HONDA 2015 Civic Hybrid - Owner's Guide - Manual (Page 58)

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MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE
Temperature
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 conditions on a specifi ed indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature 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 corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
WARNING: The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that
is properly infl ated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfl ation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ( TPMS) - Required Federal
Explanation
U.S. models
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly
when cold and infl ated to the infl ation pressure recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire infl ation pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire infl ation pressure label, you should determine the
proper tire infl ation 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 when one or more of your tires is signifi cantly
underinfl ated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop
and check your tires as soon as possible, and infl ate them to the proper
pressure.
Driving on a signifi cantly underinfl ated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Underinfl ation also reduces fuel effi ciency and 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 maintenance,
and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even if
underinfl ation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction
indicator is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the system
detects a malfunction, the telltale will fl ash for approximately one minute
and then remain continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able
to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
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.