tires Lexus IS250 2006 Using the audio system / LEXUS 2006 IS350/250 FROM MAY 2006 PROD. (OM53619U) User Guide

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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 
marks, etc., molded on the side-
wall of each tire.
Check spare tire condition and
pressure if not rotated.
■ Tire rotation
2WD models with 16-inch tires and AWD models
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.
Do not fail to initialize the tire
inflation warning system after
tire rotation.
2WD models with 17-inch tires or 18-inch tires
Tires cannot be rotated.
Front

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Turning directional tiresTire direction marks
The tires listed below are direc-
tional. The tire sidewalls are
marked with arrows indicating the
rolling direction of the tire. If
mounted on the wrong side of the
vehicle, directional tires will per-
form poorly.
Installing tire inflation pressure sensors
When replacing tires or wheels, ti re pressure sensors must also be
installed. Tire pressure sensors ca n be installed in any of the following
three ways:
● Sensors can be removed from the ol d wheels and installed on the new
wheels.
■ The tire pressure warning system
Your Lexus is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that uses
tire pressure sensors to detect low tire pressure before serious
problems arise. ( P. 335, 339)
Before removing the tire from th e wheel, remove the system’s tire
inflation pressure sensor. Be carefu l not to damage the sensor when
removing and installing the tires.
Ti r e s i z e
FrontRear
225/45R17 90W245/45R17 95W
225/40R18 88Y255/40R18 95Y

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Maintenance and care
●When replacing only the tire, the sensor already installed on the wheel
does not need to be replaced.
● Replacing both a wheel and its sensor.
When new tire pressure sensors are installed, new sensor ID codes must be
registered in the ECU and tire inflatio n pressure sensor must be initialized.
( P. 2 8 1 , 2 8 2 )
Initializing the tire pressure warning system
■ The tire pressure warning system must be initialized in the following
circumstances:
●When the standard tire pressure changes by replacing tires or
wheels
● When tires are rotated.
● When tire pressure sensors are replaced.
● When driving with the tires inflated to a higher than standard tire
pressure.
When the tire pressure warning sy stem is initialized, the current tire
pressure is set as the pressure benchmark.
■ How to initialize the tire pressure warning system
To initialize the system, use the satellite switch. ( P. 218)
Park the vehicle in safe place and turn off the engine.
Adjust the tire pressure to the specified pressure ( P. 383)
Start the engine.
Make sure to adjust the tire pressure to the specified level. The tire infla-
tion pressure warning system will operate based on this pressure level.
STEP1
STEP2
STEP3

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The tire pressure initialization
setting display
Continue to press the  or 
switch until the initialization setting
display appears.
It may take several minutes to com-
plete the setting. Wait for several
minutes before turning the engine
switch OFF if necessary.
Recording tire pressure settings
Press the ON/OFF button for
more than 3 seconds. At this time,
the tire inflation pressure warning
indicator flashes 3 times and the
message showing that the initial
setting is complete is displayed on
the multi-information display.
Registering and selecting tire inflation pressure sensor ID codesThe tire inflation pressure sensor is equipped with a unique ID code.
To select tire inflation pressure sensor ID codes, use the satellite switch.
( P. 218)
■ Registering ID codes
Two separate sets of ID codes can be registered for each vehicle. This
allows 2 separate sets of settings to be conveniently recorded for all
season and winter tires.
MAIN: The MAIN ID code is used fo r the factory installed tire pres-
sure sensors.
2nd: The 2nd ID code is used for tire inflation pressure sensors associ-
ated with a secondary set of tires.
Make sure to have all tire inflation pressure warning system ID codes regis-
tered by your Lexus dealer. ID codes must be reset when tires or wheels are
replaced.
STEP4

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Maintenance and care
■Selecting ID codes
When replacing tires, make sure to select the ID code set that matches
the new tire set. If the incorrect ID code is selected, the tire pressure
warning system will not operate properly.
Tire pressure ID code settings
display
Press  or  repeatedly until the
setting display appears.
Switching ID codes
Press the ON/OFF button to
switch between MAIN and 2nd ID
codes.
■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.
■Low profile tires (vehicles not equipped with 205/55R16 tires)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire grip performance will be
reduced on snowy and/or icy roads when co mpared to standard tires. Be sure to
use snow tires or tire chains
* on snowy and/or icy roads and drive carefully at a
speed appropriate for road and weather conditions.
*: Tire chains cannot be mounted on 18-inch tires.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
■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. 2 8 9 , 3 9 2 ) .
■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 adequa te traction performance compared with
snow tires in heavy or loos e 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 ic y 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 loca l regulations for possible restriction.
Snow tires should be installed on all wheels. ( P. 1 5 6 )
■Initializing the tire inflation pressure warning system
Initialize the tires with the tire inflatio n pressure adjusted to the specified level.

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Maintenance and care
■When the initialization of the tire inflation 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 satellite switch, the warning light does not flash and the set-
ting message does not appear on the multi-information display. (The tires can-
not be initialized while the vehicle is moving.)
●After driving for approximately 20 mi nutes since the initialization has been
completed, the warning light flashes.
■Routine tire inflation pressure checks
The tire inflation pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation
pressure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of your routine
of daily vehicle checks.

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Maintenance and care
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.
NOTICE
■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels and sensors
●When removing the tires from the wheels, be careful not to damage the system’s
tire inflation warning sensors. Contact your Lexus dealer for details regarding the
removal and installation procedures.
●When replacing tires, make sure also to replace the tire inflation pressure sensor
grommets.
■Do not use puncture sealant sprays to repair flats
Puncture sealant sprays may damage tire inflation pressure sensors.

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NOTICE
■Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire air pressure, reducing the cushioning abil-
ity 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.
■Low profile tires and wheels
Wheels with profile tires like 17- and 18 -inch tires may cause greater damage than
usual to the tire wheel when receiving impact from the road surface. Therefore pay
attention to the following:
●Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated, they may
be damaged more severely.
●Avoid pot holes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards.
Failure to do so can lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
■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 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 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 misleadi ng. 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.