tires Acura RSX 2006 User Guide

The f ollowing pages give more
detailed inf ormation on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced.Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e, and riding
comf ort.
Underinf lated tires wear unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your
vehicleridemoreharshly,are
more prone to damage f rom road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
To saf ely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inf lated.
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 ) per
month. Remember to check the
sparetireatthesametime.
Check the air pressures when the
tires are cold. This means the
vehicle has been parked f or 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 on the next page.
Inf lation Guidelines
Tires
194
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.

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If you check air pressures when the
tires are hot (driven f or several
miles), you will see readings 4 to 6
psi (30 to 40 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4 kgf /cm )
higher than the cold readings. This
is normal. Do not let air out to match
the recommended cold air pressure.
The tire will be underinf lated.
The following charts show the
recommended cold tire pressures f or
most normal driving conditions and
speeds.
Youshouldgetyourowntire
pressure gauge whenever you check
your tire pressures. This will make it
easier f or you to tell if a pressure
loss is due to a tire problem and not
due to a variation between gauges. Thecompactsparetirepressureis:
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. Type-S
1:
2:
3: Canadian standard model
U.S. base model and Canadian
premium models
CONT INUED
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure for
Normal Driving
Front:
Rear:
1
2
3
Recommended Tire Pressures
Normal Driving
Tires
Maint enance
195
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
31 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
31 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm
)
P195/65R15 89H
P205/55R16 89V
P215/45R17 87V

We strongly recommend that you do
not drive f aster than posted speed
limits and conditions allow. If you
decide it is saf e to drive at high
speeds (over 137 mph or 220 km/h)
be sure to adjust the cold pressures
as shown below. If you do not,
excessive heat can build up and
cause sudden tire f ailure.Tire pressure f or high-speed driving
is the same as f or normal driving.
Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:
Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Excessive tread wear.
For convenience the recommended
tire sizes and cold air pressures are
on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
For additional inf ormation about
your tires, see page . When you return to normal speed
driving, be sure to readjust the tire
pressure f or normal driving. You
should wait until the tires are cold
bef ore adjusting the tire pressure.
(Type-S model) 232
Tire Size Cold Tire Pressure forHigh-Speed Driving
Front:
Rear:
Type-S model Except Type-S model
Tires
High-Speed DrivingTire Inspection
196
34 psi (230 kPa ,
2.3 kgf/cm
)
34 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm
)
P215/45R17 87V

Your tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down, you will see a
band 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide across
the tread. This shows there is less
than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread lef t
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.Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance. In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires every 10,000 miles (16,000
km). Move the tires to the positions
showninthecharteachtimethey
are rotated. If you purchase
directional tires, rotate only f ront-to-
back.
For vehicles with aluminum wheels:
Tires
Tire Rotation
T ire Maintenance
Maint enance
197
Front Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
INDICATOR
LOCATION
MARKS
TREAD WEAR
INDICATORS
Improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Acura wheel weights f or balancing.

Wheels:
Tires:
If you ever replace a wheel, make
sure that the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheels.
Replacement wheels are available at
your dealer.
Replace your tires with radial tires of
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall).
Mixing radial and bias-ply tires on
your vehicle can reduce braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy. Using tires of a dif f erent
size or construction can cause the
ABS to work inconsistently.
It is best to replace all f our tires at
thesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, replace the two f ront
tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling.
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading and pagef or tire size explanation.
(Type-S models)
(Type-S models)
(U.S.: Base model, Canada: Premium
models)
(U.S.: Base model, Canada: Premium
models)
(Canada: Standard model) (Canada: Standard model)
232
234
Tires
Wheel and T ire Specif ications
Replacing T ires and Wheels
198
15x6JJ
P195/65R15 89H 16x61/2JJ
17x7JJ
P205/55R16 89V
P215/45R17 87V
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.

´
Tires marked ‘‘M S’’ or ‘‘All
Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design suitable
f or most winter driving conditions.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
If you mount snow tires on your
vehicle, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as original tires. Mount snow tires on
all f our wheels. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
maybelowerthanyouroriginaltires.
Check with the tire dealer f or
maximum speed recommendations. When installing cables, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions, and
mount them as tight as you can.
Make sure they are not contacting
the brake lines or suspension. Drive
slowly with them installed. If you
hear them coming into contact with
the body or chassis, stop and
investigate. Remove them as soon as
youbegindrivingonclearedroads. Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class ‘‘S’’
cable-type traction devices, with
rubber chain tensioners, on the f ront
tires. Use traction devices only when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size f or your tires. Metal link-
type ‘‘chains’’ should not be used.
Tires
Winter Driving
Snow T iresT ire ChainsMaint enance
199
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.

If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter.
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry. Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored f or a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront and rear wiper
blade arms with a f olded towel or
ragsotheydonottouchthe
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and hatch seals. Also, apply a body
wax to the painted surf aces that
mate with the door and hatch seals.Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable’’ cover, one made
f rom a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches f ull
operating temperature (the
cooling f an cycles twice).
Pref erably, do this once a month.
If you store your vehicle f or 12
months or longer, have your dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) Maintenance Schedule (Normal
Conditions) as soon as you take it
out of storage (see page ). The
replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle has
actually reached that time or mileage.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic). 169
Vehicle Storage
Maint enance
201

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 inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:
Follow these precautions:Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces. Use greater caution while
driving. Do not use your compact spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel. Do not mount tire chains on the
compact spare tire.
Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indicator bars. The
replacement tire should be the same
size and design as the original tire
and 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 f or
mounting a regular tire.
Compact Spare Tire
204
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

µµ
CONT INUED
If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
an organization. Never tow your
vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is
very dangerous. With the f ront wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the vehicle no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speedbelow35mph(55km/h).
Release the parking brake. Turn of f the engine.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
Start the engine. Shif t the transmission to neutral. Release the parking brake.
If , due to damage, your vehicle must
be towed with the f ront wheels on
the ground, do this:
Therearetwowaystotowyour
vehicle: The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck.
The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (f ront or rear) and lif t
them of f the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground.
Automatic Transmission:
Manual Transmission:
Emergency Towing
Flat -bed Equipment
Wheel-lif t Equipment
This is the best way to trans-
port your vehicle.
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
vehicle.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
225
Trying to lif t or tow your vehicle by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the vehicle’s weight.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your
vehicle must be transported with the
f ront wheels of f the ground.

Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your vehicle, and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems.................
Identif ication Numbers .228
................................
Specif ications .230
DOT Tire Quality Grading ......................
(U.S. Vehicles) .232
Unif orm Tire Quality ..................................
Grading .232
.................................
Treadwear .232
......................................
Traction .232
.............................
Temperature .233
.................................
Tire Labeling .234.......................
Emissions Controls .235
.....................
The Clean Air Act .235
Crankcase Emissions Control ....................................
System .235
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .235
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .236
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls .236
....................
PGM-FI System .236
Ignition Timing Control ................................
System .236
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .236
....................
Replacement Parts .236
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .237
..............
State Emissions Testing .238
T echnical Inf ormation
Technical Inf ormation
227