3266-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Check if the treadwear indicators are
showing on the tires. Also check the
tires for uneven wear, such as excessive
wear on one side of the tread.
Check the spare tire condition and
pressure if not rotated.New tread
Worn tread
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators is
shown by a “TWI” or “ ” mark, etc.,
molded into the sidewall of each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear indica- tors are showing on a tire.
■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 loca-
tion of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult your Lexus
dealer.
●Vehicles with 17-inch tires:
The wheel angle differs from vehicles
equipped with 18-inch tires. Therefore, 18-
inch tires cannot be installed, as sufficient
gaps with surrounding parts cannot be
ensured.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked
by a qualified technician even if it has sel-
dom or never been used or damage is not
obvious.
■Low profile tires (18-inch tires)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more
rapidly and tire grip performance will be
reduced on snowy and/or icy roads when
compared to standard tires. Be sure to use
snow tires on snowy and/or icy roads and
drive carefully at a speed appropriate for
road and weather conditions.
■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, which-
ever is greater.
For the GAWR, see the Certification Label.
For the maximum load of the tire, see the
load limit at maximum cold tire inflation
pressure mentioned on the sidewall of the
tire. ( P.403)
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accor-
dance with maintenance schedules
and treadwear.
Checking tires
A
B
C
3356-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Tire pressure gauge
1
Remove the tire valve cap.
2
Press the tip of the tire pressure
gauge onto the tire valve.
3
Read the pressure using the gauge
gradations.
4
If the tire inflation pressure is not at
the recommended level, adjust the
pressure.
If you add too much air, press the
center of the valve to deflate.
5
After completing the tire inflation
pressure measurem ent and adjust-
ment, apply soapy water to the
valve and check for leakage.
6
Put the tire valve cap back on.
■Tire inflation pressure check interval
You should check tire inflation pressure
every two weeks, or at least once a month.
Do not forget to check the spare.
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pres-
sure
Driving with incorrect ti re inflation pressure
may result in the following:
●Reduced fuel economy
●Reduced driving comfort and poor han-
dling
●Reduced tire life due to wear
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drivetrain
If a tire needs frequent inflating, have it
checked by your Lexus dealer.
■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 read-
ing.
●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 ti
re inflation pressure
to be higher after driving as heat is gen-
erated in the tire. Do not reduce tire infla-
tion pressure after driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity
weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should
be placed so that the vehicle is balanced.
B
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 dam-
age
●Greater possibility of tire damage
while driving (due to road hazards,
expansion joints, sharp edges in the
road, etc.)
3376-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
Use only Lexus wheel nuts and
wrenches designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
When rotating, repairing or chang-
ing your tires, check that the wheel
nuts are still tight after driving 1000
miles (1600 km).
Vehicles with 17-inch tires: Be care-
ful 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.
WARNING
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking
wheel which is designed for a tubeless
tire. Doing so may result in an acci-
dent, causing death or serious injury.
■Use of defective wheels prohibited
Do not use cracked or deformed wheels.
Doing so could cause the tire to leak air
during driving, possibly causing an acci-
dent.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement
may affect the tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters, make sure to
have tires serviced by your Lexus
dealer or other qualified service shop.
In addition, make sure to purchase
your tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters at your Lexus dealer.
●Ensure that only genuine Lexus wheels
are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters may not work properly with
non-genuine wheels.
Aluminum wheel precautions
3948-1. Specifications
8-1.Specifications
*1:Unladen vehicle
*2: Vehicles with 215/55R17 tires
*3: Vehicles with 235/45R18 tires
■Vehicle identification number
The vehicle identification number
(VIN) is the legal identifier for your
vehicle. This is the primary identifica-
tion number for your Lexus. It is used in
registering the ownership of your vehi-
cle.
This number is stamped on the top left
of the instrument panel. This number is also stamped under the
right-hand front seat.
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)
Dimensions and weight
Overall length195.9 in. (4975 mm)
Overall width73.4 in. (1865 mm)
Overall height*156.9 in. (1445 mm)
Wheelbase113.0 in. (2870 mm)
Tread*1
Front63.0 in. (1599 mm)*2
62.6 in. (1589 mm)*3
Rear63.3 in. (1609 mm)*2
63.0 in. (1600 mm)*3
Vehicle capacity weight
(Occupants + luggage)905 lb. (410 kg)
Vehicle identification
4078-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
■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 con-
trolled conditions on specified govern-
ment 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 (turning) traction.
■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 dissipate heat when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudd
en tire failure.
Grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Fede ral Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory 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, unde rinflation, or exces-
sive loading, either separately or in combi-
nation, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation
pressureTire 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
inflation pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a manufacturer
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those standard items which may
be replaced) of hybrid transmission, power steering, power brakes,
power windows, power se ats, radio and heater, to the extent that
these items are available 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
4088-1. Specifications
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 number of occupants specified in the sec-
ond column of Table 1
* that follows
Occupant distribu-
tionDistribution of occupants in a vehicl e as specified in the third column
of Table 1
* below
Production options
weight
The combined weight of installed regular production options weigh-
ing 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
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 designa-
tionThe 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 tireThe load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to
each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight, and divid-
ing by two
Vehicle normal load
on the tire
The load on an individual tire that is determined 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
Tire related termMeaning
4098-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
BeadThe 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 components in the bead
Bias ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are
laid at alternate angles substantia lly less than 90 degrees to the cen-
terline 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 the plies in the tire
Cord separationThe parting of cords from adjacent rubber compounds
CrackingAny parting within the tread, sidewall, or innerliner of the tire extend-
ing to cord material
CT
A pneumatic tire with an inverted fl ange 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 unde rside 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 high er loads and at higher inflation
pressures than the corre sponding standard tire
GrooveThe space between two adjacent tread ribs
InnerlinerThe layer(s) forming the inside surfac e of a tubeless tire that contains
the inflating medium within the tire
Innerliner separa-
tionThe parting of the innerliner from cord material in the carcass
Intended outboard
sidewall
(a) The sidewall that contains a whit ewall, bears white lettering, or
bears manufacturer, brand, and/or model name molding that is
higher or deeper than the same molding on the other sidewall of the
tire, or
(b) The outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that has a
particular side that must always face outward when mounted on a
vehicle
Light truck (LT) tireA tire designated by its manufactur er as primarily intended for use
on lightweight trucks or mu ltipurpose passenger vehicles
Load ratingThe maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a given inflation
pressure
Tire related termMeaning
4108-1. Specifications
Maximum load rat-
ingThe load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible inflation pres-
sure for that tire
Maximum permissi-
ble inflation pres-
sure
The maximum cold inflation pressure 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 innerliner that
extends to cord material
Outer diameterThe overall diameter of an inflated new tire
Overall width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an
inflated tire, including elevations du e to labeling, decorations, or pro-
tective bands or ribs
Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger
vehicles, and trucks, that have a gr oss vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
of 10,000 lb. or less.
PlyA layer of rubber-c oated parallel cords
Ply separationA parting of rubber compound 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, pro-
vides 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 substantially 90 degree s to the centerline of the tread
Reinforced tireA tire designed to operate at high er loads and at higher inflation
pressures than the corre sponding standard tire
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the sidewalls of an
inflated tire, excluding elevations due to labeling, decoration, or pro-
tective bands
SidewallThat portion of a tire between the tread and bead
Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from the cord material in the
sidewall
Tire related termMeaning