If you see any damage to your tires or wheels, contact your local
participating BFGoodrich® tire retailer listed in the Yellow Pages, or
visit our web site listed below for dealer locations. If further assistance
is required, contact:
IN USAIN CANADA
877-788-8899 888-871-4444
or write:
Michelin North America, Inc.
Attention: Consumer Relations
Department
Post Office Box 19001
Greenville, SC 29602-9001 or write:
Michelin North America (Canada), Inc.
2500 Daniel-Johnson Blvd., Suite 500
Laval, Quebec
H7P 6G2
or visit:
www.bfgoodrichtires.com or visit:
www.bfgoodrichtires.ca
WARNING!
For safety and good performance, you must take care of your tires.
Follow the safety information and instructions contained in this
Owner ’s Manual.
Your Vehicle:Year
Make/Model
Your Tire Size:
Tire Purchase Date:
Recommended Pressures: Front
Rear
Correct tire pressure is very important. Proper inflation pressures may be
found in the vehicle owner ’s manual or on the vehicle tire information
placard. Check cold tire pressures at least once each month. For further
technical information on BFGoodrich® tires, consult a participating
BFGoodrich® tire retailer.
MNA, P.O. BOX 19026, GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA 29602-9026
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
BFGOODRICH TIRES
44
TIRE WEAR—VISUAL CHECK
Check for obvious signs of wear.Place a penny in the tire tread grooves as
shown.If you can see the top of Lincoln’s
head, the tire is worn out and needs to be
replaced.
TIRE MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY
INFORMATION
Any tire, no matter how well constructed,
may fail in use as a result of punctures,
impact damage, improper inflation, over-
loading, or other conditions resulting
from use or misuse. Tire failure may create a risk of property damage,
serious personal injury or death.
WARNING!
Serious personal injury or death may result from a tire failure.
Many tire failures are preceded by vibration, bumps, bulges or
irregular wear. If a vibration occurs while driving your vehicle or
you notice a bump, bulge or irregular wear, have your tires and
vehicle evaluated by a qualified tire service professional.
To reduce the risk of tire failure, Bridgestone Firestone North American
Tire, LLC strongly recommends you read and follow all safety infor-
mation contained in this manual. In addition, we recommend periodic
inspection and maintenance, if necessary, by a qualified tire service
professional.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
52
TIRE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING
WARNING!
It is not often that a properly maintained tire will “blow out” while
you are driving. More commonly, if inflation pressure is lost, it will
be gradual. If you do experience a blowout or sudden tire failure,
the following information should be helpful:
•When the failure occurs, you may hear a loud noise, feel a
vibration, and/or the vehicle may pull toward the side of the failed
tire.
• DO NOT abruptly brake or turn.
• Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator, hold the steering
wheel firmly, and steer to maintain your lane position.
• Once the vehicle has slowed, apply the brakes gently.
• Gradually pull over to the shoulder and come to a stop, as far off
the road as possible.
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Tires need proper inflation pressure to operate effectively and perform as
intended. Tires carry the vehicle, passenger, and cargo loads and transmit
the braking, acceleration, and turning forces. The vehicle manufacturer
recommends the inflation pressures for the tires mounted on your
vehicle.
WARNING!
Driving on tires with improper inflation pressure is dangerous.
•Underinflation causes excessive tire heat build-up and internal
structural damage.
• 0 W F S J O G M B U J P O makes it more likely for tires to be cut, punctured,
or broken by sudden impact.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
53
TIPS FOR SAFE TIRE INFLATION
WARNING!
Inflating an unsecured tire is dangerous. If it bursts, it could be
hurled into the air with explosive force resulting in serious personal
injury or death. Never inflate a tire unless it is secured to the vehicle
or a tire mounting machine.
• Check your tire pressures, including your spare tire, monthly and
before long trips or carrying extra weight. Be sure to use an accurate
pressure gauge.
• Check inflation pressure when the tires are “cold.” Tires are considered
“cold” when the vehicle has been parked for three hours or more, or if
the vehicle has been driven less than a mile at moderate speed.
• Never release pressure from a hot tire in order to reach the recom-
mended cold tire pressure. Normal driving causes tires to run hotter
and inflation pressure to increase. If you reduce inflation pressure
when your tires are hot, you may dangerously underinflate your tires.
• If it is necessary to adjust inflation pressure when your tires are “hot,”
set their pressure to 4 psi (28 kPa) above the recommended cold
inflation pressure. Recheck the inflation pressure when the tires are
cold.
• If your tires lose more than 2 psi (14 kPa) per month, the tire, the valve,
or wheel may be damaged. Consult a qualified tire service professional
for an inspection.
• Use valve caps to keep the valves clear of debris and to help guard
against inflation pressure loss.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
56
TIPS FOR SAFE LOADING
WARNING!
Driving your vehicle in an overloaded condition is dangerous.
Overloading causes excessive tire heat build-up and internal
structural damage. This can cause a tire failure, even at a later date,
which could lead to serious personal injury or death. Consult the
vehicle tire information placard, certification label, and owner ’s
manual for the recommended vehicle load limits and loading
recommendations.
• Always keep the vehicle manufacturer ’s recommended inflation pres-
sure in all your tires, including the spare. Check their pressure monthly
and before long trips or carrying extra weight.
