2003 Toyota Prius Owners Manual - Page 229

Installing snow tires and chains165. 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 CHAINS USE SNOW TIRES OR 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. 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 the same size, construction and load capacity as the original tires on your Toyota. Do not use tires other than those mentioned above. Do not install studded tires without first checking local regulations for possible restrictions. CAUTION Do not include a compact spare tire when rotating the tires. It is designed for temporary use only. CAUTION D Do not drive with the snow tires incorrectly inflated. D Never drive over 120 km/h (75 mph) with any type of snow tires. NOTICE Do not attempt to use a tire chain on the compact spare tire, as it may result in damage to the vehicles as well as the tire. 222