194DO−IT−YOURSELF MAINTENANCE: Engine and Chassis
Treadwear indicator
CHECKING YOUR TIRES
Check the tire’s tread for treadwear in-
dicators. If the indicators show, replace
the tires. The location of treadwear in-
dicators is shown by the “TWI” or “”
marks, etc., molded on the sidewall of
each tire.
The tires on your Toyota have built−in
treadwear indicators to help you know
when the tires need replacement. When
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06
in.) or less, the indicators will appear. If
you can see the indicators in two or more
adjacent grooves, the tire should be re-
placed. The lower the tread, the higher
the risk of skidding.
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost
if the tread wears down below 4 mm
(0.16 in.).
If you have tire damage such as cuts,
splits, cracks deep enough to expose
the fabric, or bulges indicating internal
damage, the tire should be replaced.
If a tire often goes flat or cannot be prop-
erly repaired due to the size or location
of a cut or other damage, it should be
replaced. If you are not sure, consult with
any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer,
or another duly qualified and equipped
professional.
If air loss occurs while driving, do not
continue driving. Driving even a short dis-
tance can damage a tire beyond repair.Any tires which are over 6 years old
must be checked by a qualified techni-
cian even if damage is not obvious.
Tires deteriorate with age even if they
have never or seldom been used.
This applies also to the spare tire and
tires stored for future use.
REPLACING YOUR TIRES
When replacing a tire, use a tire of the
same size and construction, and the
same or greater load capacity as the
originally installed tires.
Using any other size or type of tire may
seriously affect handling, ride, speedome-
ter/odometer calibration, ground clearance,
and clearance between the body and tires
or snow chains.
CAUTION
Observe the following instructions.
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-
sulting in death or serious injuries.
DDo not mix radial, bias belted, or
bias−ply tires on your vehicle, as
this may cause dangerous handling
characteristics resulting in loss of
control.
DDo not use tires other than the
manufacturer ’s recommended size,
as this may cause dangerous han-
dling characteristics resulting in
loss of control.
DDo not mix tires of different makes,
models or tread patterns, and do
not mix tires of remarkably different
treadwear. This may cause danger-
ous handling characteristics result-
ing in loss of control.
Dyna100/150_EE
Checking and replacing tires
