How to Buy New Tires for a Toyota Vehicle

Buy New Tires for a Toyota Vehicle

Tires play a critical part in both your car's performance and its safe operation. Toyota owners who need to put a new set of tires on their vehicle should resist any temptation to just buy the least-expensive tire available. It is important to take the steps necessary to find the right tires for your Toyota and the type of driving you do.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. • 1

     Find out what the proper size of tire is for your vehicle. Look in the Toyota owner's manual for your vehicle first. You may also read the information located on the sidewall of the tires on your vehicle, if they are the tires that originally came on the vehicle from the factory. You may also call a tire shop and ask a professional there to look up the recommended tire size for your vehicle. Knowing the tire size will point you to a specific group of tires and simplify your choices.

   • 2

     Determine the type of tire you need based on the type of Toyota vehicle you have. Passenger cars have tire codes that begin with the letter "P," and light trucks and sport/utility vehicles have tire codes that start with the letters "LT."

   • 3

     Narrow your choices for tires down further by focusing on the tires that match the type of driving conditions you will most often encounter. Take into consideration the occasional extreme conditions; this is when tire performance is most critical. If mud and snow are something you need to prepare for, pick tires that have a tire code that include the letters "M+S." You will then have a manageable short list of tire choices.

   • 4

     Shop around at the local tire shops for prices on the tires on your list. Compare the prices of the tires and their reported durability. For example, see if the tires are rated to last for 30,000 miles, 40,000 miles, 50,000 miles and so on.

   • 5

     Make a choice based on which model gives you the best value. It does not have to be the least or most expensive tire, but the one that gives you the best combination of price, durability and performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Write a reminder to rotate your new tires on the vinyl decal that comes on your windshield when you change your oil.

How to Improve the MPG of a Toyota Camry Hybrid

Get More Miles Per Gallon from a Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Gasoline electric hybrid engines like the one found in the Toyota Camry hybrid promise drivers better gas mileage, but actual MPG reflects driver usage. Proper driving techniques and maintenance help drivers improve the actual MPG of the Toyota Camry hybrid.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Tire pressure gauge

1. • 1

     Allow a proper break-in period. When Toyota Camry Hybrid owners complain to the dealership that they aren't seeing the advertised MPG, a common response is to wait until after the first 10,000 miles for the engine and hybrid components to reach peak efficiency.

   • 2

     Avoid rapid acceleration. A lead foot is an expensive habit as rapid acceleration wastes fuel. Transition gradually from a stop to top speed.

   • 3

     Minimize stops during the first 5 to 10 minutes after a cold start. Gasoline engine fuel economy is lower during the warm-up and according to HybridCars.com the Toyota Camry Hybrid's auto-stop mechanism does not trigger when the gasoline engine is still cold. Stop at the last espresso stand on the way to work rather than the first to improve miles per gallon.

   • 4
     Cruise Control Improves the MPG of a Toyota Camry Hybrid.

     Use the Toyota Camry Hybrid's cruise control feature whenever possible, as cruise control increases fuel economy.

   • 5

     Coast whenever possible to maximize electric battery charge regeneration.

   • 6

     Plan routes to maximize hybrid efficiency. Unlike a standard gasoline engine, hybrid electric cars get the best MPG in stop and go traffic and the worst on highways. Take the scenic route with rolling hills rather than the expressway.

   • 7

     Keep tires properly inflated. Whether a driver is in a Toyota Camry Hybrid or traditional gasoline motor car, tires maintained at the proper pressure reduce drag and are essential for achieving optimal MPG.

   • 8
     Turn Off Accessories to Improve Toyota Camry Hybrid's MPG.

     Use energy hungry accessories like air conditioning as little as possible.

   • 9

     During a tune-up, ask the Toyota dealer to maximize gas mileage rather than horsepower. Unfortunately, a lot of the extra energy achieved by a hybrid engine is diverted to increasing power in U.S. models.

   • 10

     In Toyota Camry Hybrid models offering electric-only mode, use this setting for most in-town travel. Most drivers can make their complete daily commute and run errands without needing gasoline power. Reserve gasoline usage for longer trips.

   • 11

     Pay close intention to the instantaneous miles per gallon indicated on the Toyota Camry Hybrid's display. Notice how driving behavior and various routes to common destinations affect MPG. Adjust your driving to maximize this value.

   • 12

     Don't leave the Toyota Camry Hybrid idling while getting ready to go or sitting in a drive-through. Although the Toyota Camry Hybrid's auto-stop will turn off the gasoline engine, valuable electric battery charge is still wasted. Maximize use of the Toyota Camry Hybrid's electric capabilities for improving gas mileage while driving, not powering the car at a standstill.

