2001 Toyota RAV4 Owners Manual - Page 195

Installing snow tires and chains See "If you have a flat tire" in Section 5 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. 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 size described below. 215/70R16 Make sure all the snow tires are the same brand, construction and load capacity. Do not install studded tires without first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. 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. Mark the direction of rotation and be sure to install them in the same direction when replacing. CAUTION Do not include a compact spare tire when rotating the tires. It is designed for temporary use only. Initial adjustment of the tire pressure warning system is necessary after you have rotated your tires. See "Tire pressure warning system" in Section 1-2. CAUTION D Do not drive with the snow tires incorrectly inflated. NOTICE Do not use tires of different brands and constructions. This may damage the drive system. D Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph) with any type of snow tires. 187