tires Lexus ES350 2007 Do-it-yourself maintenance

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance schedules and
tread wear.
■Checking tires
New tread
Tread wear indicator
Worn tread
The location of tread wear indi-
cators is shown by the TWI or Δ
marks, etc., molded on the side-
wall of each tire.
Check spare tire condition and
pressure if not rotated.
■Tire rotation
If equipped with standard spare
tire
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
Lexus recommends tire rotation
in accordance with the mainte-
nance schedule to equalize tire
wear and extend tire life.
Front

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Installing tire pressure warning valve & transmitters
When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valve & transmit-
ters must also be installed.
When new tire pressure warning valve & transmitters are installed, new tire
pressure warning valve & transmitter ID codes must be registered in the tire
pressure warning ECU and tire pressure warning system must be initialized.
Have tire pressure warning valve & transmitter ID codes registered by your
Lexus dealer. (→P. 299, 300)
If equipped with compact spare
tire
■The tire pressure warning system
Your Lexus is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses
tire pressure warning valve & transmitters to detect low tire inflation
pressure before serious problems arise. (→P. 343)
Front

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Registering and selecting ID codes
■Registering ID codes
2 sets of tire pressure warning valve & transmitter ID codes can be
registered. Once a second set of tires is registered at “2nd”, you can
switch between tire set settings simply by pressing the tire pressure
warning select switch.
There are 2 settings:
“MAIN” position: The ID code of the tire pressure warning valve &
transmitter on the tires originally installed on the vehicle is registered.
“2nd” position: The code is not registered. When you replace a new set
of tires, purchase tire pressure warning valve & transmitters from your
Lexus dealer and have the new ID code registered by your Lexus
dealer.
■Selecting ID codes
When replacing tires, make sure to select the ID code set that matches
the new tire set. If the tire pressure select switch is set to the wrong tire
setting, the system will not work properly. After about 1 hour, the tire
pressure warning light blinks (comes on after blinking for 1 minute) to
indicate a system malfunction.
MAIN
2nd

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Maintenance and care
■When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
●You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to expose the
fabric or bulges indicating internal damage
●A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size or
location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with your Lexus dealer.
■Tire life
Any tire over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even if they
have seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
■If the tread wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm) on snow tires
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.
■Maximum load of tire
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 is
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. (
→P. 305, 397).

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■Tire types
1 Summer tires
Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway driving
under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same traction perfor-
mance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for driving on snow-covered
or icy roads. For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires
is recommended. When installing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.
2 All season tires
All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to be ade-
quate for driving in most winter conditions, as well as for use year round. All sea-
son tires, however, do not have adequate traction performance compared with
snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also, all season tires fall short in acceleration
and handling performance compared with summer tires in highway driving.
3Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy roads, we recommend using snow tires.
If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, construction and load capac-
ity as the originally installed tires. 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 restriction.
Snow tires should be installed on all wheels. (→P. 1 4 7 )
■Initializing the tire pressure warning system
Initialize the tires with the tire inflation pressure adjusted to the specified level.
■If you push the tire pressure reset switch accidentally
If initialization is performed, adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified level
and initialize the system again.
■When the initialization of the tire pressure warning system has failed
Initialization can be completed in a few minutes. However, in the following cases,
the settings have not been recorded and the system will not operate properly. If
repeated attempts to record tire inflation pressure settings are unsuccessful, have
the vehicle inspected by your Lexus dealer.
●When operating the tire pressure warning reset switch, the warning light does
not flash.
●After driving for a certain period of time since the initialization has been com-
pleted, the warning light flashes.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents. Failure to do so may cause
damage to parts of the drive train, as well as dangerous handling characteristics,
which may lead to fatal or injury accidents.
●Do not mix tires of different makes, models, tread patterns or tread wear.
●Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Lexus.
●Do not mix radial, bias-belted, or bias-ply tires.
●Do not mix summer, all season and winter tires.
■When initializing the tire pressure warning system
Do not push the tire pressure warning reset switch without first adjusting the tire
inflation pressure to the specified level. Otherwise, the tire pressure warning light
may not come on even if the tire inflation pressure is low, or it may come on when
the tire not inflation pressure is actually normal.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels and tire pressure warning valve & transmit-
ters
●When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning valve &
transmitter, contact your Lexus dealer as the tire pressure warning valve & trans-
mitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
●When replacing tires, make sure also to replace the tire pressure warning valve &
transmitter grommets.
■Do not use puncture sealant sprays to repair flats
Puncture sealant sprays may damage tire pressure warning valve & transmitters.
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or potholes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire inflation pressure, reducing the cushion-
ing ability of the tires. In addition driving on rough roads may cause damage to the
tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels and body.
■If tire inflation pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.

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Maintenance and care
■Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure may result in the following:
●Reduced fuel efficiency
●Reduced driving comfort and tire life
●Reduced safety
●Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent refilling, have it checked by your Lexus dealer.
■Instructions for checking tire inflation pressure
When checking tire inflation pressure, observe the following:
●Check 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 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an accurate cold tire inflation pressure
reading.
●Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be misleading. In addition, tire inflation pressures
that are even just a few pounds off can degrade ride and handling.
●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 placed so that the vehicle is bal-
anced.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions may occur
and result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
●Excessive wear
●Uneven wear
●Poor handling
●Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
●Poor sealing of the tire bead
●Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
●A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
■When inspecting and adjusting tire inflation pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or moisture could get into the valve and cause air leak-
age, which could result in an accident. If the caps have been lost, replace them as
soon as possible.

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Maintenance and care
Wheels
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your Lexus are equipped with sensors that allow the tire pressure
warning system sensors to provide advanced warning in the event of a loss in tire
pressure. Whenever wheels are replaced, the tire pressure warning valve & trans-
mitters must be switched over from the old wheels. (→P. 2 9 9 )
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be replaced. Oth-
erwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause loss of handling con-
trol.
■Wheel selection
When replacing wheels, care should be taken to ensure that they
are equivalent to those removed in load capacity, diameter, rim
width, and offset.
Replacement wheels are available at your Lexus dealer.
Lexus does not recommend using:
• Wheels of different sizes or types
• Used wheels
• Bent wheels that have been straightened
■Aluminum wheel precautions
●Use only Lexus wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
●When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
●Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire
chains.
●Use only Lexus genuine balance weights or equivalent and a
plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
CAUTION
■When replacing wheels
●Do not use wheels that are a different size from those recommended in the
Owner’s Manual, as this may result in loss of handling control.
●Never use an inner tube in a leaking wheel which is designed for a tubeless tire.
Doing so may result in an accident, causing serious injury or death.
NOTICE
■Replacing tire pressure warning valve & transmitters
●Because tire repair or replacement may affect the tire pressure warning valve &
transmitters, make sure to have tires serviced by your Lexus dealer or other qual-
ified service shop. In addition, make sure to purchase your tire pressure warning
valve & transmitters at your Lexus dealer.
●Ensure that only Genuine Lexus wheels are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valve & transmitters may not work properly with non-genu-
ine wheels.