Engine and Chassis -> Checking and replacing tires for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Second Generation (2000-2004)

’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)  
Checking and replacing tires  
If a tire frequently needs refilling, have it  
checked by your Toyota dealer.  
The following instructions for checking  
tire pressure should be observed:  
Tread wear indicator  
D The pressure should be checked only  
when the tires are cold. If your ve-  
hicle has been parked for at least 3  
hours and has not been driven for  
more than 1.5 km or 1 mile since, you  
will get an accurate cold tire pressure  
reading.  
CAUTION  
Keep your tire pressure properly.  
Otherwise, the following conditions  
may occur and cause an accident re-  
sulting in death or serious injuries.  
Low tire pressure (underinflation)—  
D Excessive wear  
D Always use  
a
tire pressure gauge.  
The appearance of a tire can be mis-  
leading. Besides, tire pressures that  
are even just a few pounds off can  
degrade ride and handling.  
D Uneven wear  
D Poor handling  
CHECKING YOUR TIRES  
D Possibility of blowouts from over-  
heated tire  
D Do not bleed or reduce tire pressure  
after driving. It is normal for the tire  
pressure to be higher after driving.  
Check the tire tread for the tread wear  
indicators. If the indicators show, re-  
place the tires.  
D Poor sealing of the tire bead  
D Never exceed the vehicle capacity  
weight. The passenger and luggage  
weight should be located so that the  
vehicle is balanced.  
D Wheel deformation and/or tire sepa-  
ration  
The tires on your Toyota have built−in  
tread wear indicators to help you know  
when the tires need replacement. When  
the tread depth wears to 1.6 mm (0.06  
in.) or less, the indicators will appear. If  
you can see the indicators in two or more  
adjacent grooves, the tire should be re-  
placed. The lower the tread, the higher  
the risk of skidding.  
High tire pressure (overinflation)—  
D Poor handling  
D Be sure to reinstall the tire inflation  
valve caps. Without the valve caps,  
dirt or moisture could get into the valve  
core and cause air leakage. If the caps  
have been lost, have new ones put on  
as soon as possible.  
D Excessive wear at the center of the  
tire tread  
D A greater possibility of tire damage  
from road hazards  
The effectiveness of snow tires is lost  
if the tread wears down below 4 mm  
(0.16 in.).  
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282  
’03 AVALON U (L/O 0206)  
Check the tires regularly for damage  
such as cuts, splits and cracks. If any  
damage is found, consult with a techni-  
cian and have the tire repaired or re-  
placed.  
When replacing a tubeless tire, the air  
valve should also be replaced with a  
new one.  
CAUTION  
Observe the following instructions.  
Otherwise, an accident may occur re-  
sulting in death or serious injuries.  
Even if the damage does not appear seri-  
ous, a qualified technician should examine  
the damage. Objects which have pene-  
trated the tire may have caused internal  
damage.  
D Do not mix radial, bias belted, or  
bias−ply tires on your vehicle, as  
this may cause dangerous handling  
characteristics resulting in loss of  
control.  
Any tires which are over 6 years old  
must be checked by a qualified techni-  
cian even if damage is not obvious.  
D Do not use tires other than the  
manufacturer’s recommended size,  
as this may cause dangerous han-  
dling characteristics resulting in  
loss of control.  
Tires deteriorate with age even if they  
have never or seldom been used.  
This also applies to the spare tire and  
tires stored for future use.  
Toyota recommends all four tires, or at  
least both front or rear tires be re-  
placed as a set.  
REPLACING YOUR TIRES  
When replacing  
a
tire, use only the  
same size and construction as original-  
ly installed and with the same or great-  
er load capacity.  
See “If you have a flat tire” in Section 4  
for tire change procedure.  
When  
should always be balanced.  
a
tire is replaced, the wheel  
Using any other size or type of tire may  
seriously affect handling, ride, speedome-  
ter/odometer calibration, ground clearance,  
and clearance between the body and tires  
or snow chains.  
An unbalanced wheel may affect vehicle  
handling and tire life. Wheels can get out  
of balance with regular use and should  
therefore be balanced occasionally.  
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