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If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with
those that do not have a TPC Spec num-
ber, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating, and construction
type (radial and bias-belted tires) as your
vehicle’s original tires.Vehicles that have a tire pressure monitor-
ing system may give an inaccurate low-
pressure warning if Non-TPC Spec rated
tires are installed on your vehicle. Non-
TPC Spec rated tires may give a low-pres-
sure warning that is higher or lower than
the proper warning level you would get
with TPC Spec rated tires. Refer to “Tire
Pressure Monitor System” in this section.
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are
listed on the Tire and Loading Information
Label. This label is attached to the vehi-
cle’s center pillar (B-pillar). Refer to “Load-
ing Your Vehicle” in “Your Driving, the
Road, and Your Vehicle” in the “Driving
Your Vehicle” section, for more information
about the Tire and Loading Information
Label.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a differ-
ent size than your original equipment
wheels and tires, this may affect the way
your vehicle performs, including its brak-
ing, ride and handling characteristics, sta-
bility and resistance to rollover.
Additionally, if your vehicle has electronic
systems such as, anti-lock brakes, traction
control, and electronic stability control, the
performance of these systems can be
affected.Refer to “Buying New Tires” and “Accesso-
ries and Modifications” in this section for
additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tempera-
ture A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration (NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and temperature per-
formance. This applies only to vehicles
sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passen-
ger car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG) system does not apply to
WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you to lose
control while driving. If you mix tires
of different sizes, brands, or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the
vehicle may not handle properly, and
you could have a crash. Using tires
of different sizes, brands, or types
may also cause damage to your vehi-
cle. Be sure to use the correct size,
brand, and type of tires on all wheels.
It is all right to drive with your com-
pact spare temporarily, as it was
developed for use on your vehicle.
Refer to “Compact Spare Tire” in this
section.
WARNING
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehi-
cle, the wheel rim flanges could
develop cracks after many miles of
driving. A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly, causing a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on
your vehicle.
WARNING
If you add different sized wheels,
your vehicle may not provide an
acceptable level of performance and
safety if tires not recommended for
those wheels are selected. You may
increase the chance that you will
crash and suffer serious injury. Only
use Suzuki specific wheel and tire
systems developed for your vehicle,
and have them properly installed by a
Suzuki certified technician.
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deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-
saver, or temporary use spare tires, tires
with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12
inches (25 to 30 cm), or, to some limited-
production tires.
While the tires available may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also
conform to federal safety requirements.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades
represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Wheel Alignment and Tire BalanceThe tires and wheels on your vehicle were
aligned and balanced carefully at the fac-
tory to give you the longest tire life and
best overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing will not
be necessary on a regular basis. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehi-
cle pulling to one side or the other, the
alignment may need to be checked. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when driving
on a smooth road, your tires and wheels
may need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer for proper diagnosis.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead brak-
ing traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction char-
acteristics.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Exces-
sive speed, underinflation, or exces-
sive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
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Wheel ReplacementReplace any wheel that is bent, cracked,
or badly rusted or corroded. If wheel nuts
keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes
be repaired). See your dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you
need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load-carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the same way as
the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels,
wheel bolts or wheel nuts, replace them
only with new original equipment parts.
This way, you will be sure to have the right
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for
your vehicle.Refer to “Changing a Flat Tire” in this sec-
tion for more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
Tire Chains
If a Tire Goes FlatIt is unusual for a tire to blowout while you
are driving, especially if you maintain your
vehicle’s tires properly. If air goes out of a
tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have a blow-
out, here are a few tips about what to
expect and what to do:
WARNING
Using the wrong replacement wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts on your
vehicle can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling of
your vehicle, make your tires lose air
and make you lose control. You
could have a collision in which you
or others could be injured. Always
use the correct wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts for replacement.
CAUTION
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer or odometer
calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance, and
tire or tire chain clearance to the
body and chassis.
WARNING
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle
is dangerous. You cannot know how
it has been used or how far it has
been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new original
equipment wheel.
WARNING
Do not use tire chains. There is not
enough clearance. Tire chains used
on a vehicle without the proper
amount of clearance can cause dam-
age to the brakes, suspension or
other vehicle parts. The area dam-
aged by the tire chains could cause
you to lose control of your vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a
crash.
Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer recommends
it for use on your vehicle and tire size
combination and road conditions.
Follow that manufacturer’s instruc-
tions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or
remove the device if it is contacting
your vehicle, and do not spin your
vehicle’s wheels. If you do find trac-
tion devices that will fit, install them
on the front tires.
