2018 DODGE DURANGO run flat

RFT TIRES WITH RUN-FLAT TECHNOLOGY
If your vehicle is equipped with
Bridgestone or Firestone brand RFT
tires, this chapter presents specific
maintenance and safety issues asso-
ciated with these tires that are in addition to those covered elsewhere in
this manual.
What is RFT? Run-Flat Technology tires are extraordinary tires that
utilize specially designed components to temporarily support your
vehicle in the event of inflation pressure loss, such as from a puncture.
This gives you the ability to drive to a convenient and safe location to
change your tire (if equipped with a spare) or have it inspected for
possible repair or replacement.
Naturally, certain run-flat and low pressure operating limitations apply,
which varies according to the specific self-supporting tire design. Like all
tires, during normal operation, they must be properly inflated and
maintained. Regardless of the design or quality, no tire is indestructible.
RFT—How to Identify:Bridgestone and Firestone brand tires are
marked on the sidewalls, near the wheel, with the RFT logo (shown
above).
RFT INFLATION PRESSURE
Like other tires, RFT tires need proper inflation pressure maintenance for
safe operation and to achieve the maximum tire life and performance.
Check inflation pressures monthly and before long trips or carrying extra
weight. Use an accurate tire gauge and check pressures when the tires are
cold. Follow the vehicle manufacturer ’s recommendation for inflation
pressure settings as indicated on the vehicle tire information placard
and/or in the vehicle owner ’s manual. Do not forget the spare, if
applicable. See “Tire Inflation Pressure” in this manual.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
A functioning tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) must be used with
your RFT tires. Because these tires ride so well even without inflation
pressure, the TPMS may be necessary to alert you of an inflation pressure
loss condition. When alerted, follow the instructions in your vehicle
owner ’s manual and see “Run-Flat or Low Tire Pressure Operation,” the
following section in this manual.
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The vehicle or TPMS manufacturer may advise checking the TPMS
regularly to confirm it is in working order. In addition, a new pressure
sensor, certain components, or reprogramming may be necessary when a
tire is serviced. Consult your vehicle owner ’s manual, vehicle manufac-
turer, or a Bridgestone Firestone Run-Flat Certified Retailer for questions
regarding TPMS operation and service.
RUN-FLAT OR LOW TIRE PRESSURE OPERATION
WARNING!
Serious personal injury or death may result from a tire failure or
accident due to improper run-flat or low tire pressure operation.
Read and follow the instructions below, and the other maintenance
and safety recommendations elsewhere in this manual.
General Instructions
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) required in your vehicle
may have different methods of alerting you when your tire has lost
inflation pressure. The international standard for the definition of run-flat
operation is pressure at or below 10 psi (70 kPa); however, some vehicle
manufacturers may have established a different pressure limit. Consult
your vehicle owner ’s manual for the details of your TPMS. Once the
TPMS has indicated that a tire has reduced inflation pressure, the run-flat
mode of operation has commenced. During this phase of operation,
please follow these instructions:
•Reduce speed as much as safely and reasonably possible; do not
exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).The greater the speed, the less distance the
tire can travel.
•Avoid abrupt or aggressive acceleration, braking, or cornering ma-
neuvers as much as safely and reasonably possible.Pot holes and
other road hazards should be avoided. Careful driving limits potential
damage to the tire, wheel, and vehicle.
•Proceed to a safe and convenient location for tire service as soon as
possible.Take note of your mileage; your operation distance is limited.
SeeDistance—How Far You Can Drive,” the next section in this
manual.
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•If an unusual vibration or vehicle handling difficulty arises, stop
driving as soon as safely and reasonably possible.The tire may be
about to suddenly fail. Release the accelerator and gradually reduce
speed. The tire will need to be replaced before proceeding.
