Toyota bZ4X Owner's Manual: Winter Driving Tips for Your 2025 Toyota bZ4X

Preparing for Winter Roads: Essential Driving Tips

To ensure your safety and the optimal performance of your 2025 Toyota bZ4X during the winter months, it is crucial to undertake the necessary preparations and inspections before venturing out on the road. Always adapt your driving style and behavior to match the prevailing weather conditions, prioritizing caution and reduced speeds when surfaces are slippery.

Pre-Winter Vehicle Preparations

• Ensure that your vehicle is filled with fluids that are specifically designed to perform effectively in the expected range of outside temperatures. This includes:

• Power control unit coolant to prevent freezing and maintain optimal system temperature.
• Heater coolant to ensure the vehicle's cabin can be effectively heated for comfort and safety.
• Windshield washer fluid with antifreeze to keep your windshield clear of ice, snow, and road grime.

• It is recommended to have a qualified service technician inspect the condition and charge level of your vehicle's 12-volt battery, as cold weather can significantly impact battery performance.
• Consider equipping your 2025 Toyota bZ4X with four matching snow tires for superior traction in snowy and icy conditions. Alternatively, purchase a set of tire chains that are the correct size for your front tires for use when conditions demand extra grip.

When using snow tires or tire chains, always verify that they are the same size and brand (for tires), and that the chains are an appropriate match for the size of your vehicle's tires to ensure proper fit and function.

WARNING - Important Safety Precautions When Driving in Winter

Driving with Snow Tires:

Observe the following safety precautions when driving your 2025 Toyota bZ4X equipped with snow tires to minimize the risk of accidents. Failure to adhere to these guidelines could lead to a loss of vehicle control, potentially causing serious injury or death.

• Always use snow tires that are the specified size recommended for your vehicle.
• Maintain the tire air pressure in your snow tires at the recommended level as indicated in your owner's manual or on the tire information placard.
• Do not drive your vehicle at speeds exceeding 75 mph (120 km/h) when fitted with snow tires, regardless of the type or rating of the snow tires being used.
• For optimal performance and safety, always use snow tires on all four wheels of your vehicle, not just on some of them.

Driving with Tire Chains:

Adhere to the following important safety precautions when using tire chains on your 2025 Toyota bZ4X to reduce the risk of accidents. Failure to follow these instructions could compromise your ability to control the vehicle safely and might result in serious injury or death.

• Never exceed the speed limit specifically recommended for the tire chains you are using, or a maximum speed of 30 mph (50 km/h), whichever speed limit is lower.
• Avoid driving on bumpy or uneven road surfaces, as well as over potholes, as these conditions can damage the tire chains and the vehicle.
• Refrain from sudden acceleration, abrupt steering maneuvers, sudden braking, and rapid gear shifting that could lead to abrupt regenerative braking, as these actions can cause the tire chains to lose traction or become damaged.
• Always slow down significantly before entering a curve to ensure that you maintain full control of your vehicle while using tire chains.
• Do not use the Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) system when tire chains are fitted to your vehicle, as the chains can affect the vehicle's handling and the system's ability to accurately track lane markings.

NOTICE - Information Regarding Snow Tires

Repairing or Replacing Snow Tires:

When you need to repair or replace the snow tires on your 2025 Toyota bZ4X, it is recommended to seek service from an authorized Toyota dealer or reputable tire retailers who are familiar with the specific requirements of your vehicle. This is important because the process of removing and attaching snow tires can affect the operation of the tire pressure warning valves and transmitters that are part of your vehicle's tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Before Driving Your Vehicle in Winter Conditions:

Perform the following checks and actions based on the specific driving conditions you anticipate:

• Do not attempt to forcibly open a frozen window or move a windshield wiper that is stuck to the glass with ice. Instead, carefully pour warm water over the frozen area to gently melt the ice. Immediately wipe away the melted water to prevent it from refreezing and causing further issues.
• To ensure that the climate control system's fan operates properly and provides adequate airflow, remove any accumulated snow or ice from the air inlet vents located in front of the windshield. Obstructions here can reduce the system's efficiency.
• Thoroughly check for and carefully remove any excess ice or snow that may have accumulated on your vehicle's exterior lights (headlights, taillights, turn signals), outside rearview mirrors, all windows, the roof, the undercarriage or chassis, around the tires, and on the brake components. Ensuring these areas are clear is vital for visibility and safe operation.
• Before getting into your vehicle, make sure to remove any snow or mud that is stuck to the bottom of your shoes. This will help prevent slippery conditions on the pedals and keep the interior of your 2025 Toyota bZ4X cleaner.

When Driving Your Vehicle on Winter Roads:

Accelerate your 2025 Toyota bZ4X slowly and smoothly to maintain traction. Always maintain a significantly larger following distance between your vehicle and the one ahead than you would in dry conditions. Drive at a reduced speed that is appropriate for the specific road conditions you encounter, accounting for ice, snow, and reduced visibility.

When Parking Your Vehicle in Cold Weather:

• Turn off the automatic mode of the electronic parking brake in your 2025 Toyota bZ4X if you anticipate very cold temperatures. Otherwise, there is a risk that the parking brake mechanism could freeze and might not be able to be released automatically when you are ready to drive. Also, avoid using the following systems as they might automatically engage the parking brake even if the automatic mode is turned off:

• Brake hold system.
• Remote parking function (if equipped).

• When parking on a level surface, consider parking your vehicle and shifting the gear position to 'P' (Park) without setting the parking brake. The parking brake can sometimes freeze up in cold temperatures, preventing it from being released. If you choose not to set the parking brake, ensure that you use wheel chocks to prevent any possibility of the vehicle rolling.

Failure to properly secure your vehicle when parked without the parking brake could be dangerous, as it might cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly, potentially leading to an accident.

If the parking brake's automatic mode is enabled, release the parking brake after shifting the gear position to 'P' (Park) to avoid potential freezing.

• If you park your vehicle without setting the parking brake, always double-check that the gear selector is firmly locked in the 'P' (Park) position and cannot be inadvertently moved.
• If your vehicle's brakes become wet or damp during operation and you then park it in freezing temperatures, there is a possibility that the brake components could freeze, potentially causing them to stick or malfunction. Try to avoid parking with damp brakes in very cold weather if possible.

WARNING - Important Parking Precautions in Winter

• When Parking Your Vehicle:

When parking your 2025 Toyota bZ4X on a level surface without applying the parking brake in freezing conditions, it is absolutely crucial to chock the wheels to prevent any unintended movement. If you fail to chock the wheels, the vehicle could potentially move unexpectedly, which could result in a serious accident.

Selecting tire chains

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

Chain size is regulated for each tire size.

Side chain:

1. 0.12 in. (3 mm) in diameter
2. 0.39 in. (10 mm) in width
3. 1.18 in. (30 mm) in length

Cross chain:

4. 0.16 in. (4 mm) in diameter
5. 0.55 in. (14 mm) in width
6. 0.98 in. (25 mm) in length

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 front tires only. Do not install tire chains on the rear tires.
• Install tire chains on front 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.

NOTICE

Fitting tire chains

The tire pressure warning valves and transmitters may not function correctly when tire chains are fitted.

Utility vehicle precautions

This vehicle belongs to the utility vehicle class, which has higher ground clearance and narrower tread in relation to the height of its center of gravity to make it capable of performing in a wide variety of off-road applications.