Tips & Warnings

• Put pressure on Toyota's Research and Development to offer a plug-in electric model. Call 800-331-4331. Plug-in electric models would allow owners to run their hybrid vehicles solely on electricity while preserving the option of gasoline for cross-country trips. If an owner installs a solar panel system to charge a plug-in electric hybrid's battery, driving costs and environmental impacts are reduced to the lowest levels. HybridCars.com says that low octane fuel is best. The additives in high-octane fuel actually decrease fuel economy despite reductions in emissions.

• Tracking the instantaneous miles per gallon can be addictive. Watch the road while driving.

How to Improve Toyota Tacoma Gas Mileage

The Toyota Tacoma is a pickup truck that has been on the market since 1995. The Tacoma was named "Truck of the Year" by Motor Trend magazine in 2005 and is a popular model among truck enthusiasts. Like many pickups, inefficient gas mileage is a concern for drivers. The 2009 Tacoma gets an estimated 20/20 miles per gallon (mpg), but older models get considerably less than that. Keeping up with maintenance can help you improve your Toyota Tacoma's gas mileage.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Tacoma owner's manual Air management system

1. • 1

     Check your Tacoma owner's manual to see what type of motor oil is recommended for your specific model. The Tacoma has gone through some changes over time, so that not every year has the same engine. Using the manufacturer's recommended oil can help improve gas mileage.

   • 2

     Keep your pickup's tires inflated properly and aligned correctly. Tires that are not full to the recommended capacity create more drag on the road, and thus a lower gas mileage rating. You can find the air pressure specifications on the inside of the front door of your truck.

   • 3

     Use the four-wheel drive feature on your truck only when you are driving in inclement weather or on rough terrain. If you use 4WD all the time, your gas mileage will decrease.

   • 4

     Reduce the drag on your truck by lightening its load. Instead of storing heavy equipment and other cargo in the cab of your Tacoma all the time, store it elsewhere until you need it. The lighter weight of your truck can help improve the gas mileage.

   • 5

     Stick to posted speed limits. Fuel economy becomes less efficient when you drive faster.

   • 6

     Consider adding an air management system to your Tacoma. An air management system is a component that fits inside the intake hose and improves air flow. Gas mileage may increase due to the increase efficiency of the air flow to your vehicle.

How to Change Struts for Toyota Tacoma 4 Wheel Drives

The Tacoma was the first truck on which Toyota used struts as suspension components on the front. Also known as coil-over shocks, the struts on the Tacoma do not have an upper bearing plate that turn when steering, like a conventional strut. Because the shock is located inside of the coil spring as an assembly, it is considered a strut, and will require special handling to replace.

Difficulty:

Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Car lift
• 1/2 inch drive impact gun
• 1/2 inch drive metric socket set
• Closed end metric wrench set
• Hammer
• Long-stemmed punch
• Wall-mounted spring compressor

1. • 1

     Lift the Tacoma on a car lift at the desired height.

   • 2

     Remove the lug nuts with an impact gun and a socket, then remove the wheels.

   • 3

     Remove the lower strut retaining nut from the bolt. Hold the head of the bolt with a closed end wrench and use the impact gun and a socket to remove the nut.

   • 4

     Use a punch and hammer to dislodge the lower strut bolt from the lower strut bracket on the knuckle.

   • 5

     Remove the three upper strut retaining nuts from the top of the strut tower.

   • 6

     Remove the strut assembly and bring it to the strut compressor.

   • 7

     Support the spring in the strut compressor and slightly compress the spring.

   • 8

     Loosen the 17-millimeter spring top plate mounting nut slightly with an impact gun and a socket. Compress the spring to take tension off the spring plate and remove the spring top plate mounting nut.

   • 9

     Release the compressor enough to remove the spring top plate, rubber spacer, and strut cartridge. Insert a new cartridge into the spring, then replace the rubber spacer and the spring top plate. Compress the spring again and thread on the nut and tighten with the impact gun and a socket.

   • 10

     Remove the assembly from the spring compressor and reinstall onto the Tacoma by reversing steps 3-5.

   • 11

     Repeat the procedure for the other strut.

   • 12

     Replace the wheels and lug nuts. Torque the lug nuts to recommended specifications.

How to Clean a Toyota 4 Runner Fuel Injector

The smallest of a car's mechanical problems can eventually wreak havoc when fuel injector problems are the cause. If a fuel injector problem is not repaired or replaced, it could lead to costly damages to your engine or, at the very least, hamper its performance. Fuel injectors come in two different types. The throttle body system shows little to no difference in the performance if cleaned. With the other, the port injector, cleaning is crucial.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• 1 bottle of fuel injection cleaner

1. • 1

     Drive your 4Runner to the nearest highway.

   • 2

     Accelerate hard to allow fuel to spray through the injectors in a vast amount and quickly. Hopefully, doing so will allow the rapid rush of fuel to break loose or flush away the gummy deposits that have collected inside the tips of the valves. If this step works you will see immediate signs. The rough stalls and idles should improve. (Obviously, be careful while accelerating, and follow all road rules.)

