Page 177 of 260
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.
Page 178 of 260

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
Page 179 of 260

NITTO TIRE
177
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.)
Page 180 of 260
NITTO TIRE
178
TIRE STORAGE
Tires should be stored indoors in a cool dry place where water
cannot collect inside the tires. The tires should be placed away
from harmful ozone-producing electric generators and motors and
sources of heatsuch as hot pipes. Storage surfaces should be
clean and free of grease, gasoline, or other substances, which can
deteriorate the rubber.
Competition Tire Storage
The rubber compounds used in these tires have unique properties that,
when compared to other tires, can cause them to lose some of their
flexibility when used or handled in conditions below 15°F (-9°C). This
Page 181 of 260

NITTO TIRE
179
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
Page 182 of 260
NITTO TIRE
180
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.
Page 183 of 260
NITTO TIRE
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
Page 184 of 260
NITTO TIRE
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