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Subaru Forester (2023 year). Manual in english - page 32

(516,1)

mended by a vehicle manufacturer.

Reinforced tire

A tire designed to operate at higher
loads and at higher inflation pres-
sures than the corresponding stan-
dard tire.

Rim

A metal support for a tire or a tire
and tube assembly upon which the
tire beads are seated.

Rim diameter

Nominal diameter of the bead seat.

Rim size designation

Rim diameter and width.

Rim type designation

The industry of manufacturer’s des-
ignation for a rim by style or code.

Rim width

Nominal distance between rim
flanges.

Section width

The linear distance between the
exteriors of the sidewalls of an
inflated tire, excluding elevations
due to labeling, decoration, or pro-
tective bands.

Sidewall

That portion of a tire between the
tread and bead.

Sidewall separation

The parting of the rubber compound
from the cord material in the side-
wall.

Snow tire

A tire that attains a traction index
equal to or greater than 110, com-
pared to the ASTM E-1136-93
Standard Reference Test Tire,
when using the snow traction test
as described in ASTM F-1805-00,
Standard Test Method for Single
Wheel Driving Traction in a Straight
Line on Snow-and Ice-Covered
Surfaces, and that is marked with
an Alpine Symbol “ ” on at least
one sidewall.

Test rim

The rim on which a tire is fitted for
testing, and it may be any rim listed
as appropriate for use with that tire.

Tread

That portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.

Tread rib

A tread section running circumfer-
entially around a tire.

Tread separation

Pulling away of the tread from the
tire carcass.

Treadwear indicators (TWI)

The projections within the principal
grooves designed to give a visual
indication of the degrees of wear of
the tread.

Vehicle capacity weight

The rated cargo and luggage load
plus 150 lbs (68 kg) times the
vehicle’s designated seating capa-
city.

Vehicle maximum load on the tire

Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the maximum
loaded vehicle weight and dividing
by two.

Vehicle normal load on the tire

Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each
axle its share of the curb weight,
accessory weight, and normal oc-

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cupant weight (distributed in accor-
dance with Table 1 that is appended
to the end of this section) and
dividing by 2.

Wheel-holding fixture

The fixture used to hold the wheel
and tire assembly securely during
testing.

Table 1 — Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load for
various designated seating capacities

Designated seating

capacity, number of

occupants

Vehicle normal load,

number of occupants

Occupant distribution in a

normally loaded vehicle

2 through 4

2 in front.

5 through 10

2 in front, 1 in second
seat.

11 through 15

2 in front, 1 in second
seat, 1 in third seat, 1 in
fourth seat.

16 through 22

2 in front, 2 in second
seat, 2 in third seat, 1 in
fourth seat.

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Tire care – maintenance and
safety practices

Check on a daily basis that the
tires are free from serious da-
mage, nails, and stones. At the
same time, check the tires for
abnormal wear.

Inspect the tire tread regularly
and replace the tires before their
tread wear indicators become
visible. When a tire’s tread wear
indicator becomes visible, the
tire is worn beyond the accepta-
ble limit and must be replaced
immediately. With a tire in this
condition, driving at even low
speeds in wet weather can cause
the vehicle to hydroplane. Possi-
ble resulting loss of vehicle con-
trol can lead to an accident.

To maximize the life of each tire
and ensure that the tires wear
uniformly, it is best to rotate the
tires every 6,000 miles (10,000
km). For information about the
tire rotation order, refer to “

Replace any

damaged or unevenly worn tires
at the time of rotation. After tire
rotation, adjust the tire pressures
and make sure the wheel nuts
are correctly tightened. For in-
formation about the tightening
torque and tightening sequence
for the wheel nuts, refer to “

Determining compatibility of
tire and vehicle load capaci-
ties

The sum of four tires’ maximum
load ratings must exceed the max-
imum loaded vehicle weight
(“GVWR”). In addition, sum of the
maximum load ratings of two front
tires and of two rear tires must
exceed each axle’s maximum
loaded capacity (“GAWR”). Original
equipment tires are designed to
fulfill those conditions.
The maximum loaded vehicle
weight is referred to Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). And each
axle’s maximum loaded capacity is

referred to Gross Axle Weight Rat-
ing (GAWR). The GVWR and each
axle’s GAWR are shown on the
vehicle certification label located at
the bottom of driver’s side door
pillar.
The GVWR and front and rear
GAWRs are determined by not only
the maximum load rating of tires but
also loaded capacities of the vehi-
cle’s suspension, axles and other
parts of the body.
Therefore, this means that the
vehicle cannot necessarily be
loaded up to the tire’s maximum
load rating on the tire sidewall.

Adverse safety conse-
quences of overloading on
handling and stopping and on
tires

Overloading could affect vehicle
handling, stopping distance, and
vehicle and tire performance in the
following ways. This could lead to
an accident and possibly result in
severe personal injury.

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Vehicle stability will deteriorate.

Heavy and/or high-mounted
loads could increase the risk of
rollover.

Stopping distance will increase.

Brakes could overheat and fail.

Suspension, bearings, axles and
other body parts could break or
experience accelerated wear
that will shorten vehicle life.

Tires could fail.

Tread separation could occur.

Tire could separate from its rim.

