2007 Lexus GS450h tires

383
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
CAUTION
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents. Failure to do so may cause
damage to parts of the drive train, as well as dangerous handling characteristics,
which may lead to fatal or injury accidents.
●Do not mix tires of different makes, models, tread patterns or tread wear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Lexus.
●Do not mix radial, bias-belted, or bias-ply tires.
●Do not mix summer, all season and winter tires.
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not push the reset switch without first ad justing the tire inflation pressure to the
specified level. Otherwise, the tire pressure warning light may not come on even if
the tire inflation pressure is low, or it may come on when the tire inflation pressure is
actually normal.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels and tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters
●When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, contact your Lexus dealer as the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
●When replacing tires, make sure also to replace the tire pressure warning valve
and transmitter grommets.
■Do not use puncture sealant sprays to repair flats
Puncture sealant sprays may damage tire pressure tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters.

384
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
NOTICE
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or potholes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing the cushion-
ing ability of the tires. In addition driving on rough roads may cause damage to the
tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels and body.
■Low profile tires (245/40R18, P245/40R18 and 245/40ZR18 tires)
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the tire wheel when
receiving impact from the road surface. Therefore pay attention to the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated, they may
be damaged more severely.
●Avoid hot holes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards. Failure to do so
can lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.

387
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure may result in the following:
●Reduced fuel efficiency
●Reduced driving comfort and tire life
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent refilling, have it checked by your Lexus dealer.
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check 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 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold tire inflation pressure
reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge. 
The appearance of the tire can be misleadi ng. In addition, 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 capacity weight. 
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is bal-
anced.

388
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions may occur
and result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
●Poor sealing of the tire bead
●Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
●A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or moisture co uld get into the valve and cause air leak-
age, which could result in an accident. If the caps have been lost, replace them as
soon as possible.

389
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Wheels
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your Lexus are equipped with tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters that allow the tire pressure warning system to provide advanced warning in
th
e event of a loss in tire inflation pressu re. Whenever wheels are replaced, the tire
pressure warning valves and transmitters must be switched over from the old
wheels. ( P. 3 76 )
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be replaced. 
Otherwise, the tire may separate from
the wheel or cause loss of handling
control.
■ Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they
ar

e equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim
width, and offset.
Replacement wheels are available at your Lexus dealer.
Lexus does not recommend using:
• Wheels of different sizes or types
• Used wheels
• Bent wheels that have been straightened
• Lexus wheels with after market chrome plating
■ Aluminum wheel pr
ecautions
● Use only L
exus wheel nuts and wr enches designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
● When r
otating, repairing or changi ng your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be car
eful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire
chains.
● Use only L
exus genuine balance weights or equivalent and a
plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

390
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in the
Owner’s Manual, as this may result in loss of handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a tubeless tire.
Doing so may result in an accident, causing death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warning valves
and transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by your Lexus dealer or other
qualified service shop. In addition, make sure to purchase your tire pressure
warning valves and transmitters at your Lexus dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine Lexus wheels are used on your vehicle. 
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly with non-
genuine wheels.

When trouble arises5
419
5-1. Essential information ........... 420If your vehicle needs to be 
towed........................................... 420
If you think something is 
wrong .......................................... 427
Event data recorder ................. 428 5-2. Steps to take in an

emergency............................ 430
If a warning light turns on or a 
warning buzzer sounds............ 430
If a warning message is 
displayed.................................... 436
If you have a flat tire 
(Vehicles with run-flat 
tires) ............................................. 455
If you have a flat tire 
(Vehicles with standard 
tires) ............................................. 456
If the hybrid system will not 
start .............................................. 466
If the shift lever cannot be 
shifted from P........................... 467
If you lose your keys ................. 468
When the electronic key  battery is discharged ............ 469
If the 12 volt battery is 
discharged .................................. 471
If your vehicle overheats ........ 475
If the vehicle becomes 
stuck ............................................ 478

5
When trouble arises
427
5-1. Essential information
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably needs
adjustment or repair. Contact your Lexus dealer as soon as possible.
■ Visible symptoms
●Fluid leaks under the v
ehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
● Flat
-looking tires or uneven tire wear
●Engine coolant temper atur
e gauge needle continually points
higher than normal
■ A
udible symptoms
●Changes in e
xhaust sound
● Ex
cessive tire squeal when cornering
●Str
ange noises related to the suspension system
●P
inging or other noises related to the hybrid system
■ Oper
ational symptoms
●Engine mis
sing, stumbling or running rough
●A
ppreciable loss of power
●V
ehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
●V
ehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
● L
oss of brake effectiveness, sp ongy feeling, pedal almost touches
the floor