Get Maintenanceandcare -> Tires Guide for Toyota Corolla 4 Door Ninth Generation (2007-2012)

4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Tires

Replace or rotate tires in accordance with maintenance sched-

ules and treadwear.

■ Checking tires

New tread

Treadwear indicator

Worn tread

The location of treadwear

indicators is shown by the

“TWI” or “ ” marks, etc.,

molded on the sidewall of

each tire.

Check spare tire condition

and inflation pressure if not

rotated.

■ Tire rotation

Rotate the tires in the order

shown.

To equalize tire wear and

extend tire life, Toyota recom-

mends that tire rotation is

carried out at the same inter-

val as tire inspection.

Front

■ The tire pressure warning system (if equipped)

Your Toyota is equipped with a tire pressure warning system that

uses tire pressure warning valves and transmitters to detect low

tire inflation pressure before serious problems arise. (P. 379)

The compact spare tire is not equipped with the tire pressure

warning valve and transmitters.

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Installing tire pressure warning valves and transmitters

When replacing tires or wheels, tire pressure warning valves and

transmitters must also be installed.

When new tire pressure warning valves and transmitters are

installed, new tire pressure warning valve and transmitter ID codes

must be registered in the tire pressure warning computer and the tire

pressure warning system must be initialized. Have tire pressure

warning valve and transmitter ID codes registered by your Toyota

dealer. (P. 328)

Initializing the tire pressure warning system

The tire pressure warning system must be initialized when changing

the tire size.

When the tire pressure warning system is initialized, the current tire

inflation pressure is set as the pressure benchmark.

4

■ How to initialize the tire pressure warning system

STEP

1

Park the vehicle in a safe place and turn the “ENGINE START

STOP” switch or the engine switch OFF.

While the vehicle is moving, initialization is not performed.

STEP

2

Adjust the tire inflation pressure to the specified cold tire infla-

tion pressure level. (P. 425)

Make sure to adjust the tire pressure to the specified cold tire

inflation pressure level. The tire pressure warning system will

operate based on this pressure level.

STEP

3

Turn the “ENGINE START STOP” switch to IGNITION ON

mode (vehicles with smart key system) or the engine switch to

the “ON” position (vehicles without smart key system).

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4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

Press and hold the tire pressure

warning reset switch until the tire

pressure warning light blinks

slowly 3 times.

STEP

4

STEP

5

Vehicles with smart key system: Wait for a few minutes with

the IGNITION ON mode, and then turn the “ENGINE START

STOP” switch OFF.

Vehicles without smart key system: Wait for a few minutes

with the engine switch in the “ON” position, and then turn the

engine switch to the “LOCK” position.

Registering ID codes

The tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is equipped with a

unique ID code. When replacing a tire pressure warning valve and

transmitter, it is necessary to register the ID code of tire pressure

warning valve and transmitter. Have the ID code registered by your

Toyota dealer.

328

4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■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 your Toyota dealer.

■Replacing tires and wheels

If the ID code of the tire pressure warning valve and transmitter is not

registered, the tire pressure warning system will not work properly. After

driving for about 20 minutes, the tire pressure warning light comes on

after blinking for 1 minute to indicate a system malfunction.

■Tire life

Any tire 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.

4

■If the tread wears down below 0.16 in. (4 mm) on snow tires

The effectiveness of snow tires is lost.

■Maximum load of tire

Check that the maximum load of the replaced tire is greater than 1/2 of

the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) of either the front axle or the

rear axle, whichever is greater.

For the maximum load of the tire, see the load limit at maximum cold tire

inflation pressure mentioned on the sidewall of the tire, and for the Gross

Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR), see the Certification Label. (P. 335,

431).

■Low profile tires (vehicles with 17-inch tires)

Generally, low profile tires will wear more rapidly and tire grip perfor-

mance 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.

329

4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■Tire types

1 Summer tires

Summer tires are high-speed performance tires best suited to highway

driving under dry conditions. Since summer tires do not have the same

traction performance as snow tires, summer tires are inadequate for

driving on snow-covered or icy roads. For driving on snow-covered

roads or icy roads, the use of snow tires is recommended. When

installing snow tires, be sure to replace all four tires.

2 All season tires

All season tires are designed to provide better traction in snow and to

be adequate for driving in most winter conditions, as well as for use

year round. All season tires, however, do not have adequate traction

performance compared with snow tires in heavy or loose snow. Also,

all season tires fall short in acceleration and handling performance

compared with summer tires in highway driving.

3 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, con-

struction and load capacity as the originally installed tires. Since your

vehicle has radial tires as original equipment, 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. 166)

■Initializing the tire pressure warning system

Initialize the tires with the tire inflation pressure adjusted to the specified

level.

■If you push the tire pressure warning reset switch accidentally

If initialization is performed, adjust the tire inflation pressure to the speci-

fied level and initialize the tire pressure warning system again.

330

4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■When the initialization of the tire pressure warning system has

failed

Initialization can be completed in a few minutes. However, in the follow-

ing cases, the settings have not been recorded and the system will not

operate properly. If repeated attempts to record tire inflation pressure

settings are unsuccessful, have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota

dealer.

●When operating the tire pressure warning reset switch, the tire pres-

sure warning light does not flash 3 times.

●After carrying out the initialization procedure, the tire pressure warn-

ing light blinks for 1 minute then stays on after driving for about 20

minutes.

■Routine tire inflation pressure checks

The tire pressure warning system does not replace routine tire inflation

pressure checks. Make sure to check tire inflation pressure as part of

your routine of daily vehicle checks.

4

331

4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

■Tire pressure warning system certification

For vehicles sold in the U.S.A.

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject

to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful

interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,

including interference that may cause undesired operation.

NOTICE:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a

Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These lim-

its are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful inter-

ference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and

can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in

accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to

radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference

will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause

harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be deter-

mined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try

to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

●Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

●Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

●Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to

which the receiver is connected.

●Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

FCC WARNING:

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsi-

ble for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equip-

ment.

For vehicles sold in Canada

Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may

not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference,

including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

332

4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

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 han-

dling characteristics, which may lead to fatal or injury accidents.

●Do not mix tires of different makes, models, tread patterns or tread-

wear.

●Do not use tire sizes other than those recommended by Toyota.

●Do not mix radial, bias-belted, or bias-ply tires.

●Do not mix summer, all season and winter tires.

■When initializing the tire pressure warning system

Do not push the tire pressure warning reset switch without first adjusting

the tire inflation pressure to the specified level. Otherwise, the tire pres-

sure warning light may not come on even if the tire inflation pressure is

low, or it may come on when the tire inflation pressure is actually normal.

4

333

4-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

NOTICE

■Repairing or replacing tires, wheels and tire pressure warning

valves and transmitters

When removing or fitting the wheels, tires or the tire pressure warning

valves and transmitters, contact your Toyota dealer as the tire pressure

warning valves and transmitters may be damaged if not handled cor-

rectly.

■To avoid damaging the tire pressure warning valves and transmit-

ters

Do not use liquid sealants on flat tires.

■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

cushioning ability of the tires. In addition, driving on rough roads may

cause damage to the tires themselves, as well as the vehicle’s wheels

and body.

■Low profile tires and wheels

Wheels with profile tires like 17-inch 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 inflation pressures become low while driving

Do not continue driving, or your tires and/or wheels may be ruined.

334

Maintenanceandcare -> Tires for Your Toyota Corolla 4 Door Ninth Generation (2007-2012)

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