5-35SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
When to Check
Check your tires each time you fill your fuel
tank or at least once a month using a tire
pressure gauge.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It
should be at 60 psi (420 kPa).
How to check
Use a good quality pocket-type gauge to
check tire pressure. You can’t tell if your
tires are properly inflated simply by looking
at them. Radial tires may look properly
inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Check the tire’s inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. Cold means your vehicle has
been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve
stem. Press the tire gauge firmly onto the
valve to get a pressure measurement. If
the cold tire inflation pressure is low, add
air until you reach the recommended pres-
sure.
If you overfill the tire, release air by push-
ing on the metal stem in the center of the
tire valve. Recheck the tire pressure with
the tire gauge.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the
valve stems. They help prevent leaks by
keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and RotationInspect your vehicle’s tires at least once a
month.
Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles
(12,000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate
your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged
tires or wheels. See “When It Is Time for
New Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” in
this section for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to
achieve more uniform wear for all tires on
the vehicle. The first rotation is the most
important. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in section 6, for scheduled rota-
tion intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.Don’t include the compact spare tire in
your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust
the front and rear inflation pressures as
shown on the Tire and Loading Information
label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut
Torque” under “Capacities and Specifica-
tions” in this section.
Vehicle LoadingThe tires on your vehicle, when they are
inflated to the recommended tire inflation
pressure, have a load-carrying capacity
that is greater than the load that will be on
the tires when the vehicle is at its GVWR
or GAWR limit. Never use replacement
tires that have a load-carrying capacity
less than the original tires on your vehicle.
Tire load-carrying capacity information is
WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose after
a time. The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you change
a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to
the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do
this, but be sure to use a scraper or
wire brush later, if you need to, to get
all the rust or dirt off. See “Changing
a Flat Tire” in this section.
Tires:
5-37SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where appli-
cable on the tire sidewall between the
tread shoulder and the maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature
A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety Adminis-
tration, which grades tires by treadwear,
traction and temperature performance.
(This applies only to vehicles sold in the
United States.) The grades are molded on
the sidewalls of most passenger car tires.
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system
does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diame-
ters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to
some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on SUZUKI vehi-
cles may vary with respect to these grades,they all conform to federal safety require-
ments.
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 gov-
ernment 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 charac-
teristics 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 wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to
give you the longest tire life and best over-
all performance.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel bal-
ancing are not needed. However, if you
notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle
CAUTION
Replacing the original tires with tires
of a different size may result in false
speedometer or odometer readings.
Check with your SUZUKI dealer
before purchasing replacement tires
that differ in size from the original
tires.
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.
Tires:
5-40
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
A. Jack
B. Wrench
C. Jack Handle
D. S c r e w d r i ve r
The compartment spare tire and tools
you’ll need are located in the trunk.
1) Remove the trim cover from the floor of
the cargo area by pulling up on the tab.
2) Remove the foam tray that contains the
tools.
3) Turn the retainer on the compact spare
tire counterclockwise and remove the
retainer.4) Remove the compact spare tire. See
“Compact Spare Tire” in this section for
more information.
5) Remove the jack, jack handle and the
wheel wrench. The jack is located in the
cargo area. Turn the jack retainer,
located on the right side of the jack,
counterclockwise to release it. The jack
handle and the wheel wrench are
located inside the foam tray.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1) If your vehicle is equipped with wheel
covers, loosen the 4 plastic caps by
hand with the aid of the wheel wrench
and remove the wheel cover.
2) Then use the wheel wrench to loosen
all the wheel nuts. Don’t remove them
yet.3) Near each wheel well is a notch in the
frame which the jack head fits in.
Position the jack and raise the jack
head until it fits firmly into the notch in
the vehicle’s frame nearest the flat tire.
Put the compact spare tire near you.
WARNING
Only use the jack for lifting this car
during an emergency tire change.
WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it is
jacked up is dangerous. If the vehicle
slips off the jack you could be badly
injured or killed. Never get under a
vehicle when it is supported only by a
jack.
Tires:
5-41SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
4) Insert the jack handle and the wheel
wrench into the jack.
5) Raise the vehicle by turning the jack
handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far
enough off the ground so there is
enough room for the compact spare tire
to fit underneath the wheel well.
6) Remove all of the wheel nuts by turning
them counterclockwise.
7) Remove the flat tire.8) Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting surfaces and spare
wheel.9) Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel-mounting surface.
10)Reinstall the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each wheel nut by turn-
ing it clockwise with your hand until the
wheel is held against the hub.
11)Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel
handle counterclockwise. Lower the
jack completely.
12)Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a criss-
cross sequence as shown.
WARNING
Raising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage
the vehicle and even make the vehi-
cle fall. To help avoid personal injury
and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
WARNING
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make the wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from the places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emer-
gency, you can use a cloth or a paper
towel to do this, but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off.
WARNING
Never use oil or grease on studs or
nuts. If you do, the nuts might come
loose. Your wheel could fall off, caus-
ing a serious accident.
Tires:
5-42
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your com-
pact spare tire. It won’t fit. Store the wheel
cover in the trunk until you have the flat tire
repaired or replaced.Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
Store the flat tire in the compact spare tire
compartment. Place the tire in the com-
partment, then secure the retainer. Store
the jack in its housing in the cargo area.
Secure the jack by turning the retainer
clockwise. Store the tools securely in the
foam tray and place the tray on top of the
tire. Replace the trim cover.
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools
The compact spare tire is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact spare tire
with a full-size tire as soon as you can. See
“Compact Spare Tire” in this section.
