Get INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR TOYOTA -> Tire information Guide for Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

Tire information—

—Tire symbols (Standard tire)

This illustration indicates typical tire

symbols.

1. Tire size—For details, see “Tire

size” on page 336.

2. DOT and Tire Identification

Number (TIN)—For details, see

“DOT and Tire Identification Num-

ber (TIN)” on page 335.

3. Location of tread wear indica-

tors—For details, see “Checking

and replacing tires” on page 407.

4. Tire ply composition and materi-

als—Plies mean a layer of rubber−

coated parallel cords. Cords mean

the strands forming the plies in the

tire.

30p101

5. Summer tire or all season

tire—An all season tire has “M+S”

on the sidewall. A tire not marked

with “M+S” is a summer tire. For

details, see “Types of tires” on

page 345.

332

6. Radial tires or bias−ply tires—A

radial tire has “RADIAL” on the

sidewall. The tire not marked with

“RADIAL” is a bias−ply tire.

7. “TUBELESS” or “TUBE TYPE”

—A tubeless tire does not have a

tube inside the tire and air is direct-

ly filled in the tire. A tube type tire

has a tube inside the tire and the

tube maintains the air pressure.

8. Load limit at maximum cold tire

inflation pressure—For details,

see “Checking and replacing tires”

on page 407.

9. Maximum cold tire inflation

pressure—This means the pres-

sure to which a tire may be in-

flated. For recommended cold tire

inflation pressure, see “Tires” on

page 429.

10. Uniform tire quality grading—

For details, see “Uniform tire quali-

ty grading” that follows.

333

—Tire symbols

(Compact spare tire)

This illustration indicates typical tire

symbols.

1. “TEMPORARY USE ONLY”—A

compact spare tire is identified by

the phrase “TEMPORARY USE

ONLY” molded into its sidewall.

This tire is designed for temporary

emergency use only. For details,

see “Compact spare tire” on page

362.

2. Tire size—For details, see “Tire

size” on page 336.

3. DOT and Tire Identification

Number (TIN)—For details, see

“DOT and Tire Identification Num-

ber (TIN)” on page 335.

30p104a

4. Location of tread wear indica-

tors—For details, see “Checking

and replacing tires” on page 407.

5. Load limit at maximum cold tire

inflation pressure—For details,

see “Checking and replacing tires”

on page 407.

334

—DOT and Tire Identification

Number (TIN)

6. Maximum cold tire inflation

pressure—This means the pres-

sure to which a tire may be in-

flated. For recommended cold tire

inflation pressure, see “Tires” on

page 429.

The “DOT” symbol certifies that the

tire conforms to applicable Federal

Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

21A009a

7. Tire ply composition and materi-

als—Plies mean a layer of rubber−

coated parallel cords. Cords mean

the strands forming the plies in the

tire.

8. “TUBELESS” or “TUBE TYPE”

—A tubeless tire does not have a

tube inside the tire and air is direct-

ly filled in the tire. A tube type tire

has a tube inside the tire and the

tube maintains the air pressure.

This illustration indicates typical DOT

and Tire Identification Number (TIN).

1. “DOT” symbol

2. Tire Identification Number (TIN)

9. Radial tires or bias−ply tires—A

radial tire has “RADIAL” on the

sidewall. The tire not marked with

“RADIAL” is a bias−ply tire.

3. Tire manufacturer’s identification

mark

4. Tire size code

5. Manufacturer’s optional tire type

code (3 or 4 letters)

6. Manufacturing week

7. Manufacturing year

335

—Tire size

—Name of each section of tire

30p102

21A007a

21A006a

This illustration indicates typical tire

size.

1. Section width

1. Bead

2. Tire height

2. Sidewall

3. Shoulder

4. Tread

1. Tire use (P=Passenger car,

T=Temporary use)

3. Wheel diameter

2. Section width (in millimeters)

5. Belt

3. Aspect ratio (tire height to section

width)

6. Inner liner

7. Reinforcing rubber

8. Carcass

9. Rim lines

10. Bead wires

11. Chafer

4. Tire construction code (R=Radial,

D=Diagonal)

5. Wheel diameter (in inches)

6. Load index (2 digits or 3 digits)

7. Speed symbol (alphabet with one

letter)

336

—Uniform tire quality grading

This information has been prepared

in accordance with regulations issued

by the National Highway Traffic Safe-

ty Administration of the U.S. Depart-

ment of Transportation. It provides

the purchasers and/or prospective

purchasers of Toyota vehicles with in-

formation on uniform tire quality grad-

ing.

