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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.
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Full-size spare tires (not temporary spares) of the same size,
construction, and speed rating may be used in a five-tire
rotation pattern.
After rotation, check the inflation pressure of all the tires. The front
and rear tire pressures may vary according to the vehicle
manufacturer’s specifications.
Remember to follow your vehicle Owner’s Manual for tire rotation
intervals. Your Limited Warranty recommends Nitto brand tires to be
rotated as follows:
•
Every 3,500 miles or less for high performance (low profile) tires.
•
Every 7,500 miles or less for standard passenger and light
truck tires.
More frequent rotation or a thorough vehicle inspection may be
necessary if, upon inspection, irregular or erratic treadwear is
beginning to appear.
It is important to remember the following: •
These tire rotation recommendations do not take into account
different tire and construction types mixed on the vehicle.
•
Some tires cannot be rotated in the manner described. Such tires
include unidirectional tires. Unidirectional tread patterns must be
rotated front-to-rear only so that the direction of revolution does
not change.
•
Some vehicles are designed with different tire sizes on the front
and rear axles. Normally, such combinations will not allow rotation.
Prior to rotating, consult the vehicle Owner’s Manual.
•
For vehicles with dual rear wheels, see the vehicle Owner’s
Manual for the vehicle manufacturer’s procedures. If your vehicle
Owner’s Manual is not available, please contact the vehicle
manufacturer.
•
Some vehicles are equipped with wheels that limit the choice of
rotation pattern. Consult the vehicle Owner’s Manual.
•
Do not include temporary spare tires in the rotation pattern.
However, if your spare tire is the same size and type as a road tire
(for LT tires of the same size, type, and load rating), it should be
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included in the tire rotation process. The proper procedure is to use
the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tire rotation procedures,
or if not available, to use the appropriate rotation pattern shown,
inserting the spare in the right rear position. Place the tire that
would have gone to the right rear in the spare tire storage position
as the new spare.
•
Important! After rotation, adjust the pressure of the individual tires
to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation or the inflation
pressure recommended by Nitto for an optional fitment according
to the tire’s new location on the vehicle.
•
Do not mix speed-rated tires on the same axle. Higher speed-
rated tires must remain on the rear axle. Consult your authorized
Nitto dealer.
TIRE SPEED RATING
All Nitto passenger and light truck tires have a maximum speed rating
based on size and type. Tires must never be operated in excess
of their rated speed limit! Consult your tire dealer or contact Nitto
Technical Services at (888) 529-8200 Pacific Time if you are not sure
about the maximum speed rating of your tires.
Nitto does not endorse the operation of any vehicle in an unsafe or
unlawful manner. Obey all local speed limits.
Tire speed ratings do not imply that a vehicle can be safely driven
at the speed for which the tire is rated. Speed ratings are based on
laboratory tests and relate to performance on the road, but are not
applicable if tires are underinflated, overloaded, worn out, damaged,
or altered.
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molded into the sidewall near the bead. These letters mean “Mud
and Snow.” Tires designed for use in severe snow conditions
generally have tread patterns, structure, and materials for giving
superior performance. These tires are marked with the “M&S”
designation plus a mountain/snowflake symbol
. Even the best
all-season tires will not provide acceptable levels of traction if you
drive too fast in snow or ice conditions and if you do not allow more
stopping distance on icy roads compared to dry road surfaces.
Your ability to safely maneuver your vehicle in snow or ice
conditions is considerably reduced if your tires are too worn to
provide adequate road grip.
Safe Use of Temporary Spare Tires
• The temporary spare tire is designed for temporary use only. It
must not be used continuously as a standard tire. The temporary
spare tire should be returned to the trunk as soon as it is
convenient to have your standard tire repaired or replaced.
•
The temporary spare tire should not be used for speeds exceeding
50 mph.
•
Never use chains on temporary spare tires, because it could cause
damage to your vehicle.
•
When you replace the temporary tire, replace it only with the same
type of tire.
