flat tire LEXUS RX400H 2008 Owner's Guide

396
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_U
CAUTION
■Maintenance of the tires
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthly when cold
and inflated to the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label (tire and load information label).
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label [tire and load information label], you should
determine the proper tire inflation 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 warning light) when one or more of your tires is sig-
nificantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale (tire pres-
sure warning light) illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly under-
inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle's handling
and stopping ability.
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 illumination 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 pressure 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 subsequent vehicle
start-ups as long as the malfunction exists. When the malfunction indicator is illumi-
nated, 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 rea-
sons, including the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) from functioning
properly. Always check the TPMS (tire pressure warning system) malfunction tell-
tale 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.

5
When trouble arises
405
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_U
Wa r n i n g m e s s a g eDetailsCorrection procedure
Indicates low tire pres-
sure.Check the tire inflation
pressure, and adjust to the
appropriate level.
(If equipped, flashing
and then continuously on)
(Flashing)Indicates that the radar
cruise control sensor is
dirty or covered with ice.
Clean the sensor.

408
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_U
If you have a flat tire
Remove the flat tire and replace it with the spare provided.
■Before jacking up the vehicle
● Stop the vehicle on a hard, flat surface.
● Set the parking brake.
● Shift the shift lever to P.
● Stop the hybrid system.
● Turn on the emergency flashers.
■ Location of the spare tire, jack and tools
Jack
Adapter socket Wr e n c h
Towing eyelet
Jack handle
Tool bag
Spare tire

412
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_U
Replacing a flat tireChock the tires.
Slightly loosen the wheel nuts (one
turn).
Turn the tire jack portion “A” by
hand until the notch of the jack is in
contact with the jack point.
STEP1
Flat tireWheel chock positions
Front
Left-hand
sideBehind the
rear right-
hand side tire
Right-
hand sideBehind the
rear left-
hand side tire
Rear
Left-hand
sideIn front of the
front right-
hand side tire
Right-
hand sideIn front of the
front left-
hand side tire
STEP2
STEP3

5
When trouble arises
415
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_U
Stowing the flat tire, jack and all toolsInstall the inside spare tire cover on the outer side of the spare tire
cover. Put the flat tire in the spare tire
cover with the outer side facing up
and install the holding bracket.
Turn the spare tire clamp bolt clockwise with a jack handle and
adapter socket until you hear a click.
Stow all the tools and jack securely.
STEP1
STEP2
■After completing the tire change
The tire pressure warning system must be reset. ( →P. 3 3 2 )
STEP3
STEP4

416
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_U
CAUTION
■Using the tire jack
Improper use of the tire jack may lead to death or injuries due to the vehicle sud-
denly falling off the jack.
●Do not use the tire jack for any purpose other than replacing tires or installing and
removing tire chains.
●Only use the tire jack that comes with this vehicle for replacing a flat tire.
Do not use it on other vehicles, and do not use other tire jacks for replacing tires
on this vehicle.
●Always check that the tire jack is securely set to the jack point.
●Do not put any part of your body under the vehicle supported by a jack.
●Do not start or run the engine while your vehicle is supported by the jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle while someone is in it.
●When raising the vehicle, do not put an object on or under the jack.
●Do not raise the vehicle to a height greater than that required to replace the tire.
●Use a jack stand if it is necessary to get under the vehicle.
Take particular care when lowering the vehicle to ensure that no one working on or
near the vehicle may be injured.
■Replacing a flat tire
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of death or serious injury:
●Never use oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
The oil or grease can cause the wheel nuts to loosen, causing a serious accident.
Remove any oil or grease on the wheel bolts or wheel nuts.
●Have the wheel nuts tightened with a torque wrench to 76 ft•lbf (103 N•m, 10.5
kgf•m) as soon as possible after changing wheels.
Failure to follow these precautions could cause the nuts to loosen and the wheels
may fall off, which could lead to an accident causing death or serious injury.

5
When trouble arises
417
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_U
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 damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters
Do not use liquid sealants on flat tires.
■When stowing the flat tire
●Ensure that there is no object caught between the tire and the vehicle underbody.
●Tighten the spare tire clamp bolt to hold the spare wheel carrier by the hook
securely.

439
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
RX400h_U
Steering
Tires and wheelsType A
Free playLess than 1.2 in. (30 mm)
Ti r e s i z e225/65R17 101S
Tire inflation pressure
(Recommended cold tire inflation
pressure)
Driving under normal conditions Front:
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
Rear:
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm
2 or bar)
Spare:
32 psi (220 kPa, 2.2 kgf/cm2 or bar)
Driving at high speeds above 100 mph (160
km/h) (in countries where such speeds are per-
mitted by law) Add 1.5 psi (10 kPa, 0.1 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 × 6 1 /2 J
Wheel nut torque10.5 kgf•m (103 N•m, 76 ft•lbf)

440
6-1. Specifications
RX400h_UTy p e B
Ti r e s i z eP235/55R18 99V
Tire inflation pressure
(Recommended cold tire inflation
pressure)
Driving under normal conditions
Front:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm
2 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)
Wheel size18 × 7 J
Wheel nut torque10.5 kgf•m (103 N•m, 76 ft•lbf)

445
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
RX400h_U
Tire section names
Ty p i c a l t i r e s y m b o l s
Tire size(→ P. 4 4 7 )
DOT and Tire Identification Number (TIN) (→P. 4 4 6 )
Location of treadwear indicators (→ P. 3 3 1 )
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. 3 3 6 )
Maximum cold tire inflation pressure ( →P. 4 3 9 )
This means the pressure to which a tire may be inflated.
Uniform tire quality grading
For details, see “Uniform tire quality grading” that follows.