2002 Lexus ES300 chain

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
275
Towing in this manner may be done only on hardsurfaced
roads
for a short distance and at low speeds. Also, the wheels,
axles, drive train, steering and brakes must all be in good
condition.
CAUTION
Use extreme caution when towing the vehicle. Avoid
sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which would
place excessive stress on the emergency towing eyelet
and towing cable or chain. The eyelet and towing cable
or chain may break and cause serious injury or damage.
NOTICE
Use only a cable or chain specifically intended for use
in towing vehicles. Securely fasten the cable or chain
to the towing eyelet provided.
Before towing, release the parking brake and put the
transmission in “N”. The ignition key must be in “ACC” (engine
off) or “ON” (engine running).
CAUTION
If the engine is not running, the power assist for the
brakes and steering will not work so steering and
braking will be much harder than usual.
(e) Installing front towing eyelet
1. Remove the front towing eyelet cover on the front bumper
using a flatbladed screwdriver. To protect the bodywork,
place a piece of rag over the cover.
2. Use the front towing eyelet in the trunk. Secure it to the hole
on the bumper by turning clockwise. (For the eyelet location,
see page 265.)

SECTION 6 – 3
309
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Chassis
Specifications310
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . .
Checking brake fluid 313
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
.
Checking power steering fluid 314
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Checking tire pressure 315
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Rotating tires 316
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . . . . . .
Checking and replacing tires 316
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing snow tires and chains 319
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Replacing wheels 320
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\
. . .
Aluminum wheel precautions 321
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Suspension and chassis 321
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CHASSIS
318Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature A, B, C The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation
of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for 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
319
INSTALLING SNOW TIRES ANDCHAINS
When to use snow tires or chains
Snow tires or chains are recommended when driving on
snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional or radial tires provide better
traction than snow or studded tires.
Snow tire selection
If you need snow tires, select the same size, construction
and load capacity as the original tires on your Lexus.
Do not use tires other than stated above. Since your vehicle
has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction. 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 could cause loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION
Snow tires should be inflated to the same pressure as
the original tires.
 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 “S” type radial tire chains, with the exception
of radial cable chains or Vbar type chains.
Chain installation
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, carefully follow the
instructions of the chain manufacturer.

CHASSIS
320
CAUTION
Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or the chain
manufacturer’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 lockedwheel braking, as use of
chains may adversely affect vehicle handling.
 When driving with chains installed, be sure to drive
carefully. Slow down before entering the curves to
avoid losing control of the vehicle. Otherwise an
accident may occur.
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 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 removed 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.

CHASSIS
321
ALUMINUM WHEEL PRECAUTIONS
When installing aluminum wheels, check that the wheel
nuts are tight after driving your vehicle the first 1600 km
(1000 miles).
 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.
SUSPENSION AND CHASSIS
CAUTION
Do not modify the suspension/chassis with lift kits,
spacers, springs, etc. It can cause dangerous handling
characteristics, resulting in loss of control.