•If towing a trailer, stop driving as soon as safely and reasonably
possible. In this condition, it is potentially dangerous to operate a
vehicle/trailer combination.If possible, disconnect the trailer and
proceed as noted above. Do not continue to tow any trailer until proper
tire service or replacement has been performed.
•Do not touch a tire recently run-low or run-flat (it may be very hot).
Allow the tire to cool before handling.
DISTANCE—HOW FAR YOU CAN DRIVE
Factors affecting run-flat or low tire pressure operating distance include
vehicle speed, load, and maneuvering; the amount of inflation pressure
loss; the extent of any tire damage; and ambient temperature.
The tire may be marked on the sidewall with run-flat or low tire pressure
operating speed and/or distance limitations, which vary by tire design
and vehicle application (consult your vehicle owner ’s manual). By
international standard, RFT tires have a baseline limitation in run-flat
mode of the following:
Maximum Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Maximum Distance: 50 miles (80 km)
NOTE:
•Maximum distance values are determined under controlled condi-
tions, which may vary in actual use.
•Your mileage capability may be less, or more, depending on your
specific operating conditions.
•If in doubt, do not exceed the 50 mile (80 km) limitation.
•Seek tire service as soon as possible to minimize tire damage.
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SPECIAL SERVICE AND REPAIR ISSUES
Run-Flat Certified Retailers
Because of the advanced technology and design of RFT tires and the
required tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), Bridgestone Firestone
Run-Flat Certified Retailers are specially trained to sell and service RFT
tires.
Run-Flat Certified Retailers have the necessary equipment and are
specially trained to properly mount and demount RFT tires and to handle
TPMS devices.Conventional mounting equipment may irreparably
damage RFT tires and an improper repair is unsafe and will void the
Limited Warranty.Accordingly, it is important to go to a Bridgestone
Firestone Run-Flat Certified Retailer for tire maintenance and replace-
ment.
Call toll-free 1-877-BFS-4RFT or, 877-237-4738 or visit
www.bridgestonetire.comto locate the nearest Bridgestone Firestone
Run-Flat Certified Retailer.
Inspection after Run-Flat or Low Pressure Operation
Following run-flat or low tire pressure operation, or in the event of any
other tire damage or unusual condition, it is very important to obtain a
proper and complete tire evaluation as soon as possible.
Rotation
Follow the vehicle manufacturer ’s recommendations, or rotate every
5,000 miles per the recommendations in this manual (see “Radial Tire
Rotation”). In some cases, TPMS devices require reprogramming with
each tire rotation.
RFT Tire Replacement
Do not replace or mix RFT tires with conventional tires, unless on an
emergency/temporary basis. Conventional tires do not have run-flat
capability and the handling characteristics of the vehicle with these tires
may be different. If a conventional tire is used on an emergency/
temporary basis, verify that its size, load capacity, inflation pressure, and
speed rating specifications meet the requirements of the vehicle. Replace
any conventional tire with the proper RFT tire as soon as possible.
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RFT Tire Damage and Repair
No tire, regardless of its design or quality is indestructible. RFT tires can
be ultimately rendered unusable due to a puncture or other road hazard
as well as from improper run-flat or low tire pressure operation. Some
punctures may be repaired under certain restrictions and prescribed
procedures.
When driven flat or with low pressure, factors affecting reparability
include vehicle speed, load, and maneuvering; the amount of inflation
pressure loss; and ambient temperature. In any situation, the extent and
location of direct damage from a puncturing object or other road hazard
are also critical factors.
RFT tires are not repairable in any of the following situations:
•
If the tire was operated with inflation pressure less than 15 psi (100 kPa).
•Abrasion or other damage is present on the exterior tread, sidewall or
bead areas.
•Abrasion, wrinkling, or separation is present on the tire interior.
•Any condition or damage is present that disqualifies repair of a
conventional tire.
Run-Flat Certified Retailers will fully inspect your tire, inside and out, to
determine if the tire can be repaired. Tire damage is not always visible
from the outside and the tire must be removed from the wheel for a
complete inspection. For more information, see the section “Tire Repairs”
in this manual.