Steps for Determining Cor-
rect Load Limit

Locate the statement “The com-
bined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s
placard.

Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.

Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.

The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For ex-
ample, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1,400 lbs. and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in your
vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity
is 650 lbs. (1,400 − 750 (5

150) = 650 lbs.)

Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being
loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed
the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step
4.

If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will
be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to deter-
mine how this reduces the avail-
able cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.

13-3. Vehicle load limit – how
to determine

The load capacity of your vehicle is
determined by weight, not by avail-
able cargo space. The load limit of
your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s side
door pillar. Locate the statement
“The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX lbs” on your
vehicle’s placard.
The vehicle placard also shows
seating capacity of your vehicle.
The total load capacity includes the
total weight of driver and all pas-
sengers and their belongings, any
cargo, any optional equipment such
as a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike
carrier, etc., and the tongue load of
a trailer. Therefore cargo capacity
can be calculated by the following
method.

Cargo capacity = Load limit − (total
weight of occupants + total weight

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of optional equipment + tongue load
of a trailer (if applicable))

For information about vehicle load-
ing, refer to “

Loading your vehicle”

�

P401.

Calculating total and load
capacities varying seating
configurations

Calculate the available load capa-
city as shown in the following
examples:

Example 1A

Vehicle capacity weight of the ve-
hicle is 900 lbs (408 kg), which is

indicated on the vehicle placard
with the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed 900 lbs or
408 kg”.

For example, if the vehicle has one
occupant weighing 154 lbs (70 kg)
plus cargo weighing 662 lbs (300
kg).

Calculate the total weight.

Calculate the available load ca-
pacity by subtracting the total
weight from the vehicle capacity
weight of 900 lbs (408 kg).

The result of step 2 shows that a

further 84 lbs (38 kg) of cargo
can be carried.

Example 1B

For example, if a person weighing
176 lbs (80 kg) now enters the same
vehicle (bringing the number of
occupants to two), the calculations
are as follows.

Calculate the total weight.

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Calculate the available load ca-
pacity.

The total weight now exceeds
the capacity weight by 92 lbs (42
kg), so the cargo weight must be
reduced by 92 lbs (42 kg) or
more.

Example 2A

Vehicle capacity weight of the ve-
hicle is 900 lbs (408 kg), which is
indicated on the vehicle placard
with the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed 408 kg or
900 lbs”.

For example, the vehicle has one
occupant weighing 165 lbs (75 kg)
plus cargo weighing 375 lbs (170
kg). In addition, the vehicle is fitted
with a trailer hitch weighing 22 lbs
(10 kg), to which is attached a trailer
weighing 1,764 lbs (800 kg). 10% of
the trailer weight is applied to the

trailer tongue (i.e. Tongue load =
176 lbs (80 kg)).

Calculate the total weight.

Calculate the available load ca-
pacity.

The result of step 2 shows that a
further 162 lbs (73 kg) of cargo
can be carried.

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Example 2B

For example, if a person weighing
143 lbs (65 kg) and a child weighing
40 lbs (18 kg) now enter the same
vehicle (bringing the number of
occupants to three), and a child
restraint system weighing 11 lbs (5
kg) is installed in the vehicle for the
child to use, the calculations are as
follows.

Calculate the total weight.

Calculate the available load ca-
pacity.

The total weight now exceeds
the capacity weight by 32 lbs (15
kg), so the cargo weight must be
reduced by 32 lbs (15 kg) or
more.

13-4. Uniform tire quality
grading standards

This information indicates the rela-
tive performance of passenger car
tires in the area of treadwear,
traction, and temperature resis-
tance. 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
TEMPERATURE A

The quality grades apply to new
pneumatic tires for use on passen-
ger cars. However, they do not
apply to deep tread, winter type
snow tires, space-saver or tempor-
ary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 12 inches
or less, or to some limited produc-
tion tires.

Uniform tire quality grading standards

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All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.

TREADWEAR

The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under con-
trolled conditions 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 govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
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 the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured

under controlled conditions on spe-
cified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.

WARNING

The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include accelera-
tion, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteris-
tics.

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 con-
ditions on a specified indoor labora-
tory 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 Stan-
dards No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the la-
boratory test wheel than the mini-
mum required by law.

WARNING

The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire
failure.

Uniform tire quality grading standards

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13-5. Reporting safety de-
fects (U.S.A.)

If you believe that your vehicle has a
defect which could cause a crash or
could cause injury or death, you
should immediately inform the Na-
tional Highway Traffic Safety Ad-
ministration (NHTSA) in addition to
notifying Subaru of America, Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar com-
plaints, it may open an investiga-
tion, and if it finds that a safety
defect exists in a group of vehicles,
it may order a recall and remedy
campaign. However, NHTSA can-
not become involved in individual
problems between you, your dealer,
or Subaru of America, Inc.
To contact NHTSA, you may call the
Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-
888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-
9153); go to
http://www.safercar.gov; or write to:
Administrator, NHTSA, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building,
Washington, DC 20590. You can

also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from
http://www.safercar.gov.

13-6. How to contact Trans-
port Canada in order to report
a safety concern relating to
the vehicle (Canada)

Reporting safety defects (U.S.A.)

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