Tire Repair
If your tire becomes damaged, it may be repaired if it meets the following
criteria:
•The tire has not been driven on when flat.
• The damage is only on the tread section of your tire (sidewall damage
is not repairable).
• The puncture is no greater thana¼ofaninch (6 mm).
TIRES
Consult an authorized tire dealer for tire repairs and additional informa-
tion.
Run Flat Tires — If Equipped
Run G lat tires allow you the capability to drive 50 miles (80 km) at 50 mph
(80 km/h) after a rapid loss of inflation pressure. This rapid loss of
inflation is referred to as the S un Glat mode. A Sun G lat mode occurs
when the tire inflation pressure is of/or below 14 psi (96 kPa). Once a
Sun G lat tire reaches the run flat mode it has limited driving capabilities
and needs to be replaced immediately. A Sun Glat
tire is not repairable.
% B N B H F E S V O G M B U U J S F T
P S S V O G M B U U J S F T U I B U I B W F F Y Q F S J F O D F E B M P T T P G Q S F T T V S F
T I P V M E C F S F Q M B D F E J N N F E J B U F M Z X J U I B O P U I F S S V O G M B U U J S F P G J E F O U J D B M T J [ F B O E
T F S W J D F E F T D S J Q U J P O - P B E * O E F Y B O E 4 Q F F E 4 Z N C P M
It is not recommended driving a vehicle loaded at full capacity or to tow
a trailer while a tire is in the run flat mode.
See the tire pressure monitoring section for more information.
Tire Spinning
When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice conditions, do not spin your
vehicle’s wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) or for longer than 30 seconds
continuously without stopping.
Refer to “Freeing A Stuck Vehicle” in “In Case Of Emergency” in your
Owner ’s Manual for further information.
15
DRIVING ON ANY TIRE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT
INFLATION PRESSURE IS DANGEROUS
Any underinflated tire builds up excessive heat that may result in sudden
tire destruction. If tires are supplied as original equipment, refer to the
tire decal on the vehicle (check vehicle and/or vehicle owner ’s manual
for decal location) for the recommended operating pressures. For replace-
ment tires, the correct inflation pressure will be provided by your tire
retailer; if not, refer to the vehicle decal.
These inflation pressures must be maintained as a minimum. However,
do not exceed the maximum pressure rating indicated on the tire
sidewall.
CHECK THE COLD INFLATION PRESSURES IN ALL YOUR TIRES,
INCLUDING THE SPARE, AT LEAST ONCE EACH MONTH
Failure to maintain correct inflation may result in improper vehicle
handling and may cause rapid and irregular tire wear, sudden tire
destruction, loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury. Therefore,
inflation pressures should be checked at least once each month and
always prior to long distance trips. This applies to all tires, including
sealant types, and Self-Supporting tires which are as susceptible to losing
air pressure as any other type of tire if not properly maintained.
UNDERINFLATION
It is impossible to determine whether tires are properly inflated by
simply looking at them. It is almost impossible to “feel or hear” when a
tire is being run underinflated or nearly flat. Tires must be checked
monthly with a tire pressure gauge.
Pressures should be checked when tires are cold, in other words, before
they have been driven on. Driving, even for a short distance, causes tires
to heat up and air pressure to increase.
Checking pressure when tires are hot:
If pressures are checked after tires have been driven for more than three
minutes or more than one mile, (1.6 km) the tires become hot and the
pressures will increase by approximately 4 psi. Therefore when the tire
pressure is adjusted under these conditions, it should be increased to a
gauge reading of 4 psi greater than the recommended cold inflation
pressure.
BFGOODRICH TIRES
31
TIRE SPINNING
Do not spin wheels in excess of 35 mph (55 km/h) as indicated on the
speedometer. Excessive speed in a free-running, unloaded tire can cause
it to “explode” from centrifugal force. The energy released by such an
explosion is sufficient to cause serious physical injury or death. Never
allow anyone to stand near or behind the spinning tire.
When in mud, sand, snow, ice or other slippery conditions, do not engage
in excessive wheel spin. Accelerating the motor excessively, particularly
with automatic transmission vehicles, may cause a drive tire that has lost
traction to spin beyond its speed capability. This is also true when
balancing a drive tire/wheel assembly on the vehicle using the vehicle
engine to spin the tire/wheel assembly.
HIGH SPEED DRIVING CAN BE DANGEROUS
Correct inflation pressure is especially important.However, at high
speeds, even with the correct inflation pressure, a road hazard, for
example is more difficult to avoid and if contact is made, has a greater
chance of causing tire damage than at a lower speed. Moreover, driving
at high speed reduces the reaction time available to avoid accidents and
bring your vehicle to a safe stop.
If you see any damage to a tire or wheel, replace it with the spare at
once and visit a participating BFGoodrich Tire Retailer.
Exceeding the maximum speeds shown on the following page for each
type of BFGoodrich tire will cause the tire to build up excessive heat
which can cause tire damage that could result in sudden tire destruction
and rapid air loss. Failure to control a vehicle when one or more tires
experience a sudden air loss can lead to an accident.
In any case, you should not exceed reasonable speeds as indicated by
the legal limits and driving conditions.
BFGOODRICH TIRES
33
The maximum load rating of your tires is molded on the tire sidewall. Do
not exceed this rating. Follow the loading instructions of the manufac-
turer of your vehicle and this will ensure that your tires are not
overloaded. Tires which are loaded beyond their maximum allowable
loads for the particular application will build up excessive heat that may
result in sudden tire destruction.
Do not exceed the gross axle weight rating for any axle on your vehicle.