WARNING
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to come loose and even come
off. This could lead to an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If
you have to replace them, be sure to
get new SUZUKI original equipment
wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as soon
as you can and have the nuts tight-
ened with a torque wrench to the
proper torque specification. See
“Capacities and Specifications” in
the Index for the wheel nut torque
specification.
CAUTION
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor
damage. To avoid expensive brake
repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts
in the proper sequence and to the
proper torque specification. See
“Capacities and Specifications” in
the index for the wheel nut torque
specification.
CAUTION
If you install a full-size tire rather than
your compact spare tire, reinstall the
wheel cover as follows:
1) Put the wheel cover on the full-
size tire.
2) Fasten the 4 plastic caps snugly
by hand.
3) Tighten the caps by turning them
an additional 90° with the wheel
wrench.
– The proper tightening torque is a
maximum of 5.9 lb-ft (8 N·m).
– Tightening to the improper
torque can cause damage to the
plastic caps.
CAUTION
Wheel covers will not fit on your com-
pact spare. If you try to put a wheel
cover on the compact spare, you
could damage the cover or the spare.
WARNING
Improperly storing a jack, a tire, or
other equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or col-
lision, loose equipment could strike
someone. Store all these items in the
proper place.
WARNING
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equip-
ment in the passenger compartment
of the vehicle could cause injury. In a
sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone.
Store all these in the proper place.
Appearance Care:
5-43SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Compact Spare TireAlthough the compact spare tire was fully
inflated when your 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 tire on
your vehicle, you should stop as soon as
possible and make sure your compact
spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact
spare tire is made to perform well at
speeds up to 50 mph (80 km/h), so you
can finish your trip and have your full-size
tire repaired or replaced where you want.
Of course, it’s best to replace your spare
with a full-size tire as soon as you can.
Your spare will last longer and be in good
shape in case you need it again.
Don’t use your compact spare tire on other
vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires. They
won’t fit. Keep your compact spare tire and
its wheel together.
CAUTION
When the compact spare tire is
installed, don’t 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 won’t fit your compact
spare tire. Using them can damage
your vehicle and can damage the
chains too. Don’t use tire chains on
your compact spare.
WARNING
The compact spare tire and wheel are
intended for temporary emergency
use only. Continuous use of the com-
pact spare tire can result in tire fail-
ure and loss of control. Always
observe these precautions when
using the compact spare tire:
Your vehicle will handle differently
with this temporary spare.
Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
speed.
Replace the compact spare tire
with a standard tire and wheel as
soon as possible.
Use of the compact spare tire will
reduce ground clearance.
Recommended air pressure for the
compact spare tire is 420 kPa (60
psi).
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
Do not use tire chains on the com-
pact spare tire. If you must use tire
chains, rearrange the wheels so
standard tires and wheels are fitted
to the front axle.
The compact spare tire has a much
shorter tread life than the conven-
tional tires on your vehicle.
Replace the tire as soon as the
tread wear indicator appears.
When replacing the compact spare
tire, use a replacement tire with the
exact same size and construction.
Appearance Care:
8-4INDEX
85Z14-03E
Power Windows and Other Power Options
.......................5-49
QQuestions and Answers About Safety Belts
.....................1-7
RRadio with Six-Disc CD (Double Display, MP3/WMA)
(AGH-5400)
...........................................................................3-38
Rear Door Security Locks
...................................................2-5
Rear Seat Armrest
...............................................................2-23
Rear Seat Passengers
.........................................................1-11
Rear Seats
............................................................................1-4
Rear Sidemarker Lamps
.....................................................5-27
Rear Window and Outside Rearview Mirror Defogger
.....3-16
Rear Window Washer/Wiper
...............................................3-6
Reclining Seatbacks
............................................................1-2
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
..............................6-10
Recreational Vehicle Towing
..............................................4-16
Remote Keyless Entry System ...........................................2-1
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
.........................2-2
Replacement Bulbs
.............................................................5-27
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
.............1-34
Reporting Safety Defects
....................................................7-4
Restraint System Check .....................................................1-33
Right Front Passenger Position
.........................................1-11
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
...................2-19
SSafety Belt: They are for Everyone ....................................1-5
Safety Belt Extender
............................................................1-14
Safety Belt Pretensioner System
.......................................1-13
Safety Belt Reminder Light
.................................................3-19
Safety Belt Reminder Tone .................................................3-19
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
....................................1-10Safety Belts
......................................................................... 1-5
Safety Certification Label
................................................... 7-2
Scheduled Maintenance Services
..................................... 6-2
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH
System
................................................................................. 1-23
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position
......... 1-24
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Position
................................................................................ 1-25
Securing a Child Restraint with Top Strap
....................... 1-21
Selecting the Right Condition
............................................ 6-1
Service
................................................................................. 5-1
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
........................ 1-33
Sheet Metal Damage
........................................................... 5-47
Shifting Into Park (P) .......................................................... 2-17
Shifting Out of Park (P) ...................................................... 2-17
Spare Tire
............................................................................ 5-43
Specifications
...................................................................... 5-53
Speed Sensitive Power Steering (SSPS) Warning
Light
..................................................................................... 3-22
Speedometer and Odometer
.............................................. 3-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
................................ 2-10
Starting Your Engine
.......................................................... 2-11
Steering
................................................................................ 4-5
STEERING WHEEL REMOTE OPERATION
..............3-37
, 3-44
Storage Areas
...................................................................... 2-21
Sun Visors
........................................................................... 2-8
Sunglasses Storage Compartment
................................... 2-22
Sunroof
................................................................................ 2-23
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags)
....................... 1-26
TTachometer
.......................................................................... 3-19