25
BFGOODRICH TIRE
year of decade, e.g.: 1995, 1985, etc.) For the 1990-1999 decade
BFGOODRICH® brand tires are marked with a triangle pointing to the
last three numeric characters. Tires produced after July 2000 have an
additional digit to identify a given decade. For example, 2800 means
the tire was produced during the 28th week of 2000; 0201 during the
2nd week of 2001. If the last digits of your DOT number contain three
numeric characters and are not marked with a triangle, consult a
qualified tire professional to determine the year of manufacture.
Service Life and Safety for Passenger Car and Light
Truck Tires Including Spare Tires
Tires are composed of various types of material and rubber
compounds having performance properties essential to the proper
functioning of the tire itself. These component properties evolve over
time. For each tire, this evolution depends upon many factors such
as weather, storage conditions, and conditions of use (load, speed,
inflation pressure, maintenance etc.) to which the tire is subjected
throughout its life. This service-related evolution varies widely so that
accurately predicting the serviceable life of any specific tire in advance
is not possible. That is why, in addition to regular inspections and
inflation pressure maintenance by consumers, it is recommended that
passenger car and light truck tires, including spare tires be inspected \
regularly by a qualified tire specialist, such as a BFGoodrich tire
retailer, who will assess the tire’s suitability for continued service.
Tires which have been in use for 5 years or more should continue to
be inspected by a specialist at least annually. Consumers are strongly
encouraged to be aware not only of their tires’ visual condition and
inflation pressure but also of any change in dynamic performance such
as increased air loss, noise or vibration, which could be an indication \
that the tires need to be removed from service to prevent tire failure. \
It
is impossible to predict when tires should be replaced based on their
calendar age alone. However, the older a tire, the greater the chance
that it will need to be replaced due to the service-related evolution or
other conditions found upon inspection or detected during use. While
most tires will need replacement before they achieve 10 years, it is
recommended that any tires in service 10 years or more from the date
of manufacture, including spare tires, be replaced with new tires as
a precaution even if such tires appear serviceable and even if they
26
BFGOODRICH TIRE
have not reached the legal wear limit. For tires that were on an origina\
l
equipment vehicle (i.e., acquired by the consumer on a new vehicle),
follow the vehicle manufacturer’s tire replacement recommendations,
when specified (but not to exceed 10 years). The date when a tire
was manufactured is located on the sidewall of each tire. Consumers
should locate the Department of Transportation or “DOT” code on the
tire. The code begins with “DOT” and ends with the week and year of
manufacture. For example, a DOT code ending with “2214” indicates
a tire made in the 22nd week of 2014.
Remember . . . to Avoid Damage to Your Tires and
Possible Accident:
• INSPECT TIRES AT LEAST MONTHLY, AND IMMEDIATELY
AFTER STRIKING ANY ROAD HAZARD.
•
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AT LEAST ONCE EACH MONTH
WHEN TIRES ARE COLD AND BEFORE EVERY LONG TRIP.
•
NEVER UNDERINFLATE OR OVERINFLATE A TIRE.
•
NEVER OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLE AND TIRES.
•
ALWAYS OBEY LEGAL SPEED LIMITS AND DRIVE AT A SPEED
THAT IS REASONABLE UNDER THE ROAD AND WEATHER
CONDITIONS.
•
AVOID DRIVING OVER POTHOLES, OBSTACLES, CURBS OR
EDGES OF PAVEMENT.
•
AVOID EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPINNING.
•
IF YOU SEE ANY DAMAGE TO A TIRE, REPLACE THE TIRE
WITH A PROPERLY INFLATED SPARE AND VISIT A QUALIFIED
TIRE PROFESSIONAL AT ONCE.
•
KEEP TIRES AND WHEELS PROPERLY ALIGNED, BALANCED,
AND ROTATED.
•
HAVE MOUNTING AND REPAIRS DONE BY A TIRE
PROFESSIONAL.
•
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT YOUR
BFGOODRICH TIRE RETAILER.
