
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
54
design and vehicle application (consult your vehicle owner’s manual). 
By international standard, RFT tires have a baseline limitation in run-
flat mode of the following:
Maximum Speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)
Maximum Distance: 50 miles (80 km)
Note:•
 Maximum distance values are determined under controlled 
conditions, which may vary in actual use.
•
 Your mileage capability may be less, or more, depending on your 
specific operating conditions.
•
 If in doubt, do not exceed the 50 mile (80 km) limitation.
•
 Seek tire service as soon as possible to minimize tire damage.
Special Service and Repair Issues
Run-Flat Certified Retailers
Because of the advanced technology and design of RFT tires and 
the required tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), Bridgestone 
Firestone Run-Flat Certified Retailers are specially trained to sell and 
service RFT tires.
Run-Flat Certified Retailers have the necessary equipment and are 
specially trained to properly mount and demount RFT tires and to 
handle TPMS devices.  Conventional mounting equipment may 
irreparably damage RFT tires and an improper repair is unsafe 
and will void the Limited Warranty. Accordingly, it is important to 
go to a Bridgestone Firestone Run- Flat Certified Retailer for tire 
maintenance and replacement.
Call toll-free 1-877-BFS-4RFT or visit www.bridgestonetire.com to 
locate the nearest Bridgestone Firestone Run-Flat Certified Retailer .
Inspection after Run-Flat or Low Pressure Operation
Following run-flat or low tire pressure operation, or in the event of any 
other tire damage or unusual condition, it is very important to obtain a\
 
proper and complete tire evaluation as soon as possible. 

BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
55
Rotation
Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, or rotate every 
5,000 miles per the recommendations in this manual (see “Radial Tire 
Rotation”). In some cases, TPMS devices require reprogramming with 
each tire rotation.
RFT Tire Replacement
Do not replace or mix RFT tires with conventional tires, unless on an 
emergency/temporary basis. Conventional tires do not have run-flat 
capability and the handling characteristics of the vehicle with these 
tires may be different. If a conventional tire is used on an emergency/
temporary basis, verify that its size, load capacity, inflation pressure, 
and speed rating specifications meet the requirements of the vehicle. 
Replace any conventional tire with the proper RFT tire as soon as 
possible.
RFT Tire Damage and Repair
No tire, regardless of its design or quality is indestructible. RFT tires 
can be ultimately rendered unusable due to a puncture or other road 
hazard as well as from improper run-flat or low tire pressure operation. 
Some punctures may be repaired under certain restrictions and 
prescribed procedures.
When driven flat or with low pressure, factors affecting reparability 
include vehicle speed, load, and maneuvering; the amount of inflation 
pressure loss; and ambient temperature. In any situation, the extent 
and location of direct damage from a puncturing object or other road 
hazard are also critical factors.
RFT tires are not repairable in any of the following situations:
•
 If the tire was operated with inflation pressure less than 15 psi   
(100 kPa).
•
 Abrasion or other damage is present on the exterior tread, sidewall 
or bead areas.
•
 Abrasion, wrinkling, or separation is present on the tire interior.
•
 Any condition or damage is present that disqualifies repair of a 
conventional tire. 

BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
61
b. Improper use or operation, including, without limitation: 
Improper inflation pressure, overloading, tire/wheel spinning, 
use of an improper wheel, tire chain damage, misuse, 
misapplication, negligence, tire alteration, or for racing or 
competition purposes.
c.
 Insufficient or improper maintenance , including, without 
limitation: Failure to rotate tires as recommended in this 
manual, wheel misalignment, worn suspension components, 
improper tire mounting or demounting, tire/wheel assembly 
imbalance, or other vehicle conditions, defects, or 
characteristics.
d.
 Contamination or degradation  by petroleum products or 
other chemicals, fire or other externally generated heat, 
or water or other material trapped inside the tire during 
mounting or inflation.
e.
 Improper repair. Improper repair voids this Limited 
Warranty.
f.
 For RFT tires only, improper run-flat or low tire pressure 
operation, including, without limitation: Exceeding speed, 
distance, or other run-flat/low-pressure operation limitations.
2.
 Rapid tread wear or wear-out. Original equipment tires have no 
mileage warranty.
3.
 Weather/ozone cracking after 4 years from date of tire 
manufacture.
4.
 Ride disturbance or vibration after 1/32 inch (0.8mm) of tread 
wear use.
5.
 Tires with sealant, balance, or other filler material that was not 
originally applied or inserted by the tire manufacturer.
6.
 Tires used in commercial service.
7.
 Tires purchased and normally used outside the United States  
and Canada.
8.
 The cost of applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
9.
 Failure to follow any of the safety and maintenance 
recommendations or warnings contained in this manual.
This Limited Warranty is in addition to and/or may be limited by any 
other applicable written warranty you may have received concerning 
special tires or situations. 

