1997 Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual - Page 175

Installing snow tires and chains To equalize tire wear and help extend tire life, Toyota recommends that you rotate your tires every 12000 km (7500 miles). 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 even wear and damage. Abnormal wear is usually caused by incorrect tire pressure, improper wheel alignment, out-of-balance wheels, or severe braking. 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. 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 would cause loss of vehicle control. When storing removed tires, you should store them in a cool dry place. 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. 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. 176