2006 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID Snow tire

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NOTICE
Always use the brake pedal or the
parking brake to hold the vehicle on
an upgrade. Do not attempt to hold
the vehicle using the accelerator ped-
al, as this can cause the transmission
to overheat.
(g) If you cannot shift the selector le-
ver out of “P” position
If you cannot shift the selector lever from
the “P” position even though the brake
pedal is depressed, use the shift lock
override button. For instructions, see “If
you cannot shift the transmission selector
lever” on page 359 in Section 4. Vehicle dynamics integrated manage-
ment (VDIM) is designed to control ve-
hicle motion continuously using all pos-
sible functions to stabilize the motion.
It is important to keep the tires in good
condition for the system to properly
control vehicle motion. Refer to the in-
formation for tires on pages 391
through 398 in Section 72.
The system has the functions listed below.
Each function becomes operational when
the vehicle speed exceeds the speeds as
shown below.
Brake assist function
7km/h(4mph)
Anti−lock brake function
7km/h(4mph)
Traction control function 0km/h(0mph)
Vehicle stability control function
15 km/h (9 mph)
CAUTION
Do not rely excessively on the
VDIM. Even if the system is operat-
ing, you must always drive carefully
and attentively. Reckless driving will
result in an unexpected accident. If
the slip indicator flashes, special
care should be taken.
Only use tires of specified size. The
size, manufacturer, brand and tread
pattern for all 4 tires should be the
same. If you use any tires other
than specified, or different types or
sizes, the VDIM may not function
correctly. When replacing the tires
or wheels, contact your Toyota deal-
er.
Do not modify the suspensions. If
you modify the suspensions, the
VDIM may not function correctly.
In situations where the road surface
is covered with ice or snow, snow
tires or tire chains should be used.
Vehicle dynamics integrated
management

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Compared with vehicles without an
antilock brake device, your vehicle
may require a longer stopping dis-
tance in the following cases:
Driving on rough, gravel or snow
covered roads.
Driving with tire chains installed.
Driving over the steps such as the
joints on the road.
Driving on roads where the road
surface is pitted or has other differ-
ences in surface height.
If tire grip performance exceeds its
capability, or if hydroplaning occurs
during high speed driving in the rain,
the antilock brake system does not
provide vehicle control.
TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTION
The traction control function is designed to
help prevent skid of the drive wheels dur-
ing sudden acceleration on slippery road
surfaces.
You may feel vibration or noise in your
vehicle, caused by operation of the
brakes.
CAUTION
Under certain slippery road condi-
tions, full traction of the vehicle and
power against drive wheels cannot be
maintained, even though the traction
control system is in operation. Do not
drive the vehicle under any speed or
maneuvering conditions which may
cause the vehicle to lose traction
control. In situations where the road
surface is covered with ice or snow,
your vehicle should be fitted with
snow tires or tire chains. Always
drive at a moderate speed.
VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL
FUNCTION
The vehicle stability control function is de-
signed to help prevent skid of the wheels
while cornering on slippery road surfaces
or when turning the steering wheel abrupt-
ly.
The system controls the driving and brak-
ing forces on each tire and also controls
the power steering assistance to help the
driver to recover vehicle stability.
CAUTION
Depending on the road conditions,
the vehicle stability control function
may not be able to stabilize your ve-
hicle. Always drive at a moderate
speed.

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From this condition, if 3 more passen-
gers with the combined weight of 176
kg (388 lb.) get on, the av ailable car-
go and luggage load will be reduced
as follows:
Without third seat 224 kg – 176 kg = 48 kg.
( 494 lb. – 388 lb. = 106 lb. )
With third seat 360 kg – 176 kg = 184 kg.
( 793 lb. – 388 lb. = 405 lb. )
As shown in the above example, if the
number of occupants increases, the
cargo and luggage load equaling the
combined weight of occupants who
got on later must be reduced. In other
words, if the incr ease in the number
of occupants causes the excess of
the total load capacity (combined
weight of occupants plus cargo and
luggage load), you have to reduce the
cargo and luggage on your vehicle.
For details about total load capacity,
see “Vehicle load limits” on page 319.CAUTION
Even if the total load of occu-
pant’s weight and the cargo load
is less than the total load capac-
ity, do not apply the load uneven-
ly. That may cause not only dam-
age to the tire but also deteriora-
tion to the steering ability due to
unbalance of the vehicle, causing
an accident.
Determine what kind of tires your
vehicle is originally equipped with.
1. Summer tires
Summer tires are high −speed capabil-
ity 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 pro-
vide better traction in snow and to be
adequate for driving in most winter
conditions, as well as for use all year
round.
Types of tires

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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.
CAUTION
Do not mix summer and all sea-
son tires on your vehicle as
this can cause dangerous han-
dling characteristics, resulting
in loss of control.
 Do not use tire other than the
manufacturer’s designated
tires, and never mix tires or
wheels of the sizes different
from the originals.

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Use a washer fluid containing an anti-
freeze solution.
This product is available at your Toyota
dealer and most auto parts stores. Follow
the manufacturer ’s directions for how
much to mix with water.
NOTICE
Do not use engine antifreeze or any
other substitute because it may dam-
age your vehicle’s paint.
Do not use your parking brake when
there is a possibility it could freeze.
When parking, put the transmission into
“P” and block the rear wheels. Do not use
the parking brake, or snow or water accu-
mulated in and around the parking brake
mechanism may freeze, making it hard to
release.
Keep ice and snow from accumulating
under the fenders.
Ice and snow built up under your fenders
can make steering difficult. During bad
winter driving, stop and check under the
fenders occasionally. Depending on where you are driving,
we recommend you carry some emer-
gency equipment.
Some of the things you might put in the
vehicle are tire chains, window scraper,
bag of sand or salt, flares, small shovel,
jumper cables, etc.Your vehicle is not designed to be
dinghy towed (with four wheels on the
ground) behind a motorhome.
NOTICE
Do not tow your vehicle with four
wheels on the ground. This may
cause serious damage to your vehicle.
Dinghy towing

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DOITYOURSELF MAINTENANCE
Engine and Chassis
Checking the engine oil level 386
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Checking the coolant level 388
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Checking the radiators and condenser 390
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Checking brake fluid 390
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Checking tire inflation pressure 391
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Checking and replacing tires 393
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Rotating tires 395
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Installing snow tires and chains 396
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Replacing wheels 397
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Aluminum wheel precautions 398
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SECTION 7 2

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High tire pressure (overinfla-
tion)—
Poor handling
 Excessive wear
 Uneven wear
 A greater possibility of tire
damage from road hazardsTread wear indicator
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire’s tread for tread
wear indicators. If the indicators
show, replace the tires. The loca-
tion of tread wear indicators is
shown by the “TWI” or “
Δ” marks,
etc., molded on the sidewall of
each tire. The tires on your Toyota have built
−in
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.
Depending on driving conditions, your
tires may wear more rapidly than
those of conventional vehicles.
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.
Checking and replacing tires

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If air loss occurs while driving, do not
continue driving. 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.
This applies also 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, on all wheel drive mod-
els, all the tires must be the same
brand and have the same tread pat-
terns.
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 is 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 side wall of the
tire and the Certification Label, see
pages 309 and 311.
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.