• Never exceed the maximum load rating stamped on the sidewall of
your tire.
• Never exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or front/rear
gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) of your vehicle.
• Consult your vehicle owner ’s manual for load recommendations and
special instructions (such as for trailer/towing and snow plow
installations).
TIRE DAMAGE, INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE
Evaluation and maintenance of your tires is important to their perfor-
mance and the service they provide to you. Over time and/or through
use, the condition of a tire can change from exposure to everyday road
conditions, the environment, damaging events such as punctures, and
other external factors.
WARNING!
Driving on damaged tires is dangerous. A damaged tire can
suddenly fail causing serious personal injury or death. Have your
tires regularly inspected by a qualified tire service professional.
You should visually inspect your tires on a regular basis throughout their
life, and you should have your tires periodically evaluated by a qualified
tire service professional when your vehicle is serviced such as routine
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
57
maintenance intervals, oil changes, and tire rotations. In particular, note
the following tips for spotting tire damage:
•After striking anything unusual in the roadway, have a qualified tire
service professional demount the tire and inspect it for damage. A tire
may not have visible signs of damage on the tire surface. Yet, the tire
may suddenly fail without warning, a day, a week, or even months
later.
• Inspect your tires for cuts, cracks, splits or bruises in the tread and
sidewall areas. Bumps or bulges may indicate a separation within the
tire body. Have your tire inspected by a qualified tire service profes-
sional. It may be necessary to have it removed from the wheel for a
complete inspection.
• Inspect your tires for adequate tread depth. When the tire is worn to
the built-in indicators at 2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or less tread groove depth,
or the tire cord or fabric is exposed, the tire is dangerously worn and
must be replaced immediately.
• Inspect your tires for uneven wear. Wear on one side of the tread or flat
spots in the tread may indicate a problem with the tire or vehicle.
Consult a qualified tire service professional.
• Inspect your wheels also. If you have a bent or cracked wheel, it must
be replaced.
• Don’t forget to check the spare tire.
Make sure your tires, including the spare tire, continue to be regularly
inspected after 5 years of service to determine if they can continue in
service. Even when your tires appear to be usable from their external
appearance or the tread depth may have not reached the minimum wear
out depth, it is recommended that all tires (including spare tires and
“temporary use” spares) more than 10 years old be replaced with new
tires.
The 10 year period after the date of production is not an indicator of
actual service life for any individual tire. Some tires will need to be
replaced before 10 years due to conditions such as punctures, impact
damage, improper inflation, overloading, tread wear or other conditions
involving use or misuse of the tire. If a tire is worn out or otherwise
unserviceable from damage or conditions of use, it should be replaced
regardless of when it was produced or placed in service.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
58
TIRE REPAIRS
WARNING!
Driving on an improperly repaired tire is dangerous. An improper
repair can be unreliable or permit further damage to the tire. The
tire may suddenly fail, causing serious personal injury or death.
A complete inspection and repair of your tire in accordance with Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) procedures should be conducted by a
qualified tire service professional. While the comprehensive procedures
and recommendations for tire repair are beyond the scope of this manual,
a proper tire repair includes the following:
• The tire is demounted from the wheel for a complete inspection,
inside and out. Some damage to the tire may only be evident on the
interior of the tire.
• The puncture injury is 1/4 inch (6 mm) or less and must be within the
tread area as shown in the graphic. This helps ensure long-term tire
and repair durability.
• A patch is applied to the interior of the tire and the puncture hole is
filled with a suitable plug/stem filler. This helps ensure that the
interior of the tire is adequately sealed to prevent inflation pressure
loss and prevents contamination of the steel belts and other plies from
the elements (such as water) in the outside world.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
60
•Any tire repair done without removing the tire from the wheel is
improper. The tire must be demounted from the wheel and the interior
inspected for damage that may not be evident on the exterior of the
tire.
• Using only a plug/stem, or using only a patch, is not a safe or proper
repair. A patch must be applied to the interior of the tire and the
puncture hole must be filled with a suitable plug/stem filler to prevent
inflation pressure loss and contamination of the steel belts and other
plies.
• NEVER substitute a tube for a proper repair or to remedy an improper
repair.
• Tubes, like tires, should only be repaired by a qualified tire service
professional.
• Some vehicle manufacturers do not recommend using repaired tires.
Consult your vehicle owner ’s manual or contact the vehicle manufac-
turer before operating a repaired tire on your vehicle.
ASK how your tire will be repaired. ALWAYS insist on a proper tire
repair.
Emergency/Temporary Sealant or Filler Repairs: An emergency/
temporary sealant or filler injected into the tire, such as by aerosol can or
injection/squeeze-tube, is not a proper repair and voids the tire Limited
Warranty. A tire injected with such sealant/filler must be replaced by a
qualified tire service professional as soon as possible.
WARNING!
Tell the tire service professional if you have used an aerosol fixer to
inflate/seal the tire. Aerosol fixers could contain a highly volatile
gas. Always remove the valve core outdoors, away from sources of
excessive heat, flame, or sparks and completely deflate the tire
before removing it from the wheel.
Speed Rating: 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. See
“Tire Speed Ratings” in this manual.
Improper repair voids the tire Limited Warranty. See “Limited War-
ranty” in this manual.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
62