2012 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI tires

Black plate (299,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
! Before driving your vehicle
Before entering the vehicle, remove any
snow or ice from your shoes because that
could make the pedals slippery and
driving dangerous.
While warming up the vehicle before
driving, check that the accelerator pedal,
brake pedal, and all other controls operate
smoothly.
Clear away ice and snow that has
accumulated under the fenders to avoid
making steering difficult. During severe
winter driving, stop when and where it is
safe to do so and check under the fenders
periodically.
! Parking in cold weather
Do not use the parking brake when
parking for long periods in cold weather
since it could freeze in that position.
Instead, you should observe the following
tips.
1. Place the shift lever in “1 ” or “R”.
2. Use tire stops under the tires to
prevent the vehicle from moving.
When the vehicle is parked in snow or
when it snows, raise the wiper blades off
the glass to prevent damage to them.
When the vehicle has been left parked
after use on roads heavily covered with snow, or has been left parked during a
snowstorm, icing may develop on the
brake system, which could cause poor
braking action. Check for snow or ice
buildup on the suspension, disc brakes
and brake hoses underneath the vehicle.
If there is caked snow or ice, remove it,
being careful not to damage the disc
brakes and brake hoses and ABS har-
ness.
WARNING
Snow can trap dangerous exhaust
gases under your vehicle. Keep
snow clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around your vehicle if you park
the vehicle in snow with the engine
running.
! Refueling in cold weather
To help prevent moisture from forming in
the fuel system and the risk of its freezing,
use of an antifreeze additive in the fuel
tank is recommended during cold weather.
Use only additives that are specifically
designed for this purpose. When an
antifreeze additive is used, its effect lasts
longer if the tank is refilled whenever the
fuel level reaches half empty.
If your SUBARU is not going to be used for an extended period, it is best to have
the fuel tank filled to capacity.
&
Driving on snowy and icy
roadsTo prevent skidding and slipping, avoid
sudden braking, abrupt acceleration, high-
speed driving, and sharp turning when
driving on snowy or icy roads.
Always maintain ample distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you
to avoid the need for sudden braking.
To supplement the foot brake, use the
engine brake effectively to control the
vehicle speed. (Shift into a lower gear
when necessary.)
Avoid shifting down abruptly. Such beha-
vior can cause the wheels to lock, possibly
leading to loss of vehicle control.
An anti-lock brake system (ABS) en-
hances your vehicle ’s braking perfor-
manceonsnowyandicyroads.For
information on braking on slippery sur-
faces, refer to “ABS (Anti-lock Brake
System) ”F 7-26 and “Vehicle Dynamics
Control system ”F 7-28.
WARNING
Do not use the cruise control on
slippery roads such as snowy or icy
roads. This may cause loss of
Driving tips
8-7
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8

Black plate (300,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
8-8
Driving tips
vehicle control.
CAUTION
Avoid prolonged continuous driving
in snowstorms. Snow will enter the
engine ’s intake system and may
hinder the airflow, which could re-
sult in engine shutdown or even
breakdown.
! Wiper operation when snowing
Before driving in cold weather, make sure
the wiper blades are not frozen to the
windshield or rear window.
If the front wiper blades are frozen to the
windshield, use the defroster with the
airflow control dial in the “
”position
and the temperature control dial set for
maximum warmth until the wiper blades
are completely thawed out. For details,
refer to the following section.
. For the manual climate control system,
refer to “Defrosting or defogging the
windshield ”F 4-5.
. For the automatic climate control sys-
tem, refer to “Control panel ”F 4-8.
If your vehicle is equipped with a wind-
shield wiper deicer, it is helpful to thaw the
windshield wiper blades. Refer to “Defog-ger and deicer
”F 3-45.
If the rear wiper blade is frozen to the rear
window, use the rear window defogger.
Refer to “Defogger and deicer ”F 3-45.
When driving in snow, if frozen snow starts
to stick on the surface of the windshield
despite wiper operation, use the defroster
with the airflow control dial in “
”and the
temperature control dial set for maximum
warmth. After the windshield gets warmed
enough to melt the frozen snow on it,
wash it away using the windshield washer.
Refer to “Washer”F 3-36.
Snow stuck on the wiper arm prevents the
wiper from working effectively. If snow is
stuck on the wiper arm, pull off the road to
a safe place, then remove it. If you stop
the vehicle at road side, use the hazard
warning flasher to alert other drivers.
We recommend use of non-freezing type
wiper blades (winter blades) during the
seasons you could have snow and freez-
ing temperatures. Blades of this type give
superior wiping performance in snowy
conditions. Be sure to use blades that
are suitable for your vehicle.
CAUTION
During high-speed driving, non-
freezing type wiper blades may not perform as well as standard wiper
blades. If this happens, reduce the
vehicle speed.
NOTEWhen the season requiring non-freez-
ing type wiper blades is over, replace
them with standard wiper blades.&
Corrosion protectionRefer to “Corrosion protection ”F 10-4.& Snow tires
WARNING
. When replacing original tires with
winter (snow) tires, make sure
you use only tires of the same
size, circumference, construc-
tion, brand (tread pattern), speed
symbol and load index as the
original tires listed on the tire
placard. Using tires of other sizes
or constructions may affect
speedometer/odometer calibra-
tion and clearance between the
body and tires. It also may be
dangerous and lead to loss of
vehicle control.

