BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
59
tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variation in driving habits, service practices and \
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions on specified government
test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. Warning: The traction grade
assigned to a tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction\
characteristics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing
the tire’s resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds
to a level of performance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law. Warning: The temperature
grade is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat buildup and a possible
tire failure.
BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
61
b. Improper use or operation, including, without limitation:
Improper inflation pressure, overloading, tire/wheel spinning,
use of an improper wheel, tire chain damage, misuse,
misapplication, negligence, tire alteration, or for racing or
competition purposes.
c.
Insufficient or improper maintenance , including, without
limitation: Failure to rotate tires as recommended in this
manual, wheel misalignment, worn suspension components,
improper tire mounting or demounting, tire/wheel assembly
imbalance, or other vehicle conditions, defects, or
characteristics.
d.
Contamination or degradation by petroleum products or
other chemicals, fire or other externally generated heat,
or water or other material trapped inside the tire during
mounting or inflation.
e.
Improper repair. Improper repair voids this Limited
Warranty.
f.
For RFT tires only, improper run-flat or low tire pressure
operation, including, without limitation: Exceeding speed,
distance, or other run-flat/low-pressure operation limitations.
2.
Rapid tