width LEXUS RX400H 2008 Owners Manual

71
1-4. Adjustable components (seats, mirrors, steering wheel)
1
Before driving
RX400h_U
CAUTION
■Cross rail adjustment
Make sure the cross rails are locked securely by pushing forward and rearward
them.
Failure to do so may cause an unexpected accident or severe injury in the event of
emergency braking or a collision.
■When loading cargo
Observe the following precautions.
●Place the cargo so that its weight is distributed evenly between the front and rear
axles.
●If loading long or wide cargo, never exceed the vehicle overall length or width.
(→ P. 4 3 0 )
●Before driving, make sure the cargo is securely fastened on the roof luggage car-
rier.
●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of the vehicle
gravity higher. Avoid high speeds, sudden starts, sharp turns, sudden braking or
abrupt maneuvers, otherwise it may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover
due to failure to operate this vehicle correctly.
●If driving for a long distance, on rough roads, or at high speeds, stop the vehicle
now and then during the trip to make sure the cargo remains in its place.
●Do not exceed 165 lb. (75 kg) cargo weight on the roof luggage carrier.
NOTICE
■When loading the luggage
Be careful not to scratch the surface of the moon roof.

184
2-5. Driving information
RX400h_U
Selecting snow chainsUse the correct snow chain size when mounting the snow chains. Chain
size is regulated for each tire sizes.
Side chain 0.12 in. (3 mm) in diameter
1.18 in. (30 mm) in length
0.39 in. (10 mm) in width
Cross chain 0.16 in. (4 mm) in diameter
0.98 in. (25 mm) in length
0.55 in. (14 mm) in width
Regulations on the use of snow chains
● Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary according to location
and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing
chains.
● Install the chains on the front tires.
● Retighten the chains after driving 1 /4 - 1 /2 mile (0.5 - 1.0 km).

344
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
RX400h_U
Wheels
■When replacing wheels
The wheels of your Lexus are equipped with tire pressure warning valves and trans-
mitters that allow the tire pressure warning system to provide advanced warning in
the event of a loss in tire inflation pressure. Whenever wheels are replaced, the tire
pressure warning valves and transmitters must be installed. (→P. 3 3 2 )
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be replaced. Oth-
erwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause loss of handling con-
trol.
■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.
Replacement wheels are available at your Lexus dealer.
Lexus does not recommend using:
• Wheels of different sizes or types
• Used wheels
• Bent wheels that have been straightened
■ Aluminum wheel precautions
● Use only Lexus wheel nuts and wrenches designed for use with
your aluminum wheels.
● When rotating, repairing or changing your tires, check that the
wheel nuts are still tight after driving 1000 miles (1600 km).
● Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using tire
chains.
● Use only Lexus genuine balance weights or equivalent and a
plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

430
RX400h_U
6-1. Specifications
Maintenance data (fuel, oil level, etc.)
Dimensions and weight
*1: Unladen vehicle
*2: Vehicle without roof rails
*3: Vehicle with roof rails
*4: Vehicle with roof rails and cross rails
Overall length187.2 in. (4755 mm)
Overall width72.6 in. (1845 mm)
Overall height *1
2WD models
66.1 in. (1680 mm) *2
67.7 in. (1720 mm) *3
68.3 in. (1735 mm) *4
AW D m o d e l s
66.3 in. (1685 mm) *2
67.9 in. (1725 mm) *3
68.5 in. (1740 mm) *4
Wheelbase106.9 in. (2715 mm)
Tr e a d
2WD models -Front-Rear62.2 in. (1580 mm)
61.6 in. (1565 mm)
AW D m o d e l s - Fr o n t -Rear62.0 in. (1575 mm)
61.2 in. (1555 mm)
Vehicle capacity weight
(Occupants + luggage)925 lb. (420 kg)
Towing capacity
(Trailer weight + cargo)
Without towing pack-
age2000 lb. (907 kg)
With towing package3500 lb. (1588 kg)

447
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
RX400h_U
Tire size■ Typical tire si ze information
The illustration indicates typical
tire size.
Ti r e u s e
(P = Passenger car,
T = Temporary use)
Section width (millimeters)
Aspect ratio
(tire height to section width)
Tire construction code
(R = Radial, D = Diagonal)
Wheel diameter (inches)
Load index (2 or 3 digits)
Speed symbol
(alphabet with one letter)

448
6-1. Specifications
RX400h_U■
Tire dimensions
Section width
Ti r e h e i g h t
Wheel diameter
Tire section names
Bead
Sidewall
Shoulder
Tr e a d
Belt
Inner liner
Reinforcing rubber
Carcass
Rim lines
Bead wires
Chafer

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.

