2010 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA inspection

7-28
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
tire gauge until you reach the cor-
rect pressure.
5) If the air pressure is too low, fill the
tire with air at a service station until
it reaches the recommended pres-
sure.
6) Make sure all tires have the same
air pressure (unless the owner’s
manual indicates otherwise).
Tire InspectionInspect your vehicle’s tires at least
once a month by performing the fol-
lowing checks:
1) Measure the air pressure with a tire
gauge. Adjust the pressure if nec-
essary. Remember to check the
spare tire, too. Refer to the “Mea-
suring Air Pressure” section.
54G136
(1) Tread wear indicator
(2) Indicator location mark
2) Check that the depth of the tread
groove is more than 1.6 mm (0.06
in.). To help you check this, the tires
have molded-in tread wear indica-
tors in the grooves. When the indi-
cators appear on the tread surface,
the remaining depth of the tread is
WARNING
 Air pressures should be
checked when the tires are cold
or you may get inaccurate read-
ings.
 Check the inflation pressure
from time to time while inflating
the tire gradually, until the spec-
ified pressure is obtained.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued) Never underinflate or overin-
flate the tires.
Underinflation can cause
unusual handling characteris-
tics or can cause the rim to slip
on the tire bead, resulting in an
accident or damage to the tire
or rim.
Underinflation can also cause
tires to overheat, leading to tire
failure.
Overinflation can cause the tire
to burst, resulting in personal
injury.
Overinflation can also cause
unusual handling characteris-
tics which may result in an acci-
dent.
Tires: 6

7-29INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
1.6 mm (0.06 in.) or less and the
tire should be replaced.
3) Check for abnormal wear, cracks
and damage. Any tires with cracks
or other damage should be
replaced. If any tires show abnor-
mal wear, have them inspected by
your SUZUKI dealer.
4) Check for loose wheel nuts.
5) Check that there are no nails,
stones or other objects sticking into
the tires.
WARNING
Hitting curbs and running over
rocks can damage tires and affect
wheel alignment. Be sure to have
tires and wheel alignment
checked periodically by your
SUZUKI dealer.
WARNING
Your SUZUKI is equipped with
tires which are all the same type
and size. This is important to
ensure proper steering and han-
dling of the vehicle. Never mix
tires of different size or type on
the four wheels of your vehicle.
The size and type of tires used
should be only those approved by
SUZUKI Motor Corporation as
standard or optional equipment
for your vehicle.
WARNING
Replacing the wheels and tires
equipped on your vehicle with
certain combinations of aftermar-
ket wheels and tires can signifi-
cantly change the steering and
handling characteristics of your
vehicle. Oversized tires may also
rub against the fender over
bumps, causing vehicle damage
or tire failure. Therefore, use only
those wheel and tire combina-
tions approved by SUZUKI Motor
Corporation as standard or
optional equipment for your vehi-
cle. For information regarding the
specified tires, refer to the Tire
Information Label located on the
driver’s side door pillar or the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section.
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 purchas-
ing replacement tires that differ in
size from the original tires.
Tires: 6

7-30
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The U.S. National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration has developed a
grading system for evaluating the per-
formance of passenger car tires. The
following information will help you
understand the grading system, which
applies to vehicles sold in the U.S.
Consult your SUZUKI dealer or tire
retailer for help in choosing the correct
replacement tires for your vehicle.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tempera-
ture ADOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B CAll Passenger Car Tires Must Conform
To Federal Safety Requirements in
Addition To These Grades
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled con-
ditions on a specified government testcourse. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1 1/2)
times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100. The rela-
tive performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driv-
ing habits, service practices and differ-
ences in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high tempera-
ture 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 corre-
sponds 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 per-
formance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak
traction characteristics.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, under-
inflation or excessive loading,
either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Tires: 6

7-31INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E Tire Rotation
4-tire rotation
65D459
To avoid uneven wear of your tires and
to prolong their life, rotate the tires as
illustrated. Tires should be rotated as
recommended in the periodic mainte-
nance schedule. After rotation, adjust
front and rear tire pressures to the
specification listed on your vehicle’s
Tire and Loading Information Label.
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.
WARNING
Vehicle equipped with P225/
65R17 tires have a spare wheel
and tire that are a different size
than the wheels and tires on the
vehicle. The spare wheel and tire
on these vehicles are intended for
temporary emergency use only.
The wheel is painted yellow to
remind you that the wheel and
tire are for temporary use only.
Continuous use of this spare can
result in tire failure and loss of
control. Always observe these
precautions when using this
spare:
 Be aware that your vehicle will
handle differently with this tem-
porary spare.
 Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
speed.
 Replace the temporary spare
with a standard tire and wheel
as soon as possible.
 Do not operate your vehicle in
“4H LOCK” or “4L LOCK” with
this temporary spare.
(Continued)
Tires: 6

