Toyota Tundra Owners Manual: Winter driving tips

Preparation for winter

• Use fluids that are appropriate to the prevailing outside temperatures.
  • Engine oil
  • Engine coolant
  • Washer fluid
• Have a service technician inspect the condition of the battery.
• Have the vehicle fitted with four snow tires or purchase a set of tire chains for the rear tires.

  Ensure that all tires are the same size and brand, and that chains match the size of the tires.

Before driving the vehicle

Perform the following according to the driving conditions:

• Do not try to forcibly open a window or move a wiper that is frozen.

  Pour warm water over the frozen area to melt the ice. Wipe away the water immediately to prevent it from freezing.

• To ensure proper operation of the climate control system fan, remove any snow that has accumulated on the air inlet vents in front of the windshield.
• Check for and remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on the exterior lights, vehicle's roof, chassis, around the tires or on the brakes.
• Remove any snow or mud from the bottom of your shoes before getting in the vehicle.

When driving the vehicle

Accelerate the vehicle slowly, keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle ahead, and drive at a reduced speed suitable to road conditions.

When parking the vehicle

• Park the vehicle and move the shift lever to P without setting the parking brake. The parking brake may freeze up, preventing it from being released. If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, make sure to block the wheels.

  Failure to do so may be dangerous because it may cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly, possibly leading to an accident.

• If the vehicle is parked without setting the parking brake, confirm that the shift lever cannot be moved out of P*

*: The shift lever will be locked if it is attempted to be shifted from P to any other position without depressing the brake pedal. If the shift lever can be shifted from P, there may be a problem with the shift lock system. Have the vehicle inspected by your Toyota dealer immediately.

Refueling (Flex-fuel vehicles)

Observe the following precautions when switching fuels, in order to maintain starting and driving performance.

• Do not change fuels when the fuel level is 1/4 or less.
• Always add at least 2.6 gal. (10 L) of fuel.
• After filling up with fuel, warm up the engine or drive the vehicle for at least 5 minutes or 7 miles (11 km).
• Do not accelerate rapidly immediately after refueling.

Selecting tire chains

Use the correct tire chain size when mounting the tire chains.

Chain size is regulated for each tire size.

1. Side chain (0.2 in. [5 mm] in diameter)
2. Cross chain (0.25 in. [6.3 mm] in diameter)

Regulations on the use of tire chains

Regulations regarding the use of tire chains vary depending on location and type of road. Always check local regulations before installing chains.

■Tire chain installation Observe the following precautions when installing and removing chains:

• Install and remove tire chains in a safe location.
• Install tire chains on the rear tires. Do not install tire chains on the front tires.
• Install tire chains on rear tires as tightly as possible. Retighten chains after driving 1/4 - 1/2 mile (0.5 - 1.0 km).
• Install tire chains following the instructions provided with the tire chains.