2011 TOYOTA AVALON tires

210 2-5. Driving information
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Snow chain installation
Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains.
●Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
●Install tire chains on the front tires only.
●Install tire chains following the instructions provided in the accompanying
instructions.
CAUTION
■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.
●Use tires of the size specified for your vehicle.
●Maintain the specified level of tire inflation pressure.
●Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h), regardless of the type of
snow tires being used.
●Snow tires should be installed on all wheels.
■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.
●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.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden turns and braking, as use of chains may adversely affect
vehicle handling.
●Slow down sufficiently before entering a curve to ensure that vehicle con-
trol is maintained.

211 2-5. Driving information
2
When driving
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs of and obtain replacement snow tires from Toyota dealers.
This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the opera-
tion of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.
■Fitting tire chains
The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly
when tire chains are fitted.

Maintenance and care4
373
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
4-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior ......... 374
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior .......... 377
4-2. Maintenance
Maintenance
requirements .................. 380
General maintenance....... 383
Emission inspection and
maintenance (I/M)
programs ........................ 386
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Do-it-yourself service
precautions .................... 387
Hood ................................ 391
Positioning a floor jack ..... 392
Engine compartment ........ 394
Tires ................................. 409
Tire inflation pressure ...... 418
Wheels ............................. 422
Air conditioning filter......... 425
Key battery ....................... 428
Checking and replacing
fuses .............................. 432
Headlight aim (with
discharge headlights) ..... 441
Light bulbs........................ 443

385 4-2. Maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors/trunk • Operate smoothly?
Engine hood • The lock system works properly?
Fluid leaks • Is there any leakage after parking?
Tire• Inflation pressure is correct?
• Tire surfaces not worn or damaged?
• Tires rotated according to the mainte-
nance schedule?
• Wheel nuts are not loose?
CAUTION
■If the engine is running
Turn off the engine and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.

409
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance sched-
ules and treadwear.
■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
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
carried out at the same inter-
val as tire inspection.
Do not fail to initialize the tire
pressure warning system
after tire rotation.
Front

410 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
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 pressure warning computer and tire
pressure warning system must be initialized. Have tire pressure
warning valve and transmitter ID codes registered by your Toyota
dealer.
Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the fol-
lowing circumstances:
●When rotating the tires on vehicles differing with front and rear
tire inflation pressures.
●When changing the tire inflation pressure by changing traveling
speed or load weight, etc.
●When changing the tire size.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current
tire inflation pressure is set as the pressure benchmark.
■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. 470)

412 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
Registering ID codes
The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a
unique ID code.
When replacing a tire 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.
■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
registered, 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.

4
Maintenance and care
413 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
AVALON_U (OM41428U)
■Tire 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.
■If the tread wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm) on snow tires
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of the replacement 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 GAWR, see the Certification
Label. For the maximum load of the
tire, see the load limit at maximum cold
tire inflation pressure mentioned on the
sidewall of the tire. (
P. 519)