Black plate (301,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
. You must install four winter tires
that are of the same size, circum-
ference, construction, manufac-
turer, brand (tread pattern), de-
gree of wear, speed symbol and
load index. Mixing tires of other
sizes or constructions may result
in severe mechanical damage to
the drive train of your vehicle and
may affect ride, handling, braking
and speedometer/odometer cali-
bration. It also may be dangerous
and lead to loss of vehicle con-
trol.
. Do not use a combination of
radial, belted bias or bias tires
since it may cause dangerous
handling characteristics and lead
to an accident.
Your vehicle is equipped with “summer
tires ”as original equipment, which are
inadequate for driving on slippery roads
such as on snow-covered or icy roads.
Compared with winter and all-season
tires, summer tires give significantly less
grip on snowy and icy road surfaces.
Therefore, use of winter tires is strongly
recommended when driving with such
road conditions.
When you choose to install winter tires on
your vehicle, be sure to use the correct tire size and type. You must install four winter
tires that are of the same size, construc-
tion, brand and load range and you should
never mix radial, belted bias or bias tires
since this may result in dangerous hand-
ling characteristics. When you choose a
tire, make sure that there is enough
clearance between the tire and vehicle
body.
Remember to drive with care at all times
regardless of the type of tires on your
vehicle.
&
Tire chains
CAUTION
Tire chains cannot be used on your
Impreza, WRX and STI because of
the lack of clearance between the
tires and vehicle body.&Rocking the vehicleIf you must rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, depress the accel-
erator pedal slightly and move the shift
lever back and forth between “1”and “R”
repeatedly. Do not race the engine. For
the best possible traction, avoid spinning
the wheels when trying to free the vehicle. When the road surface is extremely
slippery, you can obtain better traction by
starting the vehicle with the transmission
in 2nd than 1st.
Driving tips
8-9
8

Black plate (303,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by available
cargo space. The maximum load you can
carry in your vehicle is shown on the
vehicle placard attached to the driver ’s
side door pillar. It includes the total weight
of the driver and all passengers and their
belongings, any optional equipment such
as a roof rack or bike carrier, etc.
& GVWR and GAWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating and
Gross Axle Weight Rating)The certification label attached to the
driver ’s side doorjamb shows GVWR
(Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) and GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating).
The GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) must
never exceed the GVWR. GVW is the
combined total of weight of the vehicle,
fuel, driver, all passengers, luggage and
any optional equipment. Therefore, the
GVW changes depending on the situation.
The GVWR equals Curb Weight (actual
weight of your vehicle –including standard
equipment, fluids, emergency tools and
spare tire assembly) plus the vehicle
capacity weight. In addition, the total weight applied to
each axle (GAW) must never exceed the
GAWR. The front and rear GAWs can be
adjusted by relocating luggage inside the
vehicle.
Even if the total weight of your luggage is
lower than the vehicle capacity weight,
either front or rear GAW may exceed the
GAWR, depending on the distribution of
the luggage.
When possible, the load should be evenly
distributed throughout the vehicle.
If you carry heavy loads in the vehicle, you
should confirm that GVW and front and
rear GAWs are within the GVWR and
GAWR by putting your vehicle on a
vehicle scale, found at a commercial
weighing station.
Do not use replacement tires with a lower
load range than the originals because they
may lower the GVWR and GAWR limita-
tions. Replacement tires with a higher load
range than the originals do not increase
the GVWR and GAWR limitations.
Driving tips
8-11
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CONTINUED –
8

