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HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES
Many new vehicles come equipped from the factory with high perfor-
mance and/or low aspect ratio tires. Generally, these tires provide
increased vehicle handling capability, but may also have numerous
engineering performance trade-offs associated with their designs.
•Low aspect ratio tires, with reduced sidewall height, may be more
susceptible to damage from potholes, road hazards, and other objects
such as curbs. This is true for the wheels as well. Therefore, as with all
other tires, it is important to drive with care and maintain proper
inflation pressure and load conditions. See “Tire Inflation Pressure”
and “Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life” in this manual.
•Some sports cars and other handling performance enhanced vehicles,
including sedans and light trucks/SUVs, may be originally equipped
with high performance tires that are more optimized for warmer
weather use. Colder, winter weather traction may be reduced for these
types of tires. Winter tires may be recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer for colder weather application. See “Winter Tires,” the
next section in this manual.
•High performance tires may also wear more quickly, ride more firmly,
and produce more noise during operation.
Consult your vehicle owner ’s manual and tire information placard, or a
qualified tire service professional, for more information and specifics
regarding these types of tires.
WINTER TIRES
WARNING!
Winter driving presents special challenges for vehicle mobility. The
use of winter tires (including studs and chains)—while improving
traction performance in snow and ice—requires special care with
regard to acceleration, braking, cornering, and speed. It is important
to drive with care, not only on snow and ice, but on dry and wet
roads as well.
In winter driving conditions, vehicle control and safe operation under
braking and cornering is especially dependent upon the rear tires. For
this reason, winter tires are best applied to all wheel positions. Some
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vehicles have specific recommendations regarding winter tire use; con-
sult your vehicle owner ’s manual and tire information placard.
•If winter tires are to be applied to the front axle of any vehicle, they
must also be applied to the rear axle for safe operation. This applies to
all passenger cars and light trucks, including front wheel drive, 4x4,
and all-wheel-drive vehicles.
•If winter tires are to be applied to the rear axle of any vehicle, it is
recommended that they also be installed on the front axle.
•It is generally acceptable to apply a tire with a lower speed rating than
your original tires for use in winter weather conditions; however,
speed should be reduced accordingly. All winter tires should be the
same speed rating. See “Tire Speed Ratings” in this manual.
•Winter tires used in warmer, summer weather conditions may wear
more rapidly.
•Studded winter tires follow the same recommendations as above;
consult a qualified tire service professional for information regarding
any seasonal restrictions.
TIRE MIXING
WARNING!
Driving your vehicle with an improper mix of tires is dangerous.
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 and a qualified tire service
professional for proper tire replacement.
HIGH SPEED DRIVING
WARNING!
Driving at high speed is dangerous and can cause a vehicle accident,
including serious personal injury or death.
•Regardless of the speed and handling capabilities of your car and its
tires, a loss of vehicle control can result from exceeding the maximum
speed allowed by law or warranted by traffic, weather, vehicle, or road
conditions.
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•High-speed driving should be left to trained professionals operating
under controlled conditions.
•No tire, regardless of its design or speed rating, has unlimited capacity
for speed, and a sudden tire failure can occur if its limits are exceeded.
See “Tire Speed Ratings,” the next section in this manual.
Refer to your vehicle owner ’s manual for any tire pressure recommen-
dations for high speed driving.
TIRE SPEED RATINGS
A tire bearing a letter “speed rating” designation indicates the tire’s
speed capability according to standardized laboratory tests. This speed
rating system is intended to permit comparison of the speed capabilities
of different tires. When replacing your tires, consult your vehicle owner ’s
manual and tire information placard for recommendations, if any,
concerning the use of speed rated tires.
•To avoid reducing the speed capability of the vehicle, replace a speed
rated tire only with another tire having at least the same speed rating.
It is the “top speed” of the “slowest” tire on the vehicle which limits
the vehicle’s top speed without tire failure.
•The tire’s speed rating is void if the tire is repaired, retreaded,
damaged, abused, or otherwise altered from its original condition.
Thereafter, it should be treated as a non-speed rated tire.
•Non-speed rated tires are usually for ordinary passenger car or light
truck service and not for high speed driving.
•For winter tires used in cold weather conditions, it is generally
acceptable to apply a tire with a lower speed rating than your original
tires; however, speed should be reduced accordingly. All winter tires
should be the same speed rating. Some vehicles have specific recom-
mendations regarding winter tire use; consult your vehicle owner ’s
manual and tire information placard. See “Winter Tires” in this
manual.
These speed ratings are based on standardized laboratory tests under
specific, controlled conditions. While these tests may relate to perfor-
mance on the road, real-world driving is rarely identical to any test
conditions. Your tire’s actual speed capability may be less than its rated
speed since it is affected by factors such as inflation pressure, load, tire
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condition (including damage), wear, vehicle condition (including align-
ment), driving conditions, and duration at which the speed is sustained.
Use the following chart to compare the speed ratings of tires.
Speed
SymbolSpeed Category*
mph km/h
M81130
Q99160
R 106 170
S 112 180
T 118 190
U 124 200
H 130 210
V 149 240
Z** >149 >240
W 168 270
Y 186 300
(Y)** >186
The tire’s speed rating designation appears on the tire sidewall with the
tire size. Examples:
P275/40ZR17 max > 149 mph (240 km/h)****
P275/40R17 93W max = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93W max = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93Y max = 186 mph (300 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93(Y) max > 186 mph (300 km/h) ****
* In standardized laboratory tests that relate to highway speeds. Actual
tire speed and performance capability depend on factors such as inflation
pressure, load, tire condition, wear, and driving conditions.
