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2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
CAUTION
n
Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failing to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause death or
serious injury.
l Use tires of the size specified for your vehicle.
l Maintain the recommended level of air pressure.
l Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h) regardless of the type of
snow tires being used.
l Snow tires should be installed on all wheels.
n Driving with snow chains
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failing to do so may result in the vehicle being unable to be driven safely,
and may cause death or serious injury.
l Do not drive in excess of the speed limit specified for the tire chains being
used or 30 mph (50 km/h), whichever is lower.
l Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.
l Avoid sudden turns and braking.
l Slow down sufficiently before entering a curve to ensure that vehicle con-
trol is maintained.
NOTICE
nRepairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs of and obtain replacement snow tires from Toyota dealers or
legitimate tire retailers.
This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the opera-
tion of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.
n Fitting tire chains
The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly
when tire chains are fitted.
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2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
n
Before towing
Check that the following conditions are met:
lEnsure that your vehicle’
s tires are properly inflated. ( →P. 351)
l T
railer tires should be inflated according to the trailer manufacturer’s rec -
ommendation.
l All trailer light
s work to be legal.
l Confirm all light
s work each time you connect them.
l Check
that your vehicle remains level when a loaded or unloaded trailer
is hitched. Do not drive if the vehicle is not level, and check for improper
tongue load, overloading, worn suspension, or other possible causes.
l Make s
ure the trailer cargo is securely loaded.
lCheck
that your rear view mirrors c onform to any federal, state/provincial
or local regulations. If they do not, inst all rear view mirrors appropriate for
towing purposes.
n Break-in schedule
l T
oyota recommends that you do not use a new vehicle or a vehicle with
any new power train components (engine, transmission, differential,
wheel bearings, etc.) to tow a trailer for the first 500 miles (800 km) of
driving.
n Main
tenance
lIf you tow a trailer
, your vehicle will require more frequent maintenance
due to the additional load. (See “Scheduled Maintenance Guide” or
“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.)
l Retighten the fixing
bolts of the towing ball and bracket after approxi -
mately 600 miles (1000 km).
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237
4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Vehicle exterior
Steering wheel
• Moves smoothly?
• Has correct free play?
• No strange noises?
ItemsCheck points
Doors • Operate smoothly?
Engine hood • The lock system works properly?
Fluid leaks • Is there any leakage after park-
ing?
Tire • Inflation pressure is correct?
• Tire surfaces not worn or dam-
aged?
• Tires rotated according to the maintenance schedule?
• Wheel nuts are not loose?
CAUTION
n If the engine is running
Turn the engine off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.
ItemsCheck points
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258
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance sched-
ules and treadwear.
n Checking tires
New tread
Treadwear indicator
Worn tread
The location of treadwear
indicators is shown by the
“TWI” or “” marks, etc.,
molded on the sidewall of
ea
ch tire.
Check spare tire condition
an
d inflation pressure if not
rotated.
n Tire rotation
Rotate the tires in the order
show
n.
To equalize tire wear and
extend tire life, Toyota recom -
mends that tire rotation is
ca
rried out at the same inter -
val as tire inspection.
n The tire pressure warning system
Your Toyota is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that
use
s tire pressure warning valves and transmitters to detect low
tire inflation pressure before serious problems arise. (→P. 310 )
Front
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259
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
Ti
Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, ti re pressu
re 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 regis -
tered in the tire pressure warning computer and tire pressure warning
sy
stem must be initialized. Have tire pressure warning valve and trans -
mitter ID codes registered by your Toyota dealer.
Registering ID codes
The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a
unique ID code. When replacing a ti re pressure warning valve and
transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code of tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter. Have the ID code registered by your
Toyota dealer.
nWhen to replace your vehicle's tires
Tires should be replaced if:
lYou have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric or bulges indicating internal damage
lA tire goes flat repeatedly or c annot 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.
nReplacing tires and wheels
If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not
registered, the tire pre ssure w
arning system will not work properly. After
driving for about 20 minutes, the ti re pressure warning light comes on
after blinking for 1 minute to indicate a system malfunction.
nTire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even
if
they have seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
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260 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
nIf the tread wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm) on snow tires
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.
nMaximum 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.
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. (→P.
264, 356).
nTire 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 tire s, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy roads. For 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
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.
3Snow 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, con-
struction and load capacity as the or iginally 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 restriction. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels. ( →P. 161)
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262 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
nTire pressure warning system operation
The tire pressure warning system may not provide warning immediately
if a tire bursts or if sudden air leakage occurs.
nWhen 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 han-
dling characteristics, which may le ad to fatal or injury accidents.
lDo not mix tires of different makes, models, tread patterns or tread-
wear.
lDo not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota.
lDo not mix radial, bias-belted, or bias-ply tires.
lDo not mix summer, all season and winter tires.
lDo not use tires that have been used on another vehicle.
lDo not use tires if you do not know how they were used previously.
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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
NOTICE
nRepairing 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 To
yota dealer as the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
nTo avoid damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters
Do not use liquid sealants on flat tires.
nDriving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot-
holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing
the cushioning 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.
nIf tire inflation pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.