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6-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance
Summer tires are high-speed perfor-
mance tires best suited to highway driv-
ing under dry conditions. Since summer
tires do not have the same traction per-
formance as snow tires, summer tires are
inadequate for driving on snow-covered
or icy roads. For driving on snow-cov-
ered roads or icy roads, the use of snow
tires is recommended. When installing
snow tires, be sure to replace all four
tires.
All season tires
●
All season tires are designed to provide
better traction in snow and to be ade-
quate for driving in most winter condi-
tions as well as for use year-round. All
season tires, however, do not have ade-
quate traction performance compared
with snow tires in heavy or loose snow.
Also, all season tires fall short in accelera-
tion and handling performance com-
pared with summer tires in highway
driving.
●
Snow tires
For driving on snow-covered roads or icy
roads, we recommend using snow tires. If
you need snow tires, select tires of the
same size, construction and load capacity
as the originally installed tires. Since your
vehicle has radial tires as original equip-
ment, make sure your snow tires also
have radial construction. Do not install
studded tires without first checking local
regulations for possible restrictions.
Snow tires should be installed on all
wheels. (P.223)
■
If the tread on snow tires wears down
below 0.16 in. (4 mm)
The effectiveness of the tires as snow tires is
lost.
WARNING
When inspecting or replacing tires
■
Observe the following precautions to
prevent accidents.
Failure to do so may cause damage to
parts of the drivetrain as well as danger-
ous handling characteristics, which may
lead to an accident resulting in death or
serious injury.
●
Do not mix tires of different makes,
models or tread patterns.
Also, do not mix tires of remarkably
different treadwear.
●
Do not use tire sizes other than those
recommended by Lexus.
●
Do not mix differently constructed
tires (radial, bias-belted or bias-ply
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 potholes.
These conditions may cause losses in tire
inflation pressure, reducing the cushion-
ing ability of the tires. In addition, driving
on rough roads may cause damage to
the tires themselves, as well as the vehi-
cle's wheels and body.
Low profile tires (21-inch tires)
■
Low profile tires may cause greater dam-
age than usual to the tire wheel when
sustaining 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 potholes, uneven pavement,
●
curbs and other road hazards. Failure
to do so may lead to severe tire and
wheel damage.
If tire inflation pressure of each tire
■
becomes low while driving
Do not continue driving, or your tires
and/or wheels may be ruined.
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