Get Engine and Chassis -> Installing snow tires and chains Guide for Toyota Rav4 SUV Third Generation (2006-2012)

’07 Rav4_U (L/O 0701)

Installing snow tires and

chains

WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR

CHAINS

To equalize tire wear and help ex-

tend tire life, Toyota recommends

that you rotate your tires accord-

ing to the maintenance schedule.

(For scheduled maintenance infor-

mation, please refer to the “Sched-

uled Maintenance Guide” or “Own-

Snow tires or chains are recommended

when driving on snow or ice.

On wet or dry roads, conventional tires

provide better traction than snow tires.

SNOW TIRE SELECTION

er’s

Manual

Supplement”.)

If you need snow tires, select tires of

the same size, construction and load

capacity as the originally installed tires.

Also, on four−wheel drive models, all

the tires must be the same brand and

have the same tread patterns.

However, the most appropriate tim-

ing for tire rotation may vary ac-

cording to your driving habits and

road surface conditions.

See “If you have a flat tire” on page

355 in Section 4 for tire change proce-

dure.

When rotating tires, check for uneven

wear and damage. Abnormal wear is

usually caused by incorrect tire pres-

sure, improper wheel alignment, out−

of−balance wheels, or severe braking.

With a spare tire of different

wheel type from the installed

tires

Do not use tires other than those men-

tioned above. Do not install studded tires

without first checking local regulations for

possible restrictions.

CAUTION

Observe the following instructions.

Otherwise, an accident may occur re-

sulting in death or serious injuries.

D Do not use snow tires other than

the manufacturer’s recommended si-

ze, as this may cause dangerous

handling characteristics resulting in

loss of control.

407

2007 RAV4 from Dec. ’06 Prod. (OM42662U)

’07 Rav4_U (L/O 0701)

NOTICE

D Four−wheel drive models:

Side chain

Do not use snow tires of different

brands, sizes, construction or tread

patterns, as this may cause danger-

ous handling characteristics result-

ing in loss of control.

If the wrong combination of tire and

chain is used, the chains could dam-

age the vehicle body.

CHAIN INSTALLATION

Cross chain

Install the chains on the front tires as

tightly as possible. Do not use tire

chains on the rear tires. Retighten

SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION

Snow tires should be installed on all

wheels.

chains

after

driving

0.5—1.0

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.

(1/4—1/2 mile).

When installing chains on your tires, care-

fully follow the instructions of the chain

manufacturer.

TIRE CHAIN SELECTION

Use the tire chains of correct size.

If wheel covers are used, they will be

scratched by the chain band, so remove

the covers before putting on the chains.

For 215/70R16, 225/65R17 and 235/55R18

tires, use the following type chains.

When storing removed tires, you should

store them in a cool dry place.

mm (in.)

Mark the direction of rotation and be sure

to install them in the same direction when

replacing.

A Diameter of side chain

B Width of side chain

C Length of side chain

D Diameter of cross chain

E Width of cross chain

3 (0.12)

10 (0.39)

30 (1.18)

4 (0.16)

CAUTION

14 (0.55)

Length of cross chain

25 (0.98)

D Do not drive with the snow tires

Regulations regarding the use of tire

chains vary according to location or

type of road, so always check local reg-

ulations before installing chains.

incorrectly inflated.

D Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph)

with any type of snow tires.

408

2007 RAV4 from Dec. ’06 Prod. (OM42662U)

’07 Rav4_U (L/O 0701)

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 a damaged wheel,

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.

CAUTION

D Avoid sharp turns or locked−wheel

braking, as use of chains may ad-

versely affect vehicle handling.

Observe the following instructions.

Otherwise, an accident may occur re-

sulting in death or serious injuries.

Correct replacement wheels are available

at your Toyota dealer.

D When driving with chains installed,

be sure to drive carefully. Slow

down before entering curves to

avoid losing control of the vehicle.

Otherwise an accident may occur.

D Do not use wheels other than the

manufacturer’s recommended size,

as this may cause dangerous han-

dling characteristics resulting in

loss of control.

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.

D Four−wheel drive models:

Do not use wheels of different

brands, sizes and types, as this

may cause dangerous handling

characteristics resulting in loss of

control.

409

2007 RAV4 from Dec. ’06 Prod. (OM42662U)

Engine and Chassis -> Installing snow tires and chains for Your Toyota Rav4 SUV Third Generation (2006-2012)

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