2006 SUBARU TRIBECA wheel size

Instruments and controls 3-15
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„ABS warning light
The ABS warning light comes on when the ignition switch is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion and goes out after approximately two seconds.
This is an indication that the ABS system
is working properly.
If this 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 driv-
ing straight ahead while gradually
reducing speed. Then slowly pull off
the road to a safe place. Otherwise
an accident involving serious vehi-
cle damage and serious personal in-
jury could occur.
If this light still comes on while driv-
ing after adjusting the tire pressure,
a tire may have significant damage
and a fast leak that causes the tire to
lose air rapidly. If you have a flat
tire, replace 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 in-
dicates the TPMS is unable to moni-
tor all four road wheels. Contact
your SUBARU dealer as soon as
possible for tire and sensor replace-
ment and/or system resetting. If the
light flashes, promptly contact a
SUBARU dealer to have the system
inspected.
The tire pressure monitoring system is NOT a substitute for manually
checking tire pressure. The tire
pressure should be checked period-
ically (at least monthly) using a tire
gauge. After any change to tire pres-
sure(s), the tire pressure monitoring
system will not re-check tire infla-
tion pressures until the vehicle is
first driven more than 20 mph (32
km/h). Be sure to install the speci-
fied size for the front and rear tires.
(U.S.) (Canada)
If the warning light behaves as fol-
lows, the ABS system may not work
properly.
When the warning light is on, the
ABS function shuts down; however,
the conventional brake system con-
tinues to operate normally. y
The warning light does not come
on when the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position.
y The warning light comes on when
the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, but it does not go
out even when the vehicle speed
exceeds approximately 8 mph (12km/h).
y The warning light comes on dur-
ing driving.
If any of these conditions occur,
have the ABS system repaired at the
first available opportunity by your SUBARU dealer.

7-20 Starting and operating
In the event of wheelspin and/or skidding
on a slippery road surface and/or during
cornering and/or an evasive maneuver,
the Vehicle Dynamics Control system ad-
justs the engine’s output and the wheels’
respective braking forces to help maintain
traction and directional control. yTraction Control Function
The traction control function is designed to
prevent spinning of the driving wheels on
slippery road surfaces, thereby helping to
maintain traction and directional control.
Activation of this function is shown by
steady illumination of the Vehicle Dynam-
ics Control operation indicator light. y Skid Suppression Function
The skid suppression function is designed
to help maintain directional stability by
suppressing the wheels’ tendency to slide
sideways during steering operations. Acti-
vation of this function is shown by flashing
of the Vehicle Dynamics Control operation
indicator light.
NOTE y Slight twitching of the brake pedal may be felt when the Vehicle Dynamics
Control system operates; a small de-
gree of vehicle or steering wheel shak-
ing may also be noticed in this situa-
tion. These are normal characteristics
of Vehicle Dynamics Control operation
and are no cause for alarm. y
When driving off immediately after
starting the engine, a short-lived oper-
ation noise may be noticed coming
from the engine compartment. This
noise is generated as a result of a
check being performed on the Vehicle
Dynamics Control system and is nor- mal.y Depending on the timing of activa-
tion of the brakes, certain situations
may occur just after driving off where
the brake pedal seems to exhibit a jolt-
ing motion. This too is a consequence
of the Vehicle Dynamics Control opera-
tional check and is normal.y In the circumstances listed in the fol-
lowing, the vehicle may be more unsta-
ble than it feels to the driver. The Vehi-
cle Dynamics Control System may
therefore operate. Such operation does
not indicate a system fault.
yon gravel-covered or rutted roads
y on unfinished roads
y when the vehicle is towing a trailer
y when the vehicle is fitted with
y
Activation of the Vehicle Dynam-
ics Control system is an indica-
tion that the road being travelled
on has a slippery surface; since
having Vehicle Dynamics Control
is no guarantee that full vehicle
control will be maintained at all
times and under all conditions, its
activation should be seen as a
sign that the speed of the vehicle
should be reduced considerably.
y Whenever suspension compo-
nents, steering components, or an
axle are removed from a vehicle
equipped with Vehicle Dynamics
Control, have an authorized
SUBARU dealer perform an in-
spection of that system.
y The following precautions should
be observed in order to ensure
that the Vehicle Dynamics Control
system is operating properly:
– All four wheels should be fitted
with tires of the same size, type,
and brand. Furthermore, the
amount of wear should be the
same for all four tires.
– Keep the tire pressure at theproper level as shown on the
vehicle placard attached to the
driver’s side door pillar.