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7) Pull on the cable to make sure it is
secure.
1829968
8) Make sure the metal tube is center at
the striker. Push the tube towards the
front of the vehicle.
9) Close the liftgate.
10)If your vehicle has Third Row Seating,
return the third row seat to their upright
position. Refer to “Third Row Seat” in
“Rear Seats” in the “Seats and
Restraint Systems” section.Compact Spare TireAlthough the compact spare tire was fully
inflated when the vehicle was new, it can
lose air after a time. Check the inflation
pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi (420
kPa).
After installing the compact spare on the
vehicle, you should stop as soon as possi-ble and make sure the spare tire is cor-
rectly inflated. The compact spare is made
to perform well at speeds up to 65 mph
(105 km/h) for distances up to 3000 miles
(5000 km), so you can finish your trip and
have the full-size tire repaired or replaced
where you want. You must calibrate the
tire inflation monitor system, if your vehicle
has this feature, after installing or remov-
ing the compact spare. Refer to “Tire Pres-
sure Monitor System” in this section. The
system may not work correctly when the
compact spare is installed on the vehicle.
Of course, it’s best to replace the spare
with a full-size tire as soon as you can. The
spare will last longer and be in good shape
in case you need it again.
Do not use the compact spare on other
vehicles. And do not mix the compact
spare tire or wheel with other wheels or
tires. They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
CAUTION
When the compact spare is installed,
do not take your vehicle through an
automatic car wash with guide rails.
The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire
and wheel, and maybe other parts of
your vehicle.
CAUTION
Tire chains will not fit your compact
spare. Using them can damage your
vehicle and can damage the chains
too. Do not use tire chains on your
compact spare.
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78J00-03E
clean water. After rinsing thoroughly, dry
with a soft clean towel. A wax may then be
applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to
the painted surface of the vehicle. Do not
use strong soaps, chemicals, abrasive pol-
ishes, abrasive cleaners, cleaners with
acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on them
because the surface could be damaged.
Do not use chrome polish on aluminum
wheels.Do not take the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash that has silicone carbide
tire cleaning brushes. These brushes can
also damage the surface of these wheels.
TiresTo clean the tires, use a stiff brush with tire
cleaner.Sheet Metal DamageIf the vehicle is damaged and requires
sheet metal repair or replacement, make
sure the body repair shop applies anti-cor-
rosion material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts
will provide the corrosion protection while
maintaining the warranty.Finish DamageAny stone chips, fractures or deep
scratches in the finish should be repaired
right away. Bare metal will corrode quickly
and may develop into major repair
expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired
with touch-up materials available from yourSUZUKI dealer. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your SUZUKI
dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody MaintenanceChemicals used for ice and snow removal
and dust control can collect on the under-
body. If these are not removed, corrosion
and rust can develop on the underbody
parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan,
and exhaust system even though they
have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials
from the underbody with plain water. Clean
any areas where mud and debris can col-
lect. Dirt packed in close areas of the
frame should be loosened before being
flushed. Your dealer or an underbody car
washing system can do this for you.Chemical Paint SpottingSome weather and atmospheric conditions
can create a chemical fallout. Airborne pol-
lutants can fall upon and attack painted
surfaces on the vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped dis-
colorations, and small, irregular dark spots
etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes
this, SUZUKI will repair, at no charge to
the owner, the surfaces of new vehicles
damaged by this fallout condition within 12
months or 12000 miles (20000 km) of pur-
chase, whichever occurs first.
CAUTION
Using chrome polish on aluminum
wheels could damage the wheels.
The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Use chrome polish on
chrome wheels only.
CAUTION
If you drive your vehicle through an
automatic car wash that has silicone
carbide tire cleaning brushes, you
could damage the aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels. The repairs
would not be covered by your war-
ranty. Never drive a vehicle equipped
with aluminum or chrome-plated
wheels through an automatic car
wash that uses silicone carbide tire
cleaning brushes.
CAUTION
Using petroleum-based tire dressing
products on your vehicle may dam-
age the paint finish and/or tires.
When applying a tire dressing,
always wipe off any overspray from
all painted surfaces on your vehicle.
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Scheduled Maintenance except CANADA
Service Instruction Maintenance I Maintenance II
Change engine oil and filter. Change engine oil and filter if the light/message has not come on
at all for one year.
Refer to “Engine Oil” in “Checking Things Under the Hood” in the
“Service and Appearance Care” section.
