wheel LEXUS LS500 2018 Owners Manual

3996-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 6
Maintenance and care The recommended cold tire inflation
pressure and tire size are displayed on
the tire and loading information label.
( → P.454)
Tire valve
Tire pressure gaugeWARNING■
When installing the tire
Failure to follow these precautions could
cause the wheel nuts to loosen and the
tire to fall off, resulting in death or serious
injury. ●
Never use oil or grease on the wheel
bolts or wheel nuts.
Oil and grease may cause the wheel
nuts to be excessively tightened, lead-
ing to bolt or disc wheel damage. In
addition, the oil or grease can cause
the wheel nuts to loosen and the wheel
may fall off, causing a serious accident.
Remove any oil or grease from the
wheel bolts or wheel nuts.●
Have the wheel nuts tightened with a
torque wrench to 103 ft•lbf (140 N•m,
14.3 kgf•m) as soon as possible after
changing wheels.●
Do not attach a heavily damaged
wheel ornament, as it may fly off the
wheel while the vehicle is moving.●
When installing a tire, only use wheel
nuts that have been specifically
designed for that wheel.●
If there are any cracks or deformations
in the bolt screws, nut threads or bolt
holes of the wheel, have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer.
NOTICE
■
Repairing or replacing tires, wheels,
tire pressure warning valves, trans-
mitters and tire valve caps
→ P.392 Tire inflation pressure
Checking the specified tire infla-
tion pressure
Inspection and adjustment pro-
cedure
A
B

400 6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 1 Remove the tire valve cap.
2 Press the tip of the tire pressure
gauge onto the tire valve.
3 Read the pressure using the gauge
gradations.
4 If the tire inflation pressure is not at
the recommended level, adjust the
pressure.
If you add too much air, press the
center of the valve to deflate.
5 After completing the tire inflation
pressure measurem ent and adjust-
ment, apply soapy water to the
valve and check for leakage.
6 Put the tire valve cap back on. ■
Tire inflation pressure check interval
You should check tire inflation pressure
every two weeks, or at least once a month.
Do not forget to check the spare. ■
Effects of incorrect tire inflation pres-
sure
Driving with incorrect ti re inflation pressure
may result in the following: ●
Reduced fuel economy●
Reduced driving comfort and poor han-
dling●
Reduced tire life due to wear●
Reduced safety●
Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent inflating, 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 or has not been driven for
more than 1 mile or 1.5 km, you will get an
accurate cold tire in flation pressure read- ing. ●
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
It is difficult to judge if a tire is properly
inflated based only on its appearance. ●
It is normal for the ti re inflation pressure
to be higher after driving as heat is gen-
erated in the tire. Do not reduce tire infla-
tion pressure after driving. ●
Never exceed the vehicle capacity
weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should
be placed so that the vehicle is balanced.
WARNING■
Proper inflation is critical to save tire
performance
Keep your tires properly inflated.
If the tires are not properly inflated, the
following conditions may occur which
could lead to an accident resulting in
death or serious injury: ●
Excessive wear ●
Uneven wear ●
Poor handling ●
Possibility of blowouts resulting from
overheated tires
●
Air leaking from between tire and
wheel
●
Wheel deformation and/or tire dam-
age
●
Greater possibility of tire damage
while driving (due to road hazards,
expansion joints, sharp edges on the
road, etc.)
NOTICE
■
When inspecting and adjusting tire
inflation pressure
Be sure to put the tire valve caps back on.
If a valve cap is not installed, dirt or mois-
ture may get into the valve and cause an
air leak, resulting in decreased tire infla-
tion pressure.

4016-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 6
Maintenance and care When replacing wheels, care should
be taken to ensure that they are equiv-
alent to those removed in load capac-
ity, diameter, rim width and inset *
.
Replacement wheels are available at
your Lexus dealer. *
: Conventionally referred to as offset.
Lexus does not recommend using the
following:
 Wheels of different sizes or types
 Used wheels
 Bent wheels that have been straight-
ened ■
When replacing wheels
The wheels of your vehicle are equipped
with tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters that allow the tire pressure warning
system to provide advance warning in the
event of a loss in tire inflation pressure.
Whenever wheels are replaced, the tire
pressure warning valv es and transmitters
must be installed. ( → P.392)  Use only Lexus wheel nuts and
wheel nut wrenches designed for
use with your aluminum wheels.
 When rotating, repairing or chang-
ing your tires, check that the wheel
nuts are still tight after driving 1000
miles (1600 km).
 Be careful not to damage the alumi-
num wheels when using tire chains.
 Use only Lexus genuine balance
weights or equivalent and a plastic
or rubber hammer when balancing
your wheels.Wheels If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily
corroded, it should be replaced.
Otherwise, the tire may separate
from the wheel or cause a loss of
handling control.
Wheel selection
WARNING
■
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 a
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 death or serious injury. ■
Use of defective wheels prohibited
Do not use cracked or deformed wheels.
Doing so could cause the tire to leak air
during driving, possibly causing an acci-
dent.
NOTICE■
Replacing tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters ●
Because tire repair or replacement
may affect the tire pressure warning
valves and transmitters, make sure to
have tires serviced by your Lexus
dealer or other qua lified service shop.
In addition, make sure to purchase
your tire pressure warning valves and
transmitters at your Lexus dealer. ●
Ensure that only genuine Lexus wheels
are used on your vehicle.
Tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters may not work properly with
non-genuine wheels.
Aluminum wheel precautions

