
MICHELIN
136
is molded into the sidewall. Tires without this notation are not 
recommended for winter driving in regions that experience  
winter conditions.
Although All-Season tires are designed to provide reliable performance 
in some winter conditions, the use of four winter tires is recommended 
for optimal performance. Tires designated for use in severe winter 
conditions are marked on at least one sidewall with the letters 
“M” and “S” plus a pictograph of a mountain with a snowflake 
on it. If such a tire needs to be temporarily replaced with a 
tire not so marked, you should immediately drive at a safe 
speed to a Michelin dealer to have the spare returned to the 
trunk and replaced on your vehicle by another tire with the letters  
“M” and “S” and the related pictograph.
Tire Rotation and Replacement
To obtain maximum tread life, you must rotate your tires. You should 
rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (10,000 to 12,000 km) 
or as specified by your vehicle manufacturer, whichever occurs 
more frequently. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for any 
recommendations by your vehicle manufacturer. Monthly inspection 
for tire wear is recommended. Your tires should be rotated at the first 
sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before 6,000 miles (10,000 
km). This is true for all vehicles. When rotating tires with a directional 
tread pattern, observe the arrows molded on the sidewall that show the 
direction in which the tire should rotate.
Care must be taken to maintain the proper rotation direction. Some Tire 
Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) may not recognize that a tire 
has been moved to a different position on your vehicle. Make certain 
that your TPMS system is reset, if necessary, so as to correctly identify 
the location of each tire on your vehicle.
Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual or your vehicle dealer for this 
information. Determine whether rotated tires require tire inflation 
adjustment, because front and rear position tire pressure may vary 
according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specification due to the actual 
load on that wheel position. Some vehicles may have tires of different  

NITTO TIRE
166
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. 

NITTO TIRE
167
STUDDED WINTER/SNOW TIRES•
 Studded winter/snow tires have higher traction qualities under 
most winter weather conditions.
•
 If studded winter/snow tires are installed on the front axle of any 
vehicle, studded winter/snow tires must also be installed on the 
rear axle. DO NOT apply studded winter/snow tires only to the 
front axle.
•
 If studded winter/snow tires are installed on the rear axle of any 
vehicle, it is strongly recommended that they should also be 
installed on the front axle. Only if studded winter/snow tires are 
installed on all wheel positions of a vehicle will optimum handling 
characteristics be achieved. 

NITTO TIRE
175
TIRE SPINNING
TOWING OR USE OF SLIDE-IN TRUCK CAMPERS
If you are towing a trailer or using a slide-in truck camper, refer to your 
vehicle Owner’s Manual.
WINTER (SNOW) TIRES
Winter driving presents special challenges for vehicle handling. 
The use of winter tires, studs, and chains, while improving traction 
performance in snow and ice, requires additional caution and care with 
regard to braking, cornering, and speed. It is important to drive with 
care not only on snow and ice, but on dry and wet roads as well.
• Traction is considerably reduced as snow tires approach 50% 
tread wear, and replacement should be considered in order to 
maintain effectiveness in heavy snow conditions. 

NITTO TIRE
176
• Tire speed rating – When lower-speed-rated winter tires replace 
higher-speed-rated touring and high performance all-season radial 
tires, do not exceed the lower-rated speed. 
•
 Follow recommendations in the vehicle Owner’s Manual for winter 
tires, studs, and chains.
•
 Consult your tire dealer, the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association 
website (www.ustires.org), or your state’s Department of 
Transportation (DOT) for information regarding regulatory and 
seasonal restrictions for stud usage. 
•
 Also see the “Tire Mixing” section in this manual for more details.
•
 Nitto recommends that snow tires be installed in matched sets  
of four.
ADVERSE WEATHER DRIVING
Take special care when driving in adverse weather conditions. •
 Rain and snow – Driving in rain or snow considerably reduces the 
traction between your tires and the road surface. You must always 
reduce your speed to allow additional stopping distance between 
you and the vehicles ahead of you.
•
 Hydroplaning and wet weather driving – Hydroplaning occurs on 
wet roads and refers to the loss of tire contact with the road due to 
the build-up of water between the tire contact patch and the road 
surface. Three main factors affect hydroplaning and, consequently, 
your tire traction on wet roads: 1.
 Vehicle Speed – As speed increases, wet traction is 
considerably reduced.
2.
 Water Depth – The deeper the water, the sooner your tires 
will lose traction. Even thin water layers can create sufficient 
lubrication to cause traction loss at low speeds, depending on 
road conditions.
3.
 Tire Tread Depth – As your tires wear down, their decreased 
ability to resist hydroplaning can result in a complete loss of 
traction and vehicle control. You should always reduce your 
speed with consideration for the traffic around you.
•
 Driving on ice and snow – Your all-season tires were designed to 
provide higher levels of snow traction compared to non-all-season 
tires. You have all-season tires if you find the letters “M&S” are  

