2017 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider tires

WARNING!(Continued)
•ONLY use the driver ’s side floor mat on the
driver ’s side floor area. To check for interference,
with the vehicle properly parked with the engine
off, fully depress the accelerator, the brake, and
the clutch pedal (if present) to check for interfer-
ence. If your floor mat interferes with the opera-
tion of any pedal, or is not secure to the floor,
remove the floor mat from the vehicle and place
the floor mat in your trunk.
• ONLY use the passenger ’s side floor mat on the
passenger ’s side floor area.
• ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall or slide
into the driver ’s side floor area when the vehicle
is moving. Objects can become trapped under
accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals and could
cause a loss of vehicle control.
• NEVER place any objects under the floor mat
(e.g., towels, keys, etc.). These objects could
change the position of the floor mat and may
cause interference with the accelerator, brake, or
clutch pedals.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•If the vehicle carpet has been removed and re-
installed, always properly attach carpet to the
floor and check the floor mat fasteners are secure
to the vehicle carpet. Fully depress each pedal to
check for interference with the accelerator, brake,
or clutch pedals then re-install the floor mats.
• It is recommended to only use mild soap and
water to clean your floor mats. After cleaning,
always check your floor mat has been properly
installed and is secured to your vehicle using the
floor mat fasteners by lightly pulling mat.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven wear
patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread. Inspect the tread and sidewall for
cuts and cracks. Check the wheel nuts for tightness.
Check the tires for proper pressure.
58 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

General Warnings
When parking, take the utmost care over obstacles that
may be above or under the sensor.
Under certain circumstances, objects close to the vehicle
are not detected by the system and could therefore
cause damage to the vehicle or be damaged themselves.
Some conditions may influence the performance of the
parking sensors:
•The presence of ice, snow, mud or multiple layers of
paint on the sensor surface may cause reduced
sensitivity of the sensor itself and therefore reduce
the system performance.
• Mechanical interference (e.g washing the vehicle,
rain, strong wind, hail) may cause the sensor to
detect a non-existent obstacle (“echo interference”).
• The presence of ultrasonic systems (e.g. pneumatic
brake systems of trucks or pneumatic drills) near the
vehicle could alter the signals sent by the sensor. •
The variation in sensor position, caused by variation
in ride (due to suspension component wear), chang-
ing tires, overloaded vehicle, or tuning that lowers
the vehicle, for example, may affect parking sensor
system performance.
NOTE: The sensor must be free from mud, dirt snow or
ice in order for the system to operate correctly. Be
careful not to scratch or damage the sensors while
cleaning them. Avoid using dry, rough or hard cloths.
The sensors must be washed using clean water, with the
addition of car shampoo if necessary. When using
special washing equipment such as high pressure jets or
steam cleaning, clean the sensors very quickly keeping
the jet more than 4 in (10 cm) away. Also, do not apply
stickers to the sensors.
WARNING!
Drivers must be careful when backing up even when
using the Parking Sensor system. Always check care-
fully behind your vehicle, and be sure to check for
pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, obstructions, or
blind spots before backing up. You are responsible
(Continued)
88 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

Yellow Telltale Indicator Lights
Tire Pressure Monitoring Indicator Light
Yellow TelltaleLight What It Means
Tire Pressure Monitoring Indicator Light
The warning light switches on and a message is displayed to indicate that the tire pressure
is lower than the recommended value and/or that slow pressure loss is occurring. In these
cases, optimal tire duration and fuel consumption may not be guaranteed.
Should one or more tires be in the condition mentioned above, the display will show the
indications corresponding to each tire in sequence.
IMPORTANT: Do not continue driving with one or
more flat tires as handling may be compromised. Stop
the vehicle, avoiding sharp braking and steering. Repair
immediately using the dedicated tire repair kit and
contact your authorized dealership as soon as possible.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label. If
your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pres-
sure label, you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires. As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tires is significantly under-
inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
106 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is
not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indi-
cator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will
continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long
as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of rea-
sons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly. Always check
the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or
more tires or wheels on your vehicle, to ensure that
the replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for the original
equipment tires and wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for the tire size
equipped on your vehicle. Undesirable system op-
eration or sensor damage may result when using
replacement equipment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket wheels can cause
sensor damage. Using aftermarket tire sealants may
cause the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
sensor to become inoperable. After using an after-
market tire sealant it is recommended that you take
your vehicle to an authorized dealership to have
your sensor function checked.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 107

