4287-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
Your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses tire pres-
sure warning valves and transmitters to detect low tire inflation pressure before
serious problems arise.
If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is warned by a
warning light. (→P. 4 7 8 )
◆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 ID
codes must be registered in the tire pressure warning computer and the tire
pressure warning system must be initialized. Have tire pressure warning valve
and transmitter ID codes registered by any authorized Lexus dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional. (→P. 4 2 9 )
◆Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the following circum-
stances:
●When rotating the tires.
●When the tire inflation pressure is changed such as when changing travel-
ing speed or load weight.
●When changing the tire size.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire inflation
pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.
Tire pressure warning system (if equipped)
4307-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
■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, and
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 any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qual-
ified and equipped professional.
■Replacing tires and wheels (vehicles with a tire pressure warning system)
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 driving for about 10 minutes, the
tire pressure warning light blinks for 1 minute and stays on to indicate a system malfunc-
tion.
■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.
■Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation pressure checks.
Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of your routine of daily vehicle checks.
■Low profile tires (except 16-inch tires)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire grip performance will be
reduced on snowy and/or icy roads when compared to standard tires. Be sure to use
snow tires or tire chains
* on snowy and/or icy roads and drive carefully at a speed appro-
priate for road and weather conditions.
*: Tire chains cannot be mounted on the 18-inch tires. Snow tires should be used instead.
■If the tread on snow tires wears down below 4 mm (0.16 in.)
The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is lost.
4317-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
■Situations in which the tire pressure warning system may not operate properly (vehi-
cles with a tire pressure warning system)
●In the following cases, the tire pressure warning system may not operate properly.
• If non-genuine Lexus wheels are used.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not an OE (Original Equipment) tire.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not of the specified size.
• Tire chains etc. are equipped.
• Lock nuts are equipped.
• An auxiliary-supported run-flat tire is equipped.
• If a window tint that affects the radio wave signals is installed.
• If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehicle, particularly around the wheels or wheel
housings.
• If the tire inflation pressure is extremely higher than the specified level.
• If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are used.
• If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is not registered
in the tire pressure warning computer.
●Performance may be affected in the following situations.
• Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display, air-
port or other facility that generates strong radio waves or electrical noise
• When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless
communication device
●When the vehicle is parked, the time taken for the warning to start or go off could be
extended.
●When tire inflation pressure declines rapidly for example when a tire has burst, the
warning may not function.
■The initialization operation (vehicles with a tire pressure warning system)
●Make sure to carry out initialization after adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
Also, make sure the tires are cold before carrying out initialization or tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment.
●If you have accidentally turned the engine switch off during initialization, it is not neces-
sary to press the reset switch again as initialization will restart automatically when the
engine switch has been turned to IGNITION ON mode for the next time.
●If you accidentally press the reset switch when initialization is not necessary, adjust the
tire inflation pressure to the specified level when the tires are cold, and conduct initial-
ization again.
■Warning performance of the tire pressure warning system (if equipped)
The warning of the tire pressure warning system will change in accordance with the con-
ditions under which it was initialized. For this reason, the system may give a warning even
if the tire pressure does not reach a low enough level, or if the pressure is higher than the
pressure that was adjusted to when the system was initialized.
4347-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
CAUTION
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to parts of the drivetrain as well as dangerous han-
dling characteristics, which may lead to an accident resulting in death or serious injury.
●Do not mix tires of different makes, models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of remarkably different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Lexus.
●Do not mix differently constructed tires (radial, bias-belted or bias-ply tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season and snow 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.
●Vehicles with a compact spare tire: Do not tow if your vehicle has a compact spare
tire installed.
●Vehicles with an emergency tire puncture repair kit: Do not tow anything if a tire that
has been repaired using the emergency tire puncture repair kit is installed. The load
on the tire may cause unexpected damage to the tire.
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system (vehicles with a tire pressure
warning system)
Do not operate 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.
4387-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they are equivalent
to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim width and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Lexus does not recommend using the following:
●Wheels of different sizes or types
●Used wheels
●Bent wheels that have been straightened
●Use only Lexus wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with your alumi-
num wheels.
