44
Never perform a temporary repair, use an
innertube or inject sealant as a permanent
substitute for a proper repair. Only qualified
persons should repair tires.
Be sure that all your valves have suitable valve
caps. This will keep valve cores clean and clear
and guard against leakage.
REPAIRS - WHENEVER POSSIBLE, SEE
A TIRE RETAILER AT ONCE.Some tire
manufacturers do not warrant any inspection
or repair process. The repair is entirely the
responsibility of the repairer. Punctures in
the tread of a passenger tire which do not
exceed 1/4 of an inch (6mm) in diameter can
usually be repaired by following the Rubber
Manufacturer’s Association (RMA) Passenger
and Light Truck Repair procedures. Contact
the manufacturer of your tires for its position
and assistance as to the acceptable location
for a proper repair and the repair of speed
rated tires.Do not use plug repairs. They may
cause further damage to the tire. They are not
always air tight and the plug may fail.Do not
exceed posted speed limits on any repaired tire.
Certain tire manufacturers speed ratings are
voided if the tire is repaired.
Although a tire was properly repaired, internal
structural damage resulting from the puncture
may have occurred.
Sometime later the damage may cause the tire
to be removed from service.
If the tire has a puncture in the tread which
exceeds 1/4 inch (6mm), the tire must be replaced. If any tire has sustained a puncture,
have the tire inspected internally by a tire
retailer for possible damage that may have
occurred.
Improper mounting and inflation procedures
can cause an explosion of the tire/rim
assembly. Only specially trained persons should
perform these tasks. Contact your tire store or
retailer for assistance.
CAUTION - Never, under any circumstance,
introduce a flammable substance into a tire.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING
Wheel alignment and balancing are important
for safety and maximum mileage from your
tires. Check how your tires are wearing at
least once a 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.
HARD BRAKING
You must inspect your tires after any hard
braking circumstances or after tires have slid
on the pavement. This can cause a flat spot in
a section of the tire tread. TIRE SPINNING
Never spin your tires above a speedometer
reading of 35 mph (55 km/h) if your vehicle
becomes stuck. The centrifugal force
generated by the free spinning tire/wheel
assembly may cause a sudden tire explosion,
resulting in vehicle damage and/or serious
personal injury or death. Never allow anyone
to stand near or behind a tire spinning at high
speed while attempting to push a vehicle that
is stuck. When in mud, sand, snow, ice or other
slippery conditions, do not indulge in excessive
wheel spin. In such conditions, with automatic
transmission vehicles, by accelerating the
engine excessively, it is possible to spin one of
the drive tires beyond its speed capability. This
is also true when balancing a drive tire/wheel
assembly using the engine of the vehicle to
spin the wheel.
TIRE TREAD
Tires must be replaced when the depth of
the tread reaches 2/32 inch (1.6 mm). Tires
are manufactured with tread wear indicators
molded into the tire grooves which indicate
tread wearout. As tires approximate 2/32 inch
(1.6 mm) wearout, the tread gauge becomes
thinner and more vulnerable to the effects
of road hazards. Also, worn tires are more
subject to hydroplaning, which can cause loss
of control. Therefore, visual tire inspection
becomes more crucial as the tires wear out.
(Continued on next page)
IMPORTANT TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION¹