▫Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) ............................158
▫ Cornering Brake Control System (CBC) .....159
▫ Drag Torque Control System (DTC) .......159
▫ AntiSlip Regulation System (ASR) ........160
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................161
▫
Hydraulic Brake Assistant System (HBA) . . . .162
▫ Electronic Q2 System (E-Q2) ............162
▫ Ready Alert Brake System (RAB) .........162
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION ............163
▫ Tire Markings .......................163
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ..........166
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions .........167
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ..........168
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION .......173
▫ Tire Pressure .......................173
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................174 ▫
Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .175
▫
Radial Ply Tires .....................175
▫ Tire Types ..........................176
▫ Run Flat Tires — If Equipped ............177
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ..............177
▫ Tire Spinning .......................180
▫ Tread Wear Indicators .................180
▫ Life Of Tire ........................181
▫ Replacement Tires ....................182
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) ......183
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS . . . .184
 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADES .......184
▫ Treadwear ..........................184
▫ Traction Grades ..................... .184
▫ Temperature Grades ...................185
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(TPMS) ............................ .185
138 STARTING AND OPERATING

•Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.
• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in
a sudden stop.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Limited Slip
Differential (LSD) that reduces, but does not eliminate,
the amount of wheel slip across a given axle for
improved handling.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.
Flowing/Rising Water
WARNING!
Do not drive on or across a road or path where water
is flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-
ing water can wear away the road or path’s surface
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
and cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water.
Furthermore, flowing and/or rising water can carry
your vehicle away swiftly. Failure to follow this
warning may result in injuries that are serious or
fatal to you, your passengers, and others around
you.
Shallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
shallow standing water, consider the following Cau-
tions and Warnings before doing so.
WARNING!
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.
• Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after driving through
standing water, drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.
(Continued)
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 153

WARNING!(Continued)
in a reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user ’s safety or the safety of others.
• Vehicle modifications, or failure to properly
maintain your vehicle, may change the handling
characteristics of your vehicle, and may nega-
tively affect the performance of the ESC system.
Changes to the steering system, suspension, brak-
ing system, tire type and size or wheel size may
adversely affect ESC performance. Improperly
inflated and unevenly worn tires may also de-
grade ESC performance. Any vehicle modifica-
tion or poor vehicle maintenance that reduces the
effectiveness of the ESC system can increase the
risk of loss of vehicle control, vehicle rollover,
personal injury and death.
The ESC system uses sensors installed on the vehicle to
determine the trajectory that the driver intends to
follow and compares it with the vehicles effective
trajectory. When the real trajectory deviates from the
desired trajectory, the ESC system intervenes to counter
the vehicles understeer or oversteer. •
Oversteer: occurs when the vehicle is turning more
than it should according to the angle of the steering
wheel.
• Understeer: occurs when the vehicle is turning less
than it should according to the angle of the steering
wheel.
This vehicle’s advanced electronic brake control system
also includes: Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), Anti-
Lock Brake System (ABS), Cornering Brake Control
System (CBC), Drag Torque Control System (DTC),
AntiSlip Regulation System (ASR), Hill Start Assist
(HSA), Hydraulic Brake Assistant System (HBA),
ELECTRONIC Q2 system (E-Q2) and Ready Alert Brake
(RAB). All of the systems work together to enhance
vehicle stability and control in various driving condi-
tions, and are commonly referred to as ESC.
System Activation
The ESC system activates automatically when the en-
gine is started and can only be deactivated by selecting
Race mode. Refer to the Six-Speed Alfa Twin Clutch
Transmission in this section for further information.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 157

System Intervention
This is indicated by the flashing of the warning light on
the instrument panel, to inform the driver that the
vehicle is in critical stability and grip conditions.
Electronic Brake Distribution System (EBD)
The EBD system is an integral part of the ESC system
and intervenes during braking, distributing the brake
force optimally between front and rear wheels.
This guarantees greater braking stability for the vehicle,
preventing sudden locking of the rear wheels and the
consequent instability of the vehicle.
Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
The Four-Wheel ABS is designed to aid the driver in
maintaining vehicle control under adverse braking con-
ditions. The system operates with a separate computer
to modulate hydraulic pressure, to prevent wheel
lock-up and to help avoid skidding on slippery sur-
faces.
The system’s pump motor runs during an ABS stop to
provide regulated hydraulic pressure. The pump motor
makes a low humming noise during operation, which is
normal.The ABS includes an amber ABS Warning Light. When
the light is illuminated, the ABS is not functioning. The
system reverts to standard non-anti-lock brakes. Turn-
ing the ignition Off and On again may reset the ABS if
the fault detected was only momentary.
WARNING!
•
When the ABS intervenes and you feel the brake
pedal pulsating, do not reduce the pressure, but
hold it down firmly and confidently; in doing so
you will brake in the shortest distance possible,
depending on the current road conditions.
• For maximum efficiency of the braking system, a
bedding-in period of about 311 miles (500 km) is
required: during this period it is advisable to
avoid sharp, repeated and prolonged braking.
• If the ABS intervenes, this indicates that the grip
of the tires on the road is nearing its limit: you
must slow down to a speed compatible with the
available grip.
• The ABS can’t overrule the natural laws of phys-
ics, and can’t increase the grip available according
to the condition of the road.
(Continued)
158 STARTING AND OPERATING