129 1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping
a straight line. Move cautiously off the road
to a safe place well away from the traffic.
Avoid stopping on the center divider of a
highway. Park on a level spot with firm
ground.
2. Stop the engine and turn on your emer-
gency flashers.
3. Firmly set the parking brake and put
the transmission in Pº (automatic) or re-
verse (manual).
4. Have everyone get out of the vehicle
on the side away from traffic.
5. Read the following instructions thor-
oughly.
When jacking, be sure to observe the
following to reduce the possibility
of personal injury:
Follow jacking instructions.
Use the jack only for lifting your
vehicle during wheel changing.
Never get beneath the vehicle
when supported by a jack.
Do not start or run the engine
while your vehicle is supported by
a jack.CAUTION
!
NOTICE
Do not continue driving with a
deflated tire. Driving even a short
distance can damage a tire beyond
repair.
Compact spare tire
The compact spare tire is designed for
temporary emergency use only.
The standard tire should be repaired and
replaced as soon as possible.
The compact spare tire is identified by the
distinctive wording TEMPORARY USE
ONLYº molded into the side wall of the tire.
The compact spare tire saves space in
your luggage compartment, and its lighter
weight helps to improve fuel economy and
permits easier installation in case of a flat
tire.
If you have a flat tireÐ
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When removing the jack, turn the joint by
hand towards the CONTRACT direction
until the jack is free. When storing, turn
the joint by hand towards the EXPAND di-
rection until the jack is firmly secured to
prevent it from flying forward during a col-
lision or sudden braking.To remove the spare tire:
1. Loosen the nut and remove it.
2. Remove the spare tire cover.
3. Loosen and remove the bolt and spacer.
4. Take the spare tire out of the vehicle.
When storing the spare tire, put it in place
with the outer side of the wheel facing up.
Then secure the tire by repeating the
above removal steps in reverse order to
prevent it from flying forward during a col-
lision or sudden braking.
To install the nut, just push it down.To remove the spare tire, loosen the bolt
and remove it.
When storing the spare tire, put it in place
with the outer side of the wheel facing up
and secure it to prevent it from flying for-
ward during a collision or sudden braking.
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133
4. Loosen all the wheel nuts.
Always loosen the wheel nuts before rais-
ing the vehicle.
The nuts turn counterclockwise to loosen.
To get maximum leverage, fit the wrench
to the nut so that the handle is on the right
side, as shown above. Grab the wrench
near the end of the handle and pull up on
the handle. Be careful that the wrench
does not slip off the nut.
Do not remove the nuts yetÐjust unscrew
them about one-half turn.5. Position the jack at the correct jack
point as shown.
Make sure the jack is positioned on a level
and solid place.6. After making sure that no one is in
the vehicle, raise it high enough so
that the spare tire can be installed.
Remember you will need more ground
clearance when putting on the spare tire
than when removing the flat tire.
To raise the vehicle, insert the jack handle
into the jack (it is a loose fit) and turn it
clockwise. As the jack touches the vehicle
and begins to lift, double-check that it is
properly positioned.
Never get under the vehicle when it
is supported by the jack alone.CAUTION
! ÐLoosening wheel nuts ÐPositioning the jack ÐRaising your vehicle
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134
7. Remove the wheel nuts and change
tires.
Lift the flat tire straight off and put it aside.
Roll the spare wheel into position and
align the holes in the wheel with the bolts.
Then lift up the wheel and get at least the
top bolt started through its hole. Wiggle
the tire and press it back over the other
bolts.
On aluminum wheels, put the wheel orna-
ment off from the dismounted wheel by
tapping on the reverse side with the wheel
nut wrench. This prevents the ornament
from being damaged.Before putting on wheels, remove any
corrosion on the mounting surfaces with a
wire brush or such. Installation of wheels
without good metal-to-metal contact at
the mounting surface can cause wheel
nuts to loosen and eventually cause a
wheel to come off while driving. Therefore
after the first 1600 km (1000 miles), check
to see that the wheel nuts are tight.8. Reinstall all the wheel nuts finger
tight.
Reinstall the wheel nuts (tapered end in-
ward) and tighten them as much as you
can by hand. Press back on the tire and
see if you can tighten them more.
ÐReinstalling wheel nuts ÐChanging wheels
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135
9. Lower the vehicle completely and
tighten the wheel nuts.
To lower the vehicle, turn the jack handle
counterclockwise.
Use only the wheel nut wrench to tighten
the nuts. Do not use other tools or any
additional leverage other than your hands,
such as a hammer, pipe or your foot. Make
sure the wrench is securely engaged over
the nut.
Tighten each nut a little at a time in the or-
der shown. Repeat the process until all
the nuts are tight.10. Reinstall the wheel ornament.
The wheel ornament cannot be installed
on the compact spare tire.
Put the wheel ornament into position and
then tap it firmly with the side or heel of
your hand to snap it into place.
Take due care in handling the orna-
ment to avoid unexpected personal
injury.CAUTION
!
11.Check the air pressure of the re-
placed tire.
Adjust the air pressure to the specification
designated in Part 8. If the pressure is
lower, drive slowly to the nearest service
station and fill to the correct pressure.
Do not forget to reinstall the tire inflation
valve cap as dirt and moisture could get
into the valve core and possibly cause air
leakage. If the cap is missing, have a new
one put on as soon as possible.
