4286-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■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 t o
expose the fabric, and bulges indicating internal damage
●A tire goes flat repeatedly or c annot be properly repaired due to the size
or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with your Toyota dealer.
■Replacing tires and wheels
If the ID codes of the tire pressure warning valve and transmit ters are not
registered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. In this
case, after driving for about 20 minutes, the tire pressure warning light will
blink for approximately 1 minute and then illuminate to indicat e a system
malfunction.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified techni cian even
if it has seldom or never been u sed or damage is not obvious.
■Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks. Make sure to chec k tire inflation pressure as part of
your routine of daily vehicle checks.
■Low profile tires (vehicl es with 18-inch wheels)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire gr ip perfor-
mance 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 r oads and
drive carefully at a speed approp riate for road and weather conditions.
■Maximum load of tire
Check that the maximum load of t he replacement tire is greater than 1/2
of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) of either the front axl e or the
rear axle, whichever 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. 5 3 4 )
4296-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■Tire types
●Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway
driving under dry conditions. Si nce summer tires do not have th e same
traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for
driving on snow-covered or icy ro ads. 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 sno w and to
be adequate for driving in most winter conditions as well as fo r use
year-round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate tra ction
performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Al so, all
season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performanc e 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 si ze, con-
struction and load capacity as t he originally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construct ion. Do not install studded tires without
first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Sno w tires
should be install ed on all wheels. ( P. 343)
■If the tread on snow tires wea rs down below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is lost.
4316-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
Maintenance and care
■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 initia lization
procedure or adjusting the tire inflation pressure.
●If the power switch is turned off during initialization, it is not necessary to
restart the initialization procedure from the beginning as it w ill begin
automatically when the power swit ch is turned back to ON mode.
●If initialization has accidentally been started when it is not necessary,
adjust the tire inflation pressu re to the specified level when the tires are
cold and then perform the ini tialization procedure again.
●Vehicles with a tire inflation p ressure 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 pr essure 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 pressu re warning system will change in accor-
dance with the conditions under which it was initialized. For t his reason,
the system may give a warning even if the tire pressure does no t reach a
low enough level, or if the pressure is higher than the pressur e that was
adjusted to when the sys tem was initialized.
■If the tire pressure warning syst em is not initialized properly
Vehicles without a tire inflat ion pressure display function
Initialization can be completed i n a few minutes. However, in the following
cases, the settings have not been record ed and the system will not oper-
ate properly. If repeated attempts to record tire inflation pre ssure settings
are unsuccessful, have the vehicl e inspected by your Toyota dealer.
●If initialization is attempted and the tire pressure warning li ght does not
blink 3 times.
●If, when the vehicle has been driven for about 20 minutes after perform-
ing initialization, the tire pre ssure warning light blinks for approximately
1 minute and t hen illuminates.
4326-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Vehicles with a tire inflation pressure display function
●In the following situations, initialization may take longer than usual to be
completed or may not be possible. (Usually, the vehicle will ne ed to be
driven for approximately 10 to 30 minutes to complete initializ ation.)
If initialization is not complete after driving approximately 3 0 minutes,
continue driving for a while.
• If the vehicle is driven on an unpaved road, it may take longe r to com-
plete initialization.
• If the vehicle is backed up while performing initialization, d ata col-
lected during initialization will be cleared and it will take l onger than
normal to complete.
• If the vehicle is driven in heavy traffic or another situation where other
vehicles are driven close by, i t may take time for the system to recog-
nize the tire pressure warning valve and transmitters of your v ehicle
over those of other vehicles.
If initialization is not complete after driving for approximate ly 1 hour,
park the vehicle in a safe place for approximately 20 minutes and then
drive the vehicle again.
●In the following situ ations, initialization will not be started or was not
completed properly and the system will not operate properly. Pe rform
the initialization procedure again.
• If, when attempting to start initialization, the tire pressure warning light
does not blink 3 times.
• If, when the vehicle has been driven for about 20 minutes afte r per-
forming initializatio n, the tire pressure warning light blinks for approxi-
mately 1 minute and then illuminates.
●If initialization cannot be completed after performing the abov e proce-
dure, contact your Toyota dealer.
■When registering ID codes (vehicles with a tire inflation press ure dis-
play function)
●Before performing ID code registration, make sure that no wheel s 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 t he ID codes,
the initialized values will be invalid.
●As the tires will be war m when registration is completed, make sure to
allow the tires to cool befo re performing initialization.
4356-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
6
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 accide nt
resulting in death o r serious injury.
●Do not mix tires of different ma kes, models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of re markably different treadwear.
●Do not use tire sizes other th an those recommended by Toyota.
●Do not mix differently constructed tires (radial, bias-belted o r bias-ply
tires).
●Do not mix summer, all season and snow tires.
●Do not use tires that have b een used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not kn ow how they were used previous ly.
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not initialize the tire press ure warning system without firs t adjusting
the tire inflation pressure to t he specified level. Otherwise, the tire pres-
sure warning light may not come on even if the tire inflation p ressure is
low, or it may come on when the tire inflation pressure is actu ally nor-
mal.
4366-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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 co r-
rectly.
●Make sure to install the tire val ve caps. If the tire valve caps are not
installed, water may enter the valves of the tire pressure warn ing valve
and transmitters and the valves may become stuck.
●When replacing tire valve caps, d o not replace them with metal caps or
any tire valve caps other than s pecified, as they may become st uck.
■To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valve and transmit -
ters
When a tire is repaired with liqui d sealants, the tire pressure warning
valve and transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sea lant is
used, contact your Toyota dealer or other qualified service shop as soon
as possible. Make sure to replac e the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter when replacing the tire. ( P. 4 2 4 )
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when drivi ng on roads with loose surfaces or pot-
holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing
the cushioning ability of the t ires. In addition, driving on ro ugh roads
may cause damage to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicl e’s
wheels and body.
■Low profile tires (vehicl es with 18-inch wheels)
Low profile tires may cause gre ater damage than usual to the tire wheel
when sustaining impact from the road surface. Therefore, pay at tention
to the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are und er-inflated,
they may be damaged more severely.
●Avoid potholes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards. Fail-
ure to do so may l ead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■If tire inflation pressure of e ach tire becomes low while drivi ng
Do not continue driving, or your t ires and/or wheels may be ruined.
4396-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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 o nly 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 pre ssure after
driving.
●Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehi cle is
balanced.
WARNING
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly in flated, the following conditions may occur
which could lead to an accident r esulting in death or serious injury:
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overh eated 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 on the road, etc.)
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusti ng 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 pressu re.
4406-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they are
equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim wid th 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 hav e been straightened
● Use only Toyota wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changi ng your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight afte r driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire
chains.
● Use only Toyota genuine balance we ights 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 warn ing valve
and transmitters that allow the tire pressure warning system to provide
advance warning in the event of a loss in tire inflation pressu re. When-
ever wheels are replaced, tire pressure warning valve and trans mitters
must be installed. ( P. 424)
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 pre cautions (if equipped)