tire pressure Lexus ES300 2003 s (in English) User Guide

CHASSIS
325
CAUTION
Keep your tire pressure properly. Otherwise, the
following conditions may occur and cause an accident
resulting in death or serious injuries.
Low tire pressure (underinflation) —
 Excessive wear
 Uneven wear
 Poor handling
 Possibility of blowouts from overheated tire
 Poor sealing of the tire bead
 Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
High tire pressure (overinflation) —
 Poor handling
 Excessive wear at the center of the tire tread
 A greater possibility of tire damage from road
hazards
The following instructions for checking tire pressure should be
observed:
The pressure should be checked only when the tires are
cold. If your vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours
and has not been driven for more than 1.5 km or 1 mile
since, you will get an accurate cold tire pressure reading.
 Always use a tire pressure gauge. The appearance of the
tire can be misleading. Besides, tire pressures that are
even just a few pounds off can degrade ride and handling.
 Do not bleed or reduce tire pressure after driving. It is
normal for the tire pressure to be higher after driving.
 Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight. The
passengers and luggage weight should be located so that
the vehicle is balanced.
 Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps. Without the valve
caps, dirt or moisture could get into the valve core and
cause air leakage. If the caps have been lost, have new
ones put on as soon as possible.

CHASSIS
326
ROTATING TIRES
To equalize tire wear and help extend tire life, Lexus
recommends that you rotate your tires according to the
maintenance schedule. (For scheduled maintenance
information, please refer to the “Owner’s Manual
Supplement/Scheduled Maintenance”.) However, the
most appropriate timing for tire rotation may vary
according to your driving habits and road surface
conditions.
The wheel assemblies must be rotated as illustrated above.
When rotating tires, check for uneven wear and damage.
Abnormal wear is usually caused by incorrect tire pressure,
improper wheel alignment, out−of balance wheels, or severe
braking.
Before storing radial, snow or studded tires, mark the direction
of rotation and be sure to install them in the same direction
when using them again. Tires should be stored in a cool dry
place.
CHECKING AND REPLACING TIRES
When to replace your tires
 1 New tread 2Tread wear indicator 3Worn tread
Replace the tires when the tread wear indicators show.
The location of the tread wear indicators is shown by the
marks such as “TWI” or “
Δ” marks molded on the sidewall
of each tire.
The tires on your Lexus have built −in tread wear indicators to
help you know when the tires need replacement. When the
tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06 in.) or less, the indicators
will appear. If you can see th e indicators in two or more
adjacent grooves, the tire should be replaced.
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost if the tread wears
down below 4 mm (0.16 in.).

CHASSIS
329
INSTALLING SNOW TIRES ANDCHAINS
When to use snow tires or chains
Snow tires or chains are recommended when driving on
snow or ice.
On wet or dry roads, conventional or radial tires provide better
traction than snow or studded tires.
Snow tire selection
If you need snow tires, select the same size, construction
and load capacity as the original tires on your Lexus.
Do not use tires other than stated above. Since your vehicle
has radial tires as original equipment, make sure your snow
tires also have radial construction. Do not install studded tires
without first checking local regulations for possible restrictions.
CAUTION
Do not use snow tires other than the manufacturer’s
recommended size, as this may cause dangerous
handling characteristics resulting in loss of control.
Otherwise, an accident may occur resulting in death or
serious injuries.
Snow tire installation
Snow tires should be installed on all wheels.
Installing snow tires on the front wheels only can lead to an
excessive difference in road grip capability between the front
and rear tires which could cause loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION
 Snow tires should be inflated to the same pressure as
the original tires.
 Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph) with any type of
snow tires.
Tire chain selection
Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary
according to location or type of road. Always check the
local regulations before installing chains.
Use SAE Class “S” type radial tire chains, with the exception
of radial cable chains or V− bar type chains.
Chain installation
Install the chains on the front tires as tightly as possible.
Do not use tire chains on the rear tires. Retighten chains
after driving 0.5 1.0 km (1/4 1/2 mile).
When installing chains on your tires, carefully follow the
instructions of the chain manufacturer.