2003 TOYOTA MR2 SPYDER flat tire

2112003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
SB72031
Ty p e A
SB72030
Ty p e BKeep your tire inflation pressures
at the proper level.
The recommended cold tire inflation
pressures, tire
sizes and the com-
bined weight of occupants and cargo
(vehicle capacity weight) are de-
scribed on page 238 and 242. They
are also described on the tire and
loading information label. Either type
A or B of the tire and loading informa-
tion label is affixed on your vehicle
as shown.
You should check the tire inflation
pressures every two weeks, or at
least once a month. And do not forget
the spare!
The following instructions for
checking tire inflation pressure
should be observed:
 The pressure s hould 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 inflation pres-
sure reading.
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Checking tire inflation
pressure

2122003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Always use a tire pressure
gauge. The appearance of a tire
can be misleading. Besides, tire
inflation pressures that are even
just a few pounds off can degrade
ride and handling.
 Do not bleed or reduce tire
inflation pressure after driving.
It is normal for the tire inflation
pressure to be higher after driving.
 Never exceed the vehicle capac-
ity weight. The passenger and
luggage weight should be located
so that the vehicle is balanced.Tire pressure gauge
INSPECTION AND ADJUSTMENT
PROCEDURE 1. Remove the tire valve cap.
2. Press the tip of the tire pressure gauge to the tire valve.
3. Read the pressure using a gradua- tion of the gauge.
4. In case that the tire inflation pres- sure is not within the prescribed
range, insert the compressed air
from the valve. In case of applying
too much air, press the center of
t he valv e and releas e the air to ad-
just. 5. After completing the tire inflation
pressure measurement and ad-
justment, apply soap water to the
valve and check the leakage.
6. Install the tire valve cap.
If the gauge and the air pump are not
available, have your vehicle checked
by your Toyota dealer.
CAUTION
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 pos-
sible.
Incorrect tire infl ation pressure may
waste fuel, reduce the comfort of driv-
ing, reduce tire life and make your ve-
hicle less safe to drive.
If a tire frequently needs refilling,
have it checked by your Toyota deal-
er.
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2132003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
CAUTION
Keep your tires properly inflated.
Otherwise, the following condi-
tions may occur and cause an ac-
cident resulting in death or seri-
ous injuries.
Low tire pressure (underinfla-
tion)—
 Excessive wear
 Uneven wear
 Poor handling
 Possibility of blowouts from
overheated tire.
 Poor sealing of the tire bead
 Wheel deformation and/or tire
separation
 A greater possibility of tire
damage from road hazards
High tire pressure (overinfla-
tion)—
Poor handling
 Excessive wear
 Uneven wear
 A greater possibility of tire
damage from road hazards
Checking and replacing tires
Tread wear indicator
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire tread for the tread
wear indicators. If the indicators
show, replace the tires. The loca-
tion of the tread wear indicators is
shown by the “TWI” or “
Δ” marks,
etc., molded on the sidewall of
each tire.
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2142003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
The tires on your Toyota have builtin
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.
Vehicles equipped with 185/55R15
or 215/45R16 tires: Your Toyota has
been fitted with specially developed
tires which provide exceptional dy-
namic performance under general
road conditions. However your riding
comfort may worsen a little and road
noise may increase during driving.
You may also notice that your tires
will wear more rapidly and tire grip
performance will be reduced on the
snowy and/or icy roads when
compared to standard tires. Be sure
to have snow tires or tire chains on
the snowy and/or icy roads and drive
carefully with the speed appropriate
for road conditions. NOTICE
Low profile tire like 185/55R15
or 215/45R16 may have greater
damage than usual tires to its
tire wheel when receiving im-
pact from the road surface.
Therefore, pay attention to the
followings.

