2016 HONDA FIT flat tire

382
Maintenance
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires
To safely operate your vehicle, your tires must be of the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and properly inflated.
■Inflation guidelines
Properly inflated tires provide the best combination of handlin g, tread life, and comfort.
Refer to the driver’s doorjamb label or spec ification’s page for the specified pressure.
Underinflated tires wear unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and
are more likely to fail from overheating.
Overinflated tires make your vehicle ride harshly, are more prone to road hazards,
and wear unevenly.
Every day before you drive, look at each of the tires. If one looks lower than the
others, check the pressure with a tire gauge.
At least once a month or before long trips, use a gauge to measure the pressure in
all tires, including the spare. Even tires in good condition can lose 1 to 2 psi (10 to
20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2 kgf/cm
2) per month.
■Inspection guidelines
Every time you check inflation, also examine the tires and valve stems.
Look for:
• Bumps or bulges on the side or in the tread . Replace the tire if you find any cuts,
splits, or cracks in the si de of the tire. Replace it if you see fabric or cord.
• Remove any foreign objects and inspect for air leaks.
• Uneven tread wear. Have a deal er check the wheel alignment.
• Excessive tread wear.
2 Wear Indicators P. 387
•Cracks or other damage around valve stem.
1Checking Tires
Measure the air pressure when tires are cold. This
means the vehicle has been parked for at least three
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km). If
necessary, add or releas e air until the specified
pressure is reached.
If checked when hot, tire pressure can be as much as
4–6 psi (30–40 kPa, 0.3–0.4 kgf/cm
2) higher than if
checked when cold.
Have a dealer check the tires if you feel a consistent
vibration while driving. Ne w tires and any that have
been removed and reinst alled should be properly
balanced.
Whenever tire pressure is adjusted, you must
calibrate the TPMS.
2 TPMS Calibration P. 334
3WARNING
Using tires that are excessively worn or
improperly inflated can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instruction s in this owner’s
manual regarding ti re inflation and
maintenance.
U.S. models

uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire Labeling
384
Maintenance
The tire identification number (TIN) is a group of numbers and letters that look like
the example in the side co lumn. TIN is located on the sidewall of the tire.
Cold Tire Pressure – The tire air pressure when the vehicle has been parked for at
least three hours or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Load Rating – Means the maximum load that a ti re is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure.
Maximum Inflation Pressure – The maximum tire air pressure that the tire can
hold.
Maximum Load Rating – Means the load rating for a tire at the maximum
permissible inflation pr essure for that tire.
Recommended Inflation Pressure – The cold tire inflation pressure recommended
by the manufacturer.
Treadwear Indicators (TWI) – Means the projections within the principal grooves
designed to give a visual indication of the degrees of wear of the tread.
■Tire Identification Number (TIN)
■Glossary of Tire Terminology
1 Tire Identification Number (TIN)
DOT B97R FW6X 2209
DOT: This indicates that the tire meets all
requirements of the U.S. Department of
Transportation.
B97R: Manufacturer’s identification mark.
FW6X: Tire type code.
22 09: Date of manufacture.
Year
Week

uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uDOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
386
Maintenance
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 specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction performance.
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 h eat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temp erature 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.
■Traction
■Temperature
1 Traction
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.
1Temperature
Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is establishe d for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.

387
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uWear Indicators
Maintenance
Wear Indicators
The groove where the wear indicator is
located is 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) shallower than
elsewhere on the tire. If the tread has worn so
that the indicator is ex posed, replace the tire.
Worn out tires have po or traction on wet
roads.
Tire Service Life
The life of your tires is dependent on many factors, including driving habits, road
conditions, vehicle loading, inflation pressure, maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even wh en the tires are not in use).
In addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance, it is
recommended that you have annual inspections performed once the tires reach five
years old. All tires, including the spare, should be removed from service after 10
years from the date of manufacture, regardle ss of their condition or state of wear.
Example of a Wear
Indicator mark

401
Handling the Unexpected
This chapter explains how to handle unexpected troubles.
ToolsTypes of Tools .................................. 402
If a Tire Goes Flat Changing a Flat Tire ......................... 403
Engine Does Not Start Checking the Engine ........................ 409
If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak ....... 410
Emergency Engine Stop ................... 411
Jump Starting .................................... 412
Shift Lever Does Not Move .............. 414
Overheating How to Handle Overheating ............. 415 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking
If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator Comes
On................................................ 417
If the Charging System Indicator Comes
On ................................................. 417
If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp Comes On or Blinks ..................................... 418
If the Brake System Indicator (Red) Comes On...................................................... 419
If the Electric Power Steering (EPS) System Indicator Comes On ....................... 419 If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator
Comes On or Blinks ....................... 420
Fuses Fuse Locations ................................. 421
Inspecting and Changing Fuses ........ 425
Emergency Towing ........................... 426
When You Cannot Open the Tailgate..... 427

403Continued
Handling the Unexpected
If a Tire Goes Flat
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat while driving, grasp the steering wheel firmly, and brake gradually
to reduce speed. Then, stop in a safe plac e. Replace the flat tire with a compact
spare tire. Go to a dealer as soon as possib le to have the full-size tire repaired or
replaced.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and non- slippery surface and apply the parking
brake.
2. Move the shift lever to
(P.
2. Move the shift lever to
(R.
3. Turn on the hazard warning lights an d turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0*1.
*1 : Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
1Changing a Flat Tire
Periodically check the tire pressure of the compact
spare. It should be set to the specified pressure.
Specified Pressure: 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm
2)
When driving with the compact spare tire, keep the
vehicle speed under 50 mph (80 km/h). Replace with
a full-size tire as soon as possible.
The compact spare tire and wheel in your vehicle are
specifically for this model.
Do not use them with another vehicle.
Do not use another type of compact spare tire or
wheel with your vehicle.
Do not mount tire chains on a compact spare tire.
If a chain-mounted front tire goes flat, remove one of
the full-size rear tires and replace it with the compact
spare tire. Remove the flat front tire and replace it
with the full-size tire that was removed from the rear.
Mount the tire chains on the front tire.
Continuously variable transmission models
Manual transmission models
All models

404
uuIf a Tire Goes Flat uChanging a Flat Tire
Handling the Unexpected
1. Open the cargo area floor lid.
2. Take the tool case out of the cargo area.
Take the wheel nut wrench, jack handle bar
and jack out of the tool case.
3. Unscrew the wing bolt, and remove the
spacer cone. Then, remove the spare tire.
4. Place a wheel block or ro ck in front and rear
of the wheel diagonal to the flat tire.
■Getting Ready to Replace the Flat Tire
Floor Lid
Tool Case Jack
Spare Tire
Wheel
Blocks
The tire to be replaced.

405
uuIf a Tire Goes Flat uChanging a Flat Tire
Continued
Handling the Unexpected
5. Place the compact spare tire (wheel side up)
under the vehicle body, near the tire that
needs to be replaced.
6. Put the flat tip of the jack handle bar into
the edge of the wheel cover. Carefully pry
the edge and remove the cover.
u Wrap a cloth around the flat tip of the
jack handle bar to prevent scratches on
the cover.
7. Loosen each wheel nut about one turn
using the wheel nut wrench.
Jack Handle Bar
Wheel Nut Wheel
CoverModels with wheel cover
All models