Carry out the necessary preparations and inspections before driving the vehicle in winter. Always drive the vehicle in a manner appropriate to the prevailing weather conditions.

- Pre-winter preparations
l Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside temperatures.

• Engine oil
• Engine coolant
• Washer fluid

l Have a service technician inspect the condition of the bat- tery.
l Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire chains for the rear tires.

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

- Before driving the vehicle
Perform the following according to the driving conditions.

l 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.
l 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.
l Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on the exterior lights, vehicle’s roof, chassis, around the tires or on the brakes.
l 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 suit- able to road conditions.

- When parking the vehicle
Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to “P” without set- ting the parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, pre- venting it from being released. If necessary, block the wheels

Selecting tire chains

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

Chain size is regulated for each tire size.

1 Side chain
(0.20 in. [5 mm] in diameter) 2 Cross chain
(0.25 in. [6.3 mm] in diame- ter)

Regulations on the use of tire chains

1 Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary according to location and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing chains.
l Retighten the chains after driving 1/4 - 1/2 mile (0.5 - 1.0 km).

- Tire chains
Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains.

l Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
l Install tire chains on the rear tires only. Do not install the chains on the front tires.
l Install tire chains following the instructions provided in the accompany- ing manual.

CAUTION

- Driving with snow tires
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failing to do so may result in a loss of vehicle control and cause death or serious injury.

l Use tires of the size specified for your vehicle.
l Maintain the recommended level of tire inflation pressure.
l Do not drive in excess of 75 mph (120 km/h), regardless of the type of snow tires being used.
l Snow tires should be installed on all wheels.

- Driving with tire chains
Observe the following precautions to reduce the risk of accidents.

Failing to do so may result in the vehicle being unable to be driven safely, and may cause death or serious injury.

l 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.
l Avoid driving on bumpy road surfaces or over potholes.
l Avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt steering, sudden braking and shifting operations that cause sudden engine braking.
l Slow down sufficiently before entering a curve to ensure that vehicle con- trol is maintained.

- When installing tire chains
Turn off the vehicle height control.

The vehicle height may change due to the automatic leveling function and you may catch part of your body in the vehicle, resulting in an accident.

NOTICE

- Repairing or replacing snow tires
Request repairs of and obtain replacement snow tires from Lexus dealers or legitimate 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.