tires Lexus ES300h 2017 User Guide

280
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-5. Using the driving support systems
WA R N I N G
■The ABS does not operate effectively when
●The limits of tire gripping performance have been exceeded (such as excessively
worn tires on a snow covered road).
●The vehicle hydroplanes while driving at
high speed on wet or slick roads.
■Stopping distance when the ABS is operat ing may exceed that of normal conditions
The ABS is not designed to shorten the vehicle’s stopping distance. Always maintain a
safe distance from the vehicle in front of you, especially in the following situations:
●When driving on dirt, gravel or snow-covered roads
●When driving with tire chains
●When driving over bumps in the road
●When driving over roads with potholes or uneven surfaces
■TRAC may not operate effectively when
Directional control and power may not be achievable while driving on slippery road
surfaces, even if the TRAC system is operating.
Drive the vehicle carefully in conditions where stability and power may be lost.
■Hill-start assist control does not operate effectively when
●Do not overly rely on the hill-start assist control. The hill-start assist control may not
operate effectively on steep inclines and roads covered with ice.
●Unlike the parking brake, hill-start assist control is not intended to hold the vehicle
stationary for an extended period of time. Do not attempt to use hill-start assist con-
trol to hold the vehicle on an incline, as doing so may lead to an accident.

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
2814-5. Using the driving support systems
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
■When the VSC is activated
The slip indicator light flashes. Always drive carefully. Reckless driving may cause an
accident. Exercise particular care when the indicator light flashes.
■When the TRAC/VSC systems are turned off
Be especially careful and drive at a speed appropriate to the road conditions. As these
are the systems help ensure vehicle stability and driving force, do not turn the TRAC/
VSC systems off unless necessary.
■Replacing tires
Make sure that all tires are of the specified size, brand, tread pattern and total load
capacity and have similar tread depths. In addition, make sure that the tires are inflated
to the recommended tire inflation pressure level.
The ABS, TRAC and VSC systems will not function correctly if different size tires are
installed on the vehicle.
Contact your Lexus dealer for further information when replacing tires or wheels.
■Handling of tires and the suspension
Using tires with any kind of problem or modi fying the suspension will affect the driving
assist systems, and may cause a system to malfunction.

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
2834-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
◆Delays
Repeated acceleration and deceleration, as well as long waits at traffic lights,
will lead to bad fuel economy. Check traffic reports before leaving and avoid
delays as much as possible. When drivin g in a traffic jam, gently release the
brake pedal to allow the vehicle to move forward slightly while avoiding over-
use of the accelerator pedal. Doing so can help control excessive gasoline
consumption.
◆Highway driving
Control and maintain the vehicle at a cons tant speed. Before stopping at a toll
booth or similar, allow plenty of time to release the accelerator and gently
apply the brakes. A greater amount of electrical energy can be regenerated
when slowing down.
◆Air conditioning
Use the air conditioning only when necessary. Doing so can help reduce
excessive gasoline consumption.
In summer: When the ambient temperature is high, use the recirculated air
mode. Doing so will help to reduce the burden on the air conditioning system
and reduce fuel consumption as well.
In winter: Because the gasoline engine will not automatically cut out until it
and the interior of the vehicle are warm, it will consume fuel. Also, fuel con-
sumption can be improved by avoiding overuse of the heater.
◆Checking tire inflation pressure
Make sure to check the tire inflation pressure frequently. Improper tire infla-
tion pressure can cause poor fuel economy.
Also, as snow tires can cause large amounts of friction, their use on dry roads
can lead to poor fuel economy. Use tires that are appropriate for the season.
◆Luggage
Carrying heavy luggage will lead to poor fuel economy. Avoid carrying
unnecessary luggage. Installing a large roof rack will also cause poor fuel
economy.
◆Warming up before driving
Since the gasoline engine starts up and cuts out automatically when cold,
warming up the engine is unnecessary. Moreover, frequently driving short dis-
tances will cause the engine to repeatedly warm up, which can lead to excess
fuel consumption.

284
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)4-6. Driving tips
Winter driving tips
●Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside temperatures.
•Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Power control unit coolant
•Washer fluid
●Have a service technician inspect the condition of the 12-volt battery.
●Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire chains for
the front tires.
Ensure that all tires are the specified size and brand, and that chains match the size of
the tires.
Perform the following according to the driving conditions:
●Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen. Pour
warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe away the water imme-
diately to prevent it from freezing.
●To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan, remove any
snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in front of the windshield.
●Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on
the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassis, around the tires or on the brakes.
●Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before getting in the
vehicle.
Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle
ahead, and drive at a reduced speed suitable to road conditions.
Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving the vehi-
cle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the prevail-
ing weather conditions.
Preparation for winter
Before driving the vehicle
When driving the vehicle

