2004 Lexus GX470 flat tire

CHASSIS
533
Inspection and adjustment procedure

1Tire valve
2Tire pressure gauge
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 graduation of the gauge.
4. In case that the tire inflation pressure is not within
the prescribed range, insert the compressed air from
the valve. In case of applying too much air, press
the center of the valve and release the air to adjust.
5. After completing the tire inflation pressure
measurement and adjustment, 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 Lexus 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 possible.
Incorrect tire inflation pressure may waste fuel, reduce
the comfort of driving, reduce tire life and make your
vehicle less safe to drive.
If a tire frequently needs refilling, have it checked by
your Lexus dealer.

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534
CAUTION
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the
following conditions may occur and cause an
accident resulting in death or serious injuries.
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
A greater possibility of tire damage from road
hazards
High tire pressure (overinflation) Ð
Poor handling
Excessive wear
Uneven wear
A greater possibility of tire damage from road
hazards

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536
1Tire size: For details, see Tire sizeº on page
537.
2DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN): For
details, see DOT and Tire Identification Number
(TIN)º on page 537.
3Location of the tread wear indicators: For
details, see Checking and replacing tiresº on
page 545.
4Tire ply composition and materials: Plies mean
a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cords
mean the strands forming the plies in the tire.
5Radial tires or bias-ply tires: A radial tire has
RADIALº o the sidewall. The tire not marked
with RADIALº is a bias-ply tire.
6TUBELESSº or TUBE TYPEº: A tubeless tire
does not have a tube inside the tire. A tube type
tire has a tube inside the tire and the tube
maintains the air pressure.
7Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation
pressure: For details, see Checking and
replacing tiresº on page 545.
8Maximum cold tire inflation pressure: This
means the pressure to which a tire may be
inflated. For details about recommended cold tire
inflation pressure, see Specificationsº on page
528.
9Uniform tire quality grading: For details, see
Uniform tire quality gradingº that follows.
10Summer tire or all season tire: An all season
tire has M+Sº on the sidewall. The tire not
marked with M+Sº is a summer tire. For details,
see Types of tiresº on page 543.

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539
Uniform tire quality grading
This information has been prepared in accordance
with regulations issued by the National Highway
Traffic 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 Ð All passenger car 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 Ð 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 Ð 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 Ð 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.
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 Ð 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.

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540
Tire related terms
Cold tire inflation
pressureTire inflation pressure when the vehicle has been parked at least 3 hours or
more, or it has not been driven more than 1.5 km or 1 mile under that condition
Maximum inflation
pressureThe maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire may be inflated and shown
on the sidewall of the tire
Recommended
inflation pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a manufacturer
Accessory weightThe combined weight (in excess of those standard items which may be replaced)
of automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power
seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that these items are available as
factory-installed equipment (whether installed or not)
Curb weightThe weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air conditioning and
additional weight optional engine
Maximum loaded
vehicle weightThe sum of Ð
(a) Curb weight;
(b) Accessory weight;
(c) Vehicle capacity weight; and
(d) Production options weight
Normal occupant
weight68 kg (150 lb.) times the number of occupants specified in the second column of
Table 1 that follows

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542
Vehicle maximum load
on the tireThe load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of
the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by two
Vehicle normal load
on the tireThe load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle its share of
the curb weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant weight (distributed in
accordance with Table 1 that follows) and dividing by two
Weather sideThe surface area of the rim not covered by the inflated tire
Table 1 Ð Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load for various designated seating
capacities
Designated seating capacity,
number of occupants
Vehicle normal load, number of
occupantsOccupant distribution in a
normally loaded vehicle
2 through 422 in front
5 through 1032 in front, 1 in second seat

CHASSIS
545
CHECKING AND REPLACING TIRES
When to replace your tires

1New tread2Tread wear indicator
3Worn tread
Replace the tires when the tread wear indicators
show. The location of the tread wear indicators
is shown by the marks molded on the sidewall of
each tire.
The tires on your Lexus have built-in tread wear
indicators to help you know when the tires need
replacement. When the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm
(0.06 in.) or less, the indicators will appear. If you
can see the indicators in two or more adjacent
grooves, the tire should be replaced.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 enough to expose the fabric, or
bulges indicating internal damage, the tire should
be replaced.
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 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.

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546
Tire selection
When replacing a tire, use a tire of the same size
and construction, and the same or greater load
capacity 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 between
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 Certification Label. For details about Certification
Label and sidewall of the tire, see pages 496 and 535.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.
Do not use tires of different brands, sizes,
construction or tread patterns, as this may
cause dangerous handling characteristics
resulting in loss of control.