2017 TOYOTA AVALON HYBRID Owners Manual

4498-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Tire size (→ P. 451)
DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN) (→ P. 450)
Uniform tire quality grading
For details, see “Uniform Tire Quality Grading” that follows.
Location of treadwear indicators (→ P. 356)
Tire ply composition and materials
Plies are layers of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cords are the strands
which form the plies in a tire.
Radial tires or bias-ply tires
A radial tire has “RADIAL” on the sidewall. A tire not marked “RADIAL”
is a bias-ply tire.
TUBELESS or TUBE TYPE
A tubeless tire does not have a tube and air is directly put into the tire.
A tube type tire has a tube inside the tire and the tube maintains the air
pressure.
Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( →P. 455)
Maximum cold tire inflation pressure (→ P. 455)
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
Summer tires or all season tires (→ P. 360)
An all season tire has “M+S” on the sidewall. A tire not marked “M+S”
is a summer tire.
“TEMPORARY USE ONLY”
A compact spare tire is identified by the phrase “TEMPORARY USE
ONLY” molded on its sidewall. This tire is designed for temporary
emergency use only.
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4508-1. Specifications
DOT symbol*
Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Tire manufacturer’s identification mark
Tire size code
Manufacturer’s optional tire type code (3 or 4 letters)
Manufacturing week
Manufacturing year
Manufacturer's code
*: The DOT symbol certifies that the tire conforms to applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Typical DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN)
Ty p e AType B
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4518-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
■Typical tire size information
The illustration indicates typical
tire size.
Tire use
(P = Passenger car,
T = Temporary use)
Section width (millimeters)
Aspect ratio
(tire height to section width)
Tire construction code (R = Radial, D = Diagonal)
Wheel diameter (inches)
Load index (2 digits or 3 digits)
Speed symbol (alphabet with one letter)
■Tire dimensions
Section width
Tire height
Wheel diameter
Tire size
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4528-1. Specifications
Bead
Sidewall
Shoulder
Tread
Belt
Inner liner
Reinforcing rubber
Carcass
Rim lines
Bead wires
Chafer
Tire section names
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4538-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
This information has been prepared in accordance with regulations
issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
It provides the purchasers and/or prospective purchasers of Toyota
vehicles with information on uniform tire quality grading.
Your Toyota dealer will help answe r any questions you may have as
you read this information.
■DOT quality grades
All passenger vehicle tires must c onform to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades. Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width.
For example: Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
■Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a speci-
fied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 wo uld wear one and a half (1 - 1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tire s depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use. Performance may differ significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
■Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B and C,
and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditio ns on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking
(straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turn-
ing) traction.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading

4548-1. Specifications
■Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing
the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissi-
pate heat when tested under co ntrolled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can c ause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the labo-
ratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grades of a tire assume that it is properly
inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.

4558-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation pres-
sure
Tire pressure when the vehicle has been
parked for three hours or more, or has not
been driven more than 1 mile or 1.5 km under
that condition
Maximum inflation
pressureThe maximum cold inflated pressure to which
a tire may be inflated, shown on the sidewall
of the tire
Recommended infla-
tion pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a
manufacturer
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those stan-
dard items which may be replaced) of hybrid
transmission, power steering, power brakes,
power windows, power seats, radio and
heater, to the extent t hat these items are avail-
able as factory-installed equipment (whether
installed or not)
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with standard
equipment, including the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil and coolant, and if so equipped, air
conditioning and additional weight optional
engine
Maximum loaded vehi-
cle weight
The sum of:
(a) Curb weight
(b) Accessory weight
(c) Vehicle capacity weight
(d) Production options weight
Normal occupant
weight150 lb. (68 kg) times the number of occupants
specified in the second column of Table 1
*
that follows
Occupant distributionDistribution of occupants in a vehicle as speci-
fied in the third column of Table 1
* below

4568-1. Specifications
Production options
weight
The combined weight of installed regular pro-
duction options weighing over 5 lb. (2.3 kg) in
excess of the standard items which they
replace, not previously considered in curb
weight or accessory weight, including heavy
duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy
duty 12-volt battery, and special trim
Rim
A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated
Rim diameter
(Wheel diameter)Nominal diameter of the bead seat
Rim size designationRim diameter and width
Rim type designationThe industry manufacturer’s designation for a
rim by style or code
Rim widthNominal distance between rim flanges
Vehicle capacity
weight (Total load
capacity)The rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lb.
(68 kg) times the vehicle’s designated seating
capacity
Vehicle maximum load
on the tire
The load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its share of
the maximum loaded vehicle weight, and
dividing by two
Vehicle normal load on
the tire
The load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its share of
curb weight, accessory weight, and normal
occupant weight (distributed in accordance
with Table 1
* below), and dividing by two
Weather sideThe surface area of the rim not covered by the
inflated tire
Bead
The part of the tire that is made of steel wires,
wrapped or reinforced by ply cords and that is
shaped to fit the rim
Bead separationA breakdown of the bond between compo-
nents in the bead
Tire related termMeaning