4117-1. Essential information
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises seconds or more, or press it briefly
3 times or more in succession.
5 Stop the vehicle in a safe place by
the road. WARNING■
If the engine has to be turned off while
driving
Power assist for the steering wheel will
be lost, making th e steering wheel
heavier to turn. Decelerate as much as
possible before turning off the engine.

412 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7-2.Steps to take in an emergency
If your vehicle needs to be
towed If towing is ne cessary, we recom-
mend having your vehicle towed by
your Lexus dealer or commercial
towing service, using a wheel-lift
type truck or flatbed truck.
Use a safety chain system for all
towing, and abide by all state/pro-
vincial and local laws. WARNING
Observe the following precautions.
Failure to do so may result in death or
serious injury. ■
When towing the vehicle 
2WD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the driv etrain and related
parts may be damaged or an accident
may occur due to a change in direction
of the vehicle. 
AWD models
Be sure to transport the vehicle with all
four wheels raised off the ground. If the
vehicle is towed with the tires contacting
the ground, the driv etrain or related
parts may be damaged, the vehicle may
fly off the truck.
■
While towing ●
When towing using cables or chains,
avoid sudden starts, etc. which place
excessive stress on the towing eyelets,
cables or chains. The towing eyelets,
cables or chains may become dam-
aged, broken debris may hit people,
and cause serious damage.
●
Make sure to disable all functions of
the vehicle height control of the elec-
tronically modulated air suspension.
Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change and part of your body may be
caught under the vehicle, possibly
causing injury. ( → P.293)
●
Do not turn the engine switch off.
This may lead to an accident as the
rear wheels will be locked by the park-
ing lock.
Also, there is a possibility that the
steering wheel is locked and cannot be
operated.

4137-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises
In the following situations, it is not pos-
sible to be towed by another vehicle
using cables or chains, as the rear
wheels may be locked due to the park-
ing lock. Contact your Lexus dealer or
commercial towing service.
 There is a malfunction in the shift control system. ( → P.163, 428)
 There is a malfunction in the engine
immobilizer system. ( → P.58)
 There is a malfunction in the smart
access system with push-button
start. ( → P.436)
 The battery is discharged.
( → P.438)
The following may indicate a problem
with your transmission. Contact your
Lexus dealer or commercial towing
service before towing.
 The engine is running but the vehi-
cle does not move.
 The vehicle makes an abnormal
sound.
Do not tow with a sling-type truck to
prevent body damage.WARNING■
Installing towing eyelets to the vehi-
cle
Make sure that towing eyelets are
installed securely.
If not securely installed, towing eyelets
may come loose during towing.
NOTICE■
To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing using a wheel-lift type
truck●
Do not tow the vehicle from the rear
when the engine switch is off. The
steering lock mechanism is not strong
enough to hold the front wheels
straight.●
When raising the vehicle, ensure ade-
quate ground clearance for towing at
the opposite end of the raised vehicle.
Without adequate clearance, the vehi-
cle could be damaged while being
towed.■
To prevent damage to the vehicle
when towing with a sling-type truck
Do not tow with a sling-type truck, either
from the front or rear.
■
To prevent damage to the vehicle
during emergency towing
Do not secure cables or chains to the
suspension components.
Situations when it is not possible
to be towed by another vehicle Situations when it is necessary to
contact dealers before towing
Towing with a sling-type truck

414 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 
From the front
Use a towing dolly under the rear
wheels. 
From the rear
Use a towing dolly under the front
wheels.
If your vehicle is transported by a flat-
bed truck, it should be tied down at the
locations shown in the illustration. If you use chains or cables to tie down
your vehicle, the angles shaded in
black must be 45°.
Do not overly tighten the tie downs or
the vehicle may be damaged.
Make sure to disable all functions of
the vehicle height control of the elec-
tronically modulated air suspension.
Otherwise, the vehicle height may
change and the vehicle may be dam-
aged. ( → P.293)
If a tow truck is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed using cables or chains
secured to the emergency towing eye-
lets. This should only be attempted on
hard surfaced roads for short distances
at under 18 mph (30 km/h).
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer
and operate the brakes. The vehicle’s Towing with a wheel-lift type
truck
Using a flatbed truck
Emergency towing

