2006 TOYOTA MATRIX flat tire

’06 MATRIX_U (L/O 0508)
278
Ty p e B
Keep 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 302 and 306. They
are also on the tire and loading infor-
mation label.
You should check the tire inflation
pressure 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. 
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.
 Take special care when adding
air to the compact spare tire.
The smaller tire size can gain
pressure very qu ickly. Add com-
pressed air in small quantities and
check the pressure often until it
reaches the specified pressure.
 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. Passenger and lug-
gage weight should be located so
that the vehicle is balanced.

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279
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 the grad- uations of the gauge.
4. In case 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 ad-
justment, apply soapy water to the
valve and check for leakage.
6. Install the tire valve cap.
If a gauge and air pump are not avail-
able, 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.
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 an
overheated tire
 Poor sealing of the tire bead
 Wheel deformation and/or tire
separation
 A greater possibility of tire
damage from road hazards

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281
NOTICE
Low profile tire like
P215/50ZR17 or P215/50R17 90H
may have greater damage than
usual tires to its tire wheel
when receiving impact from the
road surface. Therefore, pay
attention to the following.

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 306 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 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 Toyota dealer.
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 fourwheel drive
models, 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 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.

’06 MATRIX_U (L/O 0508)
282 For details about the side wall of the
tire and the Certification Label, see
pages 193 and 195.
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.
Fourwheel drive models:
Do not use tires of different
brands, sizes, construction or
tread patterns, as this may
cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
Toyota recommends all four tires,
or at least both of the front or rear
tires be replaced at a time as a set.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page
231 for tire change procedure.
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. Initial adjustment of the tire pres-
sure warning system is necessary
after you have rotated your tires.
See “Tire pressure warning sys-
tem” on page 126 in Section 17.

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283
To equalize tire wear and help ex-
tend tire life, Toyota recommends
that you rotate your tires accord-
ing to the maintenance schedule.
(For scheduled maintenance infor-
mation, please refer to the “Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide” or “Own-
er’s Manual Supplement”.)
However, the most appropriate tim-
ing for tire rotation may vary ac-
cording to your driving habits and
road surface conditions.
See “If you have a flat tire” on page
231 in Section 4 for tire change proce-
dure.When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is
usually caused by incorrect tire pres-
sure, improper wheel alignment, out
−
of −balance wheels, or severe braking.
CAUTION
Do not include a compact spare
tire when rotating the tires. It is
designed for temporary use only.
Initial adjustment of the tire pres-
sure warning system is necessary
after you have rotated your tires.
See “Tire pressure warning sys-
tem” on page 126 in Section 17.
Turning direction
Ty pe A
Ty pe B
Vehicles equipped with
P215/50ZR17 tires: You have direc-
tional tires, and a turning indicator
marked on the side wall. Using
tires on the wrong side of the ve-
hicle will impair tire performance.
Rotating tires

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284
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.
Also, on fourwheel drive models, all
the tires must be the same brand and
have the same tread patterns.
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 si-
ze, as this may cause dangerous
handling characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
Fourwheel drive models:
Do not use snow tires of different
brands, sizes, construction or tread
patterns, as this may cause danger-
ous handling characteristics result-
ing in loss of control.
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.
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.
Installing snow tires and
chains

’06 MATRIX_U (L/O 0508)
306 Tire size and cold tire inflation pressure:
Front and rearkPa (kgf/cm
2 or bar, psi)
Ti r e siz e
FrontRearWheel size
Tw o −wheel drive models
P205/55R16 89H220 (2.2, 32)220 (2.2, 32)16 61/2JJ
P215/50ZR17220 (2.2, 32)220 (2.2, 32)17 7JJ
P215/50R17 90H220 (2.2, 32)220 (2.2, 32)17 7JJ
Four −wheel drive modelsP205/55R16 89H240 (2.4, 35)220 (2.2, 32)16 61/2JJ
Spare
Ti r e siz e k P a (k gf / c m2 or bar, psi) Wheel size
T135/70R16 420 (4.2, 60) 164T
T135/80R16 420 (4.2, 60) 164T
Wheel nut torque, N·m (kgf·m, ft·lbf): 103 (10.5, 77)
NOTE: For a complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing wheels), see “Precautions for tires of
four −wheel drive models” through “Aluminum wheel precautions”, pages 277 through 286, in Section 7 −2.
Tires

’06 MATRIX_U (L/O 0508)
Publication No. OM12A21U
Part No. 01999-12A21
Prin ted in Japan 01-0508-00
(U)
Quick index
 If a service reminder indicator or warning buzzer comes on 105
. . . . . . . . . . .
 If your vehicle will not start 226
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. . . .
 If your engine stalls while dr iving 229
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 If your vehicle overheats 230
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . . . .
 If you have a flat tire 231
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. . . . . . . . .
 If your vehicle needs to be towed 243
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 Tips for driving duri ng break−in period 182
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 How to start the engine 212
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. . . . . . .
 General maintenance 259
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Gas station information
Fuel type:
1.8 L 4 −cylinder (1ZZ −FE) engine: UNLEADED gasoline, Octane Rating 87
(Research Octane Number 91) or higher
1.8 L 4 −cylinder (2ZZ −GE) engine: Premium UNLEADED gasoline, Octane
Rating 91 (Research Octane Number 96) or higher
See page 182 for detailed information.
Fuel tank capacity:
Two −wheel drive models: 50 L (13.2 gal., 11.0 Imp. gal.)
Four− wheel drive models: 45 L (11.9 gal., 9.9 Imp. gal.)
Engine oil:
ILSAC multigrade engine oil is recommended.
See page 273 for detailed information.
Tire information: See pages 277 through 286.
Tire inflation pressure: See page 306.
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