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IDENTIFYING DAMAGED TIRES•
If your tire strikes a road hazard at any speed, internal tire damage
could result, which may lead to sudden tire failure and loss of
vehicle control. Tire failure may even occur miles after the initial
impact. Impact damage from such hazards may not be visible on
the outside of the tire. Have your Nitto dealer dismount the tire and
inspect it for damage. A tire may not have visible signs of damage
on the tire surface or the interior.
•
If the impact was sufficient to bend the wheel flange, internal
tire damage may have occurred, compromising the safety and
integrity of the tire. Such impact damage may result in a sudden
tire failure many weeks or months later. Tire replacement is highly
recommended as a safety precaution.
•
Indications of impact damage include, but are not limited to, a
bubble or a blister on the outside of the tire.
•
Have your dealer inspect your tires if you see anything unusual
or if cuts, cracks, splitting, or bruises in the tread and sidewall
areas are visible. Bumps or bulges may indicate a serious and
dangerous separation within the tire body. Have your tire inspected
by a qualified tire service person. It may be necessary to have the
tire 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” (1.6 mm) or less tread groove
depth, the tire is worn out and must be replaced. Never drive on
tires to the point that the tire cord or the fabric is exposed.
•
Inspect your tires for uneven wear. Wear on one side of the tread
or flat spots in the tread may indicate alignment or other problems
with the tires or the vehicle. Consult your authorized Nitto dealer.
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IDENTIFYING DAMAGED WHEELS
Periodically check to see if any of the following symptoms exist, in
which case the wheel must be replaced:•
If the flange is bent.
•
If welds or rivets are leaking.
•
If the stud holes are elongated and not round. (Improper lug nut
tightening could cause this.)
•
If there are cracks in the wheel.
WORN OUT TIRES
Tires must be replaced when tread is worn to 2/32” (1.6 mm).
Treadwear indicators on Nitto tire treads show the 2/32” depth (1.6
mm). Most states require that tires be replaced when the tread depth is\
worn to 2/32” (1.6 mm). Tires may lose sufficient wet and snow traction
before reaching 2/32” (1.6 mm) of wear. Many wet weather accidents
result from skidding on worn out tires.
Excessively worn tires are more susceptible to penetrations. Consider
replacing your tires earlier if you drive in snow or wet conditions.
Any retail tire dealer will be glad to measure your tire’s tread depth for
you. Nitto recommends that tires be replaced in matched sets of four.
TIRE REPAIRS
If any tire has sustained a puncture, have the tire dismounted and
inspected internally by an authorized Nitto dealer for possible damage
that may have occurred. Only specially trained personnel using the
proper tools and procedures should repair tires.
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• Never repair a tire with 2/32” (1.6 mm) or less tread remaining.
At this tread depth, the tire is worn out and must be replaced.
•
Never repair a tire with a puncture larger than ¼” (6.4 mm)
in diameter. Such tires cannot be properly repaired and must
be replaced.
•
Repairs of all tires (radial and non-radial) must be of the plug and
inside patch type. Using plugs alone on any type of tire is not a
safe repair.
•
Do not use a rope type plug for repair. A tire must
be removed from the wheel and inspected for
interior damage. Any tire repair done without
removing the tire from the wheel is improper
and unsafe.
•
Never repair a tire with a puncture or other
damage outside the tread area. Do not repair
sidewall damage. Such tires cannot be properly
repaired and must be replaced.
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Nitto speed-rated passenger car tires may be repaired and
returned to service under the following conditions:•
Proper repair materials and procedures have been used.
•
The damage or puncture is not larger than 1/4” (6.4 mm)
in diameter.
•
The repair will be the first repair performed on that tire. (Only
one repair per tire is permitted in order to maintain a limited
speed rating.)
•
The tire must have more than 2/32” (1.6 mm) of tread remaining.
Nitto speed-rated passenger tires that have been properly
repaired qualify for reduced speed ratings as follows:
The maximum speed of a vehicle is limited by the lowest-speedrated
tire on the car.
