464
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●The treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
●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 with your Lexus 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 proper ly. After driving for about 20 minutes, the
tire pressure warning light blinks for 1 minu te 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 syst em does not replace routine tire inflation pressure checks.
Make sure to check tire inflat ion pressure as part of your routine of daily vehicle checks.
■When rotating the tires
Make sure that the power switch is off. If the tires are rotated while the power switch is in
ON mode, the tire position information will not be updated.
If this accidentally occurs, either turn the power switch to off and then to ON mode, or
initialize the system after checking that the tire pressure is properly adjusted.
■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 Ce rtification Label. For
the maximum load of the tire, see the load limit
at maximum cold tire inflation pressure men-
tioned on the sidewall of the tire.
( → P. 550)
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
4737-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
■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 mile or 1.5 km, 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 properly inflated based only on its appearance.
●It is normal for the tire inflat ion pressure to be higher after driving as heat is generated
in the tire. Do not reduce tire inflation pressure after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is balanced.
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 resu lting 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 adjust ing 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 decreased tire inflation pressure.
474
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Wheels
When replacing wheels, care should be ta
ken to ensure that they are equivalent
to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim width and inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at your Lexus dealer.
*: 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 1000 miles (1600 km).
●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 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. 462)
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
538
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)9-1. Specifications
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)
*:Unladen vehicle
Dimensions and weight
Overall length193.3 in. (4910 mm)
Overall width71.7 in. (1820 mm)
Overall height*57.1 in. (1450 mm)
Wheelbase111.0 in. (2820 mm)
TreadFront62.6 in. (1590 mm)
Rear62.0 in. (1575 mm)
Vehicle capacity weight
(Occupants + luggage)905 lb. (410 kg)
556
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)9-1. Specifications
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire pressure when the vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more, or has no
t been driven more than 1
mile or 1.5 km un der that condition
Maximum inflation pres-
sureThe maximum cold inflated pr essure to which a tire may
be inflated, shown on the sidewall of the tire
Recommended inflation
pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a manu-
facturer
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in exce ss of those standard items
which may be replaced) of hybrid transmission, power
steering, power brakes, power windows, power seats,
radio and heater, to the extent that these items are avail-
able as factory-installed eq uipment (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 co nditioning and additional
weight optional engine
Maximum loaded vehicle
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 numb er of occupants specified
in the second column of Table 1* that follows
Occupant distributionDistribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified in the
third column of Table 1
* below
Production options weight
The combined weight of in stalled regular production
options weighing over 5 lb. (2.3 kg) in excess of the
standard items which they re place, not previously con-
sidered in curb weight or accessory weight, including
heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim
RimA 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
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)
5579-1. Specifications
9
Vehicle specifications
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 tireThe load on an individual tire that is determined by dis-
tributing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded
vehicle weight, and dividing by two
Vehicle normal load on the
tireThe load on an individual tire that is determined by dis-
tributing to each axle its sh are 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 an d that is shaped to fit the
rim
Bead separationA breakdown of the bond between components in the
bead
Bias ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to
the beads are laid at altern ate angles substantially less
than 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread
CarcassThe tire structure, except tread and sidewall rubber
which, when inflated, bears the load
ChunkingThe breaking away of pieces of the tread or sidewall
CordThe strands forming th e plies in the tire
Cord separationThe parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds
CrackingAny parting within the tread, sidewall, or innerliner of
the tire extending to cord material
CT
A pneumatic tire with an inverted flange tire and rim
system in which the rim is designed with rim flanges
pointed radially inward and the tire is designed to fit on
the underside of the rim in a manner that encloses the
rim flanges inside the air cavity of the tire
Extra load tireA tire designed to operate at higher loads and at higher
inflation pressures than the corresponding standard tire
GrooveThe space between two adjacent tread ribs
InnerlinerThe layer(s) forming the insi de surface of a tubeless tire
that contains the inflating medium within the tire
Tire related termMeaning
558
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)9-1. Specifications
Innerliner separationThe parting of the innerliner
from cord material in the
carcass
Intended outboard sidewall
(a) The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white
lettering, or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that is higher or deeper than
the same molding on the ot her sidewall of the tire,
or
(b) The outward facing sidewa ll of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side that must always face out-
ward when mounted on a vehicle
Light truck (LT) tire
A tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily
intended for use on lightweig ht trucks or multipurpose
passenger vehicles
Load ratingThe maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure
Maximum load ratingThe load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible
inflation pressure for that tire
Maximum permissible infla-
tion pressureThe maximum cold inflation pr essure to which a tire may
be inflated
Measuring rimThe rim on which a tire is fitted for physical dimension
requirements
Open spliceAny parting at any junction of tread, sidewall, or inner-
liner that extends to cord material
Outer diameterThe overall diameter of an inflated new tire
Overall widthThe linear distance between the exteriors of the side-
walls of an inflated tire, including elev ations due to label-
ing, decorations, or protective bands or ribs
Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose
passenger vehicles, and trucks, that have a gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lb. or less.
PlyA layer of rubber-coat ed parallel cords
Ply separationA parting of rubber compou nd between adjacent plies
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fabric
and steel or other materials, that, when mounted on an
automotive wheel, provides the traction and contains
the gas or fluid that sustains the load
Radial ply tireA pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to
the beads are laid at substa ntially 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread
Tire related termMeaning
571
ES300h_OM_OM33D45U_(U)9-3. Initialization
9
Vehicle specifications
Items to initialize
The following items must be initialized for normal system operation after such
cases as the 12-volt battery being re
connected, or maintenance being per-
formed on the vehicle:
ItemWhen to initializeReference
Message indicating mainte-
nance is required (U.S.A. only)• After the maintenance is per- formedP. 437
Oil maintenance• After the maintenance is per-
formedP. 451
Tire pressure warning system
• When rotating the tires
• When changing the tire inflationpressure by changing traveling
speed or load weight, etc.
P. 463