Tire Pressures And Wear - Subaru WRX-STI Owner's Manual

11-36
Maintenance and service/Tires and wheels
NOTE
. When the wheels and tires strike
curbs or are subjected to harsh treat-
ment as when the vehicle is driven on a
rough surface, they can suffer damage
that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
This type of damage does not become
evident until time has passed. Try not
to drive over curbs, potholes or on
other rough surfaces. If doing so is
unavoidable, keep the vehicle's speed
down to a walking pace or less, and
approach the curbs as squarely as
possible. Also, make sure the tires are
not pressed against the curb when you
park the vehicle.
. If you feel unusual vibration while
driving or find it difficult to steer the
vehicle in a straight line, one of the
tires and/or wheels may be damaged.
We recommend that you drive slowly to
the nearest authorized SUBARU dealer
and have the vehicle inspected.
& Tire pressures and wear
Maintaining the correct tire pressure helps
to maximize the tires service lives and is
essential for good running performance.
Check and, if necessary, adjust the
pressure of each tire (including the spare)
at least once a month (for example, during
a fuel stop) and before any long journey.
Tire placard
Check tire pressure when the tires are
cold. Use a pressure gauge to adjust tire
pressure to the values shown on the tire
placard. The tire placard is located as
shown in the illustration.
Driving even a short distance warms up
the tires and increases tire pressure. Also,
tire pressure is affected by the outside
temperature. It is best to check tire
pressure outdoors before driving the
vehicle.
When a tire becomes warm, the air inside
it expands, causing tire pressure to
increase. Be careful not to mistakenly
release air from a warm tire to reduce its
pressure.
WARNING
Do not let air out of warm tires to
adjust pressure. Doing so will result
in low tire pressure.
NOTE
. The air pressure in a tire increases
by approximately 30 kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
4.3 psi) when the tire becomes warm.
. The tires are considered cold when
the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours or has been driven less
than 1.6 km (1 mile).
Incorrect tire pressure detracts from con-
trollability and ride comfort, and it causes
tires to wear abnormally.
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