load capacity Lexus IS300 2003 Basic Functions / LEXUS 2003 IS300 OWNER'S MANUAL (OM53439U)

INTERIOR EQUIPMENT
80
LUGGAGE STOWAGEPRECAUTIONS
When stowing luggage or cargo in the vehicle, observe
the following:
Put luggage or cargo in the trunk when at all possible. Be
sure all items are secured in place.
 Be careful to keep the vehicle level. Placing the weight as
far forward as possible helps maintain vehicle balance.
 For better fuel economy, do not carry unnecessary weight.
CAUTION
To prevent luggage or packages from sliding forward
during braking, do not stack anything in the enlarged
trunk or the luggage compartment higher than the
seatbacks. Keep luggage or packages low, as close
to the floor as possible.
 Never allow anyone to ride in the enlarged trunk or
the luggage compartment. It is not designed for pas-
sengers. They could be injured in sudden braking or
a collision.
 Do not place anything on the package tray behind the
rear seatback or luggage cover. Such items may be
thrown about and possibly injure people in the
vehicle during sudden braking or in an accident.
Do not drive with objects left on top of the instrument
panel. They may interfere with the driver's field of
view. Or they may move during sharp vehicle
acceleration or turning, and impair the driver's
control of the vehicle. In an accident they may injure
the vehicle occupants.
NOTICE
Do not load the vehicle beyond the vehicle capacity
weight specified on the tire pressure label.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

STARTING AND DRIVING
255
CAUTION
Do not mix summer and all season tires on your
vehicle as this can cause dangerous handling
characteristics, resulting in loss of control.
 Do not use tires other than the manufacturer's
designated tires, and never mix tires or wheels of the
sizes different from the originals.
LIMITED±SLIP DIFFERENTIAL
Some vehicles are equipped with a limited±slip differential. If
one rear wheel begins to spin, the limited±slip differential is
designed to aid traction by automatically transmitting driving
force to the other rear wheel. If you are not sure whether your
vehicle is equipped with one, you can ask your Lexus dealer.
CAUTION
Do not start or run the engine while your vehicle is
supported by a j ack. The vehicle could be driven off the
jack and could pose a danger or result in serious injury.
NOTICE
Use only a spare tire of the same size, construction and
load capacity as the original tires on your Lexusbecause damage to the limited±slip differential couldpossibly occur with another tire type.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
337
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include
cornering (turning) traction.
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 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.
Tire selection
When replacing a tire, use a tire of the same size and
construction, and the same or g reater load capacity 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.
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.
If you need to change from conventional tires to radial tires or
vice versa, replace them as a set.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
338
INSTALLING SNOW TIRES ANDCHAINS
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
Observe the following instructions. Otherwise, an
accident may occur resulting in death or serious
injuries.
Do not use snow tires other than the manufacturer's
recommended size, as this may cause dangerous
handling characteristics resulting in loss of control.
Snow tire installation
Snow tires should be installed on all wheels.
Installing snow tires on the rear 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
Do not drive with the snow tires incorrectly inflated.
 Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph) with any type of
snow tires.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)

CHASSIS
340
NOTICE
Do not attempt to use a tire chain on the compact sparetire, as it may result in damage to the vehicle as well asthe tire.
REPLACING WHEELS
When to replace your wheels
If you have wheel damage such as bends, cracks or heavy
corrosion, the wheel should be replaced.
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the tire may slip off the
wheel or cause loss of handling control.
Replacement with used wheels is not recommended as they
may have been subjected to rough treatment or high mileage
and could fail without warning. Also, bent wheels which have
been straightened may have hidden structural damage and
therefore should not be used. Never use an inner tube in a
leaking wheel which is designed for a tubeless tire.
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.
Correct replacement wheels are available at your Lexus
dealer.
A wheel of a different size or type may adversely affect
handling, wheel and bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer/odometer calibration, stopping ability, headlight
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clearance, and tire or snow
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
2003 IS300 from Aug. '02 Prod. (OM53439U)