Page 409 of 460

4098-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Full-size tireTire size ( P.411)
DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN) ( P.411)
Location of treadwear indicators ( P.329)
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.413)
Maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( P.413)
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
Uniform tire quality grading
For details, see “Uniform Tire Quality Grading” that follows.
Summer tires or all season tires ( P.330)
An all season tire has “M+S” on the sidewall. A tire not marked “M+S” is a summer tire.
Tire information
Typical tire symbols
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
Page 410 of 460
4108-1. Specifications
Compact spare tireTire size ( P.411)
DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN) ( P.411)
Location of treadwear indicators ( P.329)
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.413)
Maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( P.413)
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
“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.
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
Page 411 of 460

4118-1. Specifications
8
Vehicle specifications
Type ADOT 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
*:The DOT symbol cert ifies that the tire
conforms to applicable Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards.
Type B
DOT symbol
*
Tire Identification Number (TIN) Tire manufacturer’s identification
mark
Manufacturer’s code
Manufacturing week
Manufacturing year
*: The DOT symbol certifies that the tire
conforms to applicable Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards.
■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)
Typical DOT and Tire Identifica-
tion Number (TIN)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
Tire size
C
D
E
F
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Page 412 of 460

4128-1. Specifications
■Tire dimensionsSection width
Tire height
Wheel diameter
Bead
Sidewall
Shoulder
Tread
Belt
Inner liner
Reinforcing rubber
Carcass
Rim lines
Bead wires
Chafer 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 pro-
spective purchasers of Lexus vehicles
with information on uniform tire quality
grading.
Your Lexus dealer will help answer any
questions you may have as you read this
information.
■DOT quality grades
All passenger vehicle tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Requirements 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 condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half (1 - 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use.
Performance may differ significantly from
the norm due to variatio ns in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Tire section names
A
B
C
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Page 413 of 460

4138-1. 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 transmissi on, 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
Page 414 of 460

4148-1. 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
Page 415 of 460

4158-1. 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
Page 416 of 460

4168-1. 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