Be sure to use with proper
tire pressure. If the tire pres-
sure is low, the tire may
have a greater damage. For
detailed information about
tire pressure, see page 242 in
Section 8.
 Avoid driving onto high,
sharpedged objects and oth-
er road hazards. Failure to
do so can lead to severe tire
damage.
The effectiveness of snow tires is
lost if the tread wears down below
4 mm (0.16 in.).
If you have tire damage such as
cuts, splits, cracks deep e nough to
expose the fabric, or bulges indi-
cating internal damage, the tire
should be repl aced.
If 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 Toyota 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.
An y ti res wh i ch 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.
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2152003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
This also applies to the spare tire and
tires stored for future use.
REPLACING YOUR TIRES
When replacing a tire, use a tire of
the same size and construction,
and the same or greater maximum
load as the originally installed
tires. Also, all the tires must be the
same brand and have the same
tread patterns.
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.Check that the maximum load of the
replaced tire is greater than 1/2 of the
Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR)
of either the front axle or the rear
axle, whichever greater. As for the
maximum load of the tire, see the load
limit at maximum cold tire inflation
pressure mentioned on the sidewall
of the tire, and as for the Gross Axle
Weight Ratings (GAWR), see the Cer-
tification Label. For details about the
sidewall of the tire and the Certifica-
tion Label, see pages 141 and 139.CAUTION
Observe the following instruc-
tions. Otherwise, an accident
may occur resulting in death or
serious injuries.

Do not mix radial, bias belted,
or biasply tires on your ve-
hicle, as this may cause dan-
gerous handling characteris-
tics resulting in loss of control.
 Do not use tires other than the
manufacturer’s recommended
size, as this may cause danger-
ous handling characteristics
resulting in loss of control.
 Do not use tires of different
brands, sizes, construction or
tread patterns, as this may
cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
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2162003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Toyota recommends all four tires,
or at least both front or rear tires
be replaced as a set.
See “If you have a flat tire—” on page
167 in Section 4 for tire change proce-
dure.
When a tire is replaced, the wheel
should always be balanced.
An unbalanced wheel may affect ve-
hicle 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
w i t h a new on e.
Rotating tires
SB72017Tu r ning dir ec t ion
Turning direction indicators
SB72019
Do not rotate the tires as the tire
sizes are different such as with
front to rear, left to right or using
the spare tire. Performing such tire
rotation may result in the tires in-
terfering with the body or in un-
even wear of the tires, so that
steerability of the vehicle is im-
paired.
Tires with turning direction indicator—
The tire is a unidirectional type and
cannot be used for tire rotation. Using
the tire on the opposite side to the
designated side will impair the tire
performance.
The spare tire—
The tire is designed for temporary use
only and cannot be used for tire rota-
tion.
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2172003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
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 tires
provide better traction than snow tires.
SNOW TIRE SELECTION
If you need snow tires, select tires of
the same size, construction and load
capacity as the originally installed tires.
Do not use tires other than those men-
tioned above. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for
possible restrictions.
CAUTION
Observe the following instructions.
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-
sulting in death or serious injuries.
Do not use snow tires other than the
manufacturer ’s recommended size, as
this may cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in loss of
control.
SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION
Snow tires should be installed on all
wheels.
Installing snow tires on the rear 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.
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 when
replacing.
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 which are the cor-
rect size for your rear tires.
For 215/45R16 tires, use genuine Toyota
tire chains or equivalent for use on the
MR2.
Regulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary according to location or
type of road, so always check the local
regulations before installing chains.
NOTICE
If the wrong combination of tire and
chain is used, the chains could dam-
age the vehicle body.
MR2 genuine tire chains
(Part No.0832511020)
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Installing snow tires and
chains

2422003 MR2 from Aug. ’03 Prod. (OM17511U)
Tires
Tire size and cold tire inflation pressure:
Except spare tire
Ti r e siz eTi r e inf lat ion pr es s ur e
kPa (kgf/cm2 or bar, psi)Wheel size
Front185/55R15 81V180 (1.8, 26)15 6JJ
Rear215/45R16 86W220 (2.2, 32)16 7JJ
Spare tire
Ti r e siz e
Tire inflation pressure kPa (kgf/cm2 or bar, psi)Wheel size
185/55R15 81V180 (1.8, 26)156JJ
Wheel nut torque, N·m (kgf·m, ft·Ibf):
103 (10.5, 76)
NOTE: For a complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing wheels), see “Checking tire inflation pres- sure” through “Aluminum wheel precautions”, page 211 through 219 in Section 72.
03 07.07