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Polishing
Owner Tests
"Nu Finish" has worked well. The great polished look lasts for about 6 months, enough to get
through an entire winter. But when you wipe the dried residue off, it actually leaves lightly faded
streaks at first. Don't let that deter you. It disappears, leaving a protective layer after a few days.
Tire Care
To prevent accelerated wear and maximize miles before replacement, follow these suggestions:
Monthly Checking
At the very least, check your tires monthly. Every two weeks is better. Pressure loss is normal and
especially rapid when temperatures drop. Uneven wear is an indication that either you’ve been
driving with tires below the minimum PSI or balancing/alignment is required. Also, don’t forget
about checking the spare tire in the trunk too.
Front Bias
Prius is a little heavier in front. To properly support that weight load, you must make sure the front
tires have 2 PSI more in them than the ones in the rear.
Turning
Never turn the wheels unless they're rolling. That causes unnecessary wear, just as with other
vehicles. The electric-steering is so powerful, you can't feel the friction caused by turning. But
your tires can. So, make sure the wheels are moving before you turn them.
Rotation
Every 5,000 to 7,500 miles (8,000 to 12,000 km) the tires should be rotated, for best lifetime
performance. Rotation should be in a "roll-back, cross-forward" pattern. (That's front tires to the
rear without switching sides, and rear tires to front switching sides.)
Lug Nuts
When initially tightening the lug nuts after having put a wheel back on and when you retorque them
after having driven around 100 miles, make certain the pressure you use is 76 ft-lb (103Nm).
Alignment
0.05 DEGREES of Toe IN each side, for a total of 0.10 DEGREES.
If steering feels like it wanders at high speeds, it's probably because the alignment isn't adjusted
correctly. Remember, "within factory-specified tolerance" is an answer you don't have to accept
from a service provider; you can insist that alignment be adjusted to this "exact" setting.
PSI minimum
35/33 PSI (2.4/2.3 bar) is the PSI for the Prius tires (noted on the driver's door-jam of the car itself).
42/40 PSI (2.9/2.8 bar) is what many Prius owners recommend for optimum performance. For
maximum performance, use a pressure of 44 PSI (3.0 bar). Whatever you decide, just remember
that low pressure results in lower MPG drop and a shorter tire life.
Note 1: Measuring PSI should always be done when the tires are cold, since driving heats up tires
making the results inaccurate due to the air inside expanding (which creates a false impression of
higher pressure).
Note 2: For every 10 F degrees colder, pressure will automatically drop 1 PSI. The reverse is true
too. So in the Spring, carefully monitor pressure to ensure it doesn't exceed the maximum as the
temperature increases.
Prius User-Guide 18 of 45 Last Updated: 2/07/2006