2018 Acura MDX Tire

463
Driving
Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
General Information
Your vehicle has been designed primarily for use on pavement, however, its higher
ground clearance allows you to occasionally travel on unpaved roads. It is not
designed for trail-blazing, or othe r challenging off-road activities.
If you decide to drive on unpaved roads, you will find that it requires somewhat
different driving skills and that your vehicl e will handle somewhat differently than it
does on pavement. Pay attention to the precau tions and tips in this section, and get
acquainted with your vehicle before leaving the pavement.
Important Safety Precautions
To avoid loss of control or rollover, be sure to follow all precautions and
recommendations:
• Be sure to store cargo properly and do not exceed your cargo load limits.
2 Maximum Load Limit P. 449
•Whenever you drive, make su re you and your passengers always wear seat belts.
• Keep your speed low, and never go faster than the conditions allow.
• It’s up to you to continually assess the situation and drive within the limits.
1Off-Highway Driving Guidelines
Failure to operate your vehi cle correctly might result
in a crash or a rollover. 2 Important Handling Information P. 30
2 Precautions While Driving P. 470
Spinning the tires can al so damage the SH-AWD ®
system.
3WARNING
Improperly operating this vehicle on or off
pavement can cause a crash or rollover in
which you and your passengers could be
seriously injured or killed.
• Follow all instructions and guidelines in
this owner’s manual.
• Keep your speed low, and don’t drive
faster than conditions permit.
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464
uuOff-Highway Driving Guidelines uAvoiding Trouble
Driving
Avoiding Trouble
• Check Out Your Vehicle before you leave the pavement and make sure that all
scheduled maintenance has been comple ted. Pay special attention to the
condition of the tires, an d check the tire pressures.
• Remember the route you choose presents limit s (too steep or bumpy), you have
limits (driving skill and comfort), and your vehicle has limits (traction, stability, and
power). Failing to recognize these limits will likely put you and your passengers in
a hazardous situation.
• Accelerating and Braking should be done slowly and gradually. Trying to start
or stop too fast can cause a loss of traction and you could lose control.
• Avoiding Obstacles and Debris in the road reduces the likelihood of a rollover
or damage to your suspension or other components.
• Driving on Slopes increases your risk of a rollover, particularly if you attempt to
drive across a slope that is too steep. Going straight up or down a slope is usually
the safest. If you can’t clearly see all cond itions or obstacles on a slope, walk it
before you drive it. If there is any doubt whether you can safely pass, don’t try it.
Find another route. If you get stuck when climbing, do not try to turn around.
Back down slowly following the same route you took up the hill.
• Crossing a Stream - Avoid driving through deep water. If you encounter water
in your route (a small stream or large pu ddle, for example), evaluate it carefully
before going ahead. Make sure it is shallow, flowing slowly, and has firm ground
underneath. If you are not sure of the depth or the ground, turn around and find
another route. Driving through deep water can also damage your vehicle. The
water can get into the transmission and differential, diluting the lubricant and
causing an eventual failure. It can also wash the grease out of the wheel bearings.
• If You Get Stuck , carefully go in the direction that you think will get you
unstuck. Do not spin the tires as this will only make things worse and could
damage the transmission. If you are unable to free yourself, your vehicle will need
to be towed. Front and rear tow hooks are provided for this purpose.
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Continued495
uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF)
Driving
The system may automatically shut off and the ACC indicator will come on under
certain conditions. Some examples of thes e conditions are listed below. Other
conditions may reduce some of the ACC functions.
2 Front Sensor Camera P. 487
■Environmental conditions
Driving in bad weather (r ain, fog, snow, etc.).
■Roadway conditions
Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obscure d lane marking, vehicle tracks, reflected
lights, road spra y, high contrast).
■Vehicle conditions
• The outside of the windshield is blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet snow, etc.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (Wro ng sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• The parking brake is applied.
• When the front grille is dirty.
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heavy load or su spension modifications.
• When tire chains are installed.
■ACC with LSF Conditions and Limitations1ACC with LSF Conditions and Limitations
The radar sensor for ACC with LSF is shared with the
Collision Mitigati on Braking System
TM (CMBSTM).
2 Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM
(CMBSTM) P. 536
You can read about handling information for the
camera equipped with this system. 2 Front Sensor Camera P. 487
Always keep the radar sensor cover clean.
Never use chemical solvents or polishing powder for
cleaning the sensor cover. Clean it with water or a
mild detergent.
Do not put a sticker on the radar sensor cover or
replace the radar sensor cover.
* Not available on all models
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Continued501
uuWhen Driving uAdaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low Speed Follow (LSF)
Driving
■Automatic ca ncellation
The beeper sounds and a message appear s on the MID when ACC with LSF is
automatically canceled. Any of these co nditions may cause the ACC with LSF to
automatically cancel:
• Bad weather (rain, fog, snow, etc.)
