punctures, and loss of inflation pressure. At a minimum, ContiSeal™ tires
should be inspected once or twice a month and always before a long trip.
Punctures or damage not attended to promptly can result in loss of
inflation pressure and/or damage to the tire. ContiSeal™ tires with cuts
and punctures must be inspected by a trained tire specialist as soon as
possible. The trained specialist, must inspect the tire carefully and,
according to industry standards, to determine whether a permanent
repair can be made or whether the tire must be removed from service and
scrapped. A permanent repair will require removal of the tire from the
rim and application of a repair method specifically approved for the
ContiSeal™ tires.
ContiSeal™ tires are identified by a symbol on the tire sidewall.
CONTISILENT™ TIRE OWNERS:
ContiSilent™ tires are designed
to reduce noise generated while
driving. A ContiSilent™ tire is
lined with a noise reducing foam
insert. It is not designed or intended to act as a puncture repair.
USING ContiSilent™ Tires
In aspects such as mounting, demounting, inflating and balancing,
ContiSilent™ tires do not differ from non-ContiSilent™ tires. As with any
tire, regularly inspect ContiSilent™ tires for evidence of cuts, punctures,
and loss of inflation pressure. At a minimum, ContiSilent™ tires should
be inspected once or twice a month and always before a long trip.
Punctures or damage not attended to promptly can result in loss of
inflation pressure and/or damage to the tire. ContiSilent™ tires with cuts
and punctures must be inspected by a trained tire specialist as soon as
possible. The trained tire specialist must inspect the tire carefully and,
according to industry standards, determine whether a permanent repair
can be made or whether the tire must be removed from service and
scrapped.
A permanent repair will require removal of the tire from the rim and
application of a repair method specifically approved for ContiSilent™
Tires. ContiSilent™ tires are identified by a symbol on the tire sidewall.
ContiSilent™ tires and non-ContiSilent™ tires may be mixed on the same
vehicle.
CONTINENTAL TIRE
93
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
FALKEN
MADE BY SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES
Congratulations!
Your new vehicle is fitted with high performance and high quality Falken
tires.
In order to guarantee that you receive the best performance and quality
from your new Falken tires, we recommend that you read and follow all
of the maintenance and safety tips provided in this document. We also
suggest that you have your Falken tires periodically inspected and
maintained by a qualified tire service professional.
A) TIRE CARE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PROPER INFLATION AND FUEL ECONOMY
Ensure maximum performance and a long life from your tires by
checking the air pressures at least once a month and set them to the
vehicle manufacturer ’s recommended pressure(s) listed on the vehicle’s
tire placard or in your owner ’s manual. Always check and adjust your air
pressure when your tires are cold, preferably first thing in the morning
before driving. Never release air pressure from tires when they are hot.
Wait until the tires cool down and recheck, adding air or releasing as
required. Falken endorses the use of nitrogen in your tires because it
helps your tires maintain optimal pressure for longer periods of time and
reduces the amount of moisture inside of the tire and wheel assembly.
*Some plus size applications may require different air pressure(s) than
what is listed on your vehicle’s placard or owner ’s manual. In this case,
please consult your tire dealer or Falken Tire for proper inflation
pressure(s).
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
95
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Tires need to be properly inflated to effectively operate and perform as
intended. Tires carry the weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo as
well as bear the forces of braking, accelerating, and turning. The vehicle
manufacturer sets the inflation pressures for the original equipment tires
that are on your vehicle.
Driving with improperly inflated tires is dangerous. An under inflated
tire will generate excessive heat build-up that will cause damage to the
internal structure and inner liner of the tire. Besides tire damage,
improper tire inflation pressures can also affect your vehicle’s ride and
handling, tire tread wear, and fuel economy. It is recommended to always
keep all of your tires, including the spare, at the vehicle manufacturer ’s
recommended inflation pressures and be sure to check the air pressure
monthly and before going on long road trips or carrying extra weight in
your vehicle.
