tire type SUBARU OUTBACK 2006 User Guide

11 - 3 8 Maintenance and service
Tire wear varies from wheel to wheel. To
maximize the life of each tire and ensure
that the tires wear uniformly, it is best to
rotate the tires every 7,500 miles (12,500
km). Rotating the tires involves switching
the front and rear ti res on the right-hand
side of the vehicle and similarly switching
the front and rear tires on the left-hand
side of the vehicle. (Each tire must be kept
on its original side of the vehicle.)
Replace any damaged or unevenly worn
tire at the time of rotation. After tire rota-
tion, adjust the tire pressures and make
sure the wheel nuts are correctly tight-
ened.
After driving approximately 600 miles
(1,000 km), check the wheel nuts again
and retighten any nut that has become
loose.
„ Tire replacementThe wheels and tires are important and in-
tegral parts of your vehicle’s design; they
cannot be changed arbitrarily. The tires fit-
ted as standard equipment are optimally
matched to the characteristics of the vehi-
cle and were selected to give the best pos-
sible combination of running performance,
ride comfort, and service life. It is essential
for every tire to have a size and construc-
tion matching those shown on the tire placard and to have a speed symbol and
load index matching those shown on the
tire placard.
Using tires of a non-specified size detracts
from controllability, ride comfort, braking
performance, speedometer accuracy and
odometer accuracy. It also creates incor-
rect body-to-tire clearances and inappro-
priately changes the vehicle’s ground
clearance.
All four tires must be the same in terms of
manufacturer, brand (tread pattern), con-
struction, and size. You are advised to re-
place the tires with new ones that are
identical to those fitted as standard equip-
ment.
For safe vehicle operation, SUBARU rec-
ommends replacing all four tires at the
same time.
„ Wheel replacement When replacing wheels due, for example,
to damage, make sure the replacement
wheels match the specifications of the
wheels that are fitted as standard equip-
ment. Replacement wheels are available
from SUBARU dealers. y All four tires must be the same in
terms of manufacturer, brand
(tread pattern), construction, de-
gree of wear, speed symbol, load
index and size. Mixing tires of dif-
ferent types, sizes or degrees of
wear can result in damage to the
vehicle’s power train. Use of dif-
ferent types or si zes of tires can
also dangerously reduce control-
lability and braking performance
and can lead to an accident.
y Use only radial tires. Do not use
radial tires together with belted
bias tires and/or bias-ply tires. Do-
ing so can dangerously reduce
controllability, resulting in an ac-
cident.

13-2 Consumer information and Reporting safety defects Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
For U.S.A.
The following information has been com-
piled according to Code of Federal Regu-
lations “Title 49, Part 575”.
Tire information „ Tire labeling Many markings (e.g. Tire size, Tire
Identification Number or TIN) are
placed on the sidewall of a tire by tire
manufacturers. These marking can
provide you with useful information on
the tire. T
Tire size
Your vehicle comes equipped with P-
Metric tire size. It is important to un-
derstand the sizing system in select-
ing the proper tire for your vehicles.
Here is a brief review of the tire sizing
system with a breakdown of its indi-
vidual elements.
V
P Metric
With the P-Metric system, Section
Width is measured in millimeters. To
convert millimeters in to inches, divide
by 25.4. The Aspect Ratio (Section
Height divided by Section Width)
helps provide more dimensional infor-
mation about the tire size. Example:
(1) P = Certain tire type used on light
duty vehicles such as passenger cars
(2) Section Width in millimeters
(3) Aspect Ratio (= section height ÷
section width).
(4) R = Radial Construction
(5) Rim diameter in inches
(6) ZR = Speed category above 149
mph (240 km/h)
V
Load and Speed Rating Descrip-
tions
The load and speed rating descrip-
tions will appear following the size
designation.
They provide two important facts
about the tire. First, the number des-
ignation is its load index. Second, the
letter designation indicates the tire’s
speed rating.P 205 / 50 R 17 (1)
(2) (3) (4) (5)
215 / 45 ZR 17 (2) (3) (6) (5)

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
13-3
– CONTINUED –Example:
(6) Load Index: A numerical code
which specifies the maximum load a
tire can carry at the speed indicated
by its speed symbol, at maximum in-
flation pressure.
For example, “88” means 1,234 lbs
(560 kg), “87” means 1,201 lbs (545
kg), “86” means 1,168 lbs (530 kg)
(7) Speed Rating: An alphabetical
system describing a tire’s capability to
travel at established and predeter-
mined speeds.
For example, “V” means 149 mph
(240 km/h) T
Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Tire Identification Number (TIN) is
marked on the intended outboard
sidewall. The TIN is composed of four
groups. Here is a brief review of the
TIN with a breakdown of its individual
elements. (1) Manufacturer’s Identification Mark
(2) Tire Size
(3) Tire Type Code
(4) Date of Manufacture
The first two figures identify the week,
starting with “01” to represent the first
full week of the calendar year; the
second two figures represent the
year. For example, 0101 means the
1st week of 2001. T
Other markings
The following makings are also
placed on the sidewall. V
Maximum permissible inflation
pressure
The maximum cold inflation pressure
to which this tire may be inflated. For
example, “300 kpa (44 PSI) MAX.
PRESS”
V
Maximum load rating
The load rating at the maximum per-
missible weight load for this tire. For
example, “MAX. LOAD 730 kg (1609
LBS) @ 300 kpa (44 PSI) MAX.
PRESS.”Load indices apply only to the
tire, not to the vehicle. Putting a
load rated tire on any vehicle
does not mean the vehicle can
be loaded up to the tire’s rated
load. P 205 / 50 R 17 88 V Size designation (6) (7) y
Speed ratings apply only to
the tire, not to the vehicle. Put-
ting a speed rated tire on any
vehicle does not mean the ve-
hicle can be operated at the
tire’s rated speed. y
The speed rating is void if the
tires are worn out, damaged,
repaired, retreaded, or other-
wise altered from their original
condition. If tires are repaired,
retreaded, or otherwise al-
tered, they may not be suitable
for original equipment tire de-
signed loads and speeds.
DOT XX XX XXX XXXX (1) (2)
(3) (4)