•
A full-size spare tire in your vehicle is intended for use as a spare
when needed. Please see the “Tire Rotation” section for the proper
procedures for including the same size construction and speed-
rated tire (for LT tires of the same size, type, and load rating) in the
rotation pattern. (Do not rotate a temporary spare tire.)
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181
When a P-metric or metric tire is installed on a light truck (SUV,
pickup, minivan), the load rating is reduced by dividing by 1.1. (This
load reduction factor is prescribed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (FMVSS) and is based on the expectation that passenger-
type tires may experience more severe loading and usage conditions
when applied to light trucks.) For example, 305/50R20 has a maximum
load capacity of 3086 lbs. If this tire is fitted to a light truck, the actual
allowable load for the tire is 2805 lbs. (3086 lbs. divided by 1.1).
Consult the load and inflation charts that can be found at
www.nittotire.com. Contact Nitto Technical Service with any tire
replacement questions: (888) 529-8200 Pacific Time.
VEHICLES WITH MODIFIED SUSPENSION
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182
USEFUL TIRE INFORMATION
There is a lot of useful information molded into the sidewall of a tire.\
It shows the name of the tire, its size, if it is tubeless or tube type,\
the
maximum load and maximum inflation, and important safety warnings.
The sidewall markings on passenger and light truck tires are slightly
different.
Typical Passenger Tire
The letters “DOT” certify compliance with all applicable safety
standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT). Adjacent to this is a tire identification or serial number. This
serial number is a code with up to 12 digits that are a combination
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183
of numbers and letters. The last characters are numbers identifying
the week and year of manufacture. (For example, “1502” means the
fifteenth week of the year 2002.)
The DOT requires tire manufacturers to grade passenger car tires
based on three performance factors: Treadwear, Traction and
Temperature resistance. (See the “Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG)” section for more details.)
The sidewall also shows the type of cord and the number of plies in the \
sidewall and under the tread.
Typical Light Truck Tire
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING (UTQG)
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (“UTQG”) standards are intended to
assist you in making an informed choice in your purchase of passenger
car tires by providing information indicating relative performance in th\
e
areas of treadwear, wet stopping traction, and temperature resistance.
All passenger car tires must conform to federal safety requirements in
addition to these grades.
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pressure and load are greater than a standard load version. (Also
could be called REINFORCED).
•
: 3 peak mountain snowflake pictograph used to indicate a tire
suitable for use in severe snow conditions.
Tire Categories
ALL SEASON TIRES (All Weather Tires): Tires that are designed to
perform in a variety of road conditions in All Seasons of the year. An
All Season tire will carry “M+S”, “M&S”, or “M/S” desi\
gnation on the
sidewall. All Season tires may carry a treadwear warranty depending
on the product line.
SUMMER TIRES: Summer tires offer superior handling, grip and
cornering ability compared to standard tires under certain conditions.
Some lines may carry a treadwear warranty.
WINTER TIRES (Snow Tires): A winter tire is a tire with a tread design
and compound made specifically for snow and ice conditions and
is identified by M&S, M+S or M/S markings on the sidewalls. Tires
designed for use in severe snow conditions are further identified with a
pictograph of a mountain with a snowflake on the sidewalls and must
meet specific snow performance test requirements. Pirelli Winter tires
do not carry a treadwear warranty.
The information provided above is an overview of tire types. Tread
patterns and rubber compounds vary among the seasonal tire types
and provide varying performance characteristics and limitations.
Summer performance tires are different than winter and All Season
types. To determine which Pirelli lines carry a treadwear warranty,
please refer to the “Treadwear Coverage” sections in this document.
Pressure Recommendations
Recommended tire inflation pressures for your vehicle can be found
either on your vehicle’s tire placard or in your owner’s manual. Correct
pressures are related to load, speed and vehicle handling and are
vital for even braking, maximum traction and good tire life. Under no
circumstances should your tires’ cold inflation pressure be less than