Subaru Baja (2006 year). Instruction - part 29

13-8

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

distributing to each axle its share of the curb
weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant
weight and dividing by two.

Tire care – maintenance and safety

practices

Check on a daily basis that the tires are free

from serious damage, 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 be-
comes visible, the tire is worn beyond the ac-
ceptable 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. Possible resulting loss of vehicle
control 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 7,500 miles (12,500 km). Rotating
the tires involves switching the front and rear
tires on the right-hand side of the vehicle and
similarly switching the front and rear tires on the

left-hand side of the vehicle. (Each tire must be
kept on its original side of the vehicle.) Replace
any damaged or unevenly worn tire at the time of
rotation. After tire rotation, adjust the tire pres-
sures and make sure the wheel nuts are correct-
ly tightened. A tightening torque specification
and a tightening sequence specification for the
wheel nuts can be found “Flat tires” section in
chapter 9.

Vehicle load limit – how to determine

The load capacity of your vehicle is determined
by weight, not by available cargo space. The
load limit of your vehicle is shown on the vehicle
placard attached to the driver’s side B-pillar. Lo-
cate the statement “The combined weight of oc-
cupants 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 passengers and their belong-
ings, any cargo, any optional equipment such as
a trailer hitch, roof rack or bike carrier, etc., and

13-9

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

– CONTINUED –

the tongue load of a trailer. Therefore cargo ca-
pacity can be calculated by the following method.

Cargo capacity = Load limit – (total weight of oc-
cupants + total weight of optional equipment +
tongue load of a trailer (if applicable))

For towing capacity information and weight lim-
its, refer to “Trailer towing” in chapter 8.

Calculating total and load capacities vary-
ing seating configurations

Calculate the available load capacity as shown in
the following examples:

Example 1A

Vehicle capacity weight of the vehicle is 800 lbs
(363 kg), which is indicated on the vehicle plac-
ard with the statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed 363
kg or 800 lbs”.

For example, if the vehicle has one occupant
weighing 154 lbs (70 kg) plus cargo weighing
551 lbs (250 kg).

1. Calculate the total weight.

UBD005BA

13-10

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

2. Calculate the available load capacity by sub-
tracting the total weight from the vehicle capacity
weight of 800 lbs (363 kg).

3. The result of step 2 shows that a further 95 lbs
(43 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:

1. Calculate the total weight.

Total weight

= 154 lbs (70 kg) + 551 lbs (250 kg)

= 705 lbs (320 kg)

(Occupant)

(Cargo)

Available Load Capacity

= 800 lbs (363 kg) 705 lbs (320 kg)

= 95 lbs (43 kg)

(Vehicle

capacity weight)

(Total weight)

UB8055BA

13-11

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

– CONTINUED –

2. Calculate the available load capacity.

3. The total weight now exceeds the capacity
weight by 81 lbs (37 kg), so the cargo weight
must be reduced by 81 lbs (37 kg) or more.

Example 2A

For example, the vehicle has one occupant
weighing 165 lbs (75 kg) plus cargo weighing
265 lbs (120 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
(800kg). 10% of the trailer weight is applied to

Total weight

= 154 lbs (70 kg) + 176 lbs (80 kg)

+ 551 lbs (250 kg)

= 881 lbs (400 kg)

(Occupant)

(Cargo)

Available Load Capacity

= 800 lbs (363 kg) 881 lbs (400 kg)

= 81 lbs ( 37 kg)

(Vehicle

capacity weight)

(Total weight)

UBD006BA

13-12

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

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

1. Calculate the total weight.

2. Calculate the available load capacity.

3. The result of step 2 shows that a further 172
lbs (78 kg) of cargo can be carried.

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 occu-
pants 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 fol-
lows:

1. Calculate the total weight.

Total weight

= 165 lbs (75 kg) + 265 lbs (120 kg)

+ 22 lbs (10 kg) + 176 lbs (80 kg)

= 628 lbs (285 kg)

(Occupant)

(Cargo)

(Trailer hitch)

(Tongue load)

Available Load Capacity

= 800 lbs (363 kg) 628 lbs (285 kg)

= 172 lbs (78 kg)

(Vehicle

capacity weight)

(Total weight)

UBD007BA

13-13

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

– CONTINUED –

2. Calculate the available load capacity.

3. The total weight now exceeds the capacity
weight by 22 lbs (10 kg), so the cargo weight
must be reduced by 22 lbs (10 kg) or more.

Determining compatibility of tire and

vehicle load capacities

The sum of four tires’ maximum load ratings
must exceed the maximum loaded vehicle
weight (“GVWR”). In addition, sum of the maxi-
mum 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 Rating (GAWR). The
GVWR and each axle’s GAWR are shown on the
vehicle certification label affixed to the driver’s
door.
The GVWR and front and rear GAWRs are de-
termined by not only the maximum load rating of
tires but also loaded capacities of the vehicle’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.

Total weight

= 165 lbs (75 kg) + 143 lbs (65 kg) + 40 lbs (18 kg)

+ 11 lbs (5 kg) + 265 lbs (120 kg)

+ 22 lbs (10 kg) + 176 lbs (80 kg)

= 822 lbs (373 kg)

(Occupant)

(Cargo)

(Trailer hitch)

(Child restraint)

(Tongue load)

Available Load Capacity

= 800 lbs (363 kg) 822 lbs (373 kg)

= 22 lbs ( 10 kg)

(Vehicle

capacity weight)

(Total weight)

13-14

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

Adverse safety consequences of over-

loading on handling and stopping and
on tires

Overloading could affect vehicle handling, stop-
ping distance, vehicle and tire as shown in the
following. This could lead to an accident and
possibly result in severe personal injury.

Vehicle stability will deteriorate.

Heavy and/or high-mounted loads could in-

crease the risk of rollover.

Stopping distance will increase.

Brakes could overheat and fail.

Suspension, bearings, axles and other parts of

the body 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 Correct Load

Limit

1. Locate the statement “The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX pounds” on your vehicle’s placard.

2. Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX kilograms or XXX
pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For
example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lbs
(635 kg). and there will be five- 150 lbs (68 kg)
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1,400 – 750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available car-
go and luggage load capacity calculated in Step
4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load
from your trailer will be transferred to your vehi-
cle. Consult this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.

13-15

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

– CONTINUED –

Uniform tire quality grading stan-
dards

This information indicates the relative perfor-
mance of passenger car tires in the area of
treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance.
This is to aid the consumer in making an in-
formed choice in the purchase of tires.
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between 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 passenger cars. However, they do not
apply to deep tread, winter type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires
with nominal rim diameters of 12 inches or less,
or to some limited production tires.

All passenger car tires must confirm to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.

Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a comparative rating

based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment 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 mea-
sured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and con-
crete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.

The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction

13-16

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

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 conditions on a
specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and exces-
sive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance 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 laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.

The temperature grade for this tire is es-
tablished for a tire that is properly inflated

and not overloaded. Excessive speed, un-
derinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.

13-17

Consumer information and Reporting safety defects

– CONTINUED –

Reporting safety defects (USA)

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash or could cause in-
jury or death, you should immediately inform
the National Highway Traffic Safety Admin-
istration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying
Subaru of America, Inc.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign.
However, NHTSA cannot become involved
in individual problems between you, your
dealer, or Subaru of America, Inc. To con-
tact NHTSA, you may either call the Auto
Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-800-424-9393
(or 366-0123 in the Washington D.C. area)
or write to: NHTSA, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Washington, D.C. 20590.
You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

Content .. 27 28 29