CONTINENTAL TIRE
70
• Explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper tire mounting. 
Tire mounting / demounting can be dangerous. It should be 
performed only by a trained tire specialist using proper tools  and 
procedures. Prior to tire mounting/demounting, the U.S. Tire 
Manufacturers Association wall charts and manuals should be 
read to obtain the proper procedures. The failure to follow these 
procedures may result in faulty positioning of the tire and/or rim, 
that may cause the assembly to burst with force sufficient to cause 
injury or death.
•
 Tire failure due to damage. Inspect your tires frequently for 
scrapes, bulges, separations, cuts, snags and other damage from 
road hazards. Damage from impact can occur to the inner portions 
of your tire without being visible to the outside. If you suspect a tire\
 
has been damaged from striking anything unusual in the road, you 
must have the tire removed from the rim and inspected both inside 
and out by a trained tire specialist. Air loss or unusual tire wear 
can also be warning signs that a tire may have internal damage. If 
you notice these conditions, have your tire inspected by a trained 
individual.
•
 Tire failure due to excessive tire spinning . Avoid tire spinning. 
The centrifugal force generated by a free-spinning tire/rim 
assembly may cause a sudden tire explosion resulting in vehicle 
damage and/or serious injury or death. Never exceed 35 mph 
(55 km/h) as indicated on your speedometer when your vehicle is 
stuck in snow, mud or sand and your tire(s) is/ are spinning. Use 
a gentle backward and forward rocking motion to free your vehicle 
for continued driving. Never stand or permit anyone else to stand 
near or behind a tire spinning while attempting to push a vehicle 
that is stuck.
Self Supporting Runflat (SSR) Tire Owners
CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse of punctured 
Continental SSR tires.
Even a trained tire specialist may be unable to recognize internal 
structural damage to a Self Supporting Runflat (SSR) tire resulting 
from having been driven in an under inflated or zero inflation pressure 
condition. Such damage may not be visible on the surface of the inner  

CONTINENTAL TIRE
71
liner or sidewall making it impossible to determine the tire suitability\
 
for repair or reuse. CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse 
of Continental SSR tires. You may visit www.continentaltire.com and 
select Customer Care FAQ’s to obtain additional SSR information.
Temporary Sparetire Owners
CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse of punctured 
Temporary Spare Tires.
ContiSeal™Tire Owners
A ContiSeal™ tire differs from a non-ContiSeal™ tire in that it has a 
sticky, viscous layer from shoulder to shoulder along the inner liner. 
This layer is an integral part of the ContiSeal™ tires. It is not des\
igned 
or intended to act as a permanent puncture repair (See information 
below). If an object up to 3/16ths (5 mm) diameter penetrates the 
tread of the ContiSeal™ tire, this sticky, viscous layer is designed to 
surround and adhere to the puncturing object and prevent air loss from 
the tire by providing a near instantaneous seal. If the puncturing object 
becomes dislodged from the tire, the material is designed to seal most 
holes made by objects up to 3/16” (5 mm) diameter. While ContiSeal™ 
tires significantly reduce the incidence of flats, they are not designed 
to be driven under inflated or in a flat condition. In all other aspects, 
ContiSeal™ tires perform exactly like non-ContiSeal™ tires. As with 
any tire, regularly inspect ContiSeal™ tires for evidence of cuts, 
punctures, and loss of inflation pressure. At a minimum, ContiSeal™ 
tires should be inspected once or twice a month and always before 
a long trip. Punctures or damage not attended to promptly can result 
in loss of inflation pressure and/or damage to the tire. ContiSeal™ 
as soon as possible. The trained specialist, must inspect the tire 
carefully and, according to industry standards, to determine whether 
a permanent repair can be made or whether the tire must be removed 
from service and scrapped. A permanent repair will require removal 
of the tire from the rim and application of a repair method specifically 
approved for the ContiSeal™ tires. ContiSeal™ tires are identified by a 
symbol on the tire sidewall. 

FALKEN
75
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 vehicle  
placard looks like:
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 in the 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. 

FALKEN
76
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.
Rotation and Wear
Falken recommends rotating your tires at least every 8,000km (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***
Rotation patterns
based on what  
type of drive 
your vehicle is: 

FALKEN
79
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 conditions. 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, or qualified tire service professional for more information about 
these kinds of tires.
Winter Tires
Falken recommends all four tires be replaced when replacing your 
original equipment tires and installing winter tires for the winter mont\
hs.
 SAFETY WARNING
Never use just two winter tires. It could lead to adverse handling, loss 
of control, which could cause serious injury or death.
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 precaution\
s 
will help slow the aging process and reduce the damage to your tires.