452
6-1. Specifications
RX400h_U
Tire related termMeaning
Occupant distributionDistribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified in
the third column of Table 1
* below
Production options
weight
The combined weight of installed regular production
options weighing over 5 lb. (2.3 kg) in excess of the
standard items which they replace, not previously
considered in curb weight or accessory weight,
including heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack,
heavy duty 12-volt battery, and special trim
RimA metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly
upon which the tire beads are seated
Rim diameter
(Wheel diameter)Nominal diameter of the bead seat
Rim size designationRim diameter and width
Rim type designationThe industry manufacturer's designation for a rim by
style or code
Rim widthNominal distance between rim flanges
Vehicle capacity weight
(Total load capacity)The rated cargo and luggage load plus 150 lb. (68
kg) times the vehicle's designated seating capacity
Vehicle maximum load on
the tireThe load on an individual tire that is determined by
distributing to each axle its share of the maximum
loaded vehicle weight, and dividing by two
Vehicle normal load on
the tire
The load on an individual tire that is determined by
distributing to each axle its share of curb weight,
accessory weight, and normal occupant weight (dis-
tributed in accordance with Table 1
* below), and
dividing by two
We a t h e r s i d eThe surface area of the rim not covered by the
inflated tire

454
6-1. Specifications
RX400h_U
Tire related termMeaning
Intended outboard side-
wall
(a) The sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bears manufacturer, brand,
and/or model name molding that is higher or
deeper than the same molding on the other side-
wall of the tire, or
(b) The outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that must always
face outward when mounted on a vehicle
Light truck (LT) tire
A tire designated by its manufacturer as primarily
intended for use on lightweight trucks or multipur-
pose passenger vehicles
Load ratingThe maximum load that a tire is rated to carry for a
given inflation pressure
Maximum load ratingThe load rating for a tire at the maximum permissible
inflation pressure for that tire
Maximum permissible
inflation pressureThe maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire
may be inflated
Measuring rimThe rim on which a tire is fitted for physical dimension
requirements
Open spliceAny parting at any junction of tread, sidewall, or
innerliner that extends to cord material
Outer diameterThe overall diameter of an inflated new tire
Overall width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the side-
walls of an inflated tire, including elevations due to
labeling, decorations, or protective bands or ribs
Passenger car tire
A tire intended for use on passenger cars, multipur-
pose passenger vehicles, and trucks, that have a
gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 lb. or
less.
PlyA layer of rubber-coated parallel cords

455
6-1. Specifications
6
Vehicle specifications
RX400h_U
Tire related termMeaning
Ply separationA parting of rubber compound between adjacent
plies
Pneumatic tire
A mechanical device made of rubber, chemicals, fab-
ric and steel or other materials, that, when mounted
on an automotive wheel, provides the traction and
contains the gas or fluid that sustains the load
Radial ply tire
A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to
the beads are laid at substantially 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread
Reinforced tire
A tire designed to operate at higher loads and at
higher inflation pressures than the corresponding
standard tire
Section width
The linear distance between the exteriors of the side-
walls of an inflated tire, excluding elevations due to
labeling, decoration, or protective bands
SidewallThat portion of a tire between the tread and bead
Sidewall separationThe parting of the rubber compound from the cord
material in the sidewall
Snow tire
A tire that attains a traction index equal to or greater
than 110, compared to the ASTM E-1136 Standard
Reference Test Tire, when using the snow traction test
as described in ASTM F-1805-00, Standard Test
Method for Single Wheel Driving Traction in a
Straight Line on Snow-and Ice-Covered Surfaces,
and which is marked with an Alpine Symbol (
)
on at least one sidewall
Te s t r i mThe rim on which a tire is fitted for testing, and may be
any rim listed as appropriate for use with that tire