width Lexus ES300h 2015 Do-it-yourself maintenance / (OM33B99U) User Guide

ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
7239-1. Specifications
9
Vehicle specifications
This information has been prepared in accordance with regulations issued
by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S. Depart-
ment of Transportation.
It provides the purchasers and/or prospective purchasers of Lexus vehi-
cles 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 conform to Federal Safety Require-
ments 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 controlle d conditions on a specified govern-
ment 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 variations in
driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and cli-
mate.
■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 controlled conditions on sp ecified government 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.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
9-1. Specifications
Rim diameter
(Wheel diameter)Nominal diameter of the bead seat
Rim size designationRim diameter and width
Rim type designationThe 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 dividing 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 (dis-
tributed in accordance with Table 1
* below), and
dividing by two
We a t h e r s i d eThe surface area of the rim not covered by the
inflated tire
Bead
The 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 substantially
less than 90 degrees to the centerline 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 com-
pounds
CrackingAny parting within the tread, sidewall, or innerliner of
the tire extending to cord material
Tire related termMeaning

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ES350_300h_OM_OM33B99U_(U)
9-1. Specifications
Overall width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the side-
walls of an inflated tire, including elevations due to
labeling, decorations, or protective bands or ribs
Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipur-
pose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that have a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lb. or
less.
PlyA layer of rubber-coated parallel cords
Ply separationA parting of rubber compound between adjacent
plies
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fab-
ric and steel or other mate rials, that, when mounted
on an automotive wheel, provides the traction and
contains the gas or flui d that sustains the load
Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to
the beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread
Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at
higher inflation pressures than the corresponding
standard tire
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the side-
walls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due to
labeling, decoration, or protective 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
Snow tire
A tire that attains a traction index equal to or greater
than 110, compared to the ASTM E-1136 Standard
Reference Test Tire, when using the snow traction test
as described in ASTM F-1805-00, Standard Test
Method for Single Wheel Driving Traction in a
Straight Line on Snow-and Ice-Covered Surfaces,
and which is marked with an Alpine Symbol ( ) on
at least one sidewall
Te s t r i mThe rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and may be
any rim listed as appropriate for use with that tire
Tire related termMeaning