2004 Toyota Echo Owners Manual - Page 489

04 01.06 If air loss occurs while driving, do not continue driving. Driving even a short distance can damage a tire beyond repair. Any tires which are over 6 years old must be checked by a qualified technician even if damage is not obvious. Tires deteriorate with age even if they have never or seldom been used. This applies also to the spare tire and tires stored for future use. REPLACING YOUR TIRES When replacing a tire, use a tire of the same size and construction, and the same or greater load capacity as the originally installed tires. Using any other size or type of tire may seriously affect handling, ride, speedometer/odometer calibration, ground clearance, and clearance between the body and tires or snow chains. Check that the maximum load of the replaced tire is greater than 1/2 of the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR) of either the front axle or the rear axle, whichever is greater. As for the maximum load of the tire, see the load limit at maximum cold tire inflation pressure mentioned on the sidewall of the tire, and as for the Gross Axle Weight Ratings (GAWR), see the Certification Label. For details about the sidewall of the tire and the Certification Label, see pages 155 and 153. CAUTION Observe the following instructions. Otherwise, an accident may occur resulting in death or serious injuries. D Do not mix radial, bias belted, or bias- ply tires on your vehicle, as this may cause dangerous handling characteristics resulting in loss of control. D Do not use tires other than the manufacturer's recommended size, as this may cause dangerous handling characteristics resulting in loss of control. Toyota recommends all four tires, or at least both of the front or rear tires be replaced at a time as a set. See "If you have a flat tire" in Section 4 for tire change procedure. When a tire is replaced, the wheel should always be balanced. An unbalanced wheel may affect vehicle handling and tire life. Wheels can get out of balance with regular use and should therefore be balanced occasionally. When replacing a tubeless tire, the air valve should also be replaced with a new one. 2004 ECHO S/D from Feb. '04 Prod. (OM52573U) 227