4887-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■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 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 engine switch is off. If the tires are rotated while the engine switch is in
IGNITION ON mode, the tire position information will not be updated.
If this accidentally occurs, either turn the engine switch to off and then to IGNITION ON
mode, or initialize the system after checking th at the tire pressure is properly adjusted.
■Low profile tires
Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire grip performance will be
reduced on snowy and/or icy roads when comp ared to standard tires. Be sure to use
snow tires or tire chains
* on snowy and/or icy roads and drive carefully at a speed appro-
priate for road and weather conditions.
*: Tire chains cannot be mounted on the 18-inch tires. Snow tires should be used instead.
4897-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■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.
■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 road s, 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 adequate for
driving in most winter conditions as well as for use year-round. All season tires, how-
ever, do not have adequate traction perfor mance compared with snow tires in heavy
or loose snow. Also, all season tires fall short in acceleration and handling perfor-
mance compared 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 ti res of the same size, construction 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 cons truction. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Snow tires should be installed
on all wheels. ( P. 306)
■If the tread on snow tires wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tire s as snow tires is lost.
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. 601)
4907-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■Situations in which the tire pressure warning system may not operate properly
●In the following cases, the tire pressure warning system may not operate properly.
• If non-genuine Lexus wheels are used.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not an OE (Original Equipment) tire.
• A tire has been replaced with a tire that is not of the specified size.
• Tire chains etc. are equipped.
• An auxiliary-supported run-flat tire is equipped.
• If a window tint that affects th e radio wave signals is installed.
• If there is a lot of snow or ice on the vehi cle, particularly around the wheels or wheel
housings.
• If the tire inflation pressure is extr emely higher than the specified level.
• If tires not equipped with tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are used.
• If the ID code on the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters is not registered in the tire pressure warning computer.
●Performance may be affected in the following situations.
• Near a TV tower, electric power plant, gas station, radio station, large display, air-
port or other facility that generates st rong radio waves or electrical noise
• When carrying a portable radio, cellular phone, cordless phone or other wireless
communication device
If tire position information is not correctly displayed due to the radio wave conditions,
the display may be corrected by driving and changing the radio wave conditions.
●When the vehicle is parked, the time taken for the warning to start or go off could be
extended.
●When tire inflation pressure declines rapidly for example when a tire has burst, the
warning may not function.
■The initialization operation
●Make sure to carry out initialization afte r adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
Also, make sure the tires are cold before carryi ng out initialization or tire inflation pres-
sure adjustment.
●If you have accidentally turned the engine swit ch off during initialization, it is not neces-
sary to press the reset switch again as initialization will restart automatically when the
engine switch has been turned to IG NITION ON mode for the next time.
●If you accidentally press the reset switch when initialization is not necessary, adjust the
tire inflation pressure to the specified leve l when the tires are cold, and conduct initial-
ization again.
■When initialization of the tire pressure warning system has failed
Initialization can be completed in a few minutes. However, in the following cases, the set-
tings have not been recorded and the system will not operate properly. If repeated
attempts to record tire inflation pressure settings are unsuccessful, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
●When operating the tire pres sure warning reset switch, the tire pressure warning light
does not blink 3 times.
●After carrying out the initializat ion procedure, the tire pressure warning light blinks for 1
minute then stays on after driving for 20 minutes.
4987-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
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. 486)
Wheels
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
4997-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
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 serious injury.
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 wh eels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not work properly with non-genu-
ine wheels.
5308-2. Steps to take in an emergency
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
WARNING
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recomm ended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label (tire and load information label). (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label [tire and load in formation label], you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure moni-
toring system (TPMS-tire pressure warning system) that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale (tire pressure warning light) when on e or more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low ti re pressure telltale (tire pressure warning
light) illuminates, you should st op and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-inflat ed tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency
and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure wa rning system) is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure,
even if under-inflation has not reached the le vel to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale (tir e pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS (tire pressure warning system) mal-
function indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly. The TPMS
(tire pressure warning system) malfunction indi cator is combined with the low tire pres-
sure telltale (tire pressure warning light). When the system detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash for approximately one mi nute and then remain continuously illumi-
nated. This sequence will cont inue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that
prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction telltale after replacing one
or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) to continue to function
properly.
5678-2. Steps to take in an emergency
8
When trouble arises
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
■The compact spare tire
●The compact spare tire is identified by the label “TEMPORARY USE ONLY” on the
tire sidewall.
Use the compact spare tire temporarily, and only in an emergency.
●Make sure to check the tire inflation pressure of the compact spare tire.
( P. 595)
■When using the compact spare tire
As the compact spare tire is not equipped wi th a tire pressure warning valve and trans-
mitter, low inflation pressure of the spare tire will not be indicated by the tire pressure
warning system. Also, if you replace the compact spare tire after the tire pressure warn-
ing light comes on, the light remains on.
■When the compact spare tire is equipped
The vehicle becomes lower when driving with the compact spare tire compared to when
driving with standard tires.
■If you have a flat rear tire on a road covered with snow or ice (vehicles with front and
rear tires of the same size)
Install the compact spare tire on one of the front wheels of the vehicle. Perform the fol-
lowing steps and fit tire chains to the rear tires:
Replace a front tire with the compact spare tire.
Replace the flat rear tire with the tire removed from the front of the vehicle.
Fit tire chains to the rear tires.
1
2
3
5959-1. Specifications
9
Vehicle specifications
IS350 AWD/IS350/IS300 AWD/IS300_U
Type A
Type B
Tires and wheels
Tire size225/45R17 91W, T125/70D17 98M (spare)
Tire inflation pressure
(Recommended cold tire
inflation pressure)
Front:36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm2 or bar)
Rear: 36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
Spare: 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
Driving at high speeds (above 118 mph [190 km/h]) (in
countries where such speeds are permitted by law)
Add 5 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kgf/cm
2 or bar) to the front
tires and rear tires. Never exceed the maximum cold
tire inflation pressure indi cated on the tire sidewall.
Wheel size17 7 1/2J, 17 4T (spare)
Wheel nut torque76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m)
Tire size225/45R17 91V, T125/70D17 98M (spare)
Tire inflation pressure
(Recommended cold tire
inflation pressure)
Front:
36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm2 or bar)
Rear: 36 psi (250 kPa, 2.5 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
Spare: 60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
Driving at high speeds (above 100 mph [160 km/h]) (in
countries where such speeds are permitted by law)
Add 5 psi (30 kPa, 0.3 kgf/cm
2 or bar) to the front
tires and rear tires. Never exceed the maximum cold
tire inflation pressure indi cated on the tire sidewall.
Wheel size17 7 1/2J, 17 4T (spare)
Wheel nut torque76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m)