Your vehicle’s tire placard and/or owner ’s manual will list the cold
inflation pressure(s) for your vehicle’s original equipment tires, including
the spare. The placard can be found on the driver ’s side door or door
jamb area. If you have questions about understanding your vehicle’s tire
placard, please refer to your owner ’s manual or ask a qualified tire
service professional.
Example of what your tire placard looks like:
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
96
2.WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY
A. Tires that becomes unserviceable due to road hazard damages
(cuts, snags, punctures, bruises, impact breaks, etc.) improper
repair technique or materials, improper inflation, overload, irregu-
lar wear, wheel imbalance, defective mechanical vehicle compo-
nents (brakes, suspension, wheels, etc.) improper suspension align-
ment, accident, fire, chemical damage, damage from chain use,
racing, off-road use, run flat, improper installation, vandalism, or
abuse.
B. Tires branded “NA” or a tire in which the DOT numbering has
been removed.
C. Tires presented for a warranty claim by someone other than by the
original purchaser, or tires that were transferred to another vehicle
from the vehicle in which the tires were originally installed.
D. Tires having a failure or failures caused by a previous damages or
repairs.
E. The cost of tire repair or retreading is not covered by this warranty
and will be the sole responsibility of the tire owner.
Possible NON Covered Reasons/Conditions due to:
Chipping/Chunking/Tearing Puncture
Corrosion/Wreck Racing or any Competition
Fire Repair Failure
Impact Break or Concussions Road Hazards
Improper Inflation Pressure Sidewall Cut or Damage
Improper Mounting/Dismount Theft or Vandalism
Mechanical Defects of the Vehicle Tread Cuts
Misalignment Wheel Imbalance
Misapplication Willful Abuse
OverloadingFALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
103
MAX LOAD AND INFLATION
The maximum load and inflation pressure is marked on the tire sidewall
in English and metric units.
PLY COMPOSITION AND MATERIALS
The number of plies and their generic composition of cord materials in
the sidewall and tread areas can be found on at least one sidewall of a
tire.
RADIAL MARKING
A radial ply tire will have the word “radial” marked on at least one
sidewall. An “R” found in the tire size marking also refers to the tire
being a radial ply tire.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING SYSTEM (UTQG)
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQG) were created to
help you make an informed decision when purchasing passenger car tires
by providing relative information about a tire’s treadwear, traction, and
temperature characteristics. Here is a breakdown of the different catego-
ries that the UTQG grades:
TREAD WEAR
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire graded150would wear one and a
half (1½) times as well on the government course as a tire graded100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices, and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
TRACTION
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, areAA, A, BandC. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specific government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
107
PUNITIVE OR OTHER DAMAGE, COST (INCLUDING FOR REPLACE-
MENT TRANSPORTATION), EXPENSE OR LOSS OF ANY KIND.
SOME STATES AND PROVINCES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION
OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,
SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION OR EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO
YOU.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other
rights that vary from state to state or province to province.
HOW DO YOU OBTAIN AN ADJUSTMENT?
1. You must present the tire to be adjusted to an authorized Goodyear or
Dunlop service facility. Tires replaced on an adjustment basis become
the property of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company or Goodyear
Canada Inc.
2. You must pay for taxes and any additional services you order at the
time of adjustment plus any additional service that may be unique to
your application, e.g., Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
3. You must submit your claim on an approved claim form supplied by
an authorized Goodyear or Dunlop service facility. The form must be
filled out completely and signed, where you the owner or your
authorized agent presented the tire for adjustment. You must go to an
authorized Goodyear or Dunlop outlet for replacement tires and all
warranty service.
SAFETY WARNINGS
Property damage, serious injury or death may result from:
•TIRE FAILURE DUE TO UNDERINFLATION/OVERLOADING/
MISAPPLICATION.Follow the vehicle owner ’s manual or tire plac-
ard in vehicle.
•TIRE FAILURE DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE/IMPROPER MAIN-
TENANCE.Tires should be inspected regularly by a qualified techni-
cian for signs of damage, such as punctures or impacts.
•TIRE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER REPAIRS.See Rubber Manu-
facturers Association (RMA) established repair procedures at
www.rma.organd/or go towww.goodyear.comfor information on
proper repair procedures.
