tires Acura TL 2004 User Guide

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.
For convenience, the recommended
tire sizes and cold air pressures are
on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
For additional technical inf ormation,
see page .Youshouldgetyourowntire
pressure gauge and use it 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.
Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires for
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:
If you check the pressures when the
tires are hot (the vehicle has been
driven 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.
Add or release air, if needed, to
match the recommended cold tire
pressures on page .
Tubeless tires have some ability to
self -seal if they are punctured. You
should look closely f or punctures if a
tire starts losing pressure.
Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherortheseconditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord.
Excessive tread wear.
Check the pressure in the tires when
thetiresarecold.Thismeansthe
vehicle has been parked f or at least
three hours. If you have to drive the
vehicle bef ore checking pressures,
the tires can still be considered
‘‘cold’’ if you drive less than 1 mile
(1.6 km).
258
221
Tires
Maint enance
Tire Inspection
222

Your vehicle’s tires have wear
indicators molded into the tread.
When the tread wears down to that
point, you will see a 1/2 inch (12.7
mm) wide band running across the
tread. This shows there is less than
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread lef t on
the tire. A tire that is this worn gives
very little traction on wet roads. You
should replace the tire if you can see
the tread wear indicator in three or
more places around the tire.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.
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.
Move the tires to the positions
shown in the illustration each time
they are rotated. If you purchase
directional tires, rotate only f ront-to-
back.
Tires
Maint enance
T ire Maintenance
T ire Rotation
223
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR Front
Front
(Front Directional
Tires and Wheels)
(Front Non-directional
Tires and Wheels)

´
Wheels:
Tires: See page f or DOT tire quality
grading inf ormation, and page
f or tire size inf ormation.
Tires marked ‘‘M S’’ or ‘‘All
Season’’ on the sidewall have an all-
weather tread design suitable for
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 your vehicle is equipped with
summer tires, be aware that these
tires are not designed f or winter
driving conditions. For more
inf ormation, consult your Acura
dealer.
If you ever replace a wheel, make
sure that the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheels. 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. 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 side wall).
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
anti-lock brake and the vehicle
stability assist systems to work
inconsistently. 258
259
(All season tire)
(Summer tire)
Tires
Maint enance
Replacing T ires Wheel and T ire Specif icationsWinter Driving
Summer T ires
224
17x8.0JJ
P235/45R17 93W
235/45R17 93W 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.

If you mount snow tires on your
Acura, 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.
Because your Acura 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.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
you begin driving on cleared roads.
Tires
Maint enance
Snow T ires
Tire Chains
225
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.

If you need to park your vehicle f or
an extended period (more than one
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 wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk 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.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse
(6-speed manual) or Park
(automatic).
Vehicle Storage
Maint enance227

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).
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces. Use greater caution while
driving.
Do not mount snow chains on it.
Do not use your compact spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel.
Turn of f the VSA system (see
page ).
Driving with the compact spare
tiremayactivatetheVSAsystem. 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 f or mounting a regular tire.
On models with manual
transmission, do not drive f or a
long period with the compact
spare tire mounted on a f ront
wheel; it will damage the limited
slip dif f erential. 191
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed230
INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
(The M/T compact spare is shown.)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)

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There are three popular types of
prof essional towing equipment.
Shif t the transmission to Neutral.
ShifttoD,thentoN.
Turn of f the engine.
The tow
truck uses metal cables with hooks
on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the f rame or suspension and
the cables lif t that end of the vehicle
of f the ground. Your vehicle’s sus-
pension and body can be seriously
damaged.
If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a prof essional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
behind another vehicle with just a
rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
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. If your Acura cannot be transported
by f lat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lif t equipment with the f ront
wheels of f the ground. If , due to
damage, your vehicle must be towed
with the f ront wheels on the ground,
do the f ollowing: Release the parking brake.
Start the engine. Release the parking brake.
Automatic Transmission:
6-speed Manual Transmission:
Sling-t ype Equipment
Flat -bed Equipment Wheel-lif t Equipment
T his method of towing
is unacceptable.
T his is the best way to
transport your A cura.
T his is
an acceptable way to tow your
Acura.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed249
NOTICE: 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 Acura, 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 . 254
................................
Specif ications .256
DOT Tire Quality Grading ......................
(U.S. Vehicles) .258
.................................
Treadwear .258
......................................
Traction .258
.............................
Temperature .259
.................................
Tire Labeling .259 .......................
Emissions Controls .260
.....................
The Clean Air Act .260
Crankcase Emissions Control ....................................
System .260
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .260
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .260
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls . 261
....................
PGM-FI System .261
Ignition Timing Control ................................
System .261
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ...................
(EGR) System . 261
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .261
....................
Replacement Parts . 261
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 262
..............
State Emissions Testing . 263
T echnical Inf ormat ion
T echnical Inf ormation253

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Specif ications
T echnical Inf ormation257
Lights
Battery
Fuses Engine
Alignment
Tires
3.50 x 3.39 in (89.0 x 86.0 mm)
12 V 21/5 W
195.8 cu-in (3,210 cm
)
Water cooled 4-stroke
SOHC VTEC 6-cylinder (V6), gasoline engine
12 V 21 W 12 V 51 W (HB4)
DRL (Canadian models)
Front turn signal/Side marker/
Parking lights
Fog Lights
Rear turn signal lights
Back-up lights
License plate light
Ceiling light
Trunk light
Door courtesy lights
Vanity mirror lights
Spotlights 12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V
12 V21 CP
3CP
5W
5W
2CP
5W
4CP
Capacity 65 AH/20 HR
Interior
Under-hood 12 V51 W (HB3)
12 V
11 : 1
See page 248or the fuse label
attached to the inside of the fuse
box door on each side of the
dashboard.
See page 247or the fuse box
cover. Type
BorexStroke
Displacement
Compression ratio
Spark plugs
Toe-in
Camber
Caster
0.00 in (0.0 mm)
0.08 in (2.0 mm)
0°30’
1°00’
3°17’
P235/45R17 93W 235/45R17 93W IZFR6K-11
SKJ20DR-M11
35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm
)
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm)
32 psi (220 kPa , 2.2 kgf/cm)
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm)
Size
Pressure
T145/70R17 96M T135/80R16 101M
Front
Rear
Front
Rear
Front
NGK:
DENSO:
Front/Rear
Spare
Front
Rear
Spare A/T Vehicles:
M/T Vehicles:
All season tire
Summer tire
Vehicles with manual transmission
Vehicles with automatic transmission
1:
2:
3:
4:
1
2
34

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The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between the tread shoulder and the
maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades. The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices, and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.
The traction grades, f rom 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
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
DOT T ire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
T echnical Inf ormation
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A Treadwear
Traction AA, A, B, C
258