** Any tire having a maximum speed capability above 149 mph
(240 km/h) may, at the tire manufacturer ’s discretion, include a “Z” in
the size designation (i.e. P275/40ZR17).
*** For tires having a maximum speed capability above 186 mph
(300 km/h), a “Z” must appear in the size designation and a “Y” marked
in brackets (as shown) in the service description.
**** Consult the tire manufacturer for maximum speed capability.
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TIRE SPINNING
WARNING!
Spinning a tire to remove a vehicle stuck in mud, ice, snow, or wet
grass can be dangerous. A tire spinning at a speedometer reading
above 35 mph (55 km/h) can in a matter of seconds reach a speed
capable of disintegrating a tire with explosive force. Under some
conditions, a tire may be spinning at a speed twice that shown on
the speedometer. This could cause serious personal injury or death
to a bystander or passenger. Never spin a tire above a speedometer
reading of 35 mph (55 km/h).
RADIAL TIRE ROTATION
The purpose of tire rotation is to minimize irregular or uneven wear
caused by maintaining a tire in one rotation direction and one position
over an extended period. Rotate tires as recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer or every 5,000 miles. Individual tire pressures must be
checked after rotation and adjusted to the vehicle manufacturer ’s recom-
mendation for the tire’s new location on the vehicle. Vehicle alignment
should be checked if irregular wear is evident.
For vehicles with a “temporary use” spare tire, follow the vehicle
manufacturer ’s recommended pattern for rotation, or, if not provided, the
following may be used:
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If your spare is the same size, load rating, and type of tire as your road
tires, it should be included in the tire rotation process. For vehicles with
a “full-size” spare, the following rotation patterns may be used:
NOTE:
•Never include a “temporary use” spare tire in the rotation.
•Tires with directional tread patterns must be rotated so the direction of
revolution does not change; this may require demounting/mounting
the tires.
•Special attention should be given if your vehicle is equipped with a
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Rotation of your tires may
affect the system; consult your vehicle owner ’s manual or a qualified
tire service professional.
•Some vehicles may have different size tires/wheels on front and rear
which would restrict rotation. Always check and follow the vehicle
manufacturer ’s rotation recommendation.
•To use a full-size spare in the rotation pattern on vehicles with dual
rear wheels, consult your vehicle owner ’s manual for the recom-
mended procedures or consult the vehicle manufacturer.
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YOUR SPARE TIRE
Consult your vehicle owner ’s manual for proper application of your
spare tire. Your car may be equipped with a “temporary use” spare tire;
this spare may differ in size and construction from the other tires on your
vehicle.
WARNING!
Check inflation pressure before use. Failure to have proper inflation
pressure when using your spare tire can result in serious personal
injury or death. See Tire Inflation Pressure in this manual.
WARNING!
Mounting a “temporary use” tire on a wheel which is not
specifically designed for it, or placing another type tire on a wheel
designated for temporary use can be dangerous. 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 proper application of your “temporary
use” spare tire.
The spare tire in your vehicle is intended to be used as a spare when
needed. The spare tire carrier is not intended to be used for long term
storage, except for “temporary use” tires. If your spare is the same size,
load rating, and type of tire as your road tires, it should be included in the
tire rotation process; see “Radial Tire Rotation” in this manual for more
information.
The spare should be included in regular tire inspections and inflation
pressure checks. In addition, it should be replaced 10 years after date of
manufacture, regardless of condition or tread depth. For more informa-
tion, see the “Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life” in this manual.
TIRE STORAGE
Tires should be stored indoors in a cool, dry place where water cannot
collect inside them. Tires should be placed away from electric
generators/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.
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WARNING!
Improper storage can damage your tires in ways that may not be
visible and can lead to a failure resulting in serious personal injury
or death.
The spare tire in your vehicle is intended to be used as a spare when
needed. The spare tire carrier is not intended to be used for long term
storage, except for “temporary use” tires. For more information, see
“Your Spare Tire” and “Radial Tire Rotation” in this manual.
TIRE SERVICE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Normal tire maintenance and Limited Warranty services are available at
locations across the U.S.A. and Canada. For more information, visit us on
the internet at
www.bridgestonetire.com, or please call the Technical
Service Department:
U.S.A.: 800-356-4644 or Canada: 800-267-1318 .
Additional information on the care and service of automobile and light
truck tires is available from the following organizations:
Rubber Manufacturers Association 1400 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC
20005-2403
www.rma.org
Rubber Association of Canada 2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 4, Suite 250
Mississauga, Ontario L5N 1W1
www.rubberassociation.ca
TIRE REGISTRATION
Registration of your tires is an important safety precaution since it
enables the manufacturer to notify you in the event of a recall. When you
purchase replacement tires, the retailer will provide a registration card on
which the tire identification numbers have been recorded; fill in your
name and address on the card and mail it promptly. Some retailers may
submit the registration for you. You do not need to register tires which
come as original equipment on new vehicles—the vehicle and tire
manufacturers handle that for you.
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