12. Restow all the tools, jack and flat
tire securely.
As soon as possible after changing
wheels, tighten the wheel nuts to the
torque specified in Part 8 with a torque
wrench and have a technician repair the
flat tire and replace the spare tire with it.
Before driving, make sure all the
tools, jack and flat tire are securely
in place in their storage location to
reduce the possibility of personal
injury during a collision or sudden
braking.CAUTION
! ÐAfter changing wheels ÐLowering your vehicle ÐReinstalling wheel ornament
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159
Keep your tire pressures at the proper
level.
The recommended cold tire pressures,
tire size and the vehicle capacity weight
are also given in Part 8. They are also on
the tire pressure label inside the glovebox.
You should check the tire pressures every
two weeks, or at least once a month. And
don't forget the spare!
Incorrect tire pressure can reduce tire
life and make your vehicle less safe to
drive.Low tire pressure results in excessive
wear, poor handling, reduced fuel econo-
my, and the possibility of blowouts from
overheated tires. Also, low tire pressure
can cause poor sealing of the tread bead.
If the tire pressure is excessively low,
there is the possibility of wheel deforma-
tion and/or tire separation.
High tire pressure produces a harsh ride,
handling problems, excessive wear at the
center of the tire tread, and a greater pos-
sibility of tire damage from road hazards.
If a tire frequently needs refilling, have it
checked by your Toyota dealer.
The following instructions for check-
ing tire pressure should be observed:
The pressure should be checked
only when the tires are cold. If your
vehicle has been parked for at least 3
hours and has not been driven for
more than 1.5 km or 1 mile since, you
will get an accurate cold tire pressure
reading.
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of a tire can be mis-
leading. Besides, tire pressures that
are even just a few pounds off can de-
grade handling and ride.Take special care when adding air
to the compact spare tire. The small-
er tire size can gain pressure very
quickly. Add compressed air in small
quantities and check the pressure
often until it reaches the specified
pressure.
Do not bleed or reduce tire pres-
sure after driving. It is normal for the
tire pressure to be higher after driving.
Never exceed the vehicle capacity
weight. The passenger and luggage
weight should be located so that the
vehicle is balanced.
Be sure to reinstall the tire inflation
valve caps. Without the valve caps,
dirt or moisture could get into the valve
core and cause air leakage. If the caps
have been lost, have new ones put on
as soon as possible.
Checking tire pressure
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160
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire tread for the tread wear
indicators. If the indicators show, re-
place the tires.
The tires on your Toyota have built-in
tread wear indicators to help you know
when the tires need replacement. When
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06 in.)
or less, the indicators will appear. If you
can see the indicators in two or more adja-
cent grooves, the tire should be replaced.
The lower the tread, the higher the risk of
skidding.
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost
if the tread wears down below 4 mm
(0.16 in.).Check the tires regularly for damage
such as cuts, splits and cracks. If any
damage is found, consult with a tech-
nician and have the tire repaired or re-
placed.
Even if the damage does not appear seri-
ous, a qualified technician should ex-
amine the damage. Objects which have
penetrated the tire may have caused in-
ternal damage.
Any tires which are over six years old
must be checked by a qualified techni-
cian even if damage is not obvious.
Tires deteriorate with age even if they
have never or seldom been used.
This also applies to the spare tire and tires
stored for future use.
REPLACING YOUR TIRES
When replacing a tire, use only the
same size and construction as origi-
nally installed and with the same or
greater load capacity.
Using any other size or type of tire may se-
riously affect handling, ride, speedome-
ter/odometer calibration, ground clear-
ance, and clearance between the body
and tires or snow chains.
CAUTION!
Do not mix radial, bias belted, or
bias-ply tires on your vehicle. It
can cause dangerous handling
characteristics, resulting in loss of
control.
Do not use tires or wheels other
than the manufacturer's recom-
mended size.
Toyota recommends all four tires, or at
least both of the front or rear tires be
replaced at a time as a set.
See If you have a flat tireº in Part 4 for tire
change procedure.
When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect vehicle
handling and tire life. Wheels can get out
of balance with regular use and should
therefore be balanced occasionally.
When replacing a tubeless tire, the air
valve should also be replaced with a
new one.
Checking and replacing tires
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161
To equalize the wear and help extend
tire life, Toyota recommends that you
rotate your tires every 12000 km (7500
miles). However, the most appropriate
timing for tire rotation may vary ac-
cording to your driving habits and
road surface conditions.
See If you have a flat tireº in Part 4 for tire
change procedure.
When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usu-
ally caused by incorrect tire pressure, im-
proper wheel alignment, out-of-balance
wheels, or severe braking.
CAUTION!
Do not include a compact spare tire
when rotating the tires. It is designed
for temporary use only.WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR
CHAINS
Snow tires or chains are recom-
mended when driving on snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires
provide better traction than snow tires.
SNOW TIRE SELECTION
If you need snow tires, select the same
size, construction and load capacity
as the original tires on your Toyota.
Do not use tires other than those men-
tioned above. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions.
SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION
Snow tires should be installed on all
wheels.
Installing snow tires on the front wheels
only can lead to an excessive difference
in road grip capability between the front
and rear tires which would cause loss of
vehicle control.
When storing removed tires, you should
store them in a cool dry place.
Mark the direction of rotation and be sure
to install them in the same direction when
replacing.
Installing snow tires and chains Rotating tires
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