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
2854-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
●Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to P without setting the parking
brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from being released. If
the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, make sure to block the
wheels.
Failure to do so may be dangerous because it may cause the vehicle to move
unexpectedly, possibly leading to an accident.
●If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, confirm that the shift
lever cannot be moved out of P*.
*: The shift lever will be locked if it is attempted to be shifted from P to any other position without depressing the brake pedal. If the shift lever can be shifted from P, there may
be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Lexus
dealer immediately.
Use the correct tire chain size when mounting the tire chains.
Chain size is regulated for each tire size.
XSide chain
0.12 in. (3 mm) in diameter
0.39 in. (10 mm) in width
1.18 in. (30 mm) in length
XCross chain
0.16 in. (4 mm) in diameter
0.55 in. (14 mm) in width
0.98 in. (25 mm) in length
Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on location and type
of road. Always check local regulations before installing chains.
■Tire chain installation
Observe the following precautions wh en installing and removing chains:
●Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
●Install tire chains on the front tires. Do not install tire chains on the rear tires.
●Install tire chains on front tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after driving 1 /4
 1/2 mile (0.5  1.0 km).
●Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.
When parking the vehicle
Selecting tire chains
1
2
3
4
5
6
Regulations on the use of tire chains

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
2874-6. Driving tips
4
Driving
WA R N I N G
■Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause death or serious injury.
●Use tires of the specified size.
●Maintain the recommended level of air pressure.
●Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h), regardless of the type of snow tires
being used.
●Use snow tires on all, not just some wheels.
■Driving with tire chains
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.
Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being unable to be driven safely, and may
cause death or serious injury.
●Do not drive in excess of the speed limit specified for the tire chains being used, or 30
mph (50 km/h), whichever is lower.
●Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.
●Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt steering, sudden braking and shifting operations
that cause sudden engine braking.
●Slow down sufficiently before entering a cu rve to ensure that vehicle control is main-
tained.
●Do not use LDA (Lane Departure Alert with steering control) system. (if equipped)
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs or replacement of snow tires from Lexus dealers or legitimate tire
retailers.
This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the operation of the
tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.
■Fitting tire chains
The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly when tire
chains are fitted.
■When standing the windshield wipers up
Raise the wipers in line with the windshield. ( →P. 2 8 6 )
Failure to do so may result in damage to the wipers and/or the hood.

433
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
7Maintenance and care
7-1. Maintenance and careCleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior................. 434
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle interior .................. 437
7-2. Maintenance Maintenance requirements.............................440
General maintenance .............. 443
Emission inspection and maintenance (I/M)
programs .................................... 446
7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance Do-it-yourself service precautions................................ 447
Hood ............................................... 449
Positioning a floor jack ............. 450
Engine compartment .................451
12-volt battery................................461
Tires.................................................. 465
Tire inflation pressure ................ 474
Wheels ............................................477
Air conditioning filter ............... 479
Electronic key battery ............... 481
Checking and replacing fuses..............................................483
Light bulbs.....................................486

ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)
4457-2. Maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
Vehicle exterior
ItemsCheck points
Doors/trunk• Do the doors/trunk operate smoothly?
Engine hood• Does the engine hood lock system work properly?
Fluid leaks• There should not be any signs of fluid leakage afterthe vehicle has been parked.
Ti r e s
• Is the tire inflation pressure correct?
• The tires should not be damaged or excessivelyworn.
• Have the tires been rotated according to the mainte- nance schedule?
• The wheel nuts should not be loose.
Windshield wipers
• The wiper blades should not show any signs of crack-
ing, splitting, wear, contamination or deformation.
• The wiper blades should clear the windshield without streaking or skipping.
WA R N I N G
■If the hybrid system is operating
Turn the hybrid system off and ensure that there is adequate ventilation before per-
forming maintenance checks.

465
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
7
Maintenance and care
Tires
Check if the treadwear indicators are showing on the tires. Also check the tires
for uneven wear, such as excessive wear on one side of the tread.
Check the spare tire condition and pressure if not rotated.
New tread
Wo r n t r e a d
Treadwear indicator
The location of treadwear indicators is shown by a “TWI” or “ ∆” mark, etc., molded
into the sidewall of each tire.
Replace the tires if the treadwear indicators are showing on a tire.
Rotate the tires in the order shown.
To equalize tire wear and extend tire life,
Lexus recommends that tire rotation is
carried out at the same interval as tire
inspection.
Do not fail to initialize the tire pressure
warning system after tire rotation.
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance schedules and tread-
wear.
Checking tires
Tire rotation
1
2
3
Front

466
ES300h_OM_OM33C75U_(U)7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Your vehicle is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses tire pres-
sure warning valves and transmitters to
detect low tire inflation pressure before
serious problems arise.
●If the tire pressure drops below a predetermined level, the driver is warned by
a screen display and a warning light. ( →P. 5 0 7 )
●The tire pressure detected by the
tire pressure warning system can be
displayed on the multi-information
display. ( →P. 9 1 )
The illustration used is intended as an
example, and may differ from the image
that is actually displayed on the multi-
information display.
◆Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are installed, new ID
codes must be registered in the tire pressure warning computer and the tire
pressure warning system must be initiali zed. Have tire pressure warning valve
and transmitter ID codes registered by your Lexus dealer. ( →P. 4 6 7 )
◆Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the following circum-
stances:
●When rotating the tires.
●When the tire inflation pressure is ch anged such as when changing travel-
ing speed or load weight.
When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire inflation
pressure is set as the benchmark pressure.
Tire pressure warning system