2008 HONDA CIVIC Owners Manual

To saf ely operate your vehicle, 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 to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they 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 affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your
vehicleridemoreharshly,are
more prone to damage f rom road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
Thetirepressuremonitoringsystem
(TPMS) warns you when a tire
pressure is low. See page f or
more inf ormation.
Even though your vehicle is
equipped with TPMS, 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.
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.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure in each tire 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 check the
sparetireatthesametime.
Check the air pressures when the
tires are cold. This means the
vehicle has been parked f or at least 3
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6
km). Add or release air, if needed, to
match the recommended cold tire
pressures.
212
On U.S. models On Canadian models
Tires
Inf lation Guidelines
254
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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If you check air pressures when the
tires are hot [driven f or several miles
(kilometers)], you will see readings 4
to6psi(30to40kPa,0.3to0.4
kgf /cm ) higher than the cold
readings.Thisisnormal.Donotlet
air out to match the recommended
cold air pressure. The tire will be
underinf lated.
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.
While tubeless tires have some
ability to self -seal if they are
punctured, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure.The following charts show the
recommended cold tire pressures f or
most normal driving conditions.
Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
For convenience, the recommended
tire sizes and cold tire pressures are
on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
For additional inf ormation about
your tires, see page .
Optional f or Si
(LX, EX, EX-L) (Si)
(DX, Canadian DX-G with automatic
transmission)
295
(Canadian DX-G with manual
transmission)
Tire Size
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Cold Tire Pressure
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Tires
Recommended Tire Pressures
Maint enance
255
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
215/45ZR17 91W P215/45R17 87V
33 psi (230 kPa ,
2.3 kgf/cm
)
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
P195/65R15 89H
30 psi (210 kPa ,
2.1 kgf/cm)
P205/55R16 89H 32 psi (220 kPa ,2.2 kgf/cm
)
P195/65R15 89S
30 psi (210 kPa ,
2.1 kgf/cm
)
Front/Rear:
Front/Rear: Front/Rear:
Front/Rear:
Front/Rear:
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Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Excessive tread wear.
Tire pressure f or high-speed driving
is the same as f or normal driving.
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.
We strongly recommend that you do
not drive faster than the posted
speed limits and conditions allow. If
you ever drive in a sanctioned
competitive event at sustained high
speeds (over 118 mph or 190 km/h),
be sure to adjust the cold tire
pressuresasshownbelow.If youdo
not, excessive heat can build up and
cause sudden tire f ailure.
For convenience, the recommended
cold air pressures and tire sizes are
on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
For additional inf ormation about
your tires, see page .
Front/Rear:
295
Si model onlyExcept Si model
Si model only
Tires
Tire Inspection
Tire Size·Cold Tire Pressure f or
High Speed Driving
High Speed Driving
256
P215/45R17 87V
35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
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Your tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down, you will see a
band 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide band
across the tread. This shows there is
less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
lef t on the tire.
A tire this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see three
or more tread wear indicators.The service lif e of your tires is
dependent on many f actors,
including, but not limited to, driving
habits, road conditions, vehicle
loading, inf lation pressure,
maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even
when the tires are not in use).
In addition to your regular
inspections and inf lation pressure
maintenance, it is recommended that
you have annual inspections
perf ormed once the tires reach f ive
years old. It is also recommended
that all tires, including the spare, be
removed f rom service af ter 10 years
from the date of manufacture,
regardless of their condition or state
of wear.
The last f our digits of the TIN (tire
identif ication number) are f ound on
the sidewall of the tire and indicate
the date of manufacture (See
on page ).297
Tires
Tire Service Lif e
Tire
Labeling
Maint enance
257
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
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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.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the information display. Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated. If
you purchase directional tires, rotate
only f ront-to-back.
When the tires are rotated, make
sure the air pressures are checked.The tires that came on your vehicle
were designed and constructed to
provide superior grip during
acceleration, braking, and cornering.
As a trade-of f , they will wear more
rapidly than tires used on ordinary
passenger vehicles. Because of the
vehicle’s weight distribution, and the
fact that the front wheels are the
driving wheels, you can expect them
to wear more rapidly than the rear
tires.On Si model only
T ire Maintenance T ire Rotation T ire Wear
Tires
258
Front Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
On vehicles with aluminum wheels,
improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Honda wheel weights f or
balancing.
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Themileageyoucanexpectfrom
yourvehicletiresisthesameas
comparable mid-and rear-engine
sports cars, and it will vary greatly
with your driving habits.
If you drive moderately, the f ront
tires could last more than 10,000
miles (16,000 km). However, the
mileage will be substantially less if
you tend to drive your vehicle at the
upper limits of its capabilities.
You should caref ully inspect your
vehicle’s tires f or wear, damage, and
proper inf lation every 7,500 miles
(12,000 km).Replace your tires with radial 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 vehicle can reduce braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Using tires of a dif f erent
size or construction can cause the
ABS and vehicle stability assist
system (VSA) to work inconsistently.
It is best to replace all f our tires at
thesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, replace the two f ront
tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling.The ABS and VSA system work by
comparing the speed of the wheels.
When replacing tires, use the same
size originally supplied with the
vehicle. Tire size and construction
can af f ect wheel speed and may
cause the ABS or VSA system to
activate.
Replacement wheels are available at
your dealer.
If you ever replace a wheel, make
sure that the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheels.
Also be sure you use only TPMS
specif ic wheels (if equipped). If you
do not, the tire pressure monitoring
system will not work.
CONT INUED
Tires
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Maint enance
259
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Wheels:
Tires:See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading, and page
f or tire size and labeling
inf ormation.
(DX, Canadian DX-G)
(summer tire)
(LX, EX, EX-L)
(Si)
(LX, EX, EX-L)
(Si)
(DX, Canadian DX-G with
automatic transmission)
(all season tire) 295
297
(Canadian DX-G with manual
transmission)
Optional
Wheel and T ire Specif ications
Tires
260
15x6J
16x61/2J
17x7J
P195/65R15 89H
P205/55R16 89H
P215/45R17 87V
215/45ZR17 91W
P195/65R15 89S
Installing improper tires on your
vehicle 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 marked ‘‘M S’’ or ‘‘All
Season’’ on the sidewall have an all-
weather tread design suitable for
most winter driving conditions.
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. When installing cables, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions, and
mount them as tight as you can.
Make sure they are not contacting
the brake lines or suspension. Drive
slowly with them installed. If you
hear them coming into contact with
the body or chassis, stop and
investigate. Remove them as soon as
you begin driving on cleared roads.
If you mount snow tires on your
vehicle, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as original tires. Mount snow tires on
all f our wheels. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
maybelowerthanyouroriginaltires.
Check with the tire dealer f or
maximum speed recommendations.
Mount tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Install them only on the
f ront tires.
Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, Honda strongly
recommends using the chains listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).
If your vehicle is equipped with
summer tires, be aware that these
tires are not designed f or winter
driving conditions. For more
inf ormation, consult your dealer.
CONT INUED
Si model only
Winter DrivingSnow T ires
T ire Chains
Summer T ires
Tires
Maint enance
261
CH2311T Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle’s brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part of
the vehicle.
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