2003 Lexus IS300 flat tire

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY
282
SL41002
10. Reinstall the wheel ornament.
Put the wheel ornament into position and then tap it firmly with
the side or heel of your hand to snap it into place.
CAUTION
Take due care in handling the ornament to avoid
unexpected personal injury.
11. After changing the wheel, check the air pressure of the
replaced tire. Stow all the tools, jack and flat tire securely.
If the pressure of the replaced tire is low, drive slowly to the
nearest service station and fill to the correct pressure.
Do not forget to reinstall the tire valve cap as dirt and moisture
could get into the valve core and possibly cause air leakage.
If the cap is missing, put a new one on as soon as possible.
This is the same procedure for changing or rotating your tires.
CAUTION
 When reinstalling a standard tire, take due care in
handling the ornament to avoid unexpected personal
injury.
 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.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

MAINTENANCE
296
DOES YOUR VEHICLE NEEDREPAIRING?
Be on the alert for changes in performance and sounds, and
visual tip±offs that indicate service is needed. Some important
clues are:

Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging

Appreciable loss of power

Strange engine noises

A fluid leak under the vehicle (however, water dripping from
the air conditioning after use is normal.)

Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous
carbon monoxide leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked immediately.)

Flat±looking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering,
uneven tire wear

Vehicle pulls to one side when driving straight on a level
road

Strange noises related to suspension movement

Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling brake pedal,
pedal almost touches floors, vehicle pulls to one side when
braking

Engine coolant temperature continually higher than normal
If you notice any of these clues, take your vehicle to your Lexus
dealer as soon as possible. It probably needs adjustment or
repair.
CAUTION
Do not continue driving with the vehicle unchecked. It
could result in serious vehicle damage and possibly
personal injury.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
326± TIRES AND WHEELS (Type A)
Tire size Front
Rear
215/45ZR17
225/45ZR17
Tire inflation pressureRecommended cold tire inflation pressureFront 230 kPa (2.3 kgf/cm2 or bar, 33 psi)
Rear 240 kPa (2.4 kgf/cm2 or bar, 35 psi)
For sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (100 mph), in countries
where such speeds are permitted by law, add 70 kPa (0.8 kgf/cm
2, 0.7
bar, 10 psi) to the front tires and rear tires, but never exceed the
maximum cold tire pressure molded on the tire sidewall.
Wheel size Front
Rear17 x 7 JJ
17 x 7 1/2 JJ
Wheel nut torque103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76 ft´lbf.)
Spare tire
Tire size215/45ZR17
Tire inflation pressure
Recommended cold tire inflation pressure240 kPa (2.4 kgf/cm2 or bar, 35 psi)
Wheel size17 x 7 JJ
Wheel nut torque103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76 ft´lbf.)
NOTE: For complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing wheels\
), see ºChecking tire pressureº through ºAluminum
wheel precautionsº on page 331 through 341.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
327
± TIRES AND WHEELS (Type B)
Tire size
215/45ZR17
Tire inflation pressure Recommended cold tire inflation pressureFront 230 kPa (2.3 kgf/cm2 or bar, 33 psi)
Rear 230 kPa (2.3 kgf/cm2 or bar, 33 psi)
For sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (100 mph), in countries
where such speeds are permitted by law, add 70 kPa (0.8 kgf/cm
2, 0.7
bar, 10 psi) to the front tires and rear tires, but never exceed the
maximum cold tire pressure molded on the tire sidewall.
Wheel size17 x 7 JJ
Wheel nut torque103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76 ft´lbf.)
NOTE: For complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing wheels\
), see ºChecking tire pressureº through ºAluminum
wheel precautionsº on page 331 through 341.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
328± TIRES AND WHEELS (Type C)
Standard tires
Tire sizeP205/55R16 89V
Tire inflation pressure Recommended cold tire inflation pressureFront 230 kPa (2.3 kgf/cm2 or bar, 33 psi)
Rear 230 kPa (2.3 kgf/cm2 or bar, 33 psi)
For sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (100 mph), in countries
where such speeds are permitted by law, add the tire pressure given
below to the front tires and rear tires, but never exceed the maximum
cold tire pressure molded on the tire sidewall.
Sedan 70 kPa (0.8 kgf/cm
2, 0.7 bar, 10 psi)
SportCross Front: 70 kPa (0.8 kgf/cm2, 0.7 bar, 10 psi)
Rear: 90 kPa (0.9 kgf/cm2, 0.9 bar, 15 psi)
Wheel size16 x 6 1/2JJ
Wheel nut torque103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76 ft´lbf.)
Compact spare tire (IS300 sold in Canada only)
Tire sizeT125/70D17 98M
Tire inflation pressure420 kPa (4.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 60 psi)
Wheel size17 x 4T
Wheel nut torque103 N´m (10.5 kgf´m, 76 ft´lbf.)
NOTE: For complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing wheels\
), see ºChecking tire pressureº through ºAluminum
wheel precautionsº on page 331 through 341.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
332
CAUTION
Keep your tire pressure at the proper level. Otherwise,
the following conditions may occur and cause an
accident.
Low tire pressure (underinflation)Ð
Excessive wear
 Uneven wear
 Poor handling
 Possibility of blowouts from overheated tire
 Poor sealing of the tire bead
 Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
High tire pressure (overinflation)Ð
 Poor handling
 Excessive wear at the center of the tire tread
 A greater possibility of tire damage from road
hazards
The following instructions for checking 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 the
tire can be misleading. Besides, tire pressures that are
even just a few pounds off can degrade ride and handling.
 Do not bleed or reduce tire pressure after driving. It is
normal for the tire pressure to be higher after driving.
 Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight. The
passengers and luggage weight should be located so that
the vehicle is balanced.
 Be sure to reinstall the tire 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.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
336If a tire often goes flat or cannot be properly repaired due to the
size or location of a cut or other damage, it should be replaced.
If you are not sure, consult with your Lexus dealer.
If an air loss occurs while driving, do not continue driving with
a deflated tire. Driving even a short distance can damage a tire
beyond repair.
Any tires which are over 6 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.
Uniform tire quality grading
This information has been prepared in accordance with
regulations
issued by the National Highway T raffic Safety
Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
It provides the purchasers and/or prospective purchasers
of Lexus vehicles with information on uniform tire quality
grading.
Your Lexus dealer will help answer any questions you may
have as you read this information.
DOT quality grades ± All passenger vehicle tires must
conform to Federal Safety Requirements in addition to
these grades. Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example: Treadwear 200
Traction AA Temperature A
Treadwear ± The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a half (1 ± 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction AA, A, B, C ± The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C, and they represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
337
Warning: 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 grades for this tire are 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 a tire of the same size and
construction, and the same or g reater load capacity as the
originally installed tires.
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.
CAUTION
Observe the following instructions. Otherwise, an
accident may occur resulting in death or serious
injuries.
 Do not mix radial, bias belted, or bias±ply tires on
your vehicle, as this may cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in loss of control.
 Do not use tires other than the manufacturer's
recommended size, as this may 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.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)