
Tires and wheels & Types of tires You should be familiar with type of tires
present on your vehicle.
! All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide
an adequate measure of traction, handling
and braking performance in year-round
driving including snowy and icy road
conditions. However all season tires do
not offer as much traction performance as
winter (snow) tires in heavy or loose snow
or on icy roads.
All season tires are identified by “ ALL
SEASON ” and/or “ M+S ” (Mud & Snow) on
the tire sidewall.
! Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed capability
tires best suited for highway driving under
dry conditions.
Summer tires are inadequate for driving
on slippery roads such as on snow-
covered or icy roads.
If you drive your vehicle on snow-covered
or icy roads, we strongly recommend the
use of winter (snow) tires.
When installing winter tires, be sure to
replace all four tires. ! Winter (snow) tires
Winter tires are best suited for driving on
snow-covered and icy roads. However
winter tires do not perform as well as
summer tires and all season tires on roads
other than snow-covered and icy roads.
& Tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) (if equipped) The tire pressure monitoring system pro-
vides the driver with a warning message
by sending a signal from a sensor that is
installed in each wheel when tire pressure
is severely low. The tire pressure monitor-
ing system will activate only when the
vehicle is driven. Also, this system may
not react immediately to a sudden drop in
tire pressure (for example, a blow-out
caused by running over a sharp object).
If you adjust the tire pressures in a warm
garage and will then drive the vehicle in
cold outside air, the resulting drop in tire
pressures may cause the low tire pressure
warning light to illuminate. To avoid this
problem when adjusting the tire pressures
in a warm garage, inflate the tires to
pressures higher than those shown on the
tire placard. Specifically, inflate them by an
extra 1 psi (6.9 kPa, 0.07 kgf/cm 2
) for
every difference of 10 8 F (5.6 8 C) between
the temperature in the garage and the temperature outside. By way of example,
the following table shows the required tire
pressures that correspond to various out-
side temperatures when the temperature
in the garage is 60 8 F (15.6 8 C).
Example:
Tire size: 245/40R18 97W
Standard tire pressures:
Front: 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
)
Rear: 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
)
Garage temperature: 60 8 F (15.6 8 C)Outside
temperature Adjusted pressure
[psi (kPa, kgf/cm 2
)]
Front Rear
30 8 F( − 1 8 C) 36 (250, 2.5) 35 (240, 2.4)
10 8 F( − 12 8 C) 38 (260, 2.6) 37 (255, 2.55)
− 10 8 F( − 23 8 C) 40 (275, 2.75) 39 (270, 2.7)
If the low tire pressure warning light
illuminates when you drive the vehicle in
cold outside air after adjusting the tire
pressures in a warm garage, re-adjust the
tire pressures using the method described
above. Then, increase the vehicle speed
to at least 20 mph (32 km/h) and check to
see that the low tire pressure warning light
turns off a few minutes later. If the low tire
pressure warning light does not turn off,
the tire pressure monitoring system may
not be functioning normally. In this event, Maintenance and service/Tires and wheels
– CONTINUED –11-31

Maintenance and service/Tires and wheels
go to a SUBARU dealer to have the
system inspected as soon as possible.
While the vehicle is driven, friction be-
tween tires and the road surface causes
the tires to warm up. After illumination of
the low tire pressure warning light, any
increase in the tire pressures caused by
an increase in the outside air temperature
or by an increase in the temperature in the
tires can cause the low tire pressure
warning light to turn off.
System resetting is necessary when the
wheels are changed (for example, a
switch to snow tires) and new TPMS
valves are installed on the newly fitted
wheels. Have this work performed by a
SUBARU dealer following wheel replace-
ment.
It may not be possible to install TPMS
valves on certain wheels that are on the
market. Therefore, if you change the
wheels (for example, a switch to snow
tires), use wheels that have the same part
number as the standard-equipment
wheels. Without four operational TPMS
valve/sensors on the wheels, the TPMS
will not fully function and the warning light
on the combination meter will illuminate
steadily after blinking for approximately
one minute. When a tire is replaced, adjustments are
necessary to ensure continued normal
operation of the tire pressure monitoring
system. As with wheel replacement, there-
fore, you should have the work performed
by a SUBARU dealer.
WARNINGIf the low tire pressure warning light
does not illuminate briefly after the
ignition switch is turned ON or the
light illuminates steadily after blink-
ing for approximately one minute,
you should have your Tire Pressure
Monitoring System checked at a
SUBARU dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
If this light illuminates while driving,
never brake suddenly and keep
driving straight ahead while gradu-
ally reducing speed. Then slowly
pull off the road to a safe place.
Otherwise an accident involving
serious vehicle damage and serious
personal injury could occur.
If this light still illuminates while
driving after adjusting the tire pres-
sure, a tire may have significant
damage and a fast leak that causes
the tire to lose air rapidly. If you have
a flat tire, replace it with a spare tire as soon as possible.
When a spare tire is mounted or a
wheel rim is replaced without the
original pressure sensor/transmitter
being transferred, the low tire pres-
sure warning light will illuminate
steadily after blinking for approxi-
mately one minute. This indicates
the TPMS is unable to monitor all
four road wheels. Contact your
SUBARU dealer as soon as possible
for tire and sensor replacement and/
or system resetting. If the light
illuminates steadily after blinking
for approximately one minute,
promptly contact a SUBARU dealer
to have the system inspected.
& Tire inspection Check on a daily basis that the tires are
free from serious damage, nails, and
stones. At the same time, check the tires
for abnormal wear.
Contact your SUBARU dealer immedi-
ately if you find any problem.
NOTE . When the wheels and tires strike
curbs or are subjected to harsh treat-
ment as when the vehicle is driven on a
rough surface, they can suffer damage11-32

