wheel SUBARU BRZ 2018 Manual PDF

381
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
CAUTION
■If tire inflation pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.
■
Wheel balance
Although the wheels are correctly balanced when the vehicle is first deliv-
ered, they will become imbalanced as the tires wear. An imbalanced wheel
may cause the steering wheel to vibrate slightly at certain vehicle speeds
and may affect the vehicle’s straight-line stability. If you notice abnormal tire
wear or vibration in the steering wheel, contact your SUBARU dealer.
■ Wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment can result in uneven tire wear reducing the stabil-
ity of the vehicle. If you notice uneven tire wear, contact a SUBARU dealer to
have the wheel alignment inspected.

385
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
WARNING
■Proper inflation is critical
to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly inflated, the following conditions may occur
which could lead to an accident resulting in death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
●Air leaking from between tire and wheel
●Wheel deformation and/or tire damage
●Greater possibility of tire damage while driving (due to road hazards,
expansion joints, sharp edges in the road, etc.)
CAUTION
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
If a valve cap is not installed, dirt or moisture may get into the valve and
cause an air leak, resulting in decreased tire inflation pressure.

386
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
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
■ Alloy wheel precautions
● Use only SUBARU wheel nuts and wrenches designed for
use with your alloy 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 alloy wheels when using tire
chains.
● Use only SUBARU genuine balance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

387
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
■When replacing wheels (vehicles with a tire pressure monitoring
system)
The wheels of your SUBARU are equipped with tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters that allow the tire pressure monitoring system to
provide advanced warning in the event of a loss in tire inflation pressure.
Whenever wheels are replaced, the tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must be installed. (
→P. 375)
WARNING
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in
the Owner’s Manual, as this may result in loss of handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a
tubeless tire. Doing so may result in an accident, causing death or seri-
ous injury.
■When installing the wheel nuts
●Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the wheel nuts to be excessively tightened,
leading to bolt or disc wheel damage. In addition, the oil or grease can
cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the wheel may fall off, causing an
accident and resulting in death or serious injury. Remove any oil or
grease from the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
●Be sure to install the wheel nuts with
the tapered ends facing inward.
Installing the nuts with the tapered
ends facing outward can cause the
wheel to break and eventually cause
the wheel to come off while driving,
which could lead to an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
Tapered portion

388 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
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.

407
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
Replacing light bulbs
■ Front side marker lights
Turn the steering wheel in the
opposite direction of the light to
be replaced.
Turn the steering wheel to a point
that allows your hand to easily fit
between the tire and fender liner.
Remove the clips and partly
remove the fender liner.
To prevent damage to the vehicle,
cover the tip of the screwdriver
with a rag.
Release the light's claw.
Insert the screwdriver into the
hole. While firmly pushing the
screwdriver forward, move it
towards the inside of the vehicle.
To prevent damage to the vehicle,
wrap the tip of the screwdriver
with a tape.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3

5
When trouble arises
419
5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
If your vehicle needs to be towed
Emergency towingIf a tow truck is not available in an emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or chain secured to the emergency
towing eyelet to move the vehicle to a safe location or to free a stuck
vehicle from sand or snow. This should only be attempted on hard
surfaced roads for short distances at low speeds.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer and operate the brakes. The
vehicle's wheels, drive train, axles, steering and brakes must be in
good condition.
For vehicles with an automatic transmission, only the front towing
eyelet may be used. Towing eyelet
If towing is necessary, we recommend having your vehicle towed by
your SUBARU dealer or a comme rcial towing service, using a flat
bed truck.
The vehicle must be secured properly with safety chains. Each
safety chain should be equally tightened and care must be taken not
to pull the chains so tightly that the suspension bottoms out.

5
When trouble arises
421
5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
Installing towing eyelet
Remove the eyelet cover using a flathead screwdriver.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, cover the tip of the screwdriver
with a rag.
Front
CAUTION
■To prevent causing serious damage to the transmission in emergency
towing (vehicles with an automatic transmission)
Never tow a vehicle from the rear with four wheels on the ground. This may
cause serious damage to the transmission.
■ To prevent damage to the vehicle
● When towing this vehicle, make sure to observe the following:
• Do not use a wire rope
• Keep vehicle speed below 20 mph (30 km/h) and do not tow for dis-
tances over 19 miles (30 km)
• Tow the vehicle in the forward direction
• Do not apply rope to the vehicle's suspension and so forth
● Do not tow another vehicle, boat (trailer) and so forth, that is heavier than
this vehicle.
■ When towing down a long slope
Use a wheel lift-type or flat bed truck. ( →P. 424, 425)
If a wheel lift-type or flat bed truck is not used, the brakes may overheat,
leading to poor brake performance.
STEP 1

422 5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)Rear
Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by
hand.
Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a wheel nut
wrench.
STEP 2
STEP 3
■Location of the emergency towing eyelet
→ P. 457

424 5-1. Essential information
BRZ_U (A4450BE-A)
CAUTION
■To prevent body damage
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either from the front or rear.
■ Towing with a wheel lift-type truck is not recommended
If a flat bed truck is not available, ob serve the following precautions to pre-
vent damage to the drive train or body.
From the front
From the rear
Never tow a vehicle from the front with
the rear wheels on the ground.Use a tow-
ing dolly under the rear wheels.
Ensure that the front lower body compo-
nents have adequate clearance to pre-
vent contact with the road surface under
all conditions.
Vehicles without a keyless access with
push button start system: Turn the engine
switch to the “ACC” position so that the
steering wheel is unlocked.
Vehicles with a keyless access with push
button start system: Turn the push-button
ignition switch to “ACC” mode so that the
steering wheel is unlocked.