1996 Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual - Page 153

Rotating tires Installing snow tires and chains WHEN TO USE SNOW TIRES OR CHAINS 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 If you need snow tires, select tires of the same size, construction and load capacity as the original tires on your Toyota. Make sure all the snow tires are the same brand. Do not install studded tires without first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. Mark the direction of rotation and be sure to install them in the same direction when replacing. ! CAUTION S Do not drive with the snow tires incorrectly inflated. S Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph) with any type of snow tires. TIRE CHAIN SELECTION Use tire chains of the correct size. Two-wheel drive models: Use only genuine Toyota tire chains or equivalent for use on the RAV4. To equalize tire wear and help extend tire life, Toyota recommends that you rotate your tires every 5000 km (3000 miles) for 4WD models or approximately every 12000 km (7500 miles) for others. However, the most appropriate timing for tire rotation may vary according to your driving habits and road surface conditions. See "If you have a flat tire" in Part 4 for tire change procedure. When rotating tires, check for uneven wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by incorrect tire pressure, improper wheel alignment, out-of-balance wheels, or severe braking. NOTICE Do not use tires of different brands, sizes and constructions. This may damage the drive system. SNOW TIRE INSTALLATION Snow tires should be installed on all wheels. 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. When storing removed tires, you should store them in a cool dry place. NOTICE If the wrong combination of tire and chain is used, the chains could damage the vehicle body. * RAV4 genuine tire chains (Part No. 08329-42801) Laws about using tire chains vary according to locality and type of road, so always check your local laws before you install tire chains. 147