FAILURE TO FOLLOW ANY OF THE RECOMMENDED
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
34
Tire Inflation Pressure
Tires need proper inflation pressure to operate effectively and perform
as intended. Tires carry the vehicle, passenger, and cargo loads and
transmit the braking, acceleration, and turning forces. The vehicle
manufacturer recommends the inflation pressures for the tires mounted
on your vehicle.SAFETY WARNING
Driving on tires with improper inflation pressure is dangerous. •
Under-inflation causes excessive tire heat build-up and internal
structural damage.
•
Over-inflation makes it more likely for tires tobe cut, punctured, or
broken by sudden impact.
These situations can cause a tire failure, even at a later date, which
could lead to serious personal injury or death. Consult the vehicle
tire information placard and/or owner’s manual for the recommended
inflation pressures.
In addition to tire damage, improper inflation pressure may also: •
Adversely affect vehicle ride and handling.
•
Reduce tire tread wear.
•
Affect fuel economy.
Therefore, follow these important recommendations for tire and vehicle
safety, mileage, and economy: •
Always keep the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended
inflation pressure in all your tires, including the spare.
•
Check their pressure monthly and before long trips or
carrying extra weight.
Your vehicle’s tire information placard and/or owner’s manual will
tell you the recommended cold inflation pressure for all your tires,
including the spare. Examples of placards are shown in Figures 1
and 2. Your placard may look differently and have dif- ferent tire and
loading information than that shown in either of the figures. You must
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
36
Different Tire Pressures for the Front and Rear Tires: For some
vehicles, the recommended front and rear inflation pressures may
be different (such as in the example shown in Figure 2). Make sure
you take this into account during inflation pressure checks and when
rotating tires.
Pressure Loss: Tires can lose 1 psi (7 kPa) per month under normal
conditions and can lose 1 psi (7 kPa) for every 10˚F (5.6˚C temperature
drop. A puncture, leaking valve, or other damage could also cause
inflation pressure loss. If a tire loses more than 2 psi (14 kPa) per
month, have it checked by a qualified tire service professional.
Tips For Safe Tire Inflation
SAFETY WARNING
Inflating an unsecured tire is dangerous. If it bursts, it could be hurled
into the air with explosive force resulting in serious personal injury or
death. Never inflate a tire unless it is
secured to the vehicle or a tire
mounting machine.
• Check your tire pressures, including your spare tire, monthly
and before long trips or carrying extra weight. Be sure to use an
accurate pressure gauge.
•
Check inflation pressure when the tires are “cold.” Tires are
considered “cold” when the vehicle has been parked for three
hours or more, or if the vehicle has been driven less than a mile at
moderate speed.
•
Never release pressure from a hot tire in order to reach the
recommended cold tire pressure. Normal driving causes tires
to run hotter and inflation pressure to increase. If you reduce
inflation pressure when your tires are hot, you may dangerously
underinflate your tires.
•
If it is necessary to adjust inflation pressure when your tires are
“hot,” set their pressure to 4 psi (28 kPa) above the recommended
cold inflation pressure. Recheck the inflation pressure when the
tires are cold.
•
If your tires lose more than 2 psi (14 kPa) per month, the tire, the
valve, or wheel may be damaged. Consult a qualified tire service
professional for an inspection.
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
37
• Use valve caps to keep the valves clear of debris and to help
guard against inflation pressure loss.
Tips For Safe Loading SAFETY WARNING
Driving your vehicle in an overloaded condition is dangerous
Overloading causes excessive tire heat build-up and internal structural
damage. This can cause a tire failure, even at a later date, which
could lead to serious personal injury or death. Consult the vehicle tire
information placard, certification label, and owner’s manual for the
recommended vehicle load limits and loading recommendations.
•
Always keep the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation
pressure in all your tires, including the spare. Check their pressure
monthly and before long trips or carrying extra weight.
•
Never exceed the maximum load rating stamped on the sidewall of
your tire.
•
Never exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) or front/rear
gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) of your vehicle.
•
Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for load recommendations
and special instructions (such as for trailer/towing and snow
plow installations).
Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life
Evaluation and maintenance of your tires is important to their
performance and the service they provide to you. Over time and/
or through use, the condition of a tire can change from exposure to
everyday road conditions, the environment, damaging events such as
punctures, and other external factors.