NOTE:Some vehicle manufacturers do not recommend using repaired
tires. Consult your vehicle owner ’s manual or contact the vehicle
manufacturer before operating a repaired tire on your vehicle.
REFERENCE INFORMATION
TIRE SIDEWALL LABELING
A lot can be learned by reading the tire’s sidewall. The following figures
show typical information on the sidewall of passenger (Figure 3) and
light truck tires (Figure 4):
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LIMITED WARRANTY
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT
PASSENGER AND LIGHT TRUCK TIRES
Including
Tires with Run-Flat Technology
ELIGIBILITY
This Limited Warranty covers BRIDGESTONE and FIRESTONE brand
passenger and light truck tires, including RFT and temporary spare tires,
originally installed by the vehicle manufacturer on a new vehicle. You are
covered under the terms of this Limited Warranty if the tire was
produced after July 4, 2004 (DOT serial 2704 or later) and has been used
only on the vehicle on which it was originally installed in non-
commercial service.
WHAT IS WARRANTED AND FOR HOW LONG
Before wearing down to 2/32 inch (1.6 mm) remaining original tread
depth (i.e. worn down to the top of the built-in indicators in the tread
grooves) and within 6 years from the date of purchase (proof of purchase
date required; without proof of purchase date, then within 6 years from
the date of tire manufacture), for any reason other than those excluded in
the section entitled “What This Limited Warranty Does Not Cover,” any
eligible tire that becomes unusable for any reason within the manufac-
turer ’s control will be replaced with an equivalent new tire on the basis
set forth in this Limited Warranty.
WHAT THIS LIMITED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER
This Limited Warranty does not cover the following:
1. Tire damage or irregular wear due to:
A.Road hazards,including, without limitation: Puncture, cut, impact
break, stone drill, bruise, bulge, snag, etc.
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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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mud, or sand and your tire(s) is/ are spinning. Use a gentle
backward and forward rocking motion to free your vehicle for
continued driving. Never stand or permit anyone else to stand near
or behind a tire spinning while attempting to push a vehicle that is
stuck.
SELF SUPPORTING RUNFLAT (SSR) TIRE OWNERS:
CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse of punctured Continen-
tal SSR tires.
Even a trained tire specialist may be unable to recognize internal
structural damage to a Self Supporting Runflat (SSR) tire resulting from
having been driven in an under inflated or zero inflation pressure
condition. Such damage may not be visible on the surface of the inner
liner or sidewall making it impossible to determine the tire suitability for
repair or reuse. CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse of
Continental SSR tires. You may visit
www.continentaltire.comand
select Customer Care FAQ’s to obtain additional SSR information.
TEMPORARY SPARE TIRE OWNERS:
CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse of punctured Temporary
Spare Tires.
CONTISEAL™ TIRE OWNERS:
A ContiSeal™ tire differs from a
non-ContiSeal™ tire in that it has
a sticky, viscous layer from
shoulder to shoulder along the
inner liner. This layer is an integral part of the ContiSeal™ tires. It is not
designed or intended to act as a permanent puncture repair (See
information below). If an object up to 3/16ths (5 mm) diameter pen-
etrates the tread of the ContiSeal™ tire, this sticky, viscous layer is
designed to surround and adhere to the puncturing object and prevent air
loss from the tire by providing a near instantaneous seal. If the punctur-
ing object becomes dislodged from the tire, the material is designed to
seal most holes made by objects up to 3/16” (5 mm) diameter. While
ContiSeal™ tires significanty reduce the incidence of flats they are not
designed to be driven under inflated or in a flat condition. In all other
aspects, ContiSeal™ tires perform exactly like non-ContiSeal™ tires. As
with any tire, regularly inspect ContiSeal™ tires for evidence of cuts,
CONTINENTAL TIRE
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