GOODYEAR DUNLOP TIRES
127
•EXPLOSION OF TIRE/RIM ASSEMBLY DUE TO IMPROPER
MOUNTING.Only specially trained persons should mount tires.
•FAILURE TO MOUNT RADIAL TIRES ON APPROVED RIMS.
•FAILURE TO DEFLATE SINGLE OR DUAL ASSEMBLIES COM-
PLETELY BEFORE DEMOUNTING.
•TIRE SPINNING.On slippery surfaces such as snow, mud, ice, etc.,
do not spin tires in excess of 35 mph (55 kph), as indicated on the
speedometer.
•EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPINNING.This can also result in tire disinte-
gration or axle failure.
WARNING!
Vehicle handling, traction, ride comfort and other performance
parameters may be significantly affected by a change in tire size or
type. Before replacing tires, always consult and follow the vehicle
owner ’s manual because some vehicle manufacturers prohibit
changing tire size. When selecting tires that are different from the
original equipment size make certain:
1. The tires have adequate load-carrying capacity based on the
vehicle placard,
2. The tires have sufficient inflation pressure to carry the load and
3. There is proper clearance with no interference points between the
tire and vehicle.
The consumer must be aware to always drive safely and obey all
traffic laws. Avoid sudden, sharp turns or aggressive lane changes.
Failure to follow any of these warnings may result in loss of control
of the vehicle, leading to an accident and serious injury or death.
TIRE CARE AND MAINTENANCE GUIDE
The easiest way to help ensure satisfactory mileage and performance
from your Goodyear or Dunlop tires is to give them a simple but frequent
(at least monthly) inspection for proper inflation, even tread wear and the
presence of any damage.
DO MAINTAIN PROPER INFLATION PRESSURE IN YOUR TIRES
Proper inflation pressure is necessary for optimum tire performance,
safety and fuel economy. Check inflation pressures at least once a month
and before long trips. Use an accurate tire pressure gauge. Always check
GOODYEAR DUNLOP TIRES
128
pressures when the tires are cold (when the vehicle has been driven less
than one mile). If you must check inflation when the tires are hot, add
4 psi (27 kPa) to the recommended cold inflation pressure. It is difficult
to tell just by looking at radial tires whether they are underinflated.*
Furthermore, when operating a vehicle equipped with radial tires, it is
difficult to notice when a tire has gone flat or nearly flat since the “feel”
of the vehicle does not change significantly.
*Evidence of air loss or repeated underinflation always requires expert
inspection to determine the source of leakage and tire removal to
determine repairability.To avoid injury, NEVER attempt to reinflate a
tire that has been run severely underinflated. Progressive air loss may
result from punctures, cuts, curbing, impacts or partial bead unseating.
Some fitment causes for air loss are (1) incomplete bead seating, (2) bead
tearing caused by a machine tool due to insufficient lubrication or
improper adjustment. Leaking valve core or rubber valve components
should be replaced when problems are detected and whenever tires are
replaced.
Always maintain inflation pressure at the level recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer as shown on the vehicle placard, vehicle certifi-
cation label or in the vehicle owner ’s manual:
Under inflation is the leading cause of tire failure and may result in
severe cracking, component separation or “blowout.” It reduces tire load
capacity, allows excessive sidewall flexing and increases rolling resis-
tance, resulting in heat and mechanical damage. Maintaining proper
inflation pressure is the single most important thing you can do to
promote tire durability and maximize tread life.
Over inflation increases stiffness, which may deteriorate ride and gener-
ate unwanted vibration. Over inflation also increases the chances of
impact damage.
DON’T OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLE
Check your vehicle owner ’s manual to determine the load limits.
Overloading your vehicle places stress on your tires and other critical
vehicle components. Overloading a vehicle can cause poor handling or
increased fuel consumption and may cause tire failure. Overloading your
tires can result in severe cracking, component separation or “blowout.”
Never fit your vehicle with new tires that have less load capacity than
shown on the vehicle tire placard and remember that optimum rim width
GOODYEAR DUNLOP TIRES
129