●When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the wheel nuts are
still tight after driving 1600 km (1000 miles).
●Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire chains.
●Use only Lexus genuine balance weights or equivalent and a plastic or rubber
hammer when balancing your wheels.
■When replacing wheels (vehicles with a tire pressure warning system)
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters that allow the tire pressure warning system to provide advance warning in the event
of a loss in tire inflation pressure. Whenever wheels are replaced, tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters must be installed. (→P. 4 2 8 )
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be replaced. Other-
wise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause a loss of handling control.
Wheel selection
Aluminum wheel precautions
4397-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
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 a 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 (vehicles with a tire pressure
warning system)
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by any authorized Lexus dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional or other qualified ser-
vice shop. In addition, make sure to purchase your tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters at any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional.
●Ensure that only genuine Lexus wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly with non-genu-
ine wheels.
5048-2. Steps to take in an emergency
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
■The compact spare tire
●The compact spare tire is identified by the label “TEMPORARY USE ONLY” on the
tire sidewall.
Use the compact spare tire temporarily, and only in an emergency.
●Make sure to check the tire inflation pressure of the compact spare tire. (→P. 5 4 6 )
■When using the compact spare tire (vehicles with a tire pressure warning system)
As the compact spare tire is not equipped with a tire pressure warning valve and trans-
mitter, low inflation pressure of the spare tire will not be indicated by the tire pressure
warning system. Also, if you replace the compact spare tire after the tire pressure warn-
ing light comes on, the light remains on.
■When the compact spare tire is equipped
The vehicle becomes lower when driving with the compact spare tire compared to when
driving with standard tires.
■If you have a flat rear tire on a road covered with snow or ice (vehicles with front and
rear tires of the same size and compact spare tire only)
Install the compact spare tire on one of the front wheels of the vehicle. Perform the fol-
lowing steps and fit tire chains to the rear tires:
Replace a front tire with the compact spare tire.
Replace the flat rear tire with the tire removed from the front of the vehicle.
Fit tire chains to the rear tires.
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3
5178-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
IS250_EE(OM53C51E)
■In the following cases, the tire cannot be repaired with the emergency tire puncture
repair kit. Contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified
and equipped professional.
●When the tire is damaged due to driving without sufficient air pressure
●When the tire lost air pressure due to a crack or damage in the tire sidewall
●When the tire is visibly separated from the wheel
●When the cut or damage to the tread is 4 mm (0.16 in.) long or more
●When the wheel is damaged
●When two or more tires have been punctured
●When there is more than one hole or cut in the damaged tire
■Emergency tire puncture repair kit
●The sealant has a limited lifespan. The expiry date is marked on the bottle. The sealant
should be replaced before the expiry date. Contact any authorized Lexus dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional for replacement.
●The sealant stored in the emergency tire puncture repair kit can be used only once to
temporarily repair a single tire. If the sealant in the bottle and other parts of the kit have
been used and need to be purchased, contact any authorized Lexus dealer or repairer,
or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
●The sealant can be used when the outside temperature is from -30°C (-22°F) to 60°C
(140°F).
●The kit is exclusively designed for size and type of tires originally installed on your vehi-
cle. Do not use it for tires that a different size than the original ones, or for any other
purposes.
●If the sealant gets on your clothes, it may stain.
●If the sealant adheres to a wheel or the surface of the vehicle body, the stain may not be
removable if it is not cleaned at once. Immediately wipe away the sealant with a wet
cloth.
●During operation of the kit, a loud operation noise is produced. This does not indicate a
malfunction.
■The valve of a tire that has been repaired
After a tire is repaired with the emergency tire puncture repair kit, the valve should be
replaced.
■Note for checking the emergency tire puncture repair kit
Check the sealant expiry date occasionally.
The expiry date is shown on the bottle. Do not use sealant whose expiry date has already
passed. Otherwise, repairs conducted using the emergency tire puncture repair kit may
not be performed properly.