flat tire Acura RDX 2012 User Guide

To safely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inflated.
The following pages give more
detailed information on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced.
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.Inflation Guidelines
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life, and riding
comfort.
●Underinflated tires wear unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.●Overinflated tires can make your
vehicle ride more harshly, are
more prone to damage from road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
The tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) will warn you when a tire
pressure is low. See page 390 for
information on the TPMS. Even though your vehicle is
equipped with TPMS, we
recommend that you visually check
your tires every day. If you think a
tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure in each tire at least once a
month. Even tires that are in good
condition may lose 1 to 2 psi (10 to
20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2 kgf/cm
2) per
month. Remember to check the
spare tire at the same time.
Check the air pressures when the
tires are cold. This means the vehicle
has been parked for at least 3 hours,
or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Add or release air, if needed, to
match the recommended cold tire
pressures.
Tires44411/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

If you check air pressures when the
tires are hot (driven for several
miles/kilometers), you will see
readings 4 to 6 psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3
to 0.4 kgf/cm
2) higher than the cold
readings. This is normal. Do not let
air out to match the recommended
cold air pressure. The tire will be
underinflated.
You should get your own tire
pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a
pressure loss is due to a tire problem
and not due to a variation between
gauges.
While tubeless tires have some
ability to self-seal if they are
punctured, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing
pressure. Recommended Tire Pressures
The following charts show the
recommended cold tire pressures for
most normal driving conditions.
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure
for Normal Driving
P235/55R18 99V Front/Rear:
32 psi (220 kPa ,
2.2 kgf/cm
2)
The compact spare tire pressure is:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
2)
For convenience, the recommended
tire sizes and cold tire pressures are
on a label on the driver's doorjamb.
For additional information about your
tires, see page 484. Tire Inspection
Every time you check inflation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for:
●Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions.●Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side of
the tire. Replace the tire if you can
see fabric or cord.●Excessive tread wear.
CONTINUED
Tires
445
Maintenance
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Your tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down, you will see a 1/2
inch (12.7 mm) wide band across the
tread. This shows there is less than
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread left on
the tire.
A tire this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see three
or more tread wear indicators.Tire Service Life
The service life of your tires is
dependent on many factors,
including, but not limited to, driving
habits, road conditions, vehicle
loading, inflation pressure,
maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even
when the tires are not in use).
In addition to your regular
inspections and inflation pressure
maintenance, it is recommended that
you have annual inspections
performed once the tires reach five
years old. It is also recommended
that all tires, including the spare, be
removed from service after 10 years
from the date of manufacture,
regardless of their condition or state
of wear.
The last four digits of the TIN (tire
identification number) are found on
the sidewall of the tire and indicate
the date of manufacture (See
Tire
Labeling on page 484). Tire Maintenance
In addition to proper inflation, correct
wheel alignment helps to decrease
tire wear. If you find a tire is worn
unevenly, have your dealer check the
wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you feel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed from the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.
Improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle's aluminum wheels. Use
only Acura wheel weights for
balancing.
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
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This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If
not, you will also find instructions on
getting your vehicle towed.Compact Spare Tire
....................
454
Changing a Flat Tire
...................
455
If the Engine Won't Start
.............
459
Jump Starting
..............................
461
If the Engine Overheats
..............
463
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
.........
465
Charging System Indicator
.........
465
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
........
466
Brake System Indicator
...............
467
Fuses
..........................................
469
Fuse Locations
............................
473
Emergency Towing
.....................
475
Taking Care of the Unexpected
453
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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Use the compact spare tire as a
temporary replacement only. Get
your regular tire repaired or
replaced, and put it back on your
vehicle as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
2)Follow these precautions:
●Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).●This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road
surfaces. Use greater caution while
driving.●Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare tire.●Do not use your compact spare tire
on another vehicle unless it is the
same make and model.●After the flat tire is replaced with
the spare tire, the low tire
pressure/TPMS indicator stays on.
After several miles (kilometers)
driving with the spare, this
indicator begins to flash, then
stays on again. You will also see a
‘‘
CHECK TPMS SYSTEM ’’
message on the multi-information
display (see page 393).
Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indicator bars. The
replacement should be the same size
and design tire, mounted on the
same wheel. The spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the spare wheel is not
designed for mounting a regular tire.
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR
Compact Spare Tire45411/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

