tires 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.

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

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.

5
When trouble arises
427
5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
RX400h_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 hybrid system.
●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 hybrid system. Set the parking brake and put the selec-
tor 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 hybrid system.
● Carefully apply the accelerator to free the vehicle.

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)

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.

449
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
RX400h_U
Uniform tire quality gradingThis information has been prepared in accordance with regulations
issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the
U.S.A. Department of Transportation.
It provides the purchasers and/or prospective purchasers of Lexus vehi-
cles with information on uniform tire quality grading.
Your Lexus dealer will help answer any questions you may have as you read
this information.
■ 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.

450
6-1. Specifications
RX400h_U■
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.
■ 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.

478
Alphabetical index
RX400h_U
Rear side marker lightsWattage.................................................... 441
Rear turn signal lights Replacing light bulbs........................365
Wattage.................................................... 441
Rear window de fogger.......................204
Rear window wiper ............................... 155
Replacing Fuses ........................................................ 352
Light bulbs.............................................365
Rear seat entertainment system controller battery............................350
Tires ......................................................... 408
Wireless remote control battery ..................................................348
Reporting safety defects for
U.S.A. owners ..................................... 464
RSE
Replacing controller battery ........350
RSE ........................................................... 233
Road accident cautions......................... 32
Roof luggage carrier .............................. 70
Scuff lighting ...........................................260
Seat belts Adjusting the seat belt........................ 59
Automatic Locking Retractor .......... 61
Child restraint system
installation ..............................................112
Cleaning and maintaining
the seat belts ..................................... 302
Emergency Locking Retractor........ 61
How to wear your seat belt............. 58
How your child should wear
the seat belt .......................................... 62 Pregnant women,
proper seat belt use .......................... 61
Reminder light....................................... 391
Seat belt extenders...............................62
Seat belt pretensioners ..................... 60
Seat heaters ............................................280
Seating capacity....................................... 181
Seats
Adjustment ...................................... 49, 52
Adjustment precautions ............ 51, 54
Child seats/child restraint system installation .............................. 112
Cleaning .................................................. 301
Driver's seat position memory ...... 55
Flattening seatbacks ........................... 50
Head restraint .........................................57
Properly sitting in the seat................ 89
Seat heaters ......................................... 280
Service reminder indicators ............ 140
Shift lever Transmission.......................................... 135
If the shift lever cannot be shifted from P..................................... 419
Shopping bag hooks ........................... 284
Side airbags ................................................. 91
Side marker lights
Replacing light bulbs ....................... 365
Switch........................................................ 148
Wattage ................................................... 441
Side mirror
Adjusting and folding ......................... 68
Mirror position memory ................... 55
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