1998 TOYOTA 4RUNNER ground clearance

4RUNNER (1998)
This vehicle is one of the class of
vehicles which have higher ground
clearance and narrower tread in
relation to the height of their center
of gravity to make them capable of
performing in a wide variety of off-
road applications. Specific design
characteristics give it a higher cen-
ter of gravity than ordinary cars. An
advantage of the higher ground
clearance is a better view of the
road allowing you to anticipate
problems. It is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as
conventional two- wheel drive ve-
hicles any more than low- slung
sports cars are designed to perform
satisfactorily under off- road condi-
tions.

4RUNNER (1998)
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 extension in to the jack (it is
a loose fit) and turn it clockwise with
the handle, making sure the handle
remains firmly fitted onto the jack
handle extension. As the jack touches
the vehicle and begins to fit, double-
check that it is properly positioned.
CAUTION
Never get under the vehicle when
the vehicle is supported by the
jack alone.
ÐChanging wheels
7. Remove the wheel nuts and change tires.
Lift the flat tire straight off and put it
aside.

4RUNNER (1998)
Only when you cannot receive a
towing service from a Toyota dealer
or commercial tow truck service,
tow your vehicle carefully in accor-
dance with the instructions given in
ºÐEmergency towingº in this Part.
Proper equipment will help ensure that
your vehicle is not damaged while be-
ing towed. Commercial operators are
generally aware of the state/provincial
and local laws pertaining to towing.
Your vehicle can be damaged if it is
towed incorrectly. Although most oper-
ators know the correct procedure, it is
possible to make a mistake. To avoid
damage to your vehicle, make sure
the following few precautions are ob-
served. If necessary, show this page
to the tow truck driver. TOWING PRECAUTIONS:
Use a safety chain system for all tow-
ing, and abide by the state/provincial
and local laws. The wheels and axle
on the ground must be in good condi-
tion. If they are damaged, use a tow-
ing dolly.
Two- wheel drive modelsÐ
(a) Towing with wheel lift type
truck
From frontÐ Manual transmission:
We recommend using a towing dolly
under the rear wheels. If you do not
use a towing dolly, release the park-
ing brake and put the transmission
in neutral.
Automatic transmission:
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels.
NOTICE
Never tow a vehicle with an auto-
matic transmission from the frontwith the rear wheels on theground, as this may cause serious
damage to the transmission.
From rearÐ Place the ignition key in
the ºACCº position.
NOTICE
When lifting wheels, take care
to ensure adequate groundclearance for towing at the op-posite end of the raised vehicle.
Otherwise, the bumper and/orunderbody of the towed vehiclewill be damaged during towing.
Do not tow with the key re-moved or in the ºLOCKº posi-tion, as the steering lock mech-
anism is not strong enough tohold the front wheels straight
while towing.
(b) Using flat bed truck

4RUNNER (1998)
Tread wear indicator
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire tread for the tread
wear indicators. If the indicators
show, replace the tires.
The tires on your Toyota have built- in
tread wear indicators to help you
know when the tires need replace-
ment. When the tread depth wears to
1.6 mm (0.06 in.) or less, the indica-
tors will appear. If you can see the
indicators in two or more adjacent
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 dam-
age such as cuts, splits and cracks.
If any damage is found, consult
with a technician and have the tire
repaired or replaced.
Even if the damage does not appear
serious, a qualified technician should
examine the damage. Objects which
have penetrated the tire may have
caused internal damage.
Any tires which are over six years
old must be checked by a qualified
technician 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 seriously affect handling, ride,
speedometer/odometer calibration,
ground clearance, and clearance be-
tween the body and tires or snow
chains.

4RUNNER (1998)
CAUTION
Do not drive with the snow
tires incorrectly inflated.
Never drive over 120 km/h (75
mph) with any type of snow
tires.
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION
Use the tire chains of correct size.
Regulations regarding the use of
tire chains vary according to loca-
tion or type of road, so always
check them before installing chains.
CHAIN INSTALLATION
Install the chains on the rear tires
as tightly as possible. Do not use
tire chains on the front tires. Re-
tighten chains after driving 0.5Ð1.0
km (1/4Ð1/2 mile).
When installing chains on your tires,
carefully follow the instructions of the
chain manufacturer.
If wheel covers are used, they will be
scratched by the chain band, so re-
move the covers before putting on the
chains.
CAUTION
Do not exceed 50 km/h (30
mph) or the chain manufactur-
er 's recommended 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
handling.
Replacing wheels
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 offset.
Correct replacement wheels are avail-
able at your Toyota dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type
may adversely affect handling, wheel
and bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer/odometer calibration,
stopping ab ility, headlight aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance, and
tire or snow chain clearance to the
body and chassis.