Paul's Travel Pictures

Acura MDX Spare Tire Removal Guide
How to lower, inflate and replace the spare tire under the cargo area of a 1st generation 2001 to 2006 Acura MDX.

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog

Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-001
2006 MDX Cargo Area
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-002
Right Side of Cargo Deck
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-003
Pry Open Hoist Cover
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically created to assist owners of the first generation (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006) Acura MDX in lowering the spare tire, checking or adjusting the air pressure (PSI) and replacing it.

Owners of other Acura or Honda vehicles such as the RDX, ILX, TLX, RLX, TL, CL, RSX, RL, TSX, ZDX, NSX, Integra, Pilot, Accord, Civic, Fit, Clarity, CR-V, CR-Z, HR-V, Odyssey, Element  and Ridgeline may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The OEM spare tire is a 16" Goodyear Convenience T155/90D16 (TPC SPEC 508 110M).

(The OEM 17" tire size for the MDX is 235/65R17).

To check and inflate the spare tire, you'll need an automotive tire air compressor and a tire air pressure gauge.



 
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-004
Flip Open Hoist Flap
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-005
Spare Tire Under Cargo Area
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-006
Rotate Counterclockwise
The first step is to open the tailgate door for the cargo area.

Locate the small square access cover for the spare tire hoist mechanism.

Use a plastic pry bar tool or a small flathead screwdriver to lift open the hinged flap.

Move to the left side of the cargo area and open the access cover for the floor jack and lug nut wrench (tire iron).

Place the socket at the end of the tire iron over the spare tire hoist shaft.

Slowly rotate the lug nut wrench in the counterclockwise direction to lower the spare tire down to the ground.

Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-007
Spare Tire Lowered
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-008
Pull Out Retaining Block
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-009
Dirty Old Spare Tire
Continue lowering the spare tire until there is enough slack on the metal braided cable to pass the rubber retaining block through the hole in the center of the spare wheel.

If you need to attach the spare tire to the vehicle due to a flat tire, tighten the lug nuts to about 80 lb-ft of torque.

If you have a garden hose handy, thoroughly clean off the spare tire and inspect it for cracks or damage from road debris.

Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-010
Check Air Pressure
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-011
Goodyear Convenience
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-012
60 PSI Pressure Spec
Use a tire pressure gauge to check the PSI in the spare tire.

I highly recommend the Tekton 5941 Digital Tire Gauge since it has a bright LED lighted display and an LED light on the tip to help you find the tire valve at night.

I recently dropped my old "Slime" branded analog tire gauge which caused it to give very inaccurate readings. I wish I had dropped it sooner since I love using the Tekton so much.

Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-013
T155/90D16 Size
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-014
110M
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-015
The OEM Goodyear Convenience spare tire size is T155/90D16 which is also known as T155/90D16 or T155/90R16.



 

Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-016
Inflating Spare Tire
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-017
Inflate to 60 PSI
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-018
VTM-4 Rear Differential
Inflate the spare tire to about 60 PSI (pounds per square inch). I overshot it and inflated the tire to 62 PSI.

Car tires generally lose about 1 to 2 PSI per month due to slow leakage through the rubber and/or valve.

Be sure to replace the valve cap to protect it from becoming clogged with dust, soot or other road debris.

If you haven't replaced your rear differential fluid recently, now would be a great time to get it done.

Check out my 2001-2006 Acura MDX Rear Differential VTM-4 Fluid Replacement Guide.

Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-019
Tire Iron On Hoist Shaft
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-020
Rubber Retaining Block
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-021
Pass Block Through Hole
Once the spare tire is at the correct pressure, slide it back under the cargo area of the SUV.

Lower the rubber retaining block through the hole in the center of the spare wheel.

Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-022
Block & Cable Secure
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-023
Turn Clockwise - Raise
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-024
Lifting Spare Tire
Turn the tire iron in the clockwise direction on the hoist shaft to raise the spare tire up towards the underside of the vehicle.
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-025
Check Spare Tire - Secure
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-026
Hinged Hoist Cover
Acura-MDX-Spare-Tire-Removal-Inflation-Installation-Guide-027
Pop Cover In Place
Check to see if the spare tire can be moved, rocked, slid or moved around in any way.

If you can move the tire, slowly tighten the hoist shaft in the clockwise direction until the tire can not be moved.

Swing the hinged access cover closed over the hoist shaft.

Gently snap in the access cover to secure it in place.

Be sure to record the spare tire pressure check or replacement in your SUV's service records.

For more, please check out all of my 2001-2006 Acura MDX DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

If you found this guide to be helpful, please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com "Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.)

Main Menu       Home       Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures       Articles       My Blog

 

Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
 All Rights Reserved ®

Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Policy     About Paul & Author Contact Info