1999 LEXUS SC300 tire type

STARTING AND DRIVING
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Brake pad wear limit indicators
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Types of tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
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THREE±WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

STARTING AND DRIVING
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TYPES OF TIRES
Determine what kind of tires your vehicle is originally
equipped with.
1. Summer tires
Summer tires are high±speed capability tires best suited to
highway driving under dry conditions.
Since summer tires do not have the same traction
performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow±covered or icy roads. For driving on
snow±covered or icy roads, we recommend using snow tires.
If installing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
2. All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow
and to be adequate for driving in most winter conditions, as
well as for use all year round.
All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose
snow. Also, all season tires fall short in acceleration and
handling performance compared with summer tires in
highway driving.

DRIVING TIPS
260

Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. It can cause dangerous overheating,
needless wear, and poor fuel economy.

To drive down a long or steep hill, reduce your speed
and downshift. Remember, if you ride the brakes
excessively, they may overheat and not work
properly. See page 234.

Be careful when accelerating, upshifting,
downshifting or braking on a slippery surface. The
abrupt change in engine speed, such as sudden
acceleration or engine braking, could cause the
vehicle to spin or skid.

Do not drive in excess of the speed limit. Even if the
legal speed limit permits it, do not drive over 140
km/h (85 mph) unless your vehicle has high±speed
capability tires. Driving over 140 km/h (85 mph)
may result in tire failure, loss of control and possible
injury. Be sure to consult a tire dealer to determine
whether the tires on your vehicle are high±speed
capability tires or not before driving at such speeds.

Do not continue normal driving when the brakes are
wet. If they are wet, your vehicle will require a
longer stopping distance, and it may pull to one side
when the brakes are applied. Also, the parking
brake will not hold the vehicle securely.WINTER DRIVING TIPS
Make sure you have a proper freeze protection of engine
coolant.
Your coolant must contain ethylene±glycol type coolant for
a proper corrosion protection of aluminum components. Use
ºToyota Long Life Coolantº or equivalent. See ºChecking
the engine coolant levelº on page 347 for instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use alcohol type antifreeze or plain water alone.
When it is extremely cold, we recommend to use 60%
solution for your Lexus, to provide protection down to about
±50 C (±58F). Do not use more than 70% solution for better
coolant performance.
Check the condition of the battery and cables.
Cold temperatures reduce the capacity of any battery, so it
must be in top shape to provide enough power for winter
starting. Page 380 tells you how to visually inspect the
battery. Your Lexus dealer and most service stations will be
pleased to check the battery charge level.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for the cold
weather.
See page 346 for recommended viscosity. Leaving a heavy
summer oil in your vehicle during winter months may cause
harder starting. If you are not sure about which oil to use, call

DRIVING TIPS
266
Tires

Ensure that your vehicle's tires are properly inflated.
Adjust the tire pressure to the recommended cold tire
pressure indicated below:
SC400, SC 300 ± Front 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 32 psi)
Rear 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 32
psi)

The trailer tires should be inflated to the pressure
recommended by the trailer manufacturer in respect to the
total trailer weight.
Trailer lights

Trailer lights must comply with federal, state/provincial
and local regulations. See your local recreational vehicle
dealer or rental agency for the correct type of wiring and
relays for your trailer. Check for correct operation of the
turn signals and stop lights each time you hitch up. Direct
splicing may damage your vehicle's electrical system and
cause a malfunction of your lights.
Break±in schedule

Lexus recommends that you do not tow a trailer with a new
vehicle or a vehicle with any new power train component
(engine, transmission, differential, wheel bearing, etc.) for
the first 800 km (500 miles) of driving.
Maintenance

If you tow a trailer, your vehicle will require more frequent
maintenance due to the additional load. For this
information, please refer to the scheduled maintenance
information in the ºOwner's Manual Supplement/
Maintenance Scheduleº.

Retighten all fixing bolts of the towing ball and bracket
after approximately 1000 km (600 miles) of trailer driving.
Pre±towing safety check

Check that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or
unloaded trailer is hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle has
an abnormal nose±up or nose±down condition, and check
for improper tongue load, overload, worn suspension or
other possible causes.

Make sure the trailer cargo is securely loaded so that it
cannot shift.

Check that your rear view mirrors conform to any federal,
state/provincial or local regulation. If they do not, install
required rear view mirrors appropriate for towing
purposes.

CHASSIS
368required by law. Warning: The temperature grade of this tire established for a
tire that is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately
or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.
Tire selection
When replacing a tire, use only the same size and
construction as originally 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 between the body and tires or snow
chains.
Do not mix radial, belted, or conventional tires on your
vehicle.
Do not use tires or wheels other than the manufacturer's
recommended size.
It can cause dangerous handling characteristics, resulting in
loss of control. If you need to change from conventional tires
to radial tires or vice versa, replace them as a set.

CHASSIS
370
CAUTION
Snow tires should be inflated as described below, but never
above the maximum cold tire pressure shown on the tire
sidewall.
225/55R16 ... 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 32 psi)
 Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph) with any type of snow
tires.
Tire chain selection
Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary
according to location or type of road. Always check the
local regulations before installing chains.
Use SAE Class ºSº type radial tire chains, with the exception
of radial cable chains or V±bar type chains.
Chain installation
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).
When installing chains on your tires, carefully follow the
instructions of the chain manufacturer.

CHASSIS
372
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, a tire may slip off a
wheel or they may cause loss of handling control.
Replacement with used wheels is not recommended as they
may have been subjected to rough treatment or high mileage
and could fail without warning. Also, bent wheels which have
been straightened may have hidden structural damage and
therefore should not be used. Never use an inner tube in a
leaking wheel which is designed for a tubeless tire.
Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure
that they are equivalent to those rem oved in load capacity,
diameter, rim width, and offset.
Correct replacement wheels are available at your Lexus
dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type may adversely affect
handling, wheel and bearing 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.
ALUMINUM WHEEL PRECAUTIONS
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 Lexus wheel nuts and wrench designed for
your aluminum wheels.
 When balancing your wheels, use only Lexus balance
weights or equivalent and a plastic or rubber hammer.
 As with any wheel, periodically check your aluminum
wheels for damage. If damaged, replace immediately.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
394If the headlights or other electrical components do not
work and the blade type fuses are O.K., check the
cartridge type fuses. If any of the cartridge type fuses are
blown, they must be replaced.
If there is an overload in the circuits from the battery, the fuses
are designed to blow before the entire wiring harness is
damaged.
NOTICE
Before replacing the fuses, have the cause of electrical
overload determined and repaired by your Lexus dealer.