FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
FA L K E N
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).
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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:
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CHECKING YOUR TIRE’S AIR PRESSURE
Checking your air pressure at least once a month is vital to help your tires
perform properly and help you get the best gas mileage possible. Tires
can lose up to 7 kPa (1 psi) per month under normal conditions and lose
up to 7 kPa (1 PSI) per every 9°C (16°F) drop in temperature. Here are
some simple steps on how to check the air pressures in your tires:
1. Remove the valve stem cap.
2. Place the end of the tire gauge firmly against the tire’s valve stem.
3. Read the current pressure displayed on the gauge that is currently inthe tire.
4. Increase pressure at this time (if needed) and recheck with your tire gauge.
5. Replace the valve stem cap.
6. Repeat until all of your tires have been checked and adjusted accordingly.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a safety system
found in most vehicles manufactured after 2005. There are
pressure sensing transmitters mounted inside of each tire that
sends readings to the central computer (ECU) in your vehicle.
The TPMS system will alert you when one or more of your tires
are underinflated by 25% or more by turning on a warning light on your
vehicle’s dashboard or heads up display (HUD) screen. This means that
one or more of your tires may have a low-pressure condition. Follow the
instructions in your owner ’s manual.
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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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