
2404-6. Driving tips
4-6.Driving tips
Use fluids that are appropriate to 
the prevailing outside temperatures.
•Engine oil
• Engine coolant
•Washer fluid
Have a service technician inspect 
the condition of the battery.
 Have the vehicle fitted with four 
snow tires or purchase a set of tire 
chains for the front tires.
*
Ensure that all tires are the specified size 
and brand, and that chains match the size 
of the tires.
*: Tire chains cannot be mounted on vehi-
cles with 18-inch/19-inch tires.
Perform the following according to the 
driving conditions:
 Do not try to forcibly open a window 
Winter driving tips
Carry out the necessary prepara-
tions and inspections before driving 
the vehicle in winter. Always drive 
the vehicle in a manner appropriate 
to the prevailing weather condi-
tions.
Preparation for winter
WARNING
■Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to 
reduce the risk of accidents. 
Failure to do so may result in a loss of 
vehicle control and cause death or seri-
ous injury.
●Use tires of the specified size.
●Maintain the recommended level of air 
pressure.
●Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 
km/h), regardless of the type of snow 
tires being used.
●Use snow tires on all, not just some 
wheels.
■Driving with tire chains (vehicles with 
17-inch tires)
Observe the following precautions to 
reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the vehicle 
being unable to be driven safely, and may 
cause death or serious injury.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed 
limit specified for the tire chains being 
used, or 30 mph (50 km/h), which-
ever is lower.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces 
or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt 
steering, sudden braking and shifting 
operations that cause sudden engine 
braking.
●Slow down sufficiently before entering 
a curve to ensure that vehicle control is 
maintained.
●Do not use LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) 
system.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs or replacement of snow 
tires from Lexus dealers or legitimate tire 
retailers. 
This is because the removal and attach-
ment of snow tires affects the operation 
of the tire pressure warning valves and 
transmitters.
Before driving the vehicle 

3176-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
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/19-inch tires. There-
fore, 18-inch/19-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/19-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 ti res. 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.391)
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed perfor-
mance tires best suited to highway driv-
ing under dry conditions. Since summer 
tires do not have the same traction per-
formance 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 installing 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 ade-
quate for driving in most winter condi-
tions as well as for use year-round. All 
season tires, howeve r, do not have ade-
quate traction performance compared 
with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. 
Also, all season tires fall short in accelera-
tion and handling performance com-
pared with summer  tires in highway 
driving.
●Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy 
roads, we recommend us ing snow tires. If 
you need snow tires,  select tires of the 
same size, construction and load capacity 
as the originally installed tires. Since your 
vehicle has radial tires as original equip-
ment, 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.240)
■If the tread on snow tires wears down 
below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the  tires as snow tires is 
lost. 

3437-2. Steps to take in an emergency
7
When trouble arises
7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
The following may indicate a problem 
with your transmission. Contact your 
Lexus dealer or commercial towing 
service before towing.
If your vehicle needs to be 
towed
If towing is necessary, we recom-
mend having your vehicle towed by 
your Lexus dealer or commercial 
towing service, using a wheel-lift 
type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all 
towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws.
WARNING
Observe the following precautions. 
Failure to do so may result in death or 
serious injury.
■When towing the vehicle
Be sure to transport the vehicle with the 
front wheels raised or with all four wheels 
raised off the ground. If the vehicle is 
towed with the front wheels contacting 
the ground, the drivetrain and related 
parts may be damaged.
■While towing (vehicles with a towing 
eyelet)
●When towing using cables or chains, 
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place 
excessive stress on the towing eyelets, 
cables or chains. The towing eyelets, 
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people, 
and cause serious damage.
●Do not turn the engine switch off. 
There is a possibility that the steering 
wheel is locked and cannot be oper-
ated.
■Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle (vehicles with a towing eyelet)
Make sure that towing eyelets are 
installed securely. 
If not securely installed, towing eyelets 
may come loose during towing.
NOTICE
■To prevent damage to the vehicle 
when towing using a wheel-lift type 
truck
●Do not tow the vehicle from the rear 
when the engine switch is off. The 
steering lock mechanism is not strong 
enough to hold the front wheels 
straight.
●When raising the vehicle, ensure ade-
quate ground clearance for towing at 
the opposite end of the raised vehicle. 
Without adequate clearance, the vehi-
cle could be damaged while being 
towed.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle 
when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either 
from the front or rear.
■To prevent damage to the vehicle 
during emergency towing (vehicles 
with a towing eyelet)
Do not secure cables or chains to the 
suspension components.
Situations when it is necessary to 
contact dealers before towing