Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No.109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by
law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade is established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and a possible tire failure.
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B.Improper use or operation,including, without limitation: Im-
proper inflation pressure, overloading, tire/wheel spinning, use of
an improper wheel, tire chain damage, misuse, misapplication,
negligence, tire alteration, or for racing or competition purposes.
C.Insufficient or improper maintenance,including, without limita-
tion: Failure to rotate tires as recommended in this manual, wheel
misalignment, worn suspension components, improper tire mount-
ing or demounting, tire/wheel assembly imbalance, or other
vehicle conditions, defects, or characteristics.
D.Contamination or degradationby petroleum products or other
chemicals, fire or other externally generated heat, or water or other
material trapped inside the tire during mounting or inflation.
E.Improper repair.Improper repair voids this Limited Warranty
F.For RFT tires only, improper run-flat or low tire pressure opera-
tion,including, without limitation: Exceeding speed, distance, or
other run-flat/lowpressure operation limitations.
2. Rapid tread wear or wear-out. Original equipment tires have no
mileage warranty.
3. Weather/ozone cracking after 4 years from date of tire manufacture.
4. Ride disturbance or vibration after 1/32 inch (0.8mm) of tread wear
use.
5. Tires with sealant, balance, or other filler material that was not
originally applied or inserted by the tire manufacturer.
6. Tires used in commercial service.
7. Tires purchased and normally used outside the United States and
Canada.
8. The cost of applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
9. Failure to follow any of the safety and maintenance recommendations
or warnings contained in this manual.
This Limited Warranty is in addition to and/or may be limited by any
other applicable written warranty you may have received concerning
special tires or situations.
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CONTINENTAL TIRE
LIMITED WARRANTY AND ADJUSTMENT POLICY FOR ORIGI-
NAL EQUIPMENT PASSENGER CAR & LIGHT TRUCK TIRES
(Including TEMPORARY SPARE Tires)
This booklet also includes important safety warnings.
1.ELIGIBILITY
This Limited Warranty and Adjustment Policy applies to the original
owner of new Continental brand passenger and light truck (LT) tires
that are the new vehicle original equipment tires bearing the Conti-
nental brand name and D.O.T. Tire Identification Number, operated in
normal service, and used on the same vehicle on which they were
originally installed according to the vehicle manufacturer ’s recom-
mendations.
Tire(s) on any vehicle registered and normally operated outside the
United States and Canada are excluded from eligibility under this
Limited Warranty and Adjustment Policy.
2.WHAT IS THE ADJUSTMENT POLICY AND HOW LONG IS IT
APPLICABLE? BASIC COVERAGE:
Eligible Tires are covered by this Warranty for a maximum of 72
months from the date of purchase, determined by the new vehicle
registration date or new vehicle sales invoice showing date of pur-
chase.
Where to Go for Warranty Replacement:Contact the dealer from
where you purchased the vehicle or an alternate authorized Continen-
tal brand tire dealer (Authorized Dealer) to determine the eligible
warranty coverage for your tires and how to proceed from there.
Free Replacement Period: PASS & LTIf an eligible Continental brand
PASS or LT tire becomes unserviceable from a warrantable condition,
other than those listed under Section 3, during the first 12 months or
first 2/32nds of an inch (1.6 mm) of treadwear (whichever comes first),
it will be replaced with a **comparable new Continental brand tire
FREE OF CHARGE, including mounting and balancing (excluding on
line orders). Owner pays all applicable taxes.
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Owner must present new vehicle registration form or new vehicle
sales invoice indicating the date of purchase. Owner will be required
to sign the CTA Limited Warranty Claim Form or dealer replacement
sales receipt.
Owner is responsible for paying all applicable taxes charged by the
servicing dealer and is also responsible for paying shipping, local
tire-disposal fees and parts or service regardless of mileage or months
of service. This includes payment for tire rotation, alignment, towing,
road service, valve stems and tire repairs.
Owner is responsible for maintaining proper tire air pressure and for
proper maintenance of the tire.
6.SAFETY WARNING:
Ignoring any of the safety and information contained in this
warranty may result in tire failure, causing serious injury or death.
•Tire failure due to underinflation /overloading.Follow vehicle
owner ’s manual or tire placard in vehicle for proper inflation and
loading.
•Explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper tire mounting.Ti re
mounting / demounting can be dangerous. It should be performed
only by a trained tire specialist using proper tools and procedures.
Prior to tire mounting/demounting, the Rubber Manufacturers
Association (RMA) wall charts and manuals should be read to obtain
the proper procedures. The failure to follow these procedures may
result in faulty positioning of the tire and/or rim, which may cause
the assembly to burst with force sufficient to cause injury or death.
•Tire failure due to damage.Inspect your tires frequently for scrapes,
bulges, separations, cuts, snags and other damage from road haz-
ards. Damage from impact can occur to the inner portions of your
tire without being visible to the outside. If you suspect a tire has been
damaged from striking anything unusual in the road, you must have
the tire removed from the rim and inspected both inside and out by
a trained tire specialist. Air loss or unusual tire wear can also be
warning signs that a tire may have internal damage. If you notice
these conditions, have your tire inspected by a trained individual.
•Tire failure due to excessive tire spinning.Avoid tire spinning. The
centrifugal force generated by a free-spinning tire/rim assembly
may cause a sudden tire explosion resulting in vehicle damage
and/or serious injury or death. Never exceed 35 mph (55km/h) as
indicated on your speedometer when your vehicle is stuck in snow,
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CHECKING YOUR TIRE’S AIR PRESSURE
Checking your air pressure at least once a month is vital to help your tires
perform properly and help you get the best gas mileage possible. Tires
can lose up to 7 kPa (1 psi) per month under normal conditions and lose
up to 7 kPa (1 PSI) per every 9°C (16°F) drop in temperature. Here are
some simple steps on how to check the air pressures in your tires:
1. Remove the valve stem cap.
2. Place the end of the tire gauge firmly against the tire’s valve stem.
3. Read the current pressure displayed on the gauge that is currently in
the tire.