Black plate (17,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 2
If you park your vehicle in case of an
emergency ........................................................ 9-2
Temporary spare tire ........................................... 9-2
Maintenance tools ............................................... 9-3
Tool bag.............................................................. 9-4
Under the rear floor ............................................. 9-4
Flat tires............................................................... 9-5
Changing a flat tire .............................................. 9-5
Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) (U.S.-spec. models) ........................................... 9-8
Jump starting...................................................... 9-9
How to jump start ............................................... 9-10
Engine overheating ........................................... 9-12
If steam is coming from the engine
compartment ................................................... 9-12
If no steam is coming from the engine compartment ................................................... 9-12
Towing................................................................ 9-12
Towing and tie-down hooks. ............................... 9-13
Using a flat-bed truck. ........................................ 9-15
Towing with all wheels on the ground ................. 9-15
Rear gate–if the rear gate cannot be
unlocked .......................................................... 9-16
Moonroof –if moonroof cannot be closed ...... 9-17
In case of emergency
9

Black plate (309,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
possible because the spare tire is de-
signed only for temporary use.
Check the inflation pressure of the tem-
porary spare tire periodically to keep the
tire ready for use. The correct pressure is
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kg/cm
2).
When using the temporary spare tire, note
the following.
. Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
. Do not put a tire chain on the temporary
spare tire. Because of the smaller tire size,
a tire chain will not fit properly.
. Do not use two or more temporary
spare tires at the same time.
. Do not drive over obstacles. This tire
has a smaller diameter, so road clearance
is reduced.
1) Tread wear indicator bar
2) Indicator location mark. When the wear indicator appears on
the tread, replace the tire.
. The temporary spare tire must be used
only on a rear wheel. If a front wheel tire
gets punctured, replace the wheel with a
rear wheel and install the temporary spare
tire in place of the removed rear wheel.
Maintenance toolsYour vehicle is equipped with the following
maintenance tools.
. Jack
. Jack handle
. Screwdriver
. Towing hook (eye bolt)
. Wheel nut wrench
. Hex-head wrench (only models with
moonroof)
In case of emergency
9-3
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9

Black plate (311,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
1) Wheel nut wrench
2) Hex-head wrench (only models with
moonroof)
3) Screwdriver
4) Jack
5) Towing hook (eye bolt)
A) Models with 16-inch wheel tires B) Except models with 16-inch wheel tires
The jack handle is stored under the floor of
the trunk (4-door) or the cargo area (5-
door). The jack and towing hook are
stored in the tool bucket that is located in
the recess of the spare tire wheel.
Also, the tools in the tool bag can be
stored in the tool bucket as illustrated.
For how to use the jack, refer to
“Flat tires”
F 9-5.
Flat tiresIf you have a flat tire while driving, never
brake suddenly; keep driving straight
ahead while gradually reducing speed.
Then slowly pull off the road to a safe
place.& Changing a flat tire
WARNING
. Do not jack up the vehicle on an
incline or a loose road surface.
The jack can come out of the
jacking point or sink into the
ground and this can result in a
severe accident.
. Use only the jack provided with
your vehicle. The jack supplied
with the vehicle is designed only
for changing a tire. Never get
under the vehicle while support-
ing the vehicle with this jack.
In case of emergency
9-5
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9

Black plate (314,1)
北米Model "A1130BE-A" EDITED: 2011/ 6/ 7
9-8
In case of emergency
WARNING
Do not use oil or grease on the
wheel studs or nuts when the spare
tire is installed. This could cause the
nuts to become loose and lead to an
accident.
14. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise
to lower the vehicle.15. Use the wheel nut wrench to securely
tighten the wheel nuts to the specified
torque, following the tightening order in the
illustration.
For the wheel nut tightening torque, refer
to “Tires ”F 12-9. Never use your foot on
the wheel nut wrench or a pipe extension
on the wrench because you may exceed
the specified torque. Have the wheel nut torque checked at the nearest automotive
service facility.
16. Store the flat tire in the spare tire
compartment. Put in the spacer and tight-
en the attaching bolt firmly.
Also store the jack, jack handle and wheel
nut wrench in their storage locations.
WARNING
Never place a tire or tire changing
tools in the passenger compartment
after changing wheels. In a sudden
stop or collision, loose equipment
could strike occupants and cause
injury. Store the tire and all tools in
the proper place.
&
Tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) (U.S.-spec.
models)The tire pressure monitoring system pro-
vides the driver with the warning message
indicated by sending a signal from a
sensor that is installed in each wheel
when tire pressure is severely low.
The tire pressure monitoring system will
activate only when the vehicle is driven.
Also, this system may not react immedi-
ately to a sudden drop in tire pressure (for
example, a blow-out caused running over
a sharp object).
WARNING
If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates while driving, never