••
Reset oil life system.
An Emission Control Service. If the system is ever reset accidentally, perform the maintenance
service within 3000 miles (5000 km) since your last service.
Refer to “Engine Oil Life System” in “Checking Things Under the
Hood” in the “Service and Appearance Care” section.
Visually check for any leaks or
damage. A fluid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired and the fluid level
checked.
Add fluid if needed.••
Rotate tires and check infla-
tion pressures and wear. Rotate tires every 5000 to 8000 miles (8000 to 13000 km).
Refer to “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in “Tires” in the “Service
and Appearance Care” section and “At Least Once a Month” in
this section.••
Inspect brake system. Visually inspect brake lines and hoses for proper hook-up, bind-
ing, leaks, cracks, chafing, etc.
Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface condition.
Inspect drum brake linings/shoes for wear or cracks (if equipped).
Inspect other brake parts, including drums, wheel cylinders, cali-
pers, parking brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment.••
Check engine coolant and
windshield washer fluid levels
and add fluid as needed.••
Perform any needed addi-
tional services. Refer to “Additional Required Services except CANADA” in this
section.••
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78J00-03E
For CANADA Scheduled Maintenance
Service Instruction Maintenance
Change engine oil and filter. Change engine oil and filter if the light/message has not come on at all for 10
months.
Refer to “Engine Oil” in “Checking Things Under the Hood” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section.
•
Reset oil life system.
An Emission Control Service. If the system is ever reset accidentally, perform the maintenance service within
5000 km since your last service.
Refer to “Engine Oil Life System” in “Checking Things Under the Hood” in the “Ser-
vice and Appearance Care” section.
Visually check for any leaks or
damage. A fluid loss in any vehicle system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired and the fluid level checked.
Add fluid if needed.•
Rotate tires and check infla-
tion pressures and wear. Rotate tires every 8000 to 13000 km.
Refer to “Tire Inspection and Rotation” in “Tires” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section and “At Least Once a Month” in this section.•
Inspect brake system. Visually inspect brake lines and hoses for proper hook-up, binding, leaks, cracks,
chafing, etc.
Inspect disc brake pads for wear and rotors for surface condition.
Inspect drum brake linings/shoes for wear or cracks (if equipped).
Inspect other brake parts, including drums, wheel cylinders, calipers, parking
brake, etc.
Check parking brake adjustment.•
Check engine coolant and
windshield washer fluid levels
and add fluid as needed.•
Perform any needed addi-
tional services. Refer to “Additional Required Services (For CANADA)” in this section.•
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At Each Fuel FillIt is important to perform these underhood
checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the
proper oil if necessary. Refer to “Engine
Oil” in “Checking Things Under the Hood”
in the “Service and Appearance Care” sec-
tion for further details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add
DEX-COOL
® coolant mixture if necessary.
Refer to “Engine Coolant” in “Checking
Things Under the Hood” in the “Service
and Appearance Care” section for further
details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in
the windshield washer fluid reservoir and
add the proper fluid if necessary.
At Least Once a MonthTire Inflation Check
Visually inspect your vehicle’s tires and
make sure they are inflated to the correct
pressures. Do not forget to check the
spare tire. Open the driver’s door to find
the Tire Information Placard which lists the
recommended tire inflation pressures.
Check to make sure the spare tire is stored
securely. Refer to “Changing a Flat Tire” in
“Tires” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
Tire Wear Inspection
Tire rotation may be required for high mile-
age highway drivers prior to the Engine Oil
Life System service notification. Check the
tires for wear and, if necessary, rotate the
tires. Refer to “Tire Inspection and Rota-
tion” in “Tires” in the “Service and Appear-
ance Care” section.
At Least Once a YearStarter Switch Check
1) Before you start, be sure you have
enough room around the vehicle.
2) Firmly apply both the parking brake and
the regular brake. Refer to “Parking
Brake” in “Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle” in the “Features and Controls”
section.
Do not use the accelerator pedal, and
be ready to turn off the engine immedi-
ately if it starts.
3) Try to start the engine in each gear.
The vehicle should start only in PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL (N). If the vehicle
starts in any other position, contact
your dealer for service.
CAUTION
It is important to check the engine oil
regularly and keep it at the proper
level. Failure to keep the engine oil at
the proper level can cause damage to
the engine not covered by your war-
ranty.
WARNING
When you are doing this inspection,
the vehicle could move suddenly. If
the vehicle moves, you or others
could be injured.