ROTATION AND WEAR
Falken recommends rotating your tires at least every 8,000 km (5,000
miles) and periodically inspecting your tires to make sure they are free of
road hazards (such as nails, screws, large wood splinters, etc.) that might
penetrate your tires causing them to lose air pressure and to ensure they
are wearing evenly. Common irregular wear patterns are: misalignment
wear, where the tire shows excessive outer or inner tread wear. Tire
sidewalls should also be inspected for cuts, snags, bruises, and weather
cracking. If any of these noted conditions are present during inspection,
we recommend returning to your servicing tire dealer to be corrected to
ensure long tire life.***Never include a temporary spare tire in your
rotation pattern***
TIRE REPLACEMENT
Falken recommends replacing your tires when the tread wears down to
the wear bars at 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch), which are located across the
tread in several locations around the tire. If only two tires are being
replaced, the two new tires should always be installed on the rear of the
vehicle to aid in preventing your vehicle from hydroplaning, even if your
car is front wheel drive. It’s always recommended to have your new tires
balanced during installation, and alignment checked if the previous tires
show and irregular wear. Tires that have been in use for 5 (five) years or
more should continue to be inspected by a qualified tire specialist, at least
annually. It is recommended that any tires 10 (ten) years old or older from
the date of manufacture, including spare tires, be replaced with new tires
as a precaution even if such tires appear serviceable and even if they have
not reached the legal worn out limit at 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch).
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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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B) LIMITED WARRANTY
This limited warranty applies to Falken brand Original Equipment
Passenger Car, Temporary Spare, and Light Truck steel belted radial tires
bearing the complete description and serial number required by the
Department of Transportation (DOT). This warranty is effective only to
tires for which claims are made within 5 (five) years of the date of
production, based on the tire DOT serial number.
1.WHAT IS COVERED AND FOR HOW LONG
Falken tires that are originally equipped on this vehicle are warranted
against any defects in the materials and workmanship for the usable
life of the original tread. The limited warranty terminates at the flush
appearance of the tread wear indicators at 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch)
remaining tread depth.
A. Free Replacement If a tire becomes unserviceable due to such defect within the first 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch) of tread wear, the
tire will be replaced free of charge with the same or comparable
Falken tire.
B. Prorated Replacement After the first 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch) of wear, a prorated adjustment credit will be given based on the
percentage of remaining usable tread depth, down to the remaining
1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch) tread wear bar indicator. No credit is
given if the tire is worn beyond the flush appearance of the tread
wear bar indicator (less than 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch) tread depth
remaining).
C. Out-of-Round / Out-of-Balance Replacement Tires that are deemed to be out-of-round or out-of-balance will be accepted for adjust-
ment during the first 0.8 mm (1/32 of an inch) of the original tread
depth and will be replaced free of charge with the same or similar
Falken tires (no labor costs will be covered). A set of four (4) tires
from the same vehicle will not be accepted for out-of-round or
out-of-balance claims.
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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
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3.OWNER’S OBLIGATIONS
At least monthly, the vehicle owner(s) should check the tires’ air
pressure with a gauge and inflate to the recommended cold air
pressure level listed on the driver ’s door placard. Do not rely on car
servicers to perform the checks. The tires should be rotated at least
every 8,000km (5,000 miles) or earlier if uneven wear is occurring, and
proof of maintenance records should be kept. The owner(s) should
have the tires rebalanced if vibration is experienced, and the vehicle’s
alignment should be checked if uneven or rapid wear is occurring, or
when suggested by the vehicle’s manufacturer.
All warranty claims must be presented to an authorized Falken dealer
or participating car dealership. The owner(s) must present any sup-
porting maintenance records and documentation necessary to help
determine if the tire(s) in question are deemed covered by the limited
warranty or not.
4. LEGAL RIGHTS
All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and
fitness for a particular purpose shall be limited in duration to the above
period. To the extent permitted by law, Falken Tire Corporation shall not
be responsible for incidental or consequential damages, such as loss of
use of the tire or the vehicle on which it is used, inconvenience, or
commercial loss, some states do not allow limitations on how long an
implied warranty lasts, or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or
consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not
apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may
also have other rights, which vary from state to state. This is the only
express warranty applicable to Falken brand tires and supersedes the
terms of any previous warranty. Falken neither assumes nor authorizes
anyone to make or assume for it any other warranty.
C) UNDERSTANDING YOUR TIRES
TIRE SPEED SYMBOLS
Tires that are speed-rated are identified by the following letter symbols:
Q, S, T, U, H, V, W, Y, (Y), or (ZR). The Speed Rating’s Symbol can be
found as a part of the tire size designation (ex: 215/65HR16) or after the
load index immediately following the tire size designation (ex: 215/
65R16 97H). The Speed Rating’s Symbol indicates the maximum speed
that a tire can handle when properly inflated and loaded.
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Speed Symbol Maximum Speed (KMH) Maximum Speed (MPH)Q 160 99S 180 112T 190 118
U 200 124
H 210 130 V 240 149
W 270 168 Y 300 186
(Y) Above 300 Above 186
ZR** Above 240 Above 149
NOTE:**For tires with speed symbols W and Y, ZR may or may not also
appear within the size designation. For tires with a maximum speed
above 186 MPH a ZR must appear in the size designation.
DATE OF TIRE MANUFACTURE
The date that a tire was manufactured can be determined by examining
the last 4 digits of the 12 digit DOT serial code, which is found on at least
one sidewall of a tire. For tires that were produced after the year 2000, the
last 4 digits of the serial code will identify the week and the year that the
tire was manufactured. If the last 4 digits in the DOT serial code were to
read “3013” it would mean that the tire was manufactured the 30th week
of 2013. If you are uncertain, check with a qualified tire service profes-
sional to be sure.
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