tires Lexus ES350 2012 Owner's Guide

5
When trouble arises
469
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U
CAUTION
■When the compact spare tire attached
The vehicle speed may not be correctly detected, and the following systems may
not operate correctly:
●ABS & Brake assist
●VSC
●TRAC
●Navigation system (if equipped)
NOTICE
■Do not drive the vehicle with a flat tire.
Do not continue driving with a flat tire.
Driving even a short distance with a flat tire can damage the tire and the wheel
beyond repair.
■When replacing the tires
When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter, contact your Lexus dealer as the tire pressure warning valve and trans-
mitter may be damaged if not handled correctly.
■To avoid damage to the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
When a tire is repaired with liquid sealants, the tire pressure warning valve and
transmitter may not operate properly. If a liquid sealant is used, contact your Lexus
dealer or other qualified service shop as soon as possible. Make sure to replace the
tire pressure warning valve and transmitter when replacing the tire. (→P. 3 9 1 )
■Be careful when driving over bumps with the compact spare tire installed on the
vehicle.
The vehicle becomes lower when driving with the compact spare tire compared to
when driving with standard tires. Be careful when driving over uneven road sur-
faces.
■Driving with tire chains and the compact spare tire
Do not fit tire chains to the compact spare tire.
Tire chains may damage the vehicle body and adversely affect driving performance.

5
When trouble arises
483
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
ES350_U
If the vehicle becomes stuck
CAUTION
■When attempting to free a stuck vehicle
If you choose to rock the vehicle back and forth to free it, make sure the surround-
ing area is clear, to avoid striking other vehicles, objects or persons. The vehicle
may also lunge forward or lunge back suddenly as it becomes free. Use extreme
caution.
■When shifting the shift lever
Be careful not to shift the shift lever with the accelerator pedal depressed.
This may lead to unexpected rapid acceleration of the vehicle that may cause an
accident and result in death or serious injury.
NOTICE
■To avoid damaging the transmission and other components
●Avoid spinning the wheels and do not rev the engine.
●If the vehicle remains stuck after trying these procedures, the vehicle may require
towing to be freed.
Carry out the following procedures if the tires spin or the vehicle becomes
stuck in mud, dirt, or snow.
●Stop the engine. Set the parking brake and put the shift lever in P.
● Remove the mud, snow, or sand from around the stuck tire.
● Place wood, stones or some other material to help provide trac-
tion under the tires.
● Restart the engine.
● Carefully apply the accelerator to free the vehicle.

493
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
ES350_U
Steering
Tires and wheelsType A
Free playLess than 1.2 in. (30 mm)
Power steering fluidAutomatic transmission fluid
DEXRON® II or III
Ti r e s i z eP215/55R17 93V
Tire inflation pressure
(Recommended cold tire inflation
pressure)
Front:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm2 or bar)
Rear:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
Spare:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
When driving at high speeds above 100 mph
(160 km/h), in countries where such speeds
are permitted by law, add 4.3 psi (30 kPa, 0.3
kgf/cm
2 or bar) to the front tires and rear tires.
Never exceed the maximum cold tire inflation
pressure indicated on the tire sidewall.
Wheel size17 × 7J
Wheel nut torque76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m)

494
6-1. Specifications
ES350_UTy p e B
Ti r e s i z eP215/55R17 93V,
T155/70D17 110M (spare)
Tire inflation pressure
(Recommended cold tire inflation
pressure)
Front:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm2 or bar)*
Rear:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm
2 or bar)*
Spare:
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
*:When driving at high speeds above 100 mph (160 km/h), in countries where such
speeds are permitted by law, add 4.3 psi
(30 kPa, 0.3 kgf/cm
2 or bar) to the front
tires and rear tires. Never exceed the maxi-
mum cold tire inflation pressure indicated
on the tire sidewall.
Wheel size17 × 7J, 17 × 4T (spare)
Wheel nut torque76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5 kgf•m)

500
6-1. Specifications
ES350_U
Tire size (→ P. 5 0 1 )
DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN) (→P. 5 0 1 )
Location of treadwear indicators (→ P. 390)
Tire ply composition and materials
Plies are layers of rubber-coated parallel cords. Cords are the strands
which form the plies in a tire.
Radial tires or bias-ply tires
A radial tire has “RADIAL” on the sidewall. A tire not marked “RADIAL” is
a bias-ply tire.
“TUBELESS” or “TUBE TYPE”
A tubeless tire does not have a tube and air is directly filled in the tire. A
tube type tire has a tube inside the ti re and the tube maintains the air pres-
sure.
Load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( →P. 394)
Maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( →P. 493)
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
For details, see “Uniform tire quality grading” that follows.
Summer tire or all season tire (→ P. 395)
An all season tire has “M+S” on the sidewall. A tire not marked “M+S” is a
summer tire.
“TEMPORARY USE ONLY” (→ P. 466)
A compact spare tire is identified by the phrase “TEMPORARY USE
ONLY” molded into its sidewall. This tire is designed for temporary emer-
gency use only.

503
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
ES350_U■
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 controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment 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 sign ificantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteris-
tics 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) trac-
tion.

504
6-1. Specifications
ES350_U■
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 fail-
ure.
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 grades for this tire are 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.
Glossary of tire terminology
Tire related termMeaning
Cold tire inflation pres-
sureTire pressure when the vehicle has been parked for
three hours or more, or has not been driven more
than 1 mile or 1.5 km under that condition
Maximum inflation pres-
sureThe maximum cold inflated pressure to which a tire
may be inflated, shown on the sidewall of the tire
Recommended inflation
pressureCold tire inflation pressure recommended by a man-
ufacturer
Accessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those standard
items which may be replaced) of automatic transmis-
sion, power steering, power brakes, power windows,
power seats, radio and heater, to the extent that these
items are available as factory-installed equipment
(whether installed or not)

547
Alphabetical index
ES350_U
Tachometer ..............................................138
Tail lightsReplacing light bulbs ....................... 420
Switch ........................................................ 149
Wattage ................................................. 495
Talk switch*............................................. 284
Telephone switch* ............................... 284
Theft deterrent system
Alarm .......................................................... 83
Engine immobilizer system ............... 81
Tire inflation pressure......................... 399
Tire information Glossary ................................................504
Size ............................................................ 501
Tire identification number .............. 501
Uniform tire quality grading......... 502
Tires Chains .......................................................198
Checking ............................................... 390
If you have a flat tire............................ 461
Inflation pressure ............................... 399
Inflation pressure sensor.................. 391
Information............................................ 499
Replacing................................................. 461
Rotating tires ........................................390
Size ........................................................... 493
Snow tires..............................................200
Spare tire ................................................. 461
Tools ............................................................ 461
Total load capacity................................. 195 Towing
Dinghy towing .....................................203
Emergency towing............................. 431
Trailer towing .......................................202
TRAC.......................................................... 182
Traction control ...................................... 182
Trip meter ................................................. 138
Trunk Extending a space ............................ 335
Opener ...................................................... 46
Trunk light Trunk light ................................................. 47
Wattage ................................................. 495
Turn signal lights
Replacing light bulbs ........................420
Switch........................................................ 135
Wattage ................................................. 495T
*: For vehicles with a navigation system, refer to the “Navigation System Owner’s Manual”.