2004 Toyota Matrix Owners Manual - Page 195

'04 MATRIX_U (L/O 0307) Types of tires CAUTION Even if the total load of occupant's weight and the cargo load is less than the total load capacity, do not apply the load unevenly. That may cause not only damage to the tire but also deterioration to the steering ability due to unbalance of the vehicle, causing an accident. Determine what kind of tires your vehicle is originally equipped with. 1. Summer tires Summer tires are high −speed capability 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 or icy roads, we recommend using snow tires. If 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 all 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. The details about how to distinguish summer tires from all season tires are described on page 184. CAUTION D Do not mix summer and all season tires on your vehicle as this can cause dangerous handling characteristics, resulting in loss of control. D Do not use tire other than the manufacturer's designated tires, and never mix tires or wheels of the sizes different from the originals. 195 2004 MATRIX from Oct. '03 Prod. (OM12861U)