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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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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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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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loss in flexibility can lead to potential cracking and other damage to
the tire. To minimize the chances of this happening, you are advised to
follow these instructions:1.
Do not move or operate the car with these tires in conditions
below 15°F (-9°C).
2.
Avoid moving these tires in conditions below 15°F (-9°C).
3.
Before mounting and dismounting, store these tires for at least
24 hours in a temperature-controlled environment of 68°F (20°C)
or warmer.
4.
Remove these tires from the vehicle and deflate to half the normal
air-pressure during prolonged periods of non-use or storage.
Always inspect tires for signs of cracking and never use tires that
have cracked.
SPECIAL ADVICE FOR LIGHT TRUCKS
Never exceed the speed limit as indicated by the speed symbol on
the tire’s sidewall. See the chart and explanation of speed ratings in
this manual.
If you do not know the speed rating of your Nitto brand tire, contact
your Nitto dealer or Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. for current information.
Tires Designated As “LT” with No Speed Rating Indicated
on the Sidewall
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It is not recommended that any light truck be operated at speeds in
excess of legal limits. However, if it is anticipated that sustained driving
at speeds in excess of 65 mph may be required, then the following
adjustments or recommendations should be followed:•
At speeds from 66 mph through 75 mph, cold inflation pressure
must be increased 10 psi above the recommended pressures for
the load being carried.
•
Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure of the wheel (all
wheels have maximum allowable inflation pressures).
Replacement Tires for Light Trucks – P-Metric vs LT-Truck
Tire installers should exercise extreme caution when replacing tires on
light trucks.
The maximum load capacity stamped on the sidewall of a P-metric tire
is reduced by a factor of 1.1 when used on a light truck, a sport utilit\
y
vehicle, or a trailer.
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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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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