888–529–8200 Pacific Time if you are not sure about the maximum speed
rating of your tires.
WARNING!
No tire, regardless of its design or speed rating, has an unlimited
capacity for speed. Exceeding the tire’s speed capability could cause
overheating and sudden tire failure, possibly leading to loss of
vehicle control and serious personal injury or death.
Nitto does not endorse the operation of any vehicle in an unsafe or
unlawful manner. Obey all local speed limits.
Tire speed ratings do not imply that a vehicle can be safely driven at the
speed for which the tire is rated. Speed ratings are based on laboratory
tests and relate to performance on the road, but are not applicable if tires
are underinflated, overloaded, worn out, damaged, or altered.
WARNING!
High-speed driving with underinflated or overloaded tires may
result in immediate tire failure, possibly leading to loss of vehicle
control, which could cause an accident, including serious personal
injury or death.
EXPLANATION OF TIRE SPEED SYMBOLS
A speed rating is designated by a letter that indicates the maximum
speed capability of a tire. The speed rating of a tire is based on standards
for reaching and sustaining a specified speed, and is determined via
laboratory tests that simulate road performance at various speeds.
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the speed capability is limited by the speed symbol in the service
description (i.e., 235/45ZR17 97W = maximum speed 168 mph
[270 km/h]).
** Although no upper limit speed is specified, the indicated tires
nonetheless have limited rated speed capability. Call 888–529-8200 Pacific
Time for a referral for more technical information.
mNOTICE!
Tire speed symbols do not imply that vehicles can be safely driven at the
maximum speed for which the tire is rated, particularly under adverse road
and weather conditions, or if the vehicle has unusual characteristics. Never
operate a vehicle in an unsafe or unlawful manner.
TIRE SPINNING
WARNING!
Spinning a tire to remove a vehicle stuck in mud, snow, or wet grass
can be dangerous. This could cause serious personal injury or death to
a bystander or passenger and extensive vehicle damage. A tire
spinning at a speedometer reading above 35 miles per hour (55 km/h)
can reach a speed capable of disintegrating a tire with explosive force
within a matter of seconds. Under some conditions, a tire may be
spinning at twice the speed shown on the speedometer. Never spin a
tire above a speedometer reading of 35 mph (55 km/h). Never allow
anyone to stand near or directly behind the spinning tire. Do not spin
if a drive wheel is off the ground.
TOWING OR USE OF SLIDE-IN TRUCK CAMPERS
If you are towing a trailer or using a slide-in truck camper, refer to your
vehicle Owner ’s Manual.
WINTER (SNOW) TIRES
Winter driving presents special challenges for vehicle
handling. The use of winter tires, studs, and chains, while
improving traction performance in snow and ice, requires
additional caution and care with regard to braking, corner-
ing, and speed. It is important to drive with care not only
on snow and ice, but on dry and wet roads as well.
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WARNING!
Studded tires may require longer braking distances on dry or wet
paved surfaces. Failure to allow for adequate braking distance could
result in serious personal injury or death.
•Traction is considerably reduced as snow tires approach 50% tread
wear, and replacement should be considered in order to maintain
effectiveness in heavy snow conditions.
•Tire speed rating – When lower-speed-rated winter tires replace
higher-speed-rated touring and high performance all-season radial
tires, do not exceed the lower-rated speed.
•Follow recommendations in the vehicle Owner ’s Manual for winter
tires, studs, and chains.
•Consult your tire dealer, the Rubber Manufacturers Association web-
site
www.rma.org, or your state’s Department of Transportation
(DOT) for information regarding regulatory and seasonal restrictions
for stud usage.
•Also see the “Tire Mixing” section in this manual for more details.
•Nitto recommends that snow tires be installed in matched sets of four.
ADVERSE WEATHER DRIVING
Take special care when driving in adverse weather conditions.
•Rain and snow – Driving in rain or snow considerably reduces the
traction between your tires and the road surface. You must always
reduce your speed to allow additional stopping distance between you
and the vehicles ahead of you.
•Hydroplaning and wet weather driving – Hydroplaning occurs on wet
roads and refers to the loss of tire contact with the road due to the
build-up of water between the tire contact patch and the road surface.
Three main factors affect hydroplaning and, consequently, your tire
traction on wet roads:
A. Vehicle Speed – As speed increases, wet traction is considerably
reduced.
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B. Water Depth – The deeper the water, the sooner your tires will lose
traction. Even thin water layers can create sufficient lubrication to
cause traction loss at low speeds, depending on road conditions.
C. Tire Tread Depth – As your tires wear down, their decreased ability
to resist hydroplaning can result in a complete loss of traction and
vehicle control. You should always reduce your speed with con-
sideration for the traffic around you.
•Driving on ice and snow – Your all-season tires were designed to
provide higher levels of snow traction compared to non-all- season
tires. You have all-season tires if you find letters “M&S” are molded
into the sidewall near the bead. These letters mean “Mud and Snow.”
Tires designed for use in severe snow conditions generally have tread
patterns, structure, and materials for giving superior performance.
These tires are marked with the “M&S” designation plus a mountain/
snowflake symbol
. Even the best all-season tires will not provide
acceptable levels of traction if you drive too fast in snow or ice
conditions and if you do not allow more stopping distance on icy roads
compared to dry road surfaces. Your ability to safely maneuver your
vehicle in snow or ice conditions is considerably reduced if your tires
are too worn to provide adequate road grip.
SAFE USE OF TEMPORARY SPARE TIRES
WARNING!
