Get Driving -> Driving tips Guide for Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fifth Generation (2010-2024)

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4-6. Driving tips

Winter driving tips

Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before

driving the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a man-

ner appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions.

Preparation for winter

● Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside tempera-

tures.

• Engine oil

• Engine coolant

• Washer fluid

● Have a service technician inspect the condition of the battery.

● Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire

chains for the rear tires.

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Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match

the size of the tires.

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4-6. Driving tips

Before driving the vehicle

Perform the following according to the driving conditions:

● Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen.

Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe away

the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.

● To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan,

remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in

front of the windshield.

● Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accu-

mulated on the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassis, around the

tires or on the brakes.

● Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before

getting in the vehicle.

When driving the vehicle

Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a safe distance between you and

the vehicle ahead, and drive at a reduced speed suitable to road con-

ditions.

When parking the vehicle

● Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to P without setting the

parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from

being released. If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking

brake, make sure to block the wheels.

Failure to do so may be dangerous because it may cause the vehi-

cle to move unexpectedly, possibly leading to an accident.

● If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, confirm

that the shift lever cannot be moved out of P*.

*: The shift lever will be locked if it is attempted to be shifted from P to any

other position without depressing the brake pedal. If the shift lever can be

shifted from P, there may be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the

vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.

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4-6. Driving tips

Selecting tire chains

Use the correct tire chain size when mounting the tire chains.

Chain size is regulated for each tire size.

Side chain

1

(0.20 in. [5 mm] in diameter)

Cross chain

2

(0.20 in. [5 mm] in diameter)

Regulations on the use of tire chains

Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on loca-

tion and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing

chains.

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■Tire chain installation

Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains:

●Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.

●Install tire chains on the rear tires only. Do not install tire chains on the front

tires.

●Install tire chains on rear tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after

driving 1/4  1/2 mile (0.5  1.0 km).

●Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.

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4-6. Driving tips

WARNING

■Driving with snow tires

Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failure to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause death or

serious injury.

●Use tires of the specified size.

●Maintain the recommended level of air pressure.

●Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h), regardless of the type of

snow tires being used.

●Use snow tires on all, not just some wheels.

■Driving with tire chains

Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failure to do so may result in the vehicle being unable to be driven safely,

and may cause death or serious injury.

●Do not drive in excess of the speed limit specified for the tire chains being

used, or 30 mph (50 km/h), whichever is lower.

●Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.

●Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt steering, sudden braking and shifting

operations that cause sudden engine braking.

●Slow down sufficiently before entering a curve to ensure that vehicle con-

trol is maintained.

NOTICE

■Repairing or replacing snow tires

Request repairs or replacement of snow tires from Toyota dealers or legiti-

mate tire retailers.

This is because the removal and attachment of snow tires affects the opera-

tion of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters.

■Fitting tire chains

The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly

when tire chains are fitted.

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4-6. Driving tips

Off-road precautions

This vehicle belongs to the utility vehicle class, which has

higher ground clearance and narrower tread in relation to the

height of its center of gravity to make it capable of performing in

a wide variety of off-road applications.

Off-road vehicle feature

● Specific design characteristics give it a higher center of gravity than

ordinary passenger cars. This vehicle design feature causes this

type of vehicle to be more likely to rollover. And, utility vehicles

have a significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles.

● An advantage of the higher ground clearance is a better view of the

road allowing you to anticipate problems.

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● It is not designed for cornering at the same speeds as ordinary pas-

senger cars any more than low-slung sports cars designed to per-

form satisfactorily under off-road conditions. Therefore, sharp turns

at excessive speeds may cause rollover.

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4-6. Driving tips

WARNING

■Off-road vehicle precautions

Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, seri-

ous injury or damage to your vehicle:

●In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die

than a person wearing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers

should always fasten their seat belts.

●Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers, if at all possible.

Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or

vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury.

●Loading cargo on the roof luggage carrier will make the center of the vehi-

cle 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.

●Always slow down in gusty crosswinds. Because of its profile and higher

center of gravity, your vehicle is more sensitive to side winds than an ordi-

nary passenger car. Slowing down will allow you to have better control.

●When driving off-road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive

speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss

of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also

risking expensive damage to your vehicle’s suspension and chassis.

●Do not drive horizontally across steep slopes. Driving straight up or

straight down is preferred. Your vehicle (or any similar off-road vehicle)

can tip over sideways much more easily than forward or backward.

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4-6. Driving tips

Off-road driving

When driving your vehicle off-road, please observe the following pre-

cautions to ensure your driving enjoyment and to help prevent the clo-

sure of areas to off-road vehicles:

● Drive your vehicle only in areas where off-road vehicles are permit-

ted to travel.

● Respect private property. Get owner’s permission before entering

private property.

● Do not enter areas that are closed. Honor gates, barriers and signs

that restrict travel.

● Stay on established roads. When conditions are wet, driving tech-

niques should be changed or travel delayed to prevent damage to

roads.

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■Additional information for off-road driving

For owners in U.S. mainland, Hawaii and Puerto Rico:

To obtain additional information pertaining to driving your vehicle off-road,

consult the following organizations.

●State and Local Parks and Recreation Departments

●State Motor Vehicle Bureau

●Recreational Vehicle Clubs

●U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management

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4-6. Driving tips

WARNING

■Off-road driving precautions

Always observe the following precautions to minimize the risk of death, seri-

ous injury or damage to your vehicle:

●Drive carefully when off the road. Do not take unnecessary risks by driving

in dangerous places.

●Do not grip the steering wheel spokes when driving off-road. A bad bump

could jerk the wheel and injure your hands. Keep both hands and espe-

cially your thumbs on the outside of the rim.

●Always check your brakes for effectiveness immediately after driving in

sand, mud, water or snow.

●After driving through tall grass, mud, rock, sand, rivers, etc., check that

there is no grass, bush, paper, rags, stone, sand, etc. adhering or trapped

on the underbody. Clear off any such matter from the underbody. If the

vehicle is used with these materials trapped or adhering to the underbody,

a breakdown or fire could occur.

●In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die

than a person wearing a seat belt. Therefore, the driver and all passengers

should fasten their seat belts whenever the vehicle is moving.

●When driving off-road or in rugged terrain, do not drive at excessive

speeds, jump, make sharp turns, strike objects, etc. This may cause loss

of control or vehicle rollover causing death or serious injury. You are also

risking expensive damage to your vehicle’s suspension and chassis.

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4-6. Driving tips

NOTICE

■To prevent water damage

Take all necessary safety measures to ensure that water damage to the

engine or other components does not occur.

●Water entering the engine air intake will cause severe engine damage.

●Water entering the automatic transmission will cause deterioration in shift

quality, locking up of your transmission accompanied by vibration, and ulti-

mately damage.

●Water can wash the grease from wheel bearings, causing rusting and pre-

mature failure, and may also enter the differentials, transmission and

transfer case, reducing the gear oil’s lubricating qualities.

■When you drive through water

If driving through water, such as when crossing shallow streams, first check

the depth of the water and the bottom of the riverbed for firmness. Drive

slowly and avoid deep water.

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■Inspection after off-road driving

●Sand and mud that has accumulated in brake drums and around brake

discs may affect braking efficiency and may damage brake system compo-

nents.

●Always perform a maintenance inspection after each day of off-road driv-

ing that has taken you through rough terrain, sand, mud, or water. For

scheduled maintenance information, refer to the “Scheduled Maintenance

Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

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4-6. Driving tips

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Driving -> Driving tips for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fifth Generation (2010-2024)

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