4157-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises wheels, drive train, axles, steering and
brakes must be in good condition.
To have your vehicle towed by another
vehicle, the towing eyelet must be
installed to your vehicle. Install the tow-
ing eyelet using the following proce-
dure.
1 Take out the phillips-head screw-
driver and towing eyelet.
Phillips-head screwdriver
Towing eyelet
2 Remove the eyelet cover using a
flathead screwdriver.To protect the bodywork, place a rag
between the screwdriver and the vehicle
body as shown in the illustration. 3 Insert the towing eyelet into the
hole and tighten partially by hand.
4 Tighten down the towing eyelet
securely using a phillips-head
screwdriver or hard metal bar.
5 Securely attach cables or chains to
the towing eyelet. Take care not to damage the vehicle body.
6 Enter the vehicle being towed and
start the engine. If the engine does not start, turn the engine
switch to IGNITION ON mode.
7 Shift the shift position to N and
release the parking brake. ■
While towing
If the engine is not running, the power assist
for the brakes and steering will not function,
making steering and braking more difficult.Emergency towing procedure
A
B

426 7-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) If it is, tighten it securely.
The light will go off after several driving
trips.
If the light does not go off even after several
trips, contact your Lexus dealer as soon as
possible. ■
Electric power steering system warning
light (warning buzzer)
When the battery charge becomes insuffi-
cient or the voltage temporarily drops, the
electric power steeri ng system warning
light may come on and the warning buzzer
may sound. ■
When the tire pressure warning light
comes on
Inspect the tires to check if a tire is punc-
tured.
If a tire is punctured: → P.432
If none of the tires are punctured:
Turn the engine switch off then turn it to
IGNITION ON mode. Check if the tire
pressure warning light comes on or blinks. 
If the tire pressure wa rning light blinks for
approximately 1 minute then stays on
There may be a malfunction in the tire
pressure warning syst em. Have the vehicle
inspected by your Lexus dealer immedi-
ately. 
If the tire pressure warning light comes
on
1 After the temperature of the tires has
lowered sufficiently, check the inflation
pressure of each tire and adjust them to
the specified level.
2 If the warning light does not turn off
even after several minutes have
elapsed, check that the inflation pres-
sure of each tire is at the specified level
and perform initialization. ( → P.392)
■
The tire pressure warning light may
come on due to natural causes
The tire pressure wa rning light may come
on due to natural causes such as natural air
leaks and tire inflation pressure changes
caused by temperature. In this case, adjust-
ing the tire inflation pressure will turn off the
warning light (after a few minutes). ■
Conditions that the tire pressure warn-
ing system may not function properly
→ P.389
WARNING■
If both the ABS and the brake system
warning lights remain on
Stop your vehicle in a safe place immedi-
ately and contact your Lexus dealer.
The vehicle will become extremely
unstable during br aking, and the ABS
system may fail, which could cause an
accident resulting in death or serious
injury. ■
When the electric power steering
system warning light comes on
When the light comes on yellow, the
assist to the power st eering is restricted.
When the light comes on red, the assist
to the power steering is lost and handling
operations of the steering wheel become
extremely heavy.
When steering wheel operations are
heavier than usual, grip the steering
wheel firmly and operate it using more
force than usual. ■
If the tire pressure warning light
comes on
Be sure to observe the following precau-
tions.
Failure to do so could cause a loss of
vehicle control and result in death or
serious injury.
●
Decelerate to the lowest appropriate
speed as soon as possible. Do not
drive over 50 mph (80 km/h).
●
Check and adjust the tire inflation
pressure immediately.
●
If the tire pressure warning light comes
on even after tire inflation pressure
adjustment, it is prob able that you have
a flat tire. Have the flat tire replaced by
the nearest Lexus dealer.

4277-2. Steps to take in an emergency
LS500_OM_OM50F54U_(U) 7
When trouble arises WARNING●
Avoid abrupt maneuvering and brak-
ing.
If the vehicle tires deteriorate, you
could lose control of the steering
wheel or the brakes.■
If a blowout or sudden air leakage
should occur
The tire pressure warning system may
not activate immediately. ■
Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if pro-
vided), should be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufac-
turer on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label (tire and load
information label). (I f your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indi-
cated on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label [tire and load
information label], yo u should determine
the proper tire infl ation pressure for
those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS-tire pressure
warning system) that illuminates a low
tire pressure telltale (tire pressure warn-
ing light) when one or more of your tires
is significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
(tire pressure warnin g light) illuminates,
you should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping abil-
ity. Please note that the TPMS (tire pressure
warning system) is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the
driver’s responsibility to maintain correct
tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumina-
tion of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale
(tire pressure warning light).
Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS (tire pressure warning system)
malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The
TPMS (tire pressure warning system)
malfunction indicator is combined with
the low tire pressure telltale (tire pres-
sure warning light) . When the system
detects a malfunction, the telltale will
flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.
TPMS (tire pressure warning system)
malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels
on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
(tire pressure warning system) from func-
tioning properly. Always check the
TPMS (tire pressure warning system)
malfunction telltale after replacing one
or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or alternate
tires and wheels allow the TPMS (tire
pressure warning system) to continue to
function properly.
NOTICE
■
To ensure the tire pressure warning
system operates properly
Do not install tires with different specifi-
cations or makers, as the tire pressure
warning system may not operate prop-
erly.