The spare tire your car is equipped with may be of a different size
and construction from the other tires on your vehicle. When using
any temporary type spare tire, be sure to follow the vehicle
manufacturer ’s instructions. Failure to observe recommended
precautions could lead to erratic vehicle behavior and/or tire
damage, possibly resulting in an accident and serious personal
injury or death.
•The temporary spare tire is designed for temporary use only. It must
not be used continuously as a standard tire. The temporary spare tire
should be returned to the trunk as soon as it is convenient to have your
standard tire repaired or replaced.
•The temporary spare tire should not be used for speeds exceeding
50 mph.
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•Never use chains on temporary spare tires, because it could cause
damage to your vehicle.
•When you replace the temporary tire, replace it only with the same
type of tire.
•A full-size spare tire in your vehicle is intended for use as a spare when
needed. Please see the “Tire Rotation” section for the proper proce-
dures for including the same size construction and speed-rated tire (for
LT tires of the same size, type, and load rating) in the rotation pattern.
(Do not rotate a temporary spare tire.)
WARNING!
Check inflation pressure before using your spare tire. Failure to
have proper inflation pressure when using your spare tire may
cause loss of vehicle control, which could result in serious personal
injury or death. Maintain spare tire inflation pressures based on the
vehicle Owner ’s Manual or the Tire Information Placard.
“T” Type high-pressure temporary spare tires should not be used
with any other wheel, nor should standard tires, snow tires, wheel
covers, or trim rings be used on the high-pressure spare tire wheel.
If you fail to follow this warning, your vehicle’s handling
characteristics can be seriously affected. You could have an accident
resulting in serious personal injury or death. Consult your vehicle
Owner ’s Manual for the proper use of your “temporary use” spare
tire.
Do not operate your vehicle with more than one temporary spare in
use (this does not apply to a full size spare), and only operate it at
limited speeds and distances as indicated on the sidewall of the tire.
The “T” Type temporary spare tire may lower ground clearance
when used. Avoid driving over large obstacles and other road
hazards. Check your vehicle Owner ’s Manual for other special
clearance precautions when using the “T” Type temporary spare tire
provided in your vehicle.
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TIRE STORAGE
Tires should be stored indoors in a cool dry place where water cannot
collect inside the tires. The tires should be placed away from harmful
ozone-producing electric generators and motors and sources of heat such
as hot pipes. Storage surfaces should be clean and free of grease, gasoline,
or other substances, which can deteriorate the rubber.
COMPETITION TIRE STORAGE
The rubber compounds used in these tires have unique properties that,
when compared to other tires, can cause them to lose some of their
flexibility when used or handled in conditions below 15°F (-9°C). This
loss in flexibility can lead to potential cracking and other damage to the
tire. To minimize the chances of this happening, you are advised to follow
these instructions:
1. Do not move or operate the car with these tires in conditions below
15°F (-9°C).
2. Avoid moving these tires in conditions below 15°F (-9°C).
3. Before mounting and dismounting, store these tires for at least 24
hours in a temperature-controlled environment of 68°F (20°C) or
warmer.
4. Remove these tires from the vehicle and deflate to half the normal
air-pressure during prolonged periods of non-use or storage.
Always inspect tires for signs of cracking and never use tires that have
cracked.
WARNING!
Improper storage can damage your tires in ways that may not be
visible and could lead to serious personal injury or death.
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REPLACEMENT TIRES FOR LIGHT TRUCKS – P-METRIC VS.
LT-TRUCK
Tire installers should exercise extreme caution when replacing tires on
light trucks.
The maximum load capacity stamped on the sidewall of a P-metric tire is
reduced by a factor of 1.1 when used on a light truck, a sport utility
vehicle, or a trailer.
WARNING!
P-metric and LT-metric tires are not necessarily interchangeable.
P-metric and LT-metric tires follow completely different Load/
Inflation tables and are designed to carry different loads at different
pressures.
LT-metric tires carry their load at higher inflation pressures and do
not always have adequate load capacity to replace P-metric tires of
the same size.
After reducing a P-metric tire’s load rating by dividing by 1.1 for
fitment on a Light Truck, the P-metric tire may not offer sufficient
load capacity to replace an LT-metric tire of the same size.
Contact your Nitto dealer or Nitto Technical Service for help
determining how to choose a proper replacement size.
Driving with underinflated or overloaded tires may result in
immediate tire failure, which can cause an accident and could lead
to serious personal injury or death.
When a P-metric or metric tire is installed on a light truck (SUV, pickup,
minivan), the load rating is reduced by dividing by 1.1. (This load
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reduction factor is prescribed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS) and is based on the expectation that passenger-type tires may
experience more severe loading and usage conditions when applied to
light trucks.) For example, 305/50R20 has a maximum load capacity of
3086 lbs. If this tire is fitted to a light truck, the actual allowable load for
the tire is 2805 lbs. (3086 lbs. divided by 1.1).
Consult the load and inflation charts that can be found at
www.nittotire.com. Contact Nitto Technical Service with any tire re-
placement questions:
888-529-8200
Pacific Time.
VEHICLES WITH MODIFIED SUSPENSION
WARNING!
ROLLOVER HAZARD
Large-diameter tires and modified suspensions that increase ground
clearance will alter vehicle handling.
•The vehicle may become more likely to roll over.
•Braking distances may increase.
•Slower speeds may be required to maintain control.
Drive with extreme caution until you become familiar with how
your vehicle handles. Always wear your seat belt.
Some modifications may be illegal in your state. Consult your
Owner ’s Manual, the instructions for this product, and state law
before modifying your vehicle.
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