• When the radar sensor in the front grille gets dirty.
• The vehicle ahead of yo u cannot be detected.
• An abnormal tire condition is de tected, or the tires are skidding.
• Driving on a mountainous road, or driving off road for extended periods.
• Abrupt steering wheel movement.
• When the ABS, VSA ® or CMBS
TM is activated.
• When the ABS or VSA ® system indicator comes on.
• When the vehicle is stopped on a very steep slope.
• When you manually apply the parking brake.
• When the detected vehicle within the AC C with LSF range is too close to your
vehicle.
• When a detected vehicle goes out of the ACC with LSF range while your vehicle
is stationary.
• The camera behind the rearview mirror, or the area around the camera, including
the windshield, gets dirty.
The ACC with LSF automatic cancellation ca n be also triggered by the following
causes. In these cases, th e electric parking brake will be automatically applied.
• The driver’s seat belt is unfastened when the vehicle is stationary.
• The vehicle stops for more than 10 minutes.
• The engine is turned off.
• When trailer stability assist is activated.
2 Trailer Stability Assist P. 460
1Automatic cancellation
Even though ACC with LSF has been automatically
canceled, you can still resu me the prior set speed.
Wait until the condition that caused ACC with LSF to
cancel improves, then press the RES/+/SET/– switch
up.
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508
uuWhen Driving uRoad Departure Mitigation (RDM) System
Driving
■Roadway conditions
• Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obscured lane marking, vehicle tracks,
reflected lights, road spray, high contrast).
• Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.
• Faint, multiple, or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road
repairs or old lane markings.
• The roadway has merging, split, or crossing lines (e.g., such as at an intersection
or crosswalk).
• The lane markings are extremely narrow, wide, or changing.
• The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.
• The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.
• Driving on rough or unpaved roads, or over bumpy surfaces.
• When objects on the road (c urb, guard rail, pylons, etc.) are recognized as white
lines (or yellow lines).
• Driving on roads with double lines.
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is streake d or blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet
snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wrong sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heav y load or suspension modifications.
• When tire chains are installed.
* Not available on all models
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uuWhen Driving uLane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
Driving
■Roadway conditions
• Driving on a snowy or wet roadway (obscured lane marking, vehicle tracks,
reflected lights, road spray, high contrast).
• Driving on a road with temporary lane markings.
• Faint, multiple, or varied lane markings are visible on the roadway due to road
repairs or old lane markings.
• The roadway has merging, split, or crossing lines (e.g., such as at an intersection
or crosswalk).
• The lane markings are extremely narrow, wide, or changing.
• The vehicle in front of you is driving near the lane lines.
• The road is hilly or the vehicle is approaching the crest of a hill.
• Driving on rough or unpaved roads, or over bumpy surfaces.
• When objects on the road (c urb, guard rail, pylons, etc.) are recognized as white
lines (or yellow lines).
• Driving on roads with double lines.
■Vehicle conditions
• Headlight lenses are dirty or the headlights are not properly adjusted.
• The outside of the windshield is streake d or blocked by dirt, mud, leaves, wet
snow, etc.
• The inside of the windshield is fogged.
• The camera temperature gets too high.
• An abnormal tire or wheel condition (wrong sized, varied size or construction,
improperly inflated, compact spare tire
*, etc.).
• The vehicle is tilted due to a heav y load or suspension modifications.
* Not available on all models
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uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Continued
Driving
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during corn ering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine outp ut and selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA ® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
The VSA ® may not function properl y if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® system indicator comes on and stays
on while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehi cle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and alwa ys leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA® System
Indicator
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uuWhen Driving uSuper Handling-All Wheel DriveTM (SH-AWD ®)*
Driving
Super Handling-Al l Wheel DriveTM (SH-AWD®)*
The system controls and trans fers varying amounts of engine torque to each wheel
in accordance with the driving conditions.
SH-AWD ® helps to enhance driving stability, and lets you handle situations like
slippery surfaces, such as on wet, icy, or snowy roads, better than when driving with
two wheel drive. However, the system does not help to enhance braking. Be
precautious about the following:
• It is still your responsibility to drive sa fely when you steer, accelerate, and apply
brakes.
• Leave a sufficient margin when braking on slippery surfaces.1Super Handling-All Wheel DriveTM (SH-AWD ®)*
The SH-AWD ® system may not function properly if
tire type and size are mixed.
Make sure to use the same size and type of tire, and
the air pressures as specified. 2 Tire and Wheel Replacement P. 608
Do not continuously spin the front tires of your
vehicle. Continuously spinning the front tires can
cause damage to the transmission and SH-AWD ®
unit.
If the SH-AWD indicator blinks while driving, it
indicates the differential te mperature is too high. If
this happens, pull to the side of the road when it is
safe, change the gear position to
( P, and idle the
engine until the indicator goes out.
* Not available on all models
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