If you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area that is
far away from the traffic lanes.
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
If you are towing a trailer, unhitch
it.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights, and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
3. Open the tailgate. Raise the cargoarea floor lid by lifting it up with
the strap, then remove the lid.
The spare tire, jack, and tools are
under the cargo area floor.
4. Unscrew the wing bolt. Use the hooked end of the wheel nut
wrench extension as a wrench if
the wing bolt is hard to loosen.
Then take the spare tire out of the
cargo area.WING BOLT
JACK SPARE TIRELID
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
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5. Remove the tools, wing bolt andthe jack. To remove the jack, turn
the jack's end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it.
6. Loosen the five wheel nuts 1/2turn with the wheel nut wrench.
7. Place the jack under the jackingpoint nearest the tire you need to
change. Turn the end bracket
clockwise until the top of the jack
contacts the jacking point. Make
sure the jacking point tab is
resting in the jack notch.
WING BOLT for normal tire
JACK TOOLS
WHEEL NUTS
WHEEL NUTS
WHEEL NUT WRENCH
JACKING POINT
Changing a Flat Tire45611/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

8. Use the extension and the wheelnut wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the
ground.
9. Remove the wheel nuts, then remove the flat tire. Handle the
wheel nuts carefully; they may be
hot from driving. Place the flat tire
on the ground with the outside
surface facing up.
10. Before mounting the spare tire, wipe any dirt off the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully; it may be hot from
driving. 11. Put on the spare tire. Put the
wheel nuts back on finger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel nut wrench
until the wheel is firmly against the
hub. Do not try to tighten the
wheel nuts fully.
12. Lower the vehicle to the ground, and remove the jack.
WHEEL NUT WRENCH EXTENSION
BRAKE HUB
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
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13. Tighten the wheel nuts securely inthe same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to:
80 lbf·ft (108 N·m, 11 kgf·m)
14. Store the jack in its holder. Turn the jack's end bracket to lock it in
place. Store the tools.
15. Remove the center cap from theflat tire, and store it in the cargo
area.
16. Place the flat tire face up in the cargo area.
17. Secure the flat tire by screwing the wing bolt back into its hole.
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving.
18. Reinstall the cargo area floor, and close the tailgate.
19. Your vehicle's original tire has a tire pressure monitoring system
sensor. To replace a tire, refer to
Changing a Tire with TPMS (see
page 394).
For spare
tire For normal
tire
Changing a Flat Tire45811/06/16 17:42:51 12 ACURA RDX MMC North America Owner's M 50 31STK650 enu

If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a professional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.(On SH-AWD models)The only way you can safely tow
your vehicle is with flat-bed
equipment.The operator will load
your vehicle on the back of a truck.
Any other method of towing will
damage the drive system. When you
contact the towing agency, inform
them a flat-bed is required.Towing with only two tires on the
ground will damage parts of the all-
wheel-drive system. Your vehicle should
be transported on a flat-bed truck or
trailer.
(Execpt SH-AWD models)There are two ways to tow your
vehicle:Flat-bed Equipment
－ The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck. This is the best way to
transport your vehicle.
Wheel-lift Equipment
－ The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the front tires and lift them off
the ground. The rear tires remain on
the ground. This is an acceptable
way to tow your vehicle. If, due to damage, your vehicle must
be towed with the front wheels on
the ground, do this:
●Start the engine.●Shift to the D position and hold for
5 seconds, then to N.●Turn off the engine.●Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.●Release the parking brake.
CONTINUED
Emergency Towing
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