WARNING!(Continued)
Certain vehicle performance parameters, including ride comfort and
handling, may be affected by substitute tire sizes. In some cases,
particularly for SUVs and light trucks, a failure to follow the vehicle
manufacturer ’s recommendations for tire replacement could
adversely affect the safe handling of the vehicle, possibly resulting
in a loss of vehicle control leading to personal injury or death.
The following procedures concerning replacement tires must be fol-
lowed:
•Confirm that the load-carrying capacity is greater than or equal to the
load-carrying capacity of the OE tire size at the pressure indicated on
the vehicle Tire Information Placard.
•Carefully note any differences between recommendations for front and
rear axle positions regarding the tire size and/ or inflation pressure.
•The speed rating must be equal to or greater than what is specified by
the vehicle manufacturer if the speed capability of the vehicle is to be
maintained.
•Tires should be mounted on approved wheel widths. If changing tire
sizes, check to make sure the wheel has adequate load and inflation
pressure capacity.
•Body and chassis clearance must be checked on the vehicle’s front and
rear axles.
In addition to the above, light truck tire replacements should take into
consideration the following:
•Proper spacing between dual tires is necessary for optimum tire
performance. If chains are used, particular care must be taken to assure
adequate clearance between loaded tires to avoid damage from the
chains. The allowable outside diameter difference between a tire and
its dual mate is ¼” (6.4 mm) for light truck tires.
CONSIDERATIONS IN PLUS SIZING
Always refer to and follow the vehicle manufacturer ’s replacement tire
recommendations. In some cases, a vehicle manufacturer may specifically
advise against the application of replacement tires that are not of the
original size or type.
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TIRE AND WHEEL MATCHING AND MOUNTING
WARNING!
Any attempt to mount a tire on a wheel with a different diameter
will result in an explosion of the tire/wheel assembly that could
cause severe personal injury or death.
Prior to mounting any tire, always check the wheel identification
stamp to verify the correct wheel diameter. Always check the tire
size molded onto the sidewall.
Never exceed 40 psi when seating the tire beads onto the wheel.
Always stand well clear of any tire mounting operation. This is
especially important when the service operator inflates the tire. If
the tire has been improperly mounted, it could burst with explosive
force causing serious personal injury or death.
A new valve stem must be installed on the wheel each time a
worn-out passenger or light truck tire is replaced.
Removing and replacing tires on wheels can be dangerous.
Attempting to mount tires with improper tools or procedures could
result in a tire explosion, causing serious personal injury or death.
This is a job for your authorized Nitto dealer or other qualified tire
service location only.
Serious personal injury or death can result from:
•Failure to select the proper tire and wheel. The tire must match the
width and diameter requirements of the wheel. When mounting
truck type radial tires use only wheels approved for radial tires.
•Failure to inspect both the tire and wheel. The wheel must be free
of cracks, dents, chips, and rust. The tire must be free of bead
damage, cuts, and punctures.
•Failure to follow proper procedures. For proper mounting proce-
dures, consult the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s publication
“Care and Service of Automobile and Light Truck Tires” (ref.:
www.rma.org).
•Exceeding the maximum bead seating pressure of 40 psi. Be
absolutely certain beads are fully seated before adjusting the
inflation pressure to the level recommended for vehicle operation.
Never put flammable substances in the tire/wheel assemblies at any
time. Never put any flammable substance into a tire/wheel assembly
and attempt to ignite it in order to seat the beads.
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FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
VEHICLES
If no instructions for tire mixing appear in the vehicle Owner ’s Manual,
follow these guidelines:
•Do not mix tire sizes. All four tires must be marked with the same tire
size, unless otherwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer. This also
applies to winter/snow tires.
•Do not mix tread pattern types such as all-terrain and all- season.
STUDLESS WINTER/SNOW TIRES
•It is always preferable to apply winter/snow tires to all wheel
positions, including dual tires, to maintain vehicle mobility and
control.
•If winter/snow tires are applied to the front axle of any vehicle,
winter/snow tires must also be installed on the rear axle. DO NOT
apply winter/snow tires only to the front axle. This applies to all
passenger and light truck vehicles, including front-wheel- drive, 4WD,
and AWD vehicles.
•If winter/snow tires are installed on the rear axle of any vehicle, it is
recommended (but not required) that they also be installed on the front
axle.
WARNING!
Unless winter/snow tires on the rear axle have comparable traction
qualities to the tires on the front axle, the vehicle may experience
adverse handling characteristics. This may result in loss of vehicle
control, which can lead to serious personal injury or death.
STUDDED WINTER/SNOW TIRES
•Studded winter/snow tires have higher traction qualities under most
winter weather conditions.
•If studded winter/snow tires are installed on the front axle of any
vehicle, studded winter/snow tires must also be installed on the rear
axle. DO NOT apply studded winter/snow tires only to the front axle.
