2008 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID flat tire

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Tires
Replace the tires when the treadwear indicators show.
■Checking tires
New tread
Treadwear indicator
Worn tread
The location of treadwear indi-
cators is shown by the “TWI” or
“ ” marks, etc., molded on
the sidewall of each tire.
Check spare tire condition and
inflation pressure if not rotated.
■Tire rotation
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and
extend tire life, Toyota recom-
mends that tire rotation is car-
ried out at the same interval as
tire inspection.
■The tire pressure warning system
Your Toyota is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that
uses tire pressure warning valves and transmitters to detect low
tire inflation pressure before serious problems arise. (P. 351)
The compact spare tire is not equipped with a tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter.
Front

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are
installed, new tire pressure warning valve and transmitter ID codes
must be registered in the tire pr essure warning computer and tire
pressure warning system must be initialized. Have tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter ID codes registered by your Toyota
dealer. ( P. 306)
Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■ The tire pressure warning system must be initialized when the
tire inflation pressure is changed (such as when changing
traveling speed).
When the tire pressure warning syst em is initialized, the current tire
pressure is set as the pressure benchmark.
■ How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
Park the vehicle in a safe place and turn off the hybrid system.
Initialization is not performed while the vehicle is moving.
Adjust the tire pressure to the specified pressure. (P. 4 0 4 
Make sure to adjust the tire pressure to the specified cold tire infla-
tion pressure level. The tire pressure warning system will operate
based on this pressure level.
Turn the “POWER” switch to ON mode.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
■
When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric or bulges indicating internal damage
● A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size
or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with your Toyota dealer.
■ Replacing tires and wheels
If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not regis-
tered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. After about 20
minutes, the tire pressure warning light comes on after blinking for 1 minute
to indicate a system malfunction.
■ Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even if it
has seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
■ If the tread wears down 0.16 in. (4 mm) or more on snow tires
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.
■ If you press the tire pressure warning reset switch accidentally
If initialization is performed, adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified
level and initialize the tire pressure warning system again.

308 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■When the initialization of the tire pressure warning system has failed
Initialization can be completed in a few minutes. However, in the following
cases, the settings has not been recorded and the system will not operate
properly. If repeated attempts to record tire inflation pressure settings are
unsuccessful, have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer.
● When operating the tire pressure warning reset switch, the tire pressure
warning light does not flash 3 times.
● After driving for a certain period of time since the initialization has been
completed, the tire pressure warning light comes on after blinking for 1
minute.
■ Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation pres-
sure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of your rou-
tine of daily vehicle checks.
■ Maximum load of tire
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.
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 for the Gross
Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR), see the Certification Label. ( P. 313, 409).

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
■
Tire types
1 Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance 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 driv-
ing on snow-covered or icy roads. Fo r driving on snow-covered roads or
icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When installing snow
tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
2 All season tires All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to be
adequate for driving in most winter conditions, as well as for use year
round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction perfor-
mance 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.
3 Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, construc-
tion and load capacity as the originally installed tires. Since your vehicle
has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow tires also
have radial construction. Do not install studded tires without first checking
local regulations for possible restrictions. Snow tires should be installed on
all wheels. ( P. 166)
■ Initializing the tire pressure warning system
Initialize the tires with the tire inflation pressure adjusted to the specified
level.

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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 accidents or
injury.
●Do not mix tires of different makes, models, tread patterns or treadwear.
● Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota.
● Do not mix radial, bias-belted, or bias-ply tires.
● Do not mix summer, all season and winter tires.
● Do not use tires that have been used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not know how they were used previously.
■ When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not press the tire pressure warning reset switch without first adjusting 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.

312 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels and tire pressure warning valves
and transmitters
When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning valve
and transmitter, contact your Toyota dealer as the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
■ To avoid damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
Do not use liquid sealants on flat tires.
■ Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or potholes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire air pressure, reducing the cush-
ioning ability of the tires. In addition driving on rough roads may cause dam-
age to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels and body.
■ If tire inflation pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.

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Maintenance and care
Tire inflation pressure
■Tire inflation pressure
The recommended cold tire inflation pressure and tire size is dis-
played on the tire and loadi ng information label. (P. 409)
Ty pe A
Ty pe B