DIYEngineandChassis -> Installing snow tires and chains for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Third Generation (1996-2002)

’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)  
Installing snow tires and  
chains  
When rotating tires, check for uneven  
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usu-  
ally caused by incorrect tire pressure, im-  
proper wheel alignment, out−of−balance  
wheels, or severe braking.  
WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR  
CHAINS  
CAUTION  
Snow tires or chains are recommended  
when driving on snow or ice.  
D Do not drive with the snow tires  
incorrectly inflated.  
On wet or dry roads, conventional tires  
provide better traction than snow tires.  
D Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph)  
with any type of snow tires.  
SNOW TIRE SELECTION  
If you need snow tires, select the same  
size, construction and load capacity as  
the original tires on your Toyota.  
TIRE CHAIN SELECTION  
Use the tire chains of correct size.  
Regulations regarding the use of tire  
chains vary according to location or  
type of road, so always check them  
before installing chains.  
Do not use tires other than those men-  
tioned above. Do not install studded tires  
without first checking local regulations for  
possible restrictions.  
CHAIN INSTALLATION  
SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION  
Install the chains on the rear tires as  
tightly as possible. Do not use tire  
chains on the front tires. Retighten  
Snow tires should be installed on all  
wheels.  
Installing snow tires on the front wheels  
only can lead to an excessive difference  
in road grip capability between the front  
and rear tires which could cause loss of  
vehicle control.  
chains after  
(1/4—1/2 mile).  
driving  
0.5—1.0  
km  
When installing chains on your tires, care-  
fully follow the instructions of the chain  
manufacturer.  
When storing removed tires, you should  
store them in a cool dry place.  
If wheel covers are used, they will be  
scratched by the chain band, so remove  
the covers before putting on the chains.  
Mark the direction of rotation and be sure  
to install them in the same direction when  
replacing.  
2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)  
9
’01 4Runner_U (L/O 0008)  
Replacing wheels  
WHEN TO REPLACE YOUR WHEELS  
Replacement with used wheels is not rec-  
ommended as they may have been sub-  
jected to rough treatment or high mileage  
and could fail without warning. Also, bent  
wheels which have been straightened may  
have structural damage and therefore  
should not be used. Never use an inner  
tube in a leaking wheel which is designed  
for a tubeless tire.  
CAUTION  
If you have wheel damage such as  
bending, cracks or heavy corrosion, the  
wheel should be replaced.  
D Do not exceed 50 km/h (30 mph) or  
the chain manufacturer’s recom-  
mended speed limit, whichever is  
lower.  
If you fail to replace damaged wheels, the  
tire may slip off the wheel or cause loss  
of handling control.  
D Drive carefully avoiding bumps,  
holes, and sharp turns, which may  
cause the vehicle to bounce.  
WHEEL SELECTION  
When replacing wheels, care should be  
taken to ensure that the wheels are re-  
placed by ones with the same load ca-  
pacity, diameter, rim width, and offset.  
D Avoid sharp turns or locked−wheel  
braking, as use of chains may ad-  
versely affect vehicle handling.  
Correct replacement wheels are available  
at your Toyota dealer.  
D When driving with chains installed,  
be sure to drive carefully. Slow  
down before entering the curves to  
avoid losing control of the vehicle.  
Otherwise an accident may occur.  
A wheel of a different size or type may  
adversely affect handling, wheel and bear-  
ing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odom-  
eter calibration, stopping ability, headlight  
aim, bumper height, vehicle ground clear-  
ance, and tire or snow chain clearance to  
the body and chassis.  
2001 4RUNNER (OM35768U)  
10