tires TOYOTA GT86 2012 User Guide

311
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
4
Maintenance and care
FT86_EE
Tires
Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance schedules
and treadwear.
Checking tires
New tread
Treadwear indicator
Worn tread
The location of treadwear indi-
cators is shown by the “TWI” or
“ ” marks, etc., molded on
the sidewall of each tire.
Check spare tire condition and
pressure if not rotated.
Tire rotation
Vehicles with an emergency tire puncture repair kit
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and help
extend tire life, Toyota recom-
mends that tire rotation is car-
ried out approximately every
10000 km (6000 miles).
Front

312 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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When to replace your vehicle’s tires
Tires should be replaced if:
You have tire damage such as cuts, splits, cracks deep enough to
expose the fabric or bulges indicating internal damage
A tire goes flat repeatedly or cannot be properly repaired due to the size
or location of a cut or other damage
If you are not sure, consult with any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or
another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Tire life
Any tires over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even if
they have seldom or never been used or damage is not obvious.
If the tread on snow tires wears down 4 mm (0.16 in.)
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.
Low profile tires (vehicles with 17-inch tires)
Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire grip performance
will be reduced on snowy and/or icy roads when compared to standard tires.
Be sure to use snow tires or tire chains on snowy and/or icy roads and drive
carefully at a speed appropriate for road and weather conditions.
Vehicles with a spare tire of the same wheel type as the
installed tires
Rotate the tires in the order
shown.
To equalize tire wear and help
extend tire life, Toyota recom-
mends that tire rotation is car-
ried out approximately every
10000 km (6000 miles).
Front

313 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
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CAUTION
When inspecting or replacing tires
Observe the following precautions to prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to parts of the drive train, as well as
dangerous handling characteristics, which may lead to an accident resulting
in death or serious injury.
Make sure to install 4 tires that are of the specified size, and that all 4 tires
are the same size, same maker, same brand and tread pattern.
Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota.
Only use radial tires.
Do not mix summer, all season and snow tires.
Do not use tires that have been used on another vehicle.
Do not use tires if you do not know how they were used previously.
NOTICE
Driving on rough roads
Take particular care when driving on roads with loose surfaces or pot holes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire air pressure, reducing the cush-
ioning ability of the tires. In addition driving on rough roads may cause dam-
age to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels and body.
Low profile tires and wheels (vehicles with 17-inch tires)
Low profile tires may cause greater damage than usual to the tire wheel
when receiving impact from the road surface. Therefore pay attention to the
following:
Be sure to use proper tire inflation pressure. If tires are under-inflated, they
may be damaged more severely.
Avoid pot holes, uneven pavement, curbs and other road hazards. Failure
to do so can lead to severe tire and wheel damage.
If tire pressures become low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.

314
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Tire inflation pressure
Effects of incorrect tire inflation pressure
Driving with incorrect tire inflation pressure may result in the following:
Reduced fuel efficiency
Reduced driving comfort and tire life
Reduced safety
Damage to the drive train
If a tire needs frequent refilling, have it checked by any authorized Toyota
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
Instructions for checking tire 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 and has not been
driven for more than 1.5 km or 1 mile, you will get an accurate cold tire
inflation pressure reading.
Always use a tire pressure gauge.
The appearance of the tire can be misleading. In addition, tire inflation
pressures that are even just a few pounds off can degrade ride and han-
dling.
Do not bleed or reduce tire inflation pressure after driving. It is normal for
the tire inflation pressure to be higher after driving.
Never exceed the vehicle capacity weight.
Passengers and luggage weight should be placed so that the vehicle is
balanced.
Make sure to maintain the proper tire inflation pressure. Tire inflation
pressure should be checked at least once per month. However,
Toyota recommends that tire inflation pressure be checked once
every two weeks. (P. 426)

315 4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Maintenance and care
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CAUTION
Proper inflation is critical to save tire performance
Keep your tires properly inflated. Otherwise, the following conditions may
occur and result in an accident causing death or serious injury.
Excessive wear
Uneven wear
Poor handling
Possibility of blowouts resulting from overheated tires
Poor sealing of the tire bead
Wheel deformation and/or tire separation
A greater possibility of tire damage from road hazards
NOTICE
When inspecting and adjusting tire pressure
Be sure to reinstall the tire valve caps.
Without the valve caps, dirt or moisture could get into the valve and cause
air leakage, which could result in an accident. If the caps have been lost,
replace them as soon as possible.

316
4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
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Wheels
If a wheel is bent, cracked or heavily corroded, it should be replaced.
Otherwise, the tire may separate from the wheel or cause loss of
handling control.
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 inset
*.
Replacement wheels are available at any authorized Toyota
dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped profes-
sional.
*: Conventionally referred to as “offset”.
Toyota does not recommend using:
Wheels of different sizes or types
Used wheels
Bent wheels that have been straightened
Aluminum wheel precautions
Use only Toyota 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 1600 km (1000 miles).
Be careful not to damage the aluminum wheels when using
tire chains.
Use only Toyota genuine balance weights or equivalent and a
plastic or rubber hammer when balancing your wheels.

360
5-1. Essential information
FT86_EE
If you think something is wrong
If you notice any of the following symptoms, your vehicle probably
needs adjustment or repair. Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional as
soon as possible.
Visible symptoms
Fluid leaks under the vehicle
(Water dripping from the air conditioning after use is normal.)
Flat-looking tires or uneven tire wear
Engine coolant temperature gauge needle continually points
higher than normal
Audible symptoms
Changes in exhaust sound
Excessive tire squeal when cornering
Strange noises related to the suspension system
Pinging or other noises related to the engine
Operational symptoms
Engine missing, stumbling or running rough
Appreciable loss of power
Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when braking
Vehicle pulls heavily to one side when driving on a level road
Loss of brake effectiveness, spongy feeling, pedal almost
touches the floor

372 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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Taking out the spare tire
Loosen the center fastener that
secures the spare tire.
Replacing a flat tire
Chock the tires.
STEP 1
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

5
377 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
When trouble arises
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CAUTION
Using the tire jack
Improper use of the tire jack may lead to death or serious injuries due to the
vehicle suddenly falling off the jack.
Do not use the tire jack for any purpose other than replacing tires or install-
ing 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 replac-
ing 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.

382 5-2. Steps to take in an emergency
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Taking out the emergency tire puncture repair kit
Vehicles with a luggage mat:
Remove the luggage mat.
Take out the emergency tire puncture repair kit.
In the following cases, the tire cannot be repaired with the emergency
tire puncture repair kit. Contact any authorized Toyota dealer or
repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
When the tire is damaged due to driving without sufficient air pressure
When there are any cracks or damage at any location on the tire, such as
on the side wall, except the tread
When the tire is visibly separated from the wheel
When the cut or damage to the tread is 4 mm (0.16 in.) long or more
When the wheel is damaged
When two or more tires have been punctured (the sealant can be used
only once to temporarily repair one tire)
When more than 2 sharp objects such as nails or screws have passed
through the tread on a single tire
When the sealant has expired
STEP 1
STEP 2