2010 HONDA ELEMENT Owners Manual

The compact spare tire pressure is:
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2)
For convenience, the recommended
tire sizes and cold tire pressures are
on a label on the driver's doorjamb.
For additional technical information
about your tires, see page 311.
Tire Inspection
Every time you check inflation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for: ● Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions.
● Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side of
the tire. Replace the tire if you can
see fabric or cord.
● Excessive tread wear.
Your tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down, you will see a
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 left
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. Tire Service Life
The service life of your tires is
dependent on many factors,
including, but not limited to, driving
habits, road conditions, vehicle
loading, inflation pressure,
maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even
when the tires are not in use).
In addition to your regular
inspections and inflation pressure
maintenance, it is recommended that
you have annual inspections
performed once the tires reach five
years old. It is also recommended
that all tires, including the spare, be
removed from service after 10 years
from the date of manufacture,
regardless of their condition or state
of wear.
The last four digits of the TIN (tire
identification number) are found on
the sidewall of the tire and indicate
the date of manufacture (See
Tire
Labeling on page 313).
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
CONTINUED
Tires
273
Maintenance
Table of Contents

Tire Maintenance
In addition to proper inflation, correct
wheel alignment helps to decrease
tire wear. If you find a tire is worn
unevenly, have your dealer check the
wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you feel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed from the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamicbalance.
On vehicles with aluminum wheels,
improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle's aluminum wheels. Use
only Honda wheel weights for balancing.Tire Rotation
To help increase tire life 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 illustration each time
they are rotated. If you purchase
directional tires, rotate only front-to-back.
Replacing Tires and Wheels
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 different
size or construction can cause the
ABS and vehicle stability assist
system (VSA) to work inconsistently.
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 affect wheel speed and may
cause the ABS or VSA system to activate.
Front
Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
Tires
274
Table of Contents

It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible
or necessary, replace the two front
tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle's handling.
If you ever replace a wheel, make
sure that the wheel's specifications
match those of the original wheels.
Also be sure you use only TPMS
specific wheels. If you do not, the tire
pressure monitoring system will not work.
Replacement wheels are available at
your dealer.
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.
Wheel and Tire Specifications Wheels:
(On all models except SC)
16 x 6 1/2JJ
(On SC model)
18 x 7JJ
Tires:
(On all models except SC)
P215/70R16 99S
(On SC model)
P225/55R18 97H See page 311 for DOT tire quality
grading information, and page 313
for tire size and labeling information.
Winter Driving
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 performance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
Snow Tires
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 four wheels. The traction provided
by snow tires on dry roads may be
lower than your original tires. Check
with the tire dealer for maximum
speed recommendations.
CONTINUED
Tires
275
Maintenance
Table of Contents

Tire Chains
Mount tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Install them only on the
front tires.
On all models except SC
Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, use only SAE Class‘‘S ’’
cable-type traction devices, with
rubber chain tensioners, on the front
tires. Use traction devices only when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size for your tires. Metal link-type ‘‘chains ’’should not be used.
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.
On SC model
Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, Honda strongly
recommends using the chains listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).
Cable-type: SCC Super Z6 SZ 139 When installing cables, follow the
manufacturer'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.
Using the wrong chains, or not
properly installing chains, can
damage the brake lines and
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding the
selection and use of tire chains.
Tires
276
Table of Contents

Check the condition of the battery
monthly by looking at the test indicator
window. The label on the battery
explains the test indicator's colors.
Check the terminals for corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To remove
it, cover the terminals with a solution of
baking soda and water. It will bubble
up and turn brown. When this stops,
wash it off with plain water. Dry off the
battery with a cloth or paper towel.
Coat the terminals with grease to help
prevent future corrosion.If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualified technician. WARNING:
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash your hands after handling.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle's
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( －) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
setting may be lost. To reset the
time, see page 189.
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurtyou.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the battery maintenance.
On EX and SC models
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the audio
system may disable itself. The next
time you turn on the radio, you willsee ‘‘ENTER CODE ’’in the
frequency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see page188).
NEGATIVE TERMINAL
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
POSITIVE TERMINAL
CONTINUED
Checking the Battery
277
Maintenance
Table of Contents

On vehicles with navigation system
The navigation system will also
disable itself. The next time you turn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN before
it can be used. Refer to the
navigation system manual.Vehicle Storage
If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
● Fill the fuel tank.
● Wash and dry the exterior completely.
● Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.
● Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic). ●
Block the rear wheels.
● If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
● Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being storedindoors).
● Disconnect the battery.
● Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch thewindshield.
● To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals.
Checking the Battery, Vehicle Storage
278
Table of Contents

●Cover the vehicle with a ‘‘breathable ’’cover, one made from
a porous material such as cotton.
Non-porous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
● If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches full
operating temperature (the cooling
fans cycle on and off twice).
Preferably, do this once a month.
Vehicle Storage
279
Maintenance
Table of Contents

280
Table of Contents