5197-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
WARNING
■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 acc ident 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 th an those recommended by Lexus.
●Do not mix differently constructed tires (r adial, 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 repa ir 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
Do not operate the tire pressure warning re set 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 pressu re is low, or it may come on when the tire
inflation pressure is actually normal.
5207-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels, tire pressure warning valves, transmitters and
tire valve caps
●When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters, contact any authorized Lexus retailer or Lexus authorized repairer, or
any reliable repairer as the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may be dam-
aged if not handled correctly.
●Make sure to install the tire valve caps. If the tire valve caps are not installed, water
could enter the tire pressure warning valv es and the tire pressure warning valves
could be bound.
●When replacing tire valve caps, do not use tire valve caps other than those specified.
The cap may become stuck.
■To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning valve and trans-
mitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is used, contact any authorized
Lexus retailer or Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer or other qualified
service shop as soon as possible. After use of liquid sealant, make sure to replace the
tire pressure warning valve and transmitte r when repairing or replacing the tire.
( P. 510)
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or potholes.
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.
■Low profile tires
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the tire wheel when sustain-
ing impact from the road surface. Therefore, pay attention to the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressu re. If tires are under-inflated, they may be
damaged more severely.
●Avoid potholes, uneven pavement, curbs an d other road hazards. Failure to do so
may lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressure of ea ch tire becomes low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.
5217-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure may result in the following:
●Reduced fuel economy
●Reduced driving comfort and poor handling
●Reduced tire life due to wear
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drivetrain
If a tire needs frequent inflating, have it checked by any authorized Lexus retailer or
Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check only when the tires are cold.
If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours or has not been driven for more than
1.5 km or 1 mile, you will get an accurate cold tire inflation pressure reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
It is difficult to judge if a tire is prop erly inflated based only on its appearance.
●It is normal for the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving as heat is generated
in the tire. Do not reduce tire inflation pressure after driving.
●Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is balanced.
Tire inflation pressure
Make sure to maintain proper tire infl ation pressure. Tire inflation pressure
should be checked at least once per month. However, Lexus recommends
that tire inflation pressure be checked once every two weeks. ( P. 638)
5227-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
WARNING
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly inflated, the following conditions may occur which could
lead to an accident resulting in death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
●Air leaking from between tire and wheel
●Wheel deformation and/or tire damage
●Greater possibility of tire damage while driving (due to road hazards, expansion
joints, sharp edges in the road, etc.)
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps back on.
If a valve cap is not installed, dirt or moisture may get into the valve and cause an air
leak, resulting in decrease d tire inflation pressure.
5237-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
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 retailer or Lexus
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
*: 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
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmit-
ters that allow the tire pressure warning sy stem 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. 510)
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
5247-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
WARNING
■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
●Because tire repair or replacement may affe ct the tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters, make sure to have tires se rviced by any authorized Lexus retailer or
Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer or other qualified service shop. In
addition, make sure to purchase your tire pressure warning valves and transmitters at
any authorized Lexus retailer or Lexus auth orized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
●Ensure that only genuine Lexus wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitte rs may not work properly with non-genu-
ine wheels.
5578-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
*1: Parking brake engaged warning buzzer: P. 564
*2: Open door warning buzzer:
P. 562
Warning lightWarning light/Details/Actions
Open door warning light (warning buzzer)*2
Indicates that a door or the trunk is not fully closed
Check that all the doors and the trunk are closed.
Low fuel level warning light
Indicates that remaining fuel is approximately 10 L (2.6 gal., 2.2 Imp.
gal.) or less
Refuel the vehicle.
Driver’s and front passenger’s seat belt reminder light (warning
buzzer)
*3
Warns the driver and/or front passe nger to fasten their seat belts
Fasten the seat belt.
If the front passenger’s seat is occupied, the front passenger’s
seat belt also needs to be fastened to make the warning light
(warning buzzer) turn off.
Rear passengers’ seat belt reminder lights (warning buzzer)*3
Warns the rear passengers to fasten their seat belts
Fasten the seat belt.
Master warning light
A buzzer sounds and the warning light comes on and flashes to
indicate that the master warnin g system has detected a malfunc-
tion.
P. 560
Tire pressure warning light
When the light comes on:
Low tire inflation pressure such as
• Natural causes ( P. 558)
• Flat tire ( P. 586, 601)
Adjust the tire inflation pres sure to the specified level.
The light will turn off after a few minutes. In case the light does
not turn off even if the tire inflation pressure is adjusted, have the
system checked by any authorized Lexus retailer or Lexus
authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
When the light comes on af ter blinking for 1 minute:
Malfunction in the tire pressure warning system
Have the system checked by an y authorized Lexus retailer or
Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.
5588-2. Steps to take in an emergency
IS200t_EE(OM53D77E)
*3: Seat belt warning buzzer:The seat belt warning buzzer sounds to al ert the driver, front passenger and rear pas-
sengers that his or her seat belt is not fastened. The buzzer sounds for 30 seconds
after the vehicle reaches a speed of 20 km/h (12 mph). Then, if the seat belt is still
unfastened, the buzzer will sound in a different tone for 90 more seconds.
■Front passenger detection sensor, seat belt reminder and warning buzzer
●If luggage is placed on the front passenger seat, the front passenger detection sensor
may cause the warning light to flash and the warning buzzer to sound even if a passen-
ger is not sitting in the seat.
●If a cushion is placed on the seat, the sensor may not detect a passenger, and the warn-
ing light may not operate properly.
■If the malfunction indicator lamp comes on while driving
The malfunction indicator lamp will come on if the fuel tank becomes completely empty.
If the fuel tank is empty, refuel the vehicle immediately. The malfunction indicator lamp
will go off after several trips.
If the malfunction indicator lamp does not go off, contact any authorized Lexus retailer or
Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer as soon as possible.
■Electric power steering system warning light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes insufficien t or the voltage temporarily drops, the
electric power steering system warning lig ht may come on and the warning buzzer may
sound.
■When the tire pressure warning light comes on
Carry out the following procedure after the tire temperature has lowered sufficiently.
●Check the tire inflation pressure and adjust to the appropriate level.
●If the warning light does not go out even afte r several minutes, check that the tire infla-
tion pressure is at the specified level and carry out initialization.
The warning light may come on again if the above operations are conducted without first
allowing the tire temperature to lower sufficiently.
■The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes
The tire pressure warning light may come on due to natural causes such as natural air
leaks and tire inflation pressure changes caused by temperature. In this case, adjusting
the tire inflation pressure will turn off the warning light (after a few minutes).
■When a tire is replaced with the spare tire (if equipped)
The compact spare tire is not equipped with a tire pressure warning valve and transmit-
ter. If a tire goes flat, the tire pressure warning light will not turn off even though the flat
tire has been replaced with the spare tire.
■Conditions that the tire pressure warning system may not function properly
P. 513
■If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute
If the tire pressure warning light frequently comes on after blinking for 1 minute when the
engine switch is turned to IGNITION ON mode, have it checked by any authorized
Lexus retailer or Lexus authorized repairer, or any reliable repairer.