SAFETY WARNING
Driving on damaged tires is dangerous. A damaged tire can suddenly
fail causing serious
personal injury or death. Have your tires regularly
inspected by a qualified tire service professional.
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
38
You should visually inspect your tires on a regular basis throughout
their life, and you should have your tires periodically evaluated by a
qualified tire service professional when your vehicle is serviced such
as routine maintenance intervals, oil changes, and tire rotations. In
particular, note the following tips for spotting tire damage:•
After striking anything unusual in the roadway, have a qualified tire
service professional demount the tire and inspect it for damage. A
tire may not have visible signs of damage on the tire surface. Yet,
the tire may suddenly fail without warning, a day, a week, or even
months later.
•
Inspect your tires for cuts, cracks, splits or bruises in the tread and \
sidewall areas. Bumps or bulges may indicate a separation within
the tire body. Have your tire inspected by a qualified tire service
professional. It may be necessary to have it 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 inch (1.6 mm) or less tread groove
depth, or the tire cord or fabric is exposed, the tire is dangerously
worn and must be replaced immediately.
•
Inspect your tires for uneven wear. Wear on one side of the tread
or flat spots in the tread may indicate a problem with the tire or
vehicle. Consult a qualified tire service professional.
•
Inspect your wheels also. If you have a bent or cracked wheel,
it must be replaced.
•
Don’t forget to check the spare tire.
Make sure your tires, including the spare tire, continue to be regularly\
inspected after 5 years of service to determine if they can continue in \
service. Even when your tires appear to be usable from their external
appearance or the tread depth may have not reached the minimum
wear out depth, it is recommended that all tires (including spare tires
and “temporary use” spares) more than 10 years old be replaced wi\
th
new tires.
The 10 year period after the date of production is not an indicator of
actual service life for any individual tire. Some tires will need to be \
replaced before 10 years due to conditions such as punctures, impact
damage, improper inflation, overloading, tread wear or other conditions
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
48
For vehicles with a “temporary use” spare tire, follow the vehicle\
manufacturer’s recommended pattern for rotation, or, if not provided,
the following may be used:
If your spare is the same size, load rating, and type of tire as your ro\
ad
tires, it should be included in the tire rotation process. For vehicles \
with
a “full-size” spare, the following rotation pat- terns may be used:
FULL SIZE SPAREFULL SIZE SPARE
Note:
•
Never include a “temporary use” spare tire in the rotation.
•
Tires with directional tread patterns must be rotated so the
direction of revolution does not change; this may require
demounting/mounting the tires.
•
Special attention should be given if your vehicle is equipped with
a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Rotation of your tires
may affect the system; consult your vehicle owner’s manual or a
qualified tire service professional.
•
Some vehicles may have different size tires/wheels on front and
rear which would restrict rotation. Always check and follow the
vehicle manufacturer’s rotation recommendation.
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
49
• To use a full-size spare in the rotation pattern on vehicles with
dual rear wheels, consult your vehicle owner’s manual for the
recommended procedures or consult the vehicle manufacturer.
Your Spare Tire
Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for proper application of your
spare tire. Your car may be equipped with a “temporary use” spare tire;
this spare may differ in size and construction from the other tires on
your vehicle.
SAFETY WARNING
Check inflation pressure before use. Failure to have proper inflation
pressure when using your spare tire can result in serious personal
injury or death. See “Tire Inflation Pressure” in this manual.
SAFETY WARNING
Mounting a “temporary use” tire on a wheel which is not specifically
designed for it, or placing another type tire on a wheel designated
for temporary use can be dangerous. Your vehicle’s handling
characteristics can be seriously affected. You could have an accident
resulting in serious personal injury or death. Consult your vehicle
owner’s manual for proper application of your “temporary use”
spare tire.
The spare tire in your vehicle is intended to be used as a spare when
needed. The spare tire carrier is not intended to be used for long
term storage, except for “temporary use” tires. If your spare is t\
he
same size, load rating, and type of tire as your road tires, it should b\
e
included in the tire rotation process; see “Radial Tire Rotation” in this
manual for more information.
The spare should be included in regular tire inspections and inflation
pressure checks. In addition, it should be replaced 10 years after
date of manufacture, regardless of condition or tread depth. For more
information, see the “Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life” in
this manual.