Starting and operating 7-21
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snow tires or winter tires
y Activation of the Vehicle Dynamics
Control system will cause operation of
the steering wheel to feel slightly dif-
ferent compared to that for normal con-
ditions.y Even if the vehicle is equipped with a
Vehicle Dynamics Control system, it is
important that winter tires be used
when driving on snow-covered or icy
roads. (All four wheels should be fitted
with tires of the same size and brand).
Furthermore, if snow chains are to be
used, they should be fitted on the front
wheels. When a vehicle is fitted with
snow chains, however, the effective-
ness of the Vehicle Dynamics Control
system is reduced and this should be
taken into account when driving the ve-
hicle in such a condition. y It is always important to reduce
speed when approaching a corner,
even if the vehicle is equipped with Ve-
hicle Dynamics Control. y All four wheels should be fitted with
tires of the same size, type, and brand;
furthermore, the amount of wear
should be the same for all four tires. If
these precautions are not observed
and non-matching tires are used, it is
quite possible that the Vehicle Dynam-
ics Control system will be unable to op- erate correctly as intended. y
Always turn off the engine before re-
placing a tire as failure to do so may
render the Vehicle Dynamics Control
system unable to operate correctly. „ Vehicle Dynamics Control
system monitor
T Vehicle Dynamics Control operation
indicator light
The indicator light turns on when the igni-
tion key is turned to the ON position; it
turns off approximately two seconds later.
This indicator light flashes during activa-
tion of the skid suppression function and is
illuminated steadily during activation of
the traction control function. The following two situations could indicate
a malfunction of the Vehicle Dynamics
Control system; if either should occur,
have an authorized SUBARU dealer carry
out an inspection of that system at the first
available opportunity.y
The indicator light does not turn on
when the ignition key is turned to the ON
position.y The indicator light does not turn off ap-
proximately two seconds after the ignition
key has been turned to the ON position. T Vehicle Dynamics Control warning
light/Traction Control system OFF
indicator light
This single light has the function of indicat-
ing malfunctions in the Vehicle Dynamics
Control system and the function of indicat-
700316
700317

Driving tips 8-5
– CONTINUED –
provide better traction when driving on
slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and
when moving out of mud, dirt and sand. By
shifting power between the front and rear
wheels, SUBARU AWD can also provide
added traction during acceleration, and
added engine braking force during decel-
eration.
Therefore, your SUBARU AWD vehicle
may handle differently than an ordinary
two wheel drive vehicle and it contains
some features unique to AWD. For safety
purposes as well as to avoid damaging
the AWD system, you should keep the fol-
lowing tips in mind: y
An AWD vehicle is better able to climb
steeper roads under snowy or slippery
conditions than a two wheel drive vehicle.
There is little difference in handling, how-
ever, during extremely sharp turns or sud-
den braking. Therefore, when driving
down a slope or turning corners, be sure
to reduce your speed and maintain an am-
ple distance from other vehicles. y When replacing a tire, make sure you
use only the same size, circumference,
construction, brand, and load range as the
original tires listed on the tire placard. Us-
ing other sizes, circumferences or con- struction may result in severe mechanical
damage to the drive train of your vehicle
and may affect ride, handling, braking, speedometer/odometer calibration, and
clearance between the body and tires. It
also may be dangerous and lead to loss ofvehicle control. y
If you use a temporary spare tire to re-
place a flat tire, be sure to use the original
temporary spare tire stored in the vehicle.
Using other sizes may result in severe
mechanical damage to the drive train ofyour vehicle. y Always check the cold tire pressure be-
fore starting to drive. The recommended
tire pressure is provided on the tire plac-
ard, which is located under the door latch
on the driver’s side.y Tire chains should always be placed on
the front wheels only.y There are some precautions that you
must observe when towing your vehicle.
For detail information, see “Towing” sec-
tion in chapter 9. On-pavement and off road
driving
y
In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a
seat belt. You the driver and all
your passengers should fasten
the seatbelts before starting to
drive in order to minimize the
chance of serious injury or death.
yDo not make sharp turns and
quick maneuvers unless abso-
lutely unavoidable. Such actions
are dangerous as you may lose
control, possibly resulting in a
rollover which could cause death
or serious injury.
yAlways maintain a safe driving
speed according to the road and
weather conditions in order to
avoid having an accident on a
sharp turn, during sudden braking
or under other similar conditions.

