Subaru Forester Manuals 2015 Forester Owner's Manual | Page 480

Maintenance and service/Tires and wheels Using tires of a non-specified size detracts from controllability, ride comfort, braking performance, speedometer accuracy and odometer accuracy. It also creates incorrect body-to-tire clearances and inappropriately changes the vehicle’s ground clearance. All four tires must be the same in terms of manufacturer, brand (tread pattern), construction, and size. You are advised to replace the tires with new ones that are identical to those fitted as standard equipment. For safe vehicle operation, SUBARU recommends replacing all four tires at the same time. WARNING . When you replacing or installing tire(s), all four tires must be the same for following items. (a) Size (b) Circumference (c) Speed symbol (d) Load index (e) Construction (f) Manufacturer (g) Brand (tread pattern) (h) Degrees of wear For the items (a) to (d), you must obey the specification that is printed on the tire placard. The tire placard is located on the bottom of driver’s door pillar. If all of four tires are not the same for items (a) to (h), there is a possibility that serious mechanical damage could occur to the drive train of your car, and affect the following. — Ride — Handling — Braking — Speedometer/Odometer calibration — Clearance between the body and tires It also may be dangerous and lead to loss of vehicle control, and it can lead to an accident. . Use only radial tires. Do not use radial tires together with belted bias tires and/or bias-ply tires. Doing so can dangerously reduce controllability, resulting in an accident. 11-31 & Wheel replacement When replacing wheels due, for example, to damage, make sure the replacement wheels match the specifications of the wheels that are fitted as standard equipment. Replacement wheels are available from SUBARU dealers. WARNING Use only those wheels that are specified for your vehicle. Wheels not meeting specifications could interfere with brake caliper operation and may cause the tires to rub against the wheel well housing during turns. The resulting loss of vehicle control could lead to an accident. NOTE When any of the wheels are removed and replaced for tire rotation or to change a flat tire, always check the tightness of the wheel nuts after driving approximately 600 miles (1,000 km). If any nut is loose, tighten it to the specified torque.