4516-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
6
Maintenance and care
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same
traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy roads. For driving on snow-covered
roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When install-
ing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
●All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions as well as for use
year-round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also, all
season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performance com-
pared with summer tires in highway driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using
snow tires. If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, con-
struction and load capacity as the originally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Snow tires
should be installed on all wheels. (→P. 345)
■If the tread on snow tires wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is lost.
■Situations in which the tire pressure warning system may not oper-
ate properly
●In the following situations, the tire pressure warning system may not
operate properly.
• If non-genuine Toyota wheels are used.
• If a tire has been replaced with a tire that is not an OE (Original
Equipment) tire.
• If a tire has been replaced with a tire that is not of the specified size.
• If tire chains, etc. are installed.
• If a window tint that affects 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 much higher than the specified level.
• If wheels not equipped with tire pressure warning valve and transmit-
ter are used.
• If the ID codes of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitters are
not registered in the tire pressure warning computer.
4526-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)●
Performance may be affected in the following situations.
• When driving near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio
station, large display, airport 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
Vehicles with a tire inflation pressure display function: If tire position
information is not correctly displayed due to the radio wave conditions,
the display may be corrected by changing the location of the vehicle as
the radio wave conditions may change.
●When the vehicle is stopped, the time taken for the warning to start or
turn off may be longer.
●When the inflation pressure of a tire drops rapidly, for example when a
tire has burst, the warning may not operate.
■Initialization procedure
●Make sure to perform the initialization procedure after adjusting the tire
inflation pressure.
Also, make sure the tires are cold before performing the initialization
procedure or adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
●If the engine switch is turned to the “LOCK” position (vehicles without a
smart key system) or off (vehicles with a smart key system) during ini-
tialization, it is not necessary to restart the initialization procedure from
the beginning as it will begin automatically when the engine switch is
turned back to the “ON” position (vehicles without a smart key system)
or IGNITION ON mode (vehicles with a smart key system).
●If initialization has accidentally been started when it is not necessary,
adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified level when the tires are
cold and then perform the initialization procedure again.
●Vehicles with a tire inflation pressure display function: While the position
of each tire is being determined and the inflation pressures are not being
displayed on the multi-information display, if the inflation pressure of a
tire drops, the tire pressure warning light will come on.
■Warning performance of the tire pressure warning system
The warning of the tire pressure warning system will change in accor-
dance with the conditions 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.
4546-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)■
When registering ID codes (vehicles with a tire inflation pressure dis-
play function)
●Before performing ID code registration, make sure that no wheels with
tire pressure warning valve and transmitters installed are near the vehi-
cle.
●Make sure to initialize the tire pressure warning system after registering
the ID codes. If the system is initialized before registering the ID codes,
the initialized values will be invalid.
●As the tires will be warm when registration is completed, make sure to
allow the tires to cool before performing initialization.
■Canceling ID code registration (vehicles with a tire inflation pressure
display function)
●To cancel ID code registration after it has been started, turn the engine
switch off before driving the vehicle.
If the vehicle is driven after ID code registration is started, to cancel reg-
istration, perform the ID code registration start procedure again and turn
the engine switch off before driving.
●If ID code registration has been canceled, the tire pressure warning light
will blink for approximately 1 minute when the engine switch is turned to
the “ON” position (vehicles without a smart key system) or IGNITION
ON mode (vehicles with a smart key system) and then illuminate. The
tire pressure warning system will be operational when the tire pressure
warning light turns off.
●If the warning light does not turn off even after several minutes have
elapsed, ID code registration may not have been cancelled correctly. To
cancel registration, perform the ID code registration start procedure
again and then turn the engine switch off before driving.
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Maintenance and care
WARNING
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to parts of the drive train as well as
dangerous handling 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 Toyota.
●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.
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not initialize the tire pressure warning system without first adjusting
the tire inflation pressure to the specified level. Otherwise, the tire pres-
sure 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 nor-
mal.
4586-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels, tire pressure warning valve
and transmitters and tire valve caps
●When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitters, contact your Toyota dealer as the tire pressure
warning valve and transmitters may be damaged if not handled cor-
rectly.
●Make sure to install the tire valve caps. If the tire valve caps are not
installed, water may enter the valves of the tire pressure warning valve
and transmitters and the valves may become stuck.
●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 valve and transmit-
ters
When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is
used, contact your Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop as soon
as possible. Make sure to replace the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter when replacing the tire. (→P. 446)
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot-
holes.
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 (vehicles with 18 or 19-inch wheels)
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the tire wheel
when sustaining impact from the road surface. Therefore, pay attention
to the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated,
they may be damaged more severely.
●Avoid potholes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards. Fail-
ure to do so may lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressure of each tire becomes low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.
4616-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
6
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 appear-
ance.
●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.
●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 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 decreased tire inflation pressure.
4626-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
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 your Toyota dealer.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Toyota does not recommend using the following:
●Wheels of different sizes or types
●Used wheels
●Bent wheels that have been straightened
●Use only Toyota wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with
your aluminum 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 Toyota genuine balance weights or equivalent and a plas-
tic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped with tire pressure warning valve
and transmitters that allow the tire pressure warning system to provide
advance warning in the event of a loss in tire inflation pressure. When-
ever wheels are replaced, tire pressure warning valve and transmitters
must be installed. (→P. 446)
Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be
replaced. Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or
cause a loss of handling control.
Wheel selection
Aluminum wheel precautions (if equipped)
4636-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAMRY_U (01999-06122)
6
Maintenance and care
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 seri-
ous injury.
■When installing the wheel nuts
●Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the wheel nuts to be excessively tightened,
leading to bolt or disc wheel damage. In addition, the oil or grease can
cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the wheel may fall off, causing an
accident and resulting in death or serious injury. Remove any oil or
grease from the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning valve and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warn-
ing valve and transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by your
Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop. In addition, make sure to
purchase your tire pressure warning valve and transmitters at your
Toyota dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine Toyota wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valve and transmitters may not work properly
with non-genuine wheels.
●Be sure to install the wheel nuts with
the tapered ends facing inward.
Installing the nuts with the tapered
ends facing outward can cause the
wheel to break and eventually cause
the wheel to come off while driving,
which could lead to an accident
resulting in death or serious injury.
Tapered
portion