PROPER SELECTION OF TIRES
When tires need to be replaced, don’t guess what tire is right for your
vehicle. First look at the vehicle Owner’s Manual or the Tire Information
Placard. They tell you the size of the tires that were on the vehicle as
original equipment.
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Replacement tires for any vehicle must be of a size, load range, and
load capacity (by inflation) that is capable of supporting the same load
as the vehicle’s originally installed (OE) tires. Avoid installing used tires
on a vehicle. There is no way to determine what road hazards or abuse
a previously owned tire may have incurred.
The following procedures concerning replacement tires must
be followed:•
Confirm that the load-carrying capacity is greater than or equal
to the load-carrying capacity of the OE tire size at the pressure
indicated on the vehicle Tire Information Placard.
•
Carefully note any differences between recommendations for
front and rear axle positions regarding the tire size and/or
inflation pressure.
•
The speed rating must be equal to or greater than what is specified
by the vehicle manufacturer if the speed capability of the vehicle is
to be maintained.
•
Tires should be mounted on approved wheel widths. If changing
tire sizes, check to make sure the wheel has adequate load and
inflation pressure capacity.
•
Body and chassis clearance must be checked on the vehicle’s
front and rear axles.
In addition to the above, light truck tire replacements should take
into consideration the following:
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• Proper spacing between dual tires is necessary for optimum tire
performance. If chains are used, particular care must be taken to
assure adequate clearance between loaded tires to avoid damage
from the chains. The allowable outside diameter difference
between a tire and its dual mate is ¼” (6.4 mm) for light truck tires.
Considerations in Plus Sizing
Always refer to and follow the vehicle manufacturer’s replacement
tire recommendations. In some cases, a vehicle manufacturer may
specifically advise against the application of replacement tires that
are not of the original size or type.
TIRE AND WHEEL MATCHING AND MOUNTING
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TIRE MIXING
• Nitto recommends that all four tires be of the same size, speed
rating, and construction (radial or non-radial). In some cases the
vehicle manufacturer may require different sized tires for the front
or rear axles. Never mix P-metric or European Metric passenger
tires with LT-metric tires on the same vehicle.
•
Match tire size designations in pairs on an axle, except during the
temporary use of a spare tire.
•
If two radial tires and two non-radial tires are used on a vehicle, put
the radials on the rear axle. If radial and non-radial tires are used
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on a vehicle equipped with dual rear tires, the radial tires may be
used on either axle.
SPEED-RATED TIRES •
If the vehicle Tire Information Placard and/or the vehicle
Owner’s Manual specifies speed-rated tires, the replacement tires
must have the same or higher speed rating to maintain vehicle
speed capability.
•
If a replacement tire has a lower speed capability than that
specified by the vehicle manufacturer, the vehicle’s speed must
be restricted to that of the replacement tire. Vehicle handling
could also be affected. Consult the vehicle Owner’s Manual or tire
manufacturer for recommendations.
•
If tires with different speed ratings are used, it is recommended
that the lower-speed-rated tires always be placed on the front axle.
This is to prevent a potential oversteer condition.
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE
(AWD) VEHICLES
If no instructions for tire mixing appear in the vehicle Owner’s Manual,
follow these guidelines: •
Do not mix tire sizes. All four tires must be marked with the same
tire size, unless otherwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer .
This also applies to winter/snow tires.
•
Do not mix tread pattern types such as all-terrain and all-season.
STUDLESS WINTER/SNOW TIRES •
It is always preferable to apply winter/snow tires to all wheel
positions, including dual tires, to maintain vehicle mobility and
control.
•
If winter/snow tires are applied to the front axle of any vehicle,
winter/snow tires must also be installed on the rear axle. DO NOT
apply winter/snow tires only to the front axle. This applies to all
passenger and light truck vehicles, including front-wheeldrive,
4WD, and AWD vehicles.
•
If winter/snow tires are installed on the rear axle of any vehicle, it is
recommended (but not required) that they also be installed on the
front axle.