4. Increase pressure at this time (if needed) and recheck with your tire
gauge.
5. Replace the valve stem cap.
6. Repeat until all of your tires have been checked and adjusted
accordingly.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a safety system
found in most vehicles manufactured after 2005. There are
pressure sensing transmitters mounted inside of each tire that
sends readings to the central computer (ECU) in your vehicle.
The TPMS system will alert you when one or more of your tires
are underinflated by 25% or more by turning on a warning light on your
vehicle’s dashboard or heads up display (HUD) screen. This means that
one or more of your tires may have a low-pressure condition. Follow the
instructions in your owner ’s manual.
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TIRE REPAIRS
In the event that you get a flat tire while driving, it is best to find a nearby,
safe place to stop and install your spare tire or call a tow truck. The less
distance that you drive on your low or flat tire, the better chances your
tire has of being repairable. Once you are able to get to your local
servicing tire dealer, have them dismount the tire from the rim and
thoroughly inspect the inside of the tire. It is important to know the
difference between a proper tire repair and an improper one because it
can be critical to you and your vehicle’s safety. An improper repair could
pose a safety threat to you and your family and could also affect your
tire’s manufacturer warranty. Here are some tips in determining if your
damaged tire can be properly repaired or not:
•Always have the tire removed from the wheel and inspected before
any repair is performed.
•Tires with less than 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch) of tread should NOT be
repaired.
•Never repair a tire with a puncture larger than 6 mm (1/4 of an inch).
•Repairs should be limited to the tread area only.
•Repairs cannot overlap one another.
•A plug and patch or plug/patch combo should be used to effectively
repair a tire puncture.
•If anything seems questionable at any time during the repair process,
ask your service advisor for more details and/or call the tire manu-
facturer to make sure the tire’s warranty isn’t being voided.
TIRE MIX USAGE
WARNING!
Never mix tires of different size or construction and/or type on any
axle. (Except for temporary use as a spare tire.) Always refer to the
vehicle’s owner manual for proper tire fitments.
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TIRE SPEED RATINGS
Falken recommends replacing your tire(s) with the same speed rating as
the original tires equipped on your vehicle.
It is okay to use a lower speed rated tire when using winter tires.
However, speeds should be reduced to match the tires new “maximum”
speed capability.
Any tire that is repaired, damaged, abused, altered from its original state
or retreaded voids the speed rating on that particular tire and should be
considered a non-speed rated tire.
WARNING!
Falken does not recommend the use of mixing different speed
ratings on a vehicle. This can cause poor handling and
unpredictable steering.
HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES
Various new vehicles come equipped with high performance and/or low
aspect ratio tires from the factory. These tires generally provide increased
vehicle handling characteristics, but may also have engineering perfor-
mance trade-offs related with their designs. Low aspect ratio tires have
reduced sidewall heights and may be more vulnerable to damage from
road hazards, potholes, and other objects, like curbs. Your vehicle’s
wheels are susceptible to these same dangers as well. Some vehicles may
be originally equipped with high performance tires that are designed for
warmer weather use reducing traction in colder, winter weather condi-
tions. High performance tires also pose the possibility of wearing more
quickly, giving a stiffer ride, and producing louder noise than standard
all-season tires during operation. Refer to your vehicle owner ’s manual,
tire information placard,
WINTER TIRES
Falken recommends all four tires be replaced when replacing your
original equipment tires and installing winter tires for the winter months.
WARNING!
Never use just two winter tires. It could lead to adverse handling,
loss of control, which could cause serious injury or death.
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STORING YOUR TIRES
When storing your tires for any extended period of time, be sure to
thoroughly clean your tires with a tire brush, soap, and water to remove
any dirt, salt, and brake dust from the tires. If you are storing your tires
still mounted on the wheels, use a wheel brush and approved wheel
cleaner to clean your wheels. Then dry the wheels and tires with a towel
and allow them to fully dry. DO NOT apply any tire dressings while
storing your tires. Tire compounds are made to resist weather cracking
and ozone damage. Place each clean and dry tire in an airtight plastic bag
and seal the bag with tape to help reduce oil evaporation. Store your tires
out of direct sunlight and somewhere that is well shielded from the
elements, like a climate-controlled room or dry basement. Storing the
tires in a garage or shed usually exposes the tires to a wide range of
temperatures as well as precipitation and humidity. Keep the tires away
from sources that emit ozone like electric motors that use contact brushes,
furnaces, sump pumps, etc. Although tires will still age regardless of how
they are stored, these precautions will help slow the aging process and
reduce the damage to your tires.
SPEED LIMITS
WARNING!
Operating your vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit or the
maximum speed allotted by driving conditions has the potential to
be dangerous. Higher driving speeds create excessive heat buildup
in a tire, leading to a possible tire failure.
TIRE SPINNING
WARNING!
Spinning a tire to get a stuck vehicle out of mud, ice, snow, sand, or
wet grass can be potentially dangerous. A spinning tire at a
speedometer reading above 55 km/h (35 mph) can be capable of
disintegrating a tire with explosive force. In some circumstances, a
tire may be spinning at twice the speed displayed on the
speedometer. This can cause serious injury or death to you, a
passenger, or bystander. Never spin a tire above 55 km/h (35 mph).
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