1997 TOYOTA RAV4 tires

174
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 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, speedomeet-
er/odometer calibration, ground clear-
ance, and clearance between the body
and tires or snow chains.
Checking and replacing tires

175
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 tire or wheels other than
the manufacturer's recommended size.
Do not use tires of different brands,
sizes and constructions. This may
damage the drive system.
NOTICE
Never use second-hand tires on your
Toyota. Using tires whose previous history is un- known is a risk.
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.
With a spare tire of the same wheel
type as the installed tires
With a spare tire of different wheel type
from the installed tires
Rotating tires

176To equalize tire 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 even wear
and damage. Abnormal wear is usually
caused by incorrect tire pressure, improp-
er wheel alignment, out-of-balance
wheels, or severe braking. 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 tires of
the same size, construction and loadcapacity as the original tires on your
Toyota. Make sure all the snow tires
are the same brand.
Do not install studded tires without first checking local regulations for possible re- strictions.
NOTICE
Do not use tires of different brands, sizes and constructions. This may
damage the drive system.
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 whenreplacing.
CAUTION!
Do not drive with the snow tires in- correctly inflated.
Never drive over 120 km/h (75
mph) with any type of snow tires.
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION Use tire chains of the correct size.
Two-wheel drive models:
Use only genuine Toyota tire chains or
equivalent for use on the RAV4.
Installing snow tires and chains

177
NOTICE
If the wrong combination of tire and chain is used, the chains could
damage the vehicle body.
* RAV4 genuine tire chains (Part No. 08329-42801)
Laws about using tire chains vary ac-
cording to locality and type of road, so
always check your local laws before
you install tire chains.
CHAIN INSTALLATION Four-wheel drive models:
Install the chains on the rear tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the front tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5 '1.0 km
(1/4 '1/2 mile).
Two-wheel drive models: Install the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. Do not use tire
chains on the rear tires. Retighten
chains after driving 0.5 '1.0 km
(1/4 '1/2 mile). When installing chains on your tires, care- fully follow the instructions of the chain
manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so remove the covers before putting on the chains.
CAUTION!
Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or
the chain manufacturer's recom-
mended speed limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully avoiding bumps,
holes, and sharp turns, which may
cause the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked-
wheel braking, as use of chains
may adversely affect vehicle han- dling. WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS
If you have wheel damage such as
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion,
the wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the
tire may slip off the wheel or they may cause loss of handling control. WHEEL SELECTION
When replacing wheels, care should
be taken to ensure that the wheels are
replaced by ones with the same load
capacity, diameter, rim width, and off-set.
Correct
replacement wheels are available
at your Toyota dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type may ad-
versely affect handling, wheel and bear-
ing life, brake cooling, speedometer/
odometer calibration, stopping ability,
headlight aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance, and tire or snow chain clearance to the body and chassis.
Replacing wheels

178Replacement
with used wheels is not rec-
ommended as they may have been sub- jected to rough treatment or high mileage
and could fail without warning. Also, bent
wheels which have been straightened
may have structural damage and there-
fore should not be used. Never use an in-
ner tube in a leaking wheel which is de-
signed for a tubeless tire.
NOTICE
Do not use wheels of different brands, sizes and types. This may
damage the drive system.
After driving your vehicle the first 1600
km (1000 miles), check that the wheel
nuts are tight.
If you have rotated, repaired, or
changed your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving
1600 km (1000 miles).
When using tire chains, be careful not
to damage the aluminum wheels.
Use only the Toyota wheel nuts and
wrench designed for your aluminumwheels.
When balancing your wheels, use only
Toyota balance weights or equivalent
and a plastic or rubber hammer.
As with any wheel, periodically checkyour aluminum wheels for damage. If
damaged, replace immediately.
Aluminum wheel precautions

Part 8193
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions and weight
Engine
Fuel

Service specifications
Tires
Fuses

194
2-door models4-door models
215/70R16 tires235/60R16 tires215/70R16 tires235/60R16 tires
Overall length mm (in.)3740 (147.2)3755 (147.8)4150 (163.4)4165 (164.0)
Overall width mm (in.)1695 (66.7)1760 (69.3)1695 (66.7)1760 (69.3)
Overall height mm (in.)1655 (65.2)*1
1645 (64.8) *21636 (64.4)1660 (65.4)*1
1650 (65.0) *21640 (64.6
)
Wheelbase mm (in.)2200 (86.6)2200 (86.6)2410 (94.9)2410 (94.9)
Front tread mm (in.)1460 (57.5)1480 (58.3)1460 (57.5)1480 (58.3)
Rear tread mm (in.)1465 (57.7)*3
1470 (57.9) *41490 (58.7)1465 (57.7)*3
1470 (57.9) *41490 (58.7)
Vehicle capacity weight
(occupants + luggage) kg(lb)
720 (1588)
801 (1766)*3
794 (1751) *4

*1
:Unladen vehicle (four-wheel drive models)
*2
:Unladen vehicle (two-wheel drive models)
*3
:Four-wheel drive models
*4
:Two-wheel drive models
Dimensions and weight

198
Tire size and pressure:
Tire pressure 2
MdlTi i
Tire ressure
kpa (kgf/cm 2
or bar, psi)
Wh l iModelTire sizeFrontRearWheel size
2-door models215/70R 16 99S180 (1.8, 26)180 (1.8, 26)16 X 6JJ 16 X 6.5JJ*
235/60R 16 100H170 (1.7, 25)170 (1.7, 25)16 X 6.5 JJ
4-door models215/70R 16 99S190 (1.9, 28)180 (1.8, 26)16 x 6JJ 16 X 6.5JJ *
235/60R 16 100H170 (1.7, 25)170 (1.7, 25)16 X 6.5JJ
Wheel nut torque, N w m (kgf w m, f w Ibf):
103 (10.5, 76)
*: Vehicles with aluminum wheel
Tires