13-4 Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
V
Construction type
Applicable construction of this tire.
For example, “TUBELESS STEEL
BELTED RADIAL” V
Construction
The generic name of each cord mate-
rial used in the plies (both sidewall
and tread area) of this tire.
For example, “PLIES: TREAD 2
STEEL + 2 POLYESTER + 1 NYLON
SIDEWALL 2 POLYESTER”
V
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG)
For details, refer to “Uniform tire qual-
ity grading standards” in this chapter. Maximum load rating applies
only to the tire, not to the vehi-
cle. Putting a load rated tire on
any vehicle does not mean the
vehicle can be loaded up to the
tire’s rated load.

13-12 Consumer information and Reporting safety defects
Uniform tire quality grading
standards This information indicates the relative
performance of passenger car tires in
the area of treadwear, traction, and
temperature resistance. This is to aid
the consumer in making an informed
choice in the purchase of tires.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall be-
tween tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tem-
perature A
The quality grades apply to new pneu-
matic tires for use on passenger cars.
However, they do not apply to deep
tread, winter type snow tires, space-
saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 12
inches or less, or to some limited pro-
duction tires.
All passenger car tires must confirm
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades. „ Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled con-
ditions on a specified 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 perfor-
mance of tires depends upon the ac-
tual conditions of their use, however,
and may depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving hab-
its, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
„ Traction AA, A, B, C The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent th e tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of as-
phalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance. „ Temperature A, B, C 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 tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high tempera-
ture can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corre-
sponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of per-
formance on the la boratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law. The traction grade assigned to
this tire is b ased on straight-
ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include accelera-
tion, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.

14-8 Index
Rotation ..................................................................... 11-37
Tires ................................................................................. 12-5
Types ......................................................................... 11-33
Tires and wheels ............................................................ 11-33
Top tether anchorages ..................................................... 1-36
Towing .............................................................................. 9-13
All wheels on the ground ............................................. 9-16
Flat-bed truck ............................................................... 9-16
Tie-down hooks ........................................................... 9-13
Weight ......................................................................... 8-21
Trailer
Hitch ............................................................................ 8-18
Hitches ........................................................................ 8-24
Towing ......................................................................... 8-20
Towing tips .................................................................. 8-26
Trip meter .................................................................. 3-7, 3-11
Trunk lid ........................................................................... 2-21
Release handle ........................................................... 2-22
Trunk light ...................................................................... 11-55
Turn signal
Indicator lights ............................................................. 3-24
Lever ........................................................................... 3-32
U
Under-floor storage compartment .................................... 6-16
V
Valet mode ....................................................................... 2-16
Vanity mirror ....................................................................... 6-4
Vehicle
Capacity weight ........................................................... 8-13 Identification ............................................................... 12-10
Vehicle Dynamics Control
OFF indicator light ....................................................... 3-22
OFF switch ................................................................... 7-32
Operation indicator light .......... ..................................... 3-22
System ......................................................................... 7-29
Warning light ................................................................ 3-22
Ventilator ............................................................................ 4-2
W
Warning and indicator lights ............................................. 3-14
Warning lights
ABS ............. ....................................... ............ .............. 3-20
All-Wheel Drive ............................................................ 3-22
Anti-lock Brake System ................................................ 3-20
AT OIL TEMPerature ................................................... 3-18
Brake system ............ ......................... ............ .............. 3-20
Charge ......................................................................... 3-18
CHECK ENGINE ......................................................... 3-17
Door open ................. ......................... ............ .............. 3-22
Low fuel ....................................................... 3-9, 3-13, 3-21
Oil pressure ................................................................. 3-18
Seatbelt ........................................................................ 3-14
SRS airbag system ...... .......................................... ...... 3-16
Vehicle Dynamics Control ................................... 3-22, 7-31
Warranties and maintenance ............................................ 8-20
Washing ............................................................................ 10-2
Waxing and polishing .... ......................... ............ .............. 10-3
Wear indicators ......................... ...................................... 11-37
Wheel
Alignment ..................................................................... 12-5
Balance ...................................................................... 11-37