tires Lexus ES330 2005 Occupant Restraint System / LEXUS 2005 ES330 (OM33691U) User Guide

MAINTENANCE
329
Accelerator pedal
Check
the pedal for smooth operation and uneven pedal ef fort
or catching.
Brake pedal
Check the pedal for smooth operation and the proper
clearance and freeplay. Check the brake booster function.
Brakes
In a safe place, check that the brakes do not pull to one side
when applied.
Parking brake
Check that the pedal has the proper travel and that, on a safe
incline, your vehicle is held securely with only the parking brake
applied.
Automatic transmission “Park” mechanism
On a safe incline, check that your vehicle is held securely with
the selector lever in “P” position and all brakes released.
Vehicle exterior
Items listed below should be performed from time to time,
unless otherwise specified.
Wheel nuts
When checking the tires, make sure to check the nuts for
looseness. Tighten them if necessary.
Fluid leaks
Check underneath for leaking fuel, oil, water or other fluid after
the vehicle has been parked for a while. If you smell fuel fumes
or notice any leak, have the cause found and corrected
immediately.
Doors and engine hood
Check that all doors, including trunk lid, operate smoothly and
all latches lock securely. Make sure the engine hood
secondary latch secures the hood when the primary latch is
released.

MAINTENANCE
330
Tire inflation pressure
Check the tire inflation pressure with a gauge every
two weeks, or at least once a month and adjust as
shown on the tire and loading information label. See
page 366 for additional information.
Tire surface
Check the tires carefully for cuts, damage or
excessive wear. See page 381 for additional
information.
Tire rotation
Rotate the tires according to the maintenance
schedule. (For scheduled maintenance information,
please refer to the “Owner’s Manual
Supplement/Scheduled Maintenance”.) See page 380
for additional information.DOES YOUR VEHICLE NEEDREPAIRING?
Be on the alert for changes in performance and sounds, and
visual tip −offs that indicate service is needed. Some important
clues are:
 Engine missing, stumbling, or pinging
 Appreciable loss of power
 Strange engine noises
 A fluid leak under the vehicle (However, water dripping from
the air conditioning after use is normal.)
 Change in exhaust sound (This may indicate a dangerous
carbon monoxide leak. Drive with the windows open and
have the exhaust system checked immediately.)
 Flat−looking tires, excessive tire squeal when cornering,
uneven tire wear
 Vehicle pulls to one side when driving straight on a level
road
 Strange noises related to suspension movement
 Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling brake pedal,
pedal almost touches floors, vehicle pulls to one side when
braking
 Engine coolant temperature continually higher than normal

SECTION 6 – 3
359
SERVICE PROCEDURES AND
SPECIFICATIONS
Chassis
Specifications360
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Checking brake fluid 364
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Checking power steering fluid 365
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Checking tire inflation pressure 366
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Tire information 370
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Types of tires 379
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Rotating tires 380
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Checking and replacing tires 381
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Installing snow tires and chains 383
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Replacing wheels 385
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Aluminum wheel precautions 386
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Suspension and chassis 387
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CHASSIS
362
— TIRES AND WHEELS (type A)Tire size
P215/60R16 94V
Tire inflation pressure Recommended cold tire inflation
pressure
Front 200 kPa (2.0 kgf/cm2 or bar, 29 psi)
Rear 200 kPa (2.0 kgf/cm2 or bar, 29 psi)
For sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (99 mph), in
countries where such speeds are permitted by law, add 40
kPa (0.4 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 6 psi) to the front tires and rear
tires, but never exceed the maximum cold tire inflation
pressure molded on the tire sidewall.
Wheel size16  6 1/2 JJ
Wheel nut torque103 N·m (10.5 kgf·m, 76 ft·lbf)
NOTE:
For a complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing \
wheels), see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
through “Aluminum wheel precautions” on pages 366 through 386.

CHASSIS
363
— TIRES AND WHEELS (type B)Tire size
P215/55R17 93V
Tire inflation pressure Recommended cold tire inflation
pressure Normal driving
Trailer towing
Front 210 kPa (2.1 kgf/cm2 or bar, 30 psi)
Rear 210 kPa (2.1 kgf/cm2 or bar, 30 psi)
For sustained high speeds above 160 km/h (99 mph), in
countries where such speeds are permitted by law, add 30
kPa (0.3 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 4 psi) to the front tires and rear
tires, but never exceed the maximum cold tire inflation
pressure molded on the tire sidewall.
Front 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar, 32 psi)
Rear 220 kPa (2.2 kgf/cm2 or bar, 32 psi)
Wheel size17  7 JJ
Wheel nut torque103 N·m (10.5 kgf·m, 76 ft·lbf)
NOTE:
For a complete information on tires (e.g. replacing tires or replacing \
wheels), see “Checking tire inflation pressure”
through “Aluminum wheel precautions” on pages 366 through 386.

CHASSIS
367
The recommended cold tire inflation pressures,
tire sizes and the combined weight of occupants
and cargo (vehicle capacity weight) are described
on page 362, 363 and 410. They are also
described on the tire and loading information label
as shown.
You should check the tire inflation pressure every two
weeks, or at least once a month. And do not forget
the spare!
The following instructions for checking tire
inflation 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 inflation pressure reading. 
Always use a tire pressure gauge. The
appearance of a tire can be misleading. Besides,
tire inflation pressures that are even just a few
pounds off can degrade handling and ride.
 Do not bleed or reduce tire inflation pressure
after driving. It is normal for the tire inflation
pressure to be higher after driving.
 Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be located
so that the vehicle is balanced.

CHASSIS
369
CAUTION
Keep your tires properly inflated. 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 an overheated
tire
 Poor sealing of the tire bead
 Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
 A greater possibility of tire damage from road
hazards
High tire pressure (overinflation) —
 Poor handling
 Excessive wear
 Uneven wear
 A greater possibility of tire damage from road
hazards

CHASSIS
371
1Summer tire or all season tire: An all season
tire has “M+S” on the sidewall. The tire not
marked with “M+S” is a summer tire. For details,
see “Types of tires” on page 379.
2Tire size: For details, see “Tire size” on page
372.
3DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN): For
details, see “DOT and Tire Identification Number
(TIN)” on page 372.
4Uniform tire quality grading: For details, see
“Uniform tire quality grading” that follows.
5Location of the tread wear indicators: For
details, see “Checking and replacing tires” on
page 381.
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 biasply tires: A radial tire has
“RADIAL” on the sidewall. A tire not marked with
“RADIAL” is a bias −ply tire.
8“TUBELESS” or “TUBE TYPE”: 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 tires” on page 381.
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 “Specifications” on page
360.

CHASSIS
374
Uniform tire quality grading
This information has been prepared in accordance
with regulations issued by the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration of the U.S.
Department of Transportation. It provides the
purchasers and/or prospective purchasers of
Lexus vehicles 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 car tires must
conform to Federal Safety Requirements 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 ATreadwear
— The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified government
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, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
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 specified
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.

CHASSIS
375
Temperature A, B, C — The temperature grades are
A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance which
all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.