7-32
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E Snow Tires
Your vehicle is equipped with all-sea-
son tires which are designed for use in
summer and most winter conditions.
For improved traction in severe winter
conditions, SUZUKI recommends
mounting radial snow tires on all four
wheels. Snow tires must be the same
size as the standard tires. Also be sure
to use the tires of the same type and
brand on all four wheels of your vehi-
cle.
GLOSSARY OF TIRE TERMI-
NOLOGYAccessory Weight – the combined
weight (in excess of those standard
items which may be replaced) of auto-
matic transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent
that these items are available as fac-
tory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not).
Cold Tire Inflation Pressure – the pres-
sure in a tire that has been driven less
than 1 mile or has been standing for
three hours or more.
Curb Weight – the weight of a motor
vehicle with standard equipment
including the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so
equipped, air conditioning and addi-
tional weight optional engine.
Intended Outboard Sidewall – (1) the
sidewall that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering or bears manu-
facturer, brand, and/or model name
molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the other side-
wall of the tire, or (2) the outward fac-
ing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side that mustalways face outward when mounted
on a vehicle.
Maximum Inflation Pressure – the
maximum cold inflation pressure a tire
is designed to support in normal ser-
vice.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight –
the sum of curb weight, accessory
weight, vehicle capacity weight (total
load capacity), and production options
weight.
Normal Occupant Weight – 68 kilo-
grams times the number of occupants
specified in the second column of
Table 1 (shown below).
Occupant distribution – distribution of
occupants in a vehicle as specified in
the third column of Table 1 (shown
below).
Production Options Weight – the com-
bined weight of those installed regular
production options weighing over 2.3
kilograms in excess of those standard
items which they replace, not previ-
ously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack,
heavy duty battery, and special trim.
WARNING
(Continued) Do not use tire chains on the
spare tire. If you must use tire
chains, rearrange the wheels so
standard tires and wheels are
fitted to the rear axle.
 Replace the spare tire with a
new one as soon as the tread
wear indicator appears.
 When replacing the spare tire,
use a replacement tire with the
exact same size and construc-
tion.
Battery: 9
Fuses: 7

7-33INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
Recommended Inflation Pressure –
the cold tire inflation pressure recom-
mended by a manufacturer.
Rim – metal support for a tire or tire
and tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Vehicle Capacity Weight – the rated
cargo and luggage load plus 68 kilo-
grams (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s
designated seating capacity.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire –
the load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each axle
its share of the maximum loaded vehi-
cle weight and dividing by two.
Vehicle Normal Load on the Tire – the
load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its
share of the curb weight, accessory
weight, and normal occupant weight
(distributed in accordance with Table 1
shown below) and dividing by 2.TABLE 1 – Occupant Loading and
Distribution For Vehicle Normal
Load For Various Designated Seat-
ing Capacities
Vehicle LoadingYour vehicle was designed for specific
load capacities. The load capacities of
your vehicle are indicated by the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR,
front and rear), and the total load
capacity, the seating capacity, and the
cargo load capacity. The GVWR and
GAWR (front and rear) are listed on
the Safety Certification Label which is
located below the driver’s side door
latch striker. The total load capacity
and seating capacity are listed on the
Tire and Loading Information Labelwhich is located below the Safety Cer-
tification Label. The cargo load capac-
ity can be determined as described
below.
Cargo Load Capacity – Maximum
weight of cargo and luggage that the
vehicle can safely carry. Cargo load
capacity is the difference between the
total load capacity of the vehicle and
the total combined weight of all vehicle
occupants. Refer to “Steps for Deter-
mining Correct Load Limit” for details
on how to determine cargo load
capacity.
GVWR – Maximum permissible overall
weight of the fully loaded vehicle
(including all the occupants, accesso-
ries and cargo plus the trailer tongue
weight if towing a trailer).
GAWR – (Front and Rear) Maximum
permissible weight on an individual
axle.
Seating Capacity – Maximum number
of occupants the vehicle is designed to
carry.
NOTE:
Even though the number of occupants
is within the seating capacity, you still
must make sure that you do not Designated
seating
capacity,
number of
occupantsVehicle
normal
load,
number of
occupantsOccupant
distribution
in a
normally
loaded
vehicle
2 through 4 2 2 in front
5 through 10 3 2 in front,
1 in sec-
ond seat
Fuses: 7