•If studded winter/snow tires are installed on the rear axle of any
vehicle, it is strongly recommended that they should also be installed
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WARNING!(Continued)
Pull over to a safe area as soon as possible and inspect the tires for
signs of bulges, blisters, or separations. Seek roadside assistance or
change the damaged tire with your spare tire.
If you experience a blowout or a sudden tire failure, the following
information should be helpful:
•When the tire failure occurs, you may hear a loud noise, or feel a
vibration, and/or the vehicle may pull toward the side of the failed
tire. Do not abruptly brake or turn.
•Maintain steady pressure on the accelerator pedal.
•Hold the steering wheel firmly and steer to maintain your lane
position.
•Find a safe place to pull off the road and allow the vehicle to gradually
decelerate. Apply light braking as required to stop safely.
•Gradually pull over to the shoulder and come to a stop. Look for a
damaged tire on your vehicle.
•Seek roadside assistance or change the damaged tire with your spare
tire.
•Have all of your tires and the vehicle thoroughly inspected by a tire
professional.
TIRE ROTATION
The purpose for rotating tires is to achieve more uniform wear for all tires
on a vehicle. Your tires should be thoroughly examined on a lift by a tire
dealer for any abnormalities. If tires show uneven treadwear, ask the
service person to check and/or correct any vehicle wheel alignment or
other mechanical problem before rotation.
The following rotation patterns are acceptable. Please refer to your
vehicle Owner ’s Manual for rotation advice.
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Full-size spare tires (not temporary spares) of the same size, construction,
and speed rating may be used in a five-tire rotation pattern.
After rotation, check the inflation pressure of all the tires. The front and
rear tire pressures may vary according to the vehicle manufacturer ’s
specifications.
Remember to follow your vehicle Owner ’s Manual for tire rotation
intervals. Your Limited Warranty recommends Nitto brand tires to be
rotated as follows:
•Every 3,500 miles or less for high performance (low profile) tires.
•
Every 7,500 miles or less for standard passenger and light truck tires.
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More frequent rotation or a thorough vehicle inspection may be necessary
if, upon inspection, irregular or erratic treadwear is beginning to appear.
It is important to remember the following:
•These tire rotation recommendations do not take into account different
tire and construction types mixed on the vehicle.
•Some tires cannot be rotated in the manner described. Such tires
include unidirectional tires. Unidirectional tread patterns must be
rotated front-to-rear only so that the direction of revolution does not
change.
•Some vehicles are designed with different tire sizes on the front and
rear axles. Normally, such combinations will not allow rotation. Prior
to rotating, consult the vehicle Owner ’s Manual.
•For vehicles with dual rear wheels, see the vehicle Owner ’s Manual for
the vehicle manufacturer ’s procedures. If your vehicle Owner ’s
Manual is not available, please contact the vehicle manufacturer.
•Some vehicles are equipped with wheels that limit the choice of
rotation pattern. Consult the vehicle Owner ’s Manual.
•Do not include temporary spare tires in the rotation pattern. However,
if your spare tire is the same size and type as a road tire (for LT tires
of the same size, type, and load rating), it should be included in the tire
rotation process. The proper procedure is to use the vehicle manufac-
turer ’s recommended tire rotation procedures, or if not available, to
use the appropriate rotation pattern shown, inserting the spare in the
right rear position. Place the tire that would have gone to the right rear
in the spare tire storage position as the new spare.
•Important! After rotation, adjust the pressure of the individual tires to
the vehicle manufacturer ’s recommendation or the inflation pressure
recommended by Nitto for an optional fitment according to the tire’s
new location on the vehicle.
•Do not mix speed-rated tires on the same axle. Higher speed-rated tires
must remain on the rear axle. Consult your authorized Nitto dealer.
TIRE SPEED RATING
All Nitto passenger and light truck tires have a maximum speed rating
based on size and type. Tires must never be operated in excess of their
rated speed limit! Consult your tire dealer or contact Nitto at
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SPECIAL ADVICE FOR LIGHT TRUCKS
Never exceed the speed limit as indicated by the speed symbol on the
tire’s sidewall. See the chart and explanation of speed ratings in this
manual.
If you do not know the speed rating of your Nitto brand tire, contact your
Nitto dealer or Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. for current information.
TIRES DESIGNATED AS “LT” WITH NO SPEED RATING INDI-
CATED ON THE SIDEWALL
It is not recommended that any light truck be operated at speeds in excess
of legal limits. However, if it is anticipated that sustained driving at
speeds in excess of 65 mph may be required, then the following
adjustments or recommendations should be followed:
•At speeds from 66 mph through 75 mph, cold inflation pressure must
be increased 10 psi above the recommended pressures for the load
being carried.
•Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure of the wheel (all wheels
have maximum allowable inflation pressures).
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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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