Driving tips 8-11
– CONTINUED –
Recommended winter (snow) tire size
P255/55R18 stud less
„ Tire chains
Driving on snowy grades or icy roads may
require the use of tire chains, in which
case put genuine SUBARU spring chains
on the front wheels only. Genuine
SUBARU spring chains are available from
your SUBARU dealer. These chains can
be installed on “all season tires” as origi-
nal equipment. Never install them on win- ter (snow) tires.
When driving with tire chains, drive at
speeds below 19 mph (30 km/h). When a
temporary spare tire is on a front wheel,
replace the temporary spare tire with the
rear tire on the same side of the vehicle,
and then fit chains on the front tires.
Always use the utmost care when driving
with tire chains – overconfidence because you are driving with tire chains could eas-
ily lead to a serious accident. „
Rocking the vehicle
If you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the acceler-
ator pedal slightly and move the selector
lever back and forth between “D” and “R”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For
the best possible traction, avoid spinning
the wheels when trying to free the vehicle.
When the road surface is extremely slip-
pery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st.
Refer to the “Automatic transmission” sec-
tion in chapter 7 for information on holding
the transmission in 2nd position.
Loading your vehicle
Tire chains cannot be used on tires
listed in the following because of
lack of clearance between the tires
and vehicle body.
All model: P255/55R 18 winter (snow) tires
Never allow passengers to ride on a
folded rear seatback or in the cargo
area. Doing so may result in serious
injury.
y Never stack luggage or other car-
go higher than the top of the seat-
back because it could tumble for-
ward and injure passengers in the
event of a sudden stop or acci-
dent. Keep luggage or cargo low,
as close to the floor as possible.
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8-18 Driving tips
required due to the additional load. (Refer
to “Maintenance schedule under severe
driving conditions” in the “Warranty and
Maintenance Booklet”.)
Under no circumstances should a trailer
be towed with a new vehicle or a vehicle
with any new powertrain component (en-
gine, transmission, differential, wheel
bearings, etc.) for the first 1,000 miles
(1,600 km) of driving. „Maximum load limits
TTotal trailer weight
Total trailer weight
The total trailer weight (trailer weight plus
its cargo load) must never exceed the
maximum weight shown in the following
table.
Never exceed the maximum load
limits explained in the following. Ex-
ceeding the maximum load limits
could cause personal injury and/or
vehicle damage. y Adequate size trailer brakes are
required when the trailer and its
cargo exceed 1,000 lbs (453 kg)
total weight.
yBefore towing a trailer, check the
trailer total weight, GVW, GAWs
and tongue load. Make sure the
load and its distribution in your
vehicle and trailer are acceptable.
800211

9-4 In case of emergency
wise with the wheel nut wrench until the
temporary spare tire is on the ground with
enough cable slack to allow you to pull it
out from under the vehicle.10.Tilt the retainer at the end of the cable
and pull it through the center of the tempo-
rary spare tire.
11.After the temporary spare tire is re-
moved from the cable, the cable must be
wound up completely by turning the hoist
nut shaft clockwise until you hear a click-
ing sound. Also visually inspect the cable
to make certain that there is no longer any
slack present.
yBe sure to remove (not simply
keep it open) the subfloor storage
lid before turning the wheel nut
wrench, otherwise the lid may be
damaged.
y Do not put your fingers into the
center hole of the temporary
spare tire while you pulling it out,
because they might be pinched in
between the wheel and the retain-er.
900207
900208
yDo not use the extension when
turning the wheel nuts. If you did,
you would not be able to achieve sufficient tightening torque. The
wheel nuts could then come
loose, resulting in a serious acci-
dent.
yWhen using the spare tire hoist:
After the temporary spare tire is
removed from the cable, wind the
cable up completely until the re-
tainer at end of the cable sits
against the underside of the vehi-
cle. Driving with the cable not re-
tracted fully could result in dam-
age to the adjacent under floor
parts and lead to a serious acci-
dent.
yThe spare tire holder is designed to carry only the following kinds
of tires:
ythe temporary spare tire that
came with your vehicle
ya full-size flat tire

In case of emergency 9-5
„Re-storage of spare tire
1. Turn the spare tire hoist shaft end
counterclockwise with the wheel nut
wrench to loosen the cable sufficiently
enough to allow the cable end retainer go
through center hole of the temporary
spare tire.
2. Insert the retainer through the center
hole of the temporary tire (with the outside
of the tire facing up). 3. Turn the hoist shaft end clockwise with
the wheel nut wrench to wind the cable up
completely until you hear a few clicking
sounds. Confirm that the temporary spare
tire holding cable has been wound up
completely by shaking the temporary tire.
4. Put the rubber cap on the hoist shaft
end hole.
5. Fit the access cover.
6. Place the wheel nut wrench and exten-
sion back into the tool bag and store the
jack and tool bag in their storage loca- tions.
7. Fit the lid of the cargo area.
A full size flat tire should be
stowed in the spare tire holder in
an emergency only. After having
the full-size flat tire repaired, im-
mediately swap it with the tempo-
rary spare tire.
Never stow a full-size tire that is
not flat in the spare tire holder.
Doing so can result in damage to
adjacent under floor parts and can
lead to a serious accident.
When using the spare tire hoist:
Do not use air tools or power toolsto turn the spare tire hoist shaft end.
If you do, it could result in severe
mechanical damage to the spare tire
hoist.
If the temporary spare tire is not
stored securely, it could damage ad-
jacent areas of the vehicle and make
an abnormal noise. y When stowing a flat tire in the
spare tire holder, turn the hoist
shaft end only slowly. If it is
turned quickly, the wheel disc of
the flat tire could be damaged.
yA full-size flat tire should be
stowed in the spare tire holder in
an emergency only. After having
the flat tire repaired, immediately
swap it with the temporary spare tire.
y Remember that the tread width of
a flat tire is wider than that of the
temporary spare tire. When carry-
ing a flat tire stowed in the spare
tire holder, make sure the tire
does not touch any obstacles.