Page 622 of 700

621
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uDOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
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 asph alt 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 heat when te sted 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 ex cessive temperature 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.
Page 623 of 700
622
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uWear Indicators
Maintenance
Wear Indicators
The groove where the wear indicator is
located is about 1/16 inch (about 1.6 mm)
shallower than elsewhere on the tire. If the
tread has worn so that the indicator is
exposed, replace the tire. Worn out tires
have poor 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 pre ssure, maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even when 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, regardless of their condition or state of wear.
Example of a Wear
Indicator mark
Page 624 of 700
623
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire and Wheel Replacement
Maintenance
Tire and Wheel Replacement
Replace your tires with radials of the same size, load range, speed rating, and
maximum cold tire pressure rating (as shown on the tire’s sidewall). Using tires of a
different size or construction can cause ce rtain vehicle systems such as the ABS and
Vehicle Stability Assist
TM (VSA ®) system to work incorrectly.
It is best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that isn’t possible, replace the
front or rear tires in pairs.
Make sure that the wheel’s specifications match those of the original wheels.
1 Tire and Wheel Replacement
3WARNING
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.
Page 625 of 700
624
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uTire Rotation
Maintenance
Tire Rotation
Rotating tires according to the maintena nce messages on the driver information
interface helps to distribute wear more evenly and increase tire life.
■Tires without rotation marks Rotate the tires as shown here.
■Tires with rotation marksRotate the tires as shown here.
1Tire Rotation
Tires with directional trea d patterns should only be
rotated front to back (not fr om one side to the other).
Directional tires should be mounted with the rotation
indication mark facing forward, as shown below.
Whenever tires are rotated, you must calibrate the
TPMS. 2 TPMS Calibration P. 463
Front
Direction Mark
U.S. models
Front
Front
Page 626 of 700

625
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uWinter Tires
Continued
Maintenance
Winter Tires
If driving on snowy or frozen roads, mount all season marked M+S tires, snow tires,
or tire chains; reduce speed; and maintain sufficient distance between vehicles when
driving.
Be particularly careful wh en operating the steering wheel or brakes to prevent
skidding.
Use tire chains, snow tires, or all season tires when necessary or according to the
law.
When mounting, refer to the following points.
For winter tires:
• Select the size and load ranges that are the same as the original tires.
• Mount the tires to all four wheels.1Winter Tires
NOTICE
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.
3WARNING
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 instruction s in this owner’s
manual regarding the selection and use of
tire chains.
Page 627 of 700
uuChecking and Maintaining Tires uWinter Tires
626
Maintenance
For tire chains:
• Install them on the front tires only.
• Because your vehicle has limited tire cl earance, we strongly recommend using the
chains listed below:
• Follow the chain manufacturer’s instruction when installing. Mount them as
tightly as you can.
• Check that the chains do not to uch the brake lines or suspension.
• Drive slowly.
Your vehicle’s tires are not suitable for mounting any traction device.
Cable-type: SCC Ra dial Chain SC1032
Cable-type: SCC Radial Chain SC1032
Cable-type: SCC Radial Chain SC1034
1Winter Tires
When tire chains are mounted, follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructi ons regarding vehicle
operational limits.
If your vehicle is equipp ed with summer tires, be
aware that these tires are not designed for winter
driving conditions. For more information, contact a
dealer.
Models with 215/55R16 tires
Models with 215/50R17 tires
Models with 235/40R18 tires
Page 642 of 700

641Continued
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 a firm, level, non-slippery surface and apply the parking brake.
2. Put the transmission into
(P.
3. Turn on the hazard warning lights an d set the power mode to VEHICLE OFF.
1Changing a Flat Tire
Follow compact spare precautions:
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 us e 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.
NOTICE
Do not use the jack if it doesn’t work properly. Call
your dealer or a prof essional towing service.
Page 664 of 700

663
uuIndicator, Coming On/BlinkinguIf the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator Comes On or Blinks
Handling the Unexpected
If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator Comes On or
Blinks
■Reasons for the indicator to come on or blink
A tire pressure is significantly low, or the TPMS has not been calibrated.
If there is a problem with the TPMS, the indicator blinks for about one
minute, and then stays on.
If the compact spare tire is installed, the indicator will either come on or
it will first blink for about one minute, then stay on.
■What to do when th e indicator comes on
Drive carefully and avoid abrupt cornering and hard braking.
Stop your vehicle in a safe place. Ch eck the tire pressure and adjust the
pressure to the specified level. The sp ecified tire pressure is on a label on
the driver side doorjamb.
u Calibrate the TPMS after the tire pressure is adjusted.
2 TPMS Calibration P. 463
If the compact spare tire causes th e indicator to come on, change the
tire to a full-size tire. The indicato r goes off after calibrating the TPMS.
■What to do when the indicator blinks, then remains on
Have the tire inspected by a dealer as soon as possible. If the compact
spare tire causes the indicator to firs t blink, and then stay on, change the
tire to a full- size tire. The indicator goes off after calibrating the TPMS.
2 TPMS Calibration P. 463
U.S. models
1If the Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator Comes On or Blinks
NOTICE
Driving on an extremely unde rinflated tire can cause
it to overheat. An overheated tire can fail. Always
inflate your tires to the prescribed level.