   • 3

     Proceed to step four if steps one and two fail to work.

   • 4

     Add fuel injection cleaner to your fuel. Some will tell you the brand is crucial, when in truth most brands are made of the same chemicals. If accelerating hard shows no sign of breaking the deposits loose that have collected inside the injector, add the fuel injection cleaner directly to your fuel tank. This will allow the cleaner to move with your fuel into the fuel injector and work the way it's supposed to.

   • 5

     Drive your 4Runner. The cleaner doesn't work on its own, and it's important to drive it like normal to allow the cleaner to flow. Again, if steps four and five work you should see immediate results. This should help with the hesitations and poor acceleration as well as the rough stalls and idles. If the results aren't so apparent or if there are no results at all, see the Warnings section for further advice.

Tips & Warnings

• If neither of the common methods work, it may be time to take your vehicle to a service station. They may have a more powerful method to clean it, or something more serious could be wrong.

How to Replace a Radiator in a Toyota Tacoma

It's essential to keep the radiator on your Toyota Tacoma in good condition, as a leaky radiator can cause overheating and engine damage. Although the process is similar for any year or model, here's how to replace the radiator in the popular 2001 Toyota Tacoma.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Resealable container
• Replacement hoses, if needed
• Replacement radiator
• Torque wrench
• Distilled water
• Engine coolant

1. • 1

     Locate the plug on the bottom of the radiator and loosen it. Drain the engine coolant into a resealable container.

   • 2

     Remove the radiator grille and disconnect the upper radiator hose, radiator reservoir hose and lower radiator hose.

   • 3

     Take a close look at the radiator hoses. Replace any worn hoses.

   • 4

     Disconnect the fan shroud and the oil cooler hoses, and remove the bolts holding the radiator. Reinstall the new radiator and torque the bolts according to specifications.

   • 5

     Reconnect the oil cooler hoses and fan shroud, and replace the lower radiator hose, radiator reservoir hose and upper radiator hose.

   • 6

     Fill the reservoir with a mixture of half distilled water and engine coolant and replace the radiator cap very loosely.

   • 7

     Start the engine and let the motor warm up, then turn it off and check the coolant level. Add more coolant if necessary, and attach the radiator cap securely.

Tips & Warnings

• If used engine coolant isn't contaminated, reuse it. If you choose not to recycle it, take it to a garage or hazardous waste center for proper disposal.

• Be sure to keep engine coolant in a sealed container out of the reach of children and pets, and if any is spilled, clean it up immediately. Remember that antifreeze tastes sweet, and can be fatal if ingested.

• Wear protective clothing, gloves and eyewear when replacing the radiator in your Toyota Tacoma. Never open the radiator cap if the temperature of the engine coolant is 100 degrees or more, as serious burns can occur.

How to Change a Toyota Tire

Barring the recalls of 2009 and 2010, Toyota cars and trucks have a reputation for reliability. Yet being mechanically sound has little to do with the tires, and owning a Toyota still means needing to be able to change a tire in the event of an unexpected flat. This basic, fundamental bit of do-it-yourself car maintenance is a simple, but often grimy task. Do it once and you have mastered it for life.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you'll need:

• Standard screwdriver
• Tire iron
• Spare tire
• Rubber mallet

1. • 1

     Park the car in a level place, set the emergency brake on your Toyota, and wedge a wheel block, if you have one, under one of the front tires. This will ensure stability while you change the tire.

   • 2

     Pry off the hubcap with a standard screwdriver. No factory hubcap on a Toyota car has a hubcap lock, so it should pop right off.

   • 3

     Put the wrench-end of the tire iron onto a lug nut and turn it counter-clockwise until it becomes loose. Kick the tire iron down if necessary. Loosen, but do not remove, every lug nut in turn.

   • 4

     Set up the jack underneath one of the lifting points next to the tire to be changed, as directed by your Toyota user's manual. The basic jack for all Toyota cars and many trucks will require you to slide the pry-bar end of the tire iron into a bracket on the jack, and to jack up the car by turning the tire iron.

   • 5

     Jack up the car until the tire can rotate freely in the air.

   • 6

     Remove the lug nuts from the lug stems with the tire iron. Pull the tire off the car.

   • 7

     Remove your spare tire from wherever that is kept in your Toyota. Having a full spare in an exterior housing is a common feature on RAV4s and other Toyota SUVs, for example. In a Corolla, however, the spare will be in the trunk.

   • 8

     Set the spare tire onto the wheel hub, so that the wheel is flush against the base of the lug stems. Put the lug nuts back on the wheel, and tighten them with the tire iron.

   • 9

     Lower the jack and set the tire back down on the ground. With the tire on the ground, give each lug nut an extra turn to fully tighten it into place.

   • 10

     Set your Toyota hubcap back on the wheel and tap it back into place using a rubber mallet.