Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you
would if your vehicle was not
equipped with VSA. Your vehicle is equipped with a hill
start assist f eature to help prevent
the vehicle f rom rolling on inclines
as you move your f oot f rom the
brake pedal to the accelerator.
To activate hill start assist, you must
come to a complete stop and make
sure the shift lever is in any of D, S
or L (either in D or S on models with
the paddle shifters) when facing
uphill, or reverse when facing
downhill. Release the brake pedal.
The brakes remain engaged briefly
to keep the vehicle from rolling
forward or backward while
you move your foot from the brake
pedal to the accelerator pedal.
Gently apply the accelerator
pedal as in normal driving. Hill start
assist will release brake pressure
gradually as you accelerate.Hillstartassistmaynotpreventyour
vehicle f rom rolling downhill on a
very steep or slippery slope, and will
not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement
for the parking brake. If parking
your vehicle, ensure that the
transmission is in Park, and the
parking brake is fully applied before
exiting the vehicle. You should also
turn off the engine before
exiting the vehicle.
The VSA system indicator will come
on when there is a problem in the hill
start assist system. With the VSA
system indicator on, the hill start
assist system will not activate.
Hill start assist will still operate even
when VSA is switched off.
342
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA and Tire Sizes
Hill Start Assist System
295
12/07/13 17:14:42 31TM8630_300
Bef ore DrivingTOC
2013 Insight
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
inflated provides the best
combination of handling,
tread life, and riding comfort.
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.
The tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) warns you when a tire
pressure is low. See pagef 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.
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 for 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.
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. 289
On U.S. models On U.S. models
On all Canadian models
T ires Inf lation Guidelines
Tires
338
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.
12/07/13 17:19:53 31TM8630_343
Maint enanceTOC
2013 Insight
If you check air pressures when the
tires are hot (driven for several
miles/kilometers), you will see
readings 4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3
to 0.4 kgf/cm ) higher than the cold
readings. This is normal. Do not let
air out to match the recommended
cold air pressure. The tire will
You should get your own tire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for 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 chart shows the
recommended cold tire pressures f or
most normal driving conditions.
Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:
Bumpsorbulgesinthetreador
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.
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 .382
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
Recommended Tire Pressures Tire Inspection
Tires
339
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
P185/60R15 84T
33 psi (230 kPa ,2.3 kgf/cm
)
Front/Rear:
12/07/13 17:20:05 31TM8630_344
Maint enanceTOC
be underinf lated.
2013 Insight
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the multi-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.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).
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.
If you ever replace a wheel, make
sure that the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheels.
Replacement wheels are available at
your dealer. Also be sure you use only TPMS
specif ic wheels. If you do not, the
tire pressure monitoring system will
not work.
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.
The ABS and VSA system work by
comparing the speed of each wheel.
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 system to activate.
On U.S. models
CONT INUED
T ire Rotation
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tires
341
FrontFront
(Front Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (Front Directional
Tires and Wheels)
12/07/13 17:20:23 31TM8630_346
Maint enanceTOC
2013 Insight
´
Wheels:
Tires:
See page f or DOT tire quality
grading information, and page 384
f or tire size inf ormation. 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.
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.
Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, Honda strongly
recommends using the chains listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC). Mount tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Install them only on the
f ront tires.
Cable-type: SCC RADIAL CHAIN
SC1026
382
Wheel and T ire Specif ications Winter Driving
Snow T iresT ire Chains
Tires
342
15x6J
P185/60R15 84T
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.
12/07/13 17:20:33 31TM8630_347
Maint enanceTOC
2013 Insight
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.Clean the wheels as you would the
rest of the exterior. Wash them
with the same solution, and rinse
them thoroughly.
Aluminum alloy wheels have a
protective clear-coat that keeps the
aluminum from corroding and
tarnishing. Cleaning the wheels with
harsh chemicals (including some
commercial wheel cleaners) or a stiff
brush can damage the clear-coat.
To clean the wheels, use a mild
detergent and a soft brush or sponge.
If equipped
Wheels
Tires
343
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.
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.
12/07/13 17:20:40 31TM8630_348
Maint enanceTOC
2013 Insight
Check the air pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indicator bars. The
replacement tire should be the same
size and design, mounted on the
samewheel.Thesparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the spare wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Use the compact spare tire as a
temporary replacement only. Get
your regular tire repaired or replaced,
and put it back on your vehicle as
soon as you can.
Follow these precautions:
Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road
surf aces. Use greater caution
while driving. Do not use your compact spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel. Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare tire.
After the flat tire is replaced with
the spare tire, the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator stays on
while driving. Af ter several miles
(kilometers) driving, this indicator
begins to f lash, then stays on
again. You will also see a ‘‘CHECK
TPMS SYSTEM’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display. This is
normal; the system cannot
monitor the spare tire pressure.
Manually check the spare tire
pressure to be sure it is correct.
On U.S. models
Compact Spare Tire
348
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
12/07/13 17:21:13 31TM8630_353
T aking Care of t he Unexpect edTOC
2013 Insight
µµ¶
µ¶ ¶
¶¶
¶¶ µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
Î
Î
Î
Î
ÎÎ Î Î
Î
Î
Specif ications
381
Air Conditioning
Tires Alignment Fuses 12 Volt Battery
Lights HFC-134a (R-134a)
15.8 17.6 oz (450 500 g) SP-10
12 V 60 W
Refrigerant type
Charge quantity
Lubricant oil type
12 V 55 W
Size
Pressure Toe-in
Camber
Caster Interior
Under-hood
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm)
P185/60R15 84T 3°30’ 0.5°
1.5° 1°
0° 1°
Capacity
12 V
12 V 35 AH/20 HR
28 AH/5 HR
12 V 21 W
T135/80D15 99M
12 V 5 W
12 V 3.4 W 12 V 12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
5W
8W
8W
5W
2CP
16 W
12 V 21 W
Replacement of a light bulb should be done by your dealer. 5W
12 V
0.10 0.10 in (2.5 2.5 mm)00.12in(03mm)
Headlights
Front turn signal lights
Front parking lights
Front side marker lights
Side turn signal lights
(door mirror)
Rear turn signal lights
Stop/taillights
Back-up lights
Rear side marker lights
License plate lights
Spot lights
Ceiling light
Cargo area light
High-mount brake light
Glove box light See
page 372 or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box door under the steering
column.
See page 373 or the fuse box
cover.
Front
Rear
Front
Rear
Front
High
Low
Front/Rear
Spare
Front/Rear
Spare
(HB3)
(H11)
(Amber)
LED type
LED type
LED type (Amber)
in
1:
2:
3 : LX model EX models
1
1, 3 1 2
2
2
12/07/13 17:25:15 31TM8630_386
Technical Inf ormationTOC
2013 Insight