from controllability, ride comfort, braking
performance, speedometer accuracy and
odometer accuracy. It also creates incor-
rect body-to-tire clearances and inappro-
priately changes the vehicle ’ sground
clearance.
All four tires must be the same in terms of
manufacturer, brand (tread pattern), con-
struction, and size. You are advised to
replace the tires with new ones that are
identical to those fitted as standard equip-
ment.
For safe vehicle operation, SUBARU
recommends replacing all four tires at
the same time.
WARNING. When replacing or installing
tire(s), all four tires must be the
same for the following items.
(a) Size
(b) Circumference
(c) Speed symbol
(d) Load index
(e) Construction
(f) Manufacturer
(g) Brand (tread pattern)
(h) Degrees of wear For items (a) to (d), you must
obey the specification that is
printed on the tire placard. The
tire placard is located on the
driver ’ s door pillar.
If all four tires are not the same in
items (a) to (h), there is a possi-
bility that it may lead to serious
mechanical damage to the drive
train of your car and affect the
following factors.
— Ride
— Handling
— Braking
— Speedometer/Odometer
calibration
— Clearance between the body
and the tires
It also may be dangerous and
lead to loss of vehicle control,
and it can lead to an accident.
. Use only radial tires. Do not use
radial tires together with belted
bias tires and/or bias-ply tires.
Doing so can dangerously re-
duce controllability, resulting in
an accident. & Wheel replacement When replacing wheels due, for example,
to damage, make sure the replacement
wheels match the specifications of the
wheels that are fitted as standard equip-
ment. Replacement wheels are available
from SUBARU dealers.
WARNINGUse only those wheels that are
specified for your vehicle. Wheels
not meeting specifications could
interfere with brake caliper opera-
tion and may cause the tires to rub
against the wheel well housing dur-
ing turns. The resulting loss of
vehicle control could lead to an
accident.
NOTE When any of the wheels are removed
and replaced for tire rotation or to
change a flat tire, always check the
tightness of the wheel nuts after driv-
ing approximately 600 miles (1,000 km).
If any nut is loose, tighten it to the
specified torque. Maintenance and service/Tires and wheels
11-37

Maintenance and service/Aluminum wheels
Aluminum wheels Aluminum wheels can be scratched and
damaged easily. Handle them carefully to
maintain their appearance, performance,
and safety.
. When any of the wheels are removed
and replaced for tire rotation or to change
a flat tire, always check the tightness of
the wheel nuts after driving approximately
600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose,
tighten it to the specified torque.
. Never apply oil to the threaded parts,
wheel nuts, or tapered surface of the
wheel.
. Never let the wheel rub against sharp
protrusions or curbs.
. When wheel nuts, balance weights, or
the center cap is replaced, be sure to
replace them with genuine SUBARU parts
designed for aluminum wheels. Windshield washer fluid CAUTIONNever use engine coolant as washer
fluid because it could cause paint
damage.
When there is only a small amount of
washer fluid remaining, the windshield
washer fluid warning indicator will illumi-
nate. When this occurs, refill the washer
fluid as follows. Remove the washer tank filler cap, then
add windshield washer fluid until it
reaches the “ FULL ” mark on the tank. If
windshield washer fluid is unavailable use
clean water.
In areas where water freezes in winter,
use an anti-freeze type windshield washer
fluid. SUBARU Windshield Washer Fluid
contains 58.5% methyl alcohol and 41.5%
surfactant, by volume. Its freezing tem-
perature varies according to how much it
is diluted, as indicated in the following
table.11-38