TRAILER TOWING
If you anticipate towing a trailer, you should visit any BFGoodrich® tire
retailer for advice concerning the correct size tire and pressures. Tire size
and pressures will depend upon the type and size of trailer and hitch
utilized, but in no case must the maximum cold inflation pressure or tire
load rating be exceeded. Check the tire decal and the owner ’s manual
supplied by the manufacturer of your vehicle for further recommenda-
tions on trailer towing.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING ARE IMPORTANT FOR
SAFETY AND MAXIMUM MILEAGE FROM YOUR TIRES CHECK
HOW YOUR TIRES ARE WEARING AT LEAST ONCE EACH
MONTH
If your tires are wearing unevenly, such as the inside shoulder of the tire
wearing faster than the rest of the tread, or if you detect excessive
vibration, your vehicle may be out of alignment or balance. These
conditions not only shorten the life of your tires but adversely affect the
handling characteristics of your vehicle, which could be dangerous. If
you detect irregular wear or vibration, have your alignment and balance
checked immediately. Tires which have been run underinflated will show
more wear on the shoulders than in the center of the tread.
TIRE MIXING
BFGoodrich® tires are radial tires and for best performance it is recom-
mended that the same size and type of tire be used on all four wheel
positions. Before mixing tires of different types in any configuration on
any vehicle, be sure to check the vehicle manufacturer ’s Owner‘s Manual
for its recommendations.
It is especially important to check the vehicle manufacturer ’s owner ’s
manual when mixing, matching or replacing tires on 4-wheel drive
vehicles, as this may require special precautions.
BFGOODRICH TIRES
37
REPAIRS - WHEREVER POSSIBLE, SEE YOUR BFGOODRICH®
TIRE RETAILER AT ONCE
If any BFGoodrich® tire sustains a puncture, have the tire demounted
and thoroughly inspected by any BFGoodrich® tire retailer for possible
damage that may have occurred.
A tread area puncture in any BFGoodrich® passenger or light truck tire
can be repaired provided that the puncture hole is not more than 1/4” in
diameter, not more than one radial cable per casing ply is damaged, and
the tire has not been damaged further by the puncturing object or by
running underinflated. Tire punctures consistent with these guidelines
can be repaired by following the Rubber Manufacturers Association
(RMA) recommended repair procedures.
TIRE REPAIRS
Repairs of all tires must be of the combined plug and inside patch type.
Plug only repairs are improper.A tire should be removed from the rim
and inspected prior to repair. Any tire repair done without removing the
tire from the rim is improper. An improperly repaired tire will cause
further damage to the tire by either leaking air or allowing air, moisture
and contaminants to enter the structure of the tire. An improperly
repaired tire can fail suddenly at a later date.
Never repair a tire with less than 2/32 nds of an inch tread remaining. At
this tread depth, the tire is worn out and must be replaced.
TEMPORARY SPARE TIRES
When using any temporary spare tire, be sure to follow the vehicle
manufacturer ’s instructions.
READING THE DOT
DOT XXXX XXXX XXX (prior to August 2000)
DOT XXXX XXXX XXX (1990-1999)
DOT XXXX XXXX XXXX (after July 2000)
THE DOT
The “DOT” symbol certifies tire manufacturer ’s compliance with U.S.
Department of Transportation tire safety standards. Next to the symbol is
the tire identification or “serial number”. The first two characters identify
the plant where the tire was manufactured. The next two characters
BFGOODRICH TIRES
40
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
TIRE MAINTENANCE, SAFETY and WARRANTY MANUAL ORIGI-
NAL EQUIPMENT PASSENGER and LIGHT TRUCK TIRES Includ-
ing RFT Tires with Run-Flat Technology
Congratulations!
Your new vehicle comes equipped with quality BRIDGESTONE or
FIRESTONE brand tires.
To ensure optimum tire performance and reduce the risk of a tire failure,
Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC strongly recommends
you read and follow all maintenance and safety information contained in
this manual. In addition, we recommend periodic inspection and main-
tenance, if necessary, by a qualified tire service professional.
Inflate.
Check your tire pressure monthly.
Rotate.
Rotate your tires as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer or every
5,000 miles.
Evaluate.
Routinely look for signs of tread wear or damage.
TIRE CARE BASICS
Quick Reference Guide to Maintenance for All Tires, Including the
Spare.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
45
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
RFT (Run-Flat Technology) Tires:In addition to the above, there are
recommendations specific to the repair of RFT tires; see “RFT Tires with
Run-Flat Technology” in this manual.
TIRE MOUNTING AND OTHER SERVICING
WARNING!
Removing and replacing tires on wheels can be dangerous.
Attempting to mount tires with improper tools or procedures may
result in a tire explosion causing serious personal injury or death.
This is only a job for a qualified tire service professional. Never
perform tire service procedures without proper training, tools, and
equipment.
This manual is not intended to provide proper training or service
procedures for tire mounting, demounting, balancing, rotation, or
repair. Please leave these tasks to qualified tire service professionals.
For your safety and that of others:
• 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 may burst with explosive force
causing serious personal injury or death.
• Tires must match the width and diameter requirements of the wheels.
For example, 16 inch diameter tires must only be mounted to 16 inch
diameter wheels. Radial tires must only be mounted to wheels
approved for radial tires.
• Wheels must be free of cracks, dents, chips, and rust. Tires must be free
of bead damage, cuts, and punctures.
• Never inflate a tire beyond 40 psi (275 kPa) to seat the beads. Be
absolutely certain beads are fully seated before adjusting inflation
pressure to the level recommended for vehicle operation.
• Never put flammable substances in tire/wheel assemblies at any time.
Never put any flammable substance into a tire/wheel assembly and
attempt to ignite to seat the beads.
• Always stand well away from the work area when tires are being spin
balanced either on or off the vehicle.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
63