radial tires Lexus ES330 2004 Pictorial Index / LEXUS 2004 ES330 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM33633U)

CHASSIS
393
1Summer tire or all season tire: An all season
tire has M+Sº on the sidewall. The tire not
marked with M+Sº is a summer tire. For details,
see Types of tiresº on page 400.
2Tire size: For details, see Tire sizeº on page
394.
3DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN): For
details, see DOT and Tire Identification Number
(TIN)º on page 394.
4Uniform tire quality grading: For details, see
Uniform tire quality gradingº that follows.
5Location of the tread wear indicators: For
details, see Checking and replacing tiresº on
page 402.
6Tire ply composition and materials: Plies mean
a layer of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cords
mean the strands forming the plies in the tire.
7Radial tires or bias-ply tires: A radial tire has
RADIALº on the sidewall. The tire not marked
with RADIALº is a bias-ply tire.
8TUBELESSº or TUBE TYPEº: A tubeless tire
does not have a tube inside the tire. A tube type
tire has a tube inside the tire and the tube
maintains the air pressure.
9Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation
pressure: For details, see Checking and
replacing tiresº on page 402.
10Maximum cold tire inflation pressure: This
means the pressure to which a tire may be
inflated. For details about recommended cold tire
inflation pressure, see Specificationsº on page
384.

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401
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
Maintenanceº.) 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 inflation 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.

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403
Tire selection
When replacing a tire, use a tire of the same size
and construction, and the same or greater
maximum loads as the originally installed tires.
Using any other size or type of tire may seriously
affect handling, ride, speedometer/odometer
calibration, ground clearance, and clearance between
the body and tires or snow chains.
Check that the maximum load of the replaced tire is
greater than 1/2 of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GAWR) of either the front axle or the rear axle,
whichever greater. As for the maximum load of the
tire, see the load limit at maximum cold tire inflation
pressure mentioned on the sidewall of the tire, and
as for the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR), see
the Certification Label. For details about Certification
Label and sidewall of the tire, see pages 352 and 392.CAUTION
Observe the following instructions. Otherwise,
an accident may occur resulting in death or
serious injuries.
Do not mix radial, bias belted, or bias-ply tires
on your vehicle, as this may cause dangerous
handling characteristics resulting in loss of
control.
Do not use tires other than the manufacturer's
recommended size, as this may cause
dangerous handling characteristics resulting
in loss of control.

CHASSIS
404
INSTALLING SNOW TIRES AND
CHAINS
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 tires of the same size,
construction and load capacity as the originally installed
tires.
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.