Tires SUBARU BRZ 2015 1.G Owner's Manual

323
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
WARNING
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions
may occur and result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
●Poor sealing of the tire bead
●Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
●A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
CAUTION
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or moisture could get into the valve and
cause air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps have
been lost, replace them as soon as possible.

324
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be
replaced. Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or
cause loss of handling control.
■Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that
they are equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter,
rim width, and inset*.
Replacement wheels are available at your SUBARU dealer. * : Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
SUBARU does not recommend using: ● Wheels of different sizes or types
● Used wheels
● Bent wheels that have been straightened
■Aluminum wheel precautions ●Use only SUBARU wheel nuts and wrenches designed for
use with your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
● Use only SUBARU genuine balance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

326
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■Replacing tire inflation pressure warning valves and transmitters
(vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring system)
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warn-
ing valves and transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by your
SUBARU dealer or other qualified service shop. In addition, make sure
to purchase your tire pressure warning valves and transmitters at your
SUBARU dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine SUBARU wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly
with non-genuine wheels.

368
5-1. Essential information
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact your SUBARU dealer as soon as
possible.
■Visible symptoms ●Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
● Engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points
higher than normal
■Audible symptoms ●Changes in exhaust sound
● Excessive tire squeal when cornering
● Strange noises related to the suspension system
● Pinging or other noises related to the engine
■Operational symptoms ●Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
● Appreciable loss of power
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
● Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost
touches the floor

376
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■When a tire is replaced with a spare tire (vehicles with a tire pres-
sure monitoring system)
The compact spare tire is not equipped with a tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will
not turn off even though the flat tire has been replaced with the spare
tire. Replace the spare tire with the repaired tire and adjust the tire infla-
tion pressure. The tire pressure warning light will go off after a few min-
utes.
■If the tire pressure monitoring system is inoperative (if equipped)
The tire pressure monitoring system will be disabled in the following con-
ditions:
(When the condition becomes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters are used.
●If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is
not registered in the tire pressure warning computer.
●If the tire inflation pressure is 55 psi (380 kPa, 3.87 kgf/cm 2
or bar) or
higher.
The tire pressure monitoring system may be disabled in the following
conditions:
(When the condition becomes normal, the system will work properly.)
●If electronic devices or facilities using similar radio wave frequencies
are nearby.
●If a radio set at similar frequencies is in use in the vehicle.
●If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is installed.
●If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, in particular around the
wheels or wheel housings.
●If non-genuine SUBARU wheels are used. (Even if you use SUBARU
wheels, the tire pressure monitoring system may not work properly
with some types of tires.)
●If tire chains are used.
●If a large metallic object which can interfere with signal reception is
put in the trunk.

5
When trouble arises
377
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking
for approximately one minute (if equipped)
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for
approximately one minute when the push-button ignition switch is turned
to “ON” mode (vehicles with a keyless access with push button start sys-
tem) or the engine switch is turned to the “ON” position (vehicles without
a keyless access with push button start system), have it checked your
SUBARU dealer.
WARNING
■If the tire pressure warning light comes on (if equipped)
Be sure to observe the following precautions. Failure to do so could
cause loss of vehicle control and result in death or serious injury.
●Stop your vehicle in a safe place as soon as possible. Adjust the tire
inflation pressure immediately.
●If the tire pressure warning light comes on even after tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment, it is probable that you have a flat tire. Check the tires.
If the tire is flat, change to the spare tire and have the flat tire repaired
by the nearest SUBARU dealer.
●Avoid abrupt maneuvering and braking. If the vehicle tires deteriorate,
you could lose control of the steering wheel or the brakes.
■If a blowout or sudden air leakage should occur (vehicles with a tire
pressure monitoring system)
The tire pressure monitoring system may not activate immediately.

378
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
WARNING
■Maintenance of the tires (vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring
system)
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label (tire and load information label). (If your vehicle has tires of a differ-
ent size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label [tire and load information label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale (tire pressure warning light) when one or more of your tires is sig-
nificantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
(tire pressure warning light) illuminates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driv-
ing on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency an d
tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte-
nance, and it is the driver's responsibility to maintain correct tire pres-
sure, even if under-inflation has not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warning
light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator
to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS mal-
function indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale (tire pres-
sure warning light). When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale
will flash for approximately one minute and then remain continuously illu-
minated. This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups
as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illu-
minated, the system may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended.

5
When trouble arises
379
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
WARNING
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that
prevent the TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS
malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function properly.
CAUTION
■To ensure the tire pressure monitoring system operates properly
(vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring system)
Do not install tires with different specifications or makers, as the tire
pressure monitoring system may not operate properly.

386
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
Replacing a flat tireChock the tires.
Vehicles with steel wheels:
Remove the wheel ornament.Using a flathead screwdriver,
release the wheel ornament’s
claws in the order shown in the
illustration.
To prevent damage to the wheel
and wheel ornament, cover the
tip of the screwdriver with a rag.
STEP 1
Flat tire
Wheel
chock posi- tions
Front Left-
hand
side
Behind the
rear right-
hand side
tire
Right-
hand
side Behind the
rear left-
hand side
tire
Rear Left-
hand
side
In front of
the front
right-hand
side tire
Right-
hand
side In front of
the front
left-hand
side tire
STEP 2

5
When trouble arises
391
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
WARNING
■Using the tire jack
Improper use of the tire jack may lead to death or serious injuries due to
the vehicle suddenly falling off the jack.
●Do not use the tire jack for any purpose other than replacing tires or
installing and removing tire chains.
●Only use the tire jack that comes with this vehicle for replacing a flat
tire.
Do not use it on other vehicles, and do not use other tire jacks for
replacing tires on this vehicle.
●Always check that the tire jack is securely set to the jack point.
●Do not put any part of your body under the vehicle supported by a jack.
●Do not start or run the engine while your vehicle is supported by the
jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is in it.
●When raising the vehicle, do not put an object on or under the jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle to a height greater than that required to
replace the tire.
●Use a jack stand if it is necessary to get under the vehicle.
Take particular care when lowering the vehicle to ensure that no one
working on or near the vehicle may be injured.