Specifications/Specifications
& Electrical system Battery type and capacity (5HR) 55D23L
Alternator STI 12V-110A
Except STI 12V-130A
Spark plugs STI SILFR6A (NGK)
Except STI ILKAR8H6 (NGK)
& Tires Tire size 235/45R17 94W 245/40R18 97W
Wheel size
17 6 8J 18 6 8 1/2J
Pressure Front
33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
) 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
)
Rear
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
) 32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm 2
)
Wheel nut tightening torque
89 lbf·ft (120 N·m, 12 kgf·m)* 1
*1: This torque is equivalent to applying approximately 88 to 110 lbf (40 to 50 kgf) at the end of the wheel nut wrench. If you have tightened the wheel
nuts by yourself, have the tightening torque checked at the nearest automotive service facility as soon as possible. For the wheel nut tightening
procedure, refer to “ Changing a flat tire ” F 9-4.
& Temporary spare tires Temporary spare tire size T145/70D17 205/50R17
Temporary spare tire inflation pressure
(recommended cold tire inflation pressure) 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm 2
) 33 psi (230 kPa, 2.3 kgf/cm 2
)
Wheel nut tightening torque
89 lbf·ft (120 N·m, 12 kgf·m)* 1
* 2
*1: This torque is equivalent to applying approximately 88 to 110 lbf (40 to 50 kgf) at the end of the wheel nut wrench. If you have tightened the wheel
nuts by yourself, have the tightening torque checked at the nearest automotive service facility as soon as possible.
*2: For the wheel nut tightening procedure, refer to “ Changing a flat tire ” F 9-4.12-8

Specifications/Vehicle identification
Vehicle identification 1) Vehicle identification number (under the
floor carpet of the right-hand front seat)
2) Emission control label
3) Tire inflation pressure label
4) Certification label
5) Vehicle identification number plate
6) Model number label
7) Fuel label
8) Air conditioner label
12-18

For U.S.A. ........................................................... 13-2
Tire information .................................................. 13-2Tire labeling ....................................................... 13-2
Recommended tire inflation pressure .................. 13-4
Glossary of tire terminology ............................... 13-5
Tire care – maintenance and safety
practices ........................................................ 13-10
Vehicle load limit – how to determine ................ 13-10 Determining compatibility of tire and vehicle
load capacities .............................................. 13-13
Adverse safety consequences of overloading
on handling and stopping and on tires ........... 13-13
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit ......... 13-14
Uniform tire quality grading standards .......... 13-14Treadwear ....................................................... 13-15
Traction AA, A, B, C ......................................... 13-15
Temperature A, B, C ......................................... 13-15
Reporting safety defects (U.S.A.) ................... 13-16
Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
13

Example:
(6) Load Index: A numerical code
which specifies the maximum load
a tire can carry at the speed
indicated by its speed symbol, at
maximum inflation pressure.
For example, “ 90 ” means 1,323 lbs
(600 kg), “ 89 ” means 1,278 lbs (580
kg).
WARNING
Load indices apply only to the
tire, not to the vehicle. Putting
a load rated tire on any vehicle
does not mean the vehicle can
be loaded up to the tire ’ s rated
load.
(7) Speed Rating: An alphabetical
system describing a tire ’ s capability
to travel at established and prede-
termined speeds.
For example, “ V ” means 149 mph
(240 km/h) WARNING.
Speed ratings apply only to
the tire, not to the vehicle.
Putting a speed rated tire on
any vehicle does not mean
the vehicle can be operated
at the tire ’ s rated speed..
The speed rating is void if
the tires are worn out, da-
maged, repaired, retreaded,
or otherwise altered from
their original condition. If
tires are repaired, re-
treaded, or otherwise al-
tered, they may not be sui-
table for original equipment
tire designed loads and
speeds.
! Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Tire Identification Number (TIN) is
marked on the intended outboard
sidewall. The TIN is composed of
four groups. Here is a brief review
of the TIN with a breakdown of its
individual elements. (1) Manufacturer ’ s Identification
Mark
(2) Tire Size
(3) Tire Type Code
(4) Date of Manufacture
The first two figures identify the
week, starting with “ 01 ” to represent
the first full week of the calendar
year; the second two figures repre-
sent the year. For example, 0101
means the 1st week of 2001.
! Other markings
The following makings are also
placed on the sidewall.
! Maximum permissible infla-
tion pressure
The maximum cold inflation pres-
sure to which this tire may be
inflated. For example, “ 300 kPa
(44 PSI) MAX. PRESS ”Consumer information and Reporting safety defects/Tire information
– CONTINUED –13-3