Tread wear—The tread wear grade

is a comparative rating based on the

wear rate of the tire when tested un-

der controlled conditions on a speci-

fied government test course. For ex-

ample, a tire graded 150 would wear

one and a half (1−1/2) times as well

on the government course as a tire

graded 100. The relative performance

of tires depends upon the actual

conditions of their use, however, and

may depart significantly from the

norm due to variations in driving hab-

its, service practices and differences

in road characteristics and climate.

Traction AA, A, B, C—The traction

grades, from highest to lowest, are

AA, A, B, and C, and they represent

the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave-

ment as measured under controlled

conditions on specified government

test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.

A tire marked C may have poor trac-

tion performance.

Your Toyota dealer will help answer

any questions you may have as you

read this information.

Warning: The traction grade assigned

to this tire is based on braking

(straight ahead) traction tests and

does not include cornering (turning)

traction.

DOT quality grades—All passenger

car tires must conform to Federal

Safety Requirements in addition to

these grades. Quality grades can

be found where applicable on the

tire sidewall between tread shoul-

der and maximum section width.

For example: Treadwear 200 Trac-

tion AA Temperature A.

337

Temperature A, B, C—The tempera-

ture grades are A (the highest), B,

and C, representing the tire’s resis-

tance to the generation of heat and

its ability to dissipate heat when

tested under controlled conditions on

a specified indoor laboratory test

wheel. Sustained high temperature

can cause the material of the tire to

degenerate and reduce tire life, and

excessive temperature can lead to

sudden tire failure. The grade C cor-

responds to a level of performance

which all passenger car tires must

meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle

Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B

and A represent higher levels of per-

formance on the laboratory test wheel

than the minimum required by law.

Warning: The temperature grades for

this tire are established for a tire that

is properly inflated and not over-

loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-

tion, or excessive loading, either sep-

arately or in combination, can cause

heat buildup and possible tire failure.

338

—Glossary of tire terminology

Tire related term

Meaning

tire inflation pressure when the vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours

or more, or it has not been driven more than 1.5 km or 1 mile under that

condition

Cold tire inflation pressure

the maximum cold inflation pressure to which a tire may be inflated and it is

shown on the sidewall of the tire

Maximum inflation pressure

Recommended inflation pressure

cold tire inflation pressure recommended by a manufacturer

the combined weight (in excess of those standard items which may be replaced)

of automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, power windows, pow-

er seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that these items are available as

factory−installed equipment (whether installed or not)

Accessory weight

Curb weight

the weight of a motor vehicle with standard equipment including the maximum

capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air conditioning and addi-

tional weight optional engine

the sum of—

(a) curb weight;

(b) accessory weight;

(c) vehicle capacity weight; and

(d) production options weight

Maximum loaded vehicle weight

Normal occupant weight

68 kg (150 lb.) times the number of occupants specified in the second column

of Table 1 that follows

339

Tire related term

Meaning

the combined weight of those installed regular production options weighing over

2.3 kg (5 lb.) in excess of those standard items which they replace, not pre-

viously considered in curb weight or accessory weight, including heavy duty

brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim

Production options weight

Vehicle capacity weight

(Total load capacity)

the rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kg (150 lb.) times the vehicle’s desig-

nated seating capacity

(A) the sidewall that contains a whitewall, bears white lettering or bears

manufacturer, brand, and/or model name molding that is higher or deeper

than the same molding on the other sidewall of the tire, or

Intended outboard sidewall

(B) the outward facing sidewall of an asymmetrical tire that has a particular

side that must always face outward when mounted on a vehicle

distribution of occupants in a vehicle as specified in the third column of Table

1 that follows

Occupant distribution

Rim

a metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire beads

are seated

Rim diameter (Wheel diameter)

Rim size designation

Rim type designation

Rim width

nominal diameter of the bead seat

rim diameter and width

the industry of manufacturer’s designation for a rim by style or code

nominal distance between rim flanges

the load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle

its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing by two

Vehicle maximum load on the tire

340

Tire related term

Vehicle normal load on the tire

Weather side

Meaning

the load on an individual tire that is determined by distributing to each axle

its share of the curb weight, accessory weight, and normal occupant weight

(distributed in accordance with Table 1 that follows) and dividing by two

the surface area of the rim not covered by the inflated tire

Table 1– Occupant loading and distribution for vehicle normal load for various designated seating capacities

Designated seating capacity, number Vehicle normal load, number of occu- Occupant distribution in a normally

of occupants

2 through 4

5 through 10

pants

loaded vehicle

2

3

2 in front

2 in front, 1 in second seat

341

INFORMATION BEFORE DRIVING YOUR TOYOTA -> Tire information for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door Second Generation (2004-2009)

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