PIRELLI
192
and Replacement Tires manufactured with Pirelli Run Flat or  
PNCS technology.
If a Run Flat or PNCS tire becomes unserviceable due to road hazard 
damage within the first year from the date of purchase, or within the 
first 2/32” of the original usable tread, whichever occurs first, the Pirelli 
tire will be replaced with an identical or comparable tire at no charge \
for the tire to the owner, including mounting and balancing (subject to 
applicable limitations).
What Is Not Covered by this Limited Warranty?
• Ride-related claims after the first year of purchase, or after the 
first 2/32” of useable tread, whichever comes first. These include, 
without limitation, uneven wear due to misalignment, worn 
suspension components, mechanical interference and/or improper 
inflation, flat spots due to improper transport, improper storage 
and/or braking, road irregularities, etc.
•
 Irregular wear.
•
 Excessive noise emissions.
•
 Tires with 2/32” or less tread remaining.
•
 Tire damage and surface cracks due to use in low ambient 
temperatures (except in winter and all-season Pirelli tires as 
defined in the applicable Pirelli Product Catalog).
•
 Tire damage due to abuse or misuse, including without limitation:
 - improper mounting/dismounting practices, application of 
aftermarket wheel protection hardware, abuse, misuse,  
or neglect;
 - misapplication, including improper fitment, insufficient Speed 
Rating, or Load Index, or undersized or oversized tires;
 -improper repair, repair not conforming to U.S. Tire 
Manufacturers Association standards, or repairs with a self-
vulcanizing plug only or patch only;
 - modification by the addition or removal of material or alteration 
to change the appearance or performance of the tire;
 -recapping, retreading, regrooving or in the studding process;
 - tire operation in excess of tire/wheel manufacturers’ 
specifications and recommendations, including spinning; 

PIRELLI
198
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  

PIRELLI
199
that indicated on your vehicle’s tire placard or in your owner’s manual 
or higher than the maximum cold inflation pressure molded on to the 
tire’s sidewall. Under inflation causes excessive flexing, deterioration of 
the tire and rapid wear of the tread edges. Over inflation results in an 
uncomfortable ride, a reduced area of tire contact with the road surface\
 
(i.e., smaller tire footprint), higher susceptibility to impact damage and 
rapid wear on the tread center. Whether inflated by air or nitrogen, 
regular inflation pressure maintenance remains critical and necessary. 
Use of nitrogen alone is not a replacement for regular inflation   
pressure maintenance.
WARNING: Driving on tires with improper inflation pressure is 
dangerous. These situations can cause a tire failure, including 
tread/belt separation, even at a later date, which could lead to an 
accident and serious personal injury or death.
Inflation pressure must be checked at least once a month and before 
long trips, and should be checked only when the tire is cold or before i\
t 
has been driven. Driving even a short distance causes tires to heat up 
and the air pressure to increase. Never reduce or “bleed” air from\
 hot 
tires since your tires will then be underinflated when they cool down. 
Always use a reliable pressure gauge.
UHP Summer Tires
The special tread compounds formulated for Ultra High Performance 
(UHP) summer tires are optimized for maximum dry and wet 
performance in warm temperatures. The compounds in these tires will 
have decreased performance, such as lateral and braking traction, at 
temperatures below 45° F or when driving on snow or ice. In addition,\
 
they can lose flexibility and may develop random surface cracks 
at very cold temperatures; therefore extra care should be used in 
handling tires. All Season or winter tires should be installed for use at 
temperatures below 45° F, UHP summer tires are not recommended 
for lower temperature conditions.
DOT Street Legal Competition Tires
P Zero Trofeo, P Zero Trofeo R, P Zero Corsa and P Zero Corsa 
System tire lines use special tire construction and compounds to