7-34
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
exceed the total load capacity of the
vehicle.
Total Load Capacity – Maximum per-
missible weight a vehicle can carry
including the weight of all the occu-
pants, accessories, cargo, plus trailer
tongue weight (if towing a trailer).
The weight of any accessories already
installed on your vehicle at the time of
purchase, or that you or the dealer
install after purchase, must be sub-
tracted from the total load capacity to
determine how much capacity remains
available for occupants, cargo, and
trailer tongue weight (if towing a
trailer). Contact your dealer for further
information.
Actual weight of the loaded vehicle
and actual loads at the front and rear
axles can only be determined by
weighing the vehicle using a vehicle
scale. To measure the weight and
load, try making your vehicle to a high-
way weighing station, shipping com-
pany or inspection station for trucks,
etc. Compare these weights to the
GVWR and GAWR (front and rear)
listed on the Safety Certification Label.
If the gross vehicle weight or the load
on either axle exceeds these ratings,
you must remove enough weight tobring the load down to the rated
capacity.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
1) Locate the statement “The com-
bined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg
or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s plac-
ard.
2) Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4) The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example, if
the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs
and there will be five 150 lb passen-
WARNING
Never overload your vehicle.
Overloading your vehicle can
cause damage to your tires and
lead to poor steering and braking
which can result in an accident.
The gross vehicle weight (sum of
the weights of the loaded vehicle,
driver and passengers) must
never exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) listed on
the Safety Certification Label. In
addition, never distribute a load
so that the weight on either the
front or rear axle exceeds the
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) listed on the Safety Certi-
fication Label.
WARNING
 Always distribute cargo evenly.
 To avoid personal injury or
damage to your vehicle, always
secure cargo to prevent it from
shifting if the vehicle moves
suddenly.
 Place heavier objects on the
floor and as far forward in the
cargo area as possible. Never
pile cargo higher than the top of
the seatbacks.
Fuses: 7

7-35INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
gers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs (1400 – 750 (5 x
150) = 650 lbs).
5) Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
6) If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehi-
cle.
Vehicle Loading Example
As an example, suppose that the Tire
and Loading Information label on your
vehicle indicates that your vehicle’s
total load capacity is 950 lbs. If you
were to drive your vehicle with one
passenger, and the total combined
weight of you and your passenger was
350 lbs, then the cargo and luggage
capacity of your vehicle would be 600
lbs (950 – 350 = 600 lbs).
If you later added 2 more passengers,
having a combined weight of 325 lbs,
the cargo and luggage capacity of
your vehicle would be reduced from600 lbs to 275 lbs (600 – 325 = 275
lbs). As you can see, as the number
and combined weight of vehicle occu-
pants increase, the vehicle’s cargo
and luggage capacity decreases.
Suppose again, that you were to take
a trip in your vehicle with the same
three passengers described above,
and you decided to tow a trailer having
a trailer tongue weight of 75 lbs. The
cargo and luggage capacity would be
reduced again, to 200 lbs (275 – 75 =
200 lbs).
Determining Compatibility of Tire
and Vehicle Load Limits
The tires on your vehicle, when they
are inflated to the recommended tire
inflation pressure, have a load-carry-
ing 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
molded into the tire sidewall typically
shown as “Max. Load”. Use of replace-
ment tires with a lower load-carrying
capacity than the original tires, or fail-
ure to keep the tires inflated to recom-
mended tire pressure, may reduce the
GVWR or GAWR limit of your vehicle.NOTE:
Use of replacement tires with a higher
load-carrying capacity than the origi-
nal tires, or using a tire inflation pres-
sure higher than the recommended
tire inflation pressure, will not increase
the GVWR or GAWR limit of your vehi-
cle.
Fuses: 7
Headlight Aiming:
Bulb Replacement: 7