permissible
weight load for this tire. For example, “MAX. LOAD 730 kg (1609 LBS) @ 300 kpa (44 PSI)
MAX. PRESS.”Maximum load rating applies only to the
tire, not to the vehicle. Putting a load rated
tire on any vehicle does not mean the vehi-
cle can be loaded up to the tire’s rated
load.
" Construction type
Applicable construction of this tire.
For example, “TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RA-
DIAL” " Construction
The generic name of each cord material used in
the plies (both sidewall and tread area) of this
tire.
For example, “PLIES: TREAD 2 STEEL + 2
POLYESTER + 1 NYLON SIDEWALL 2 POLY-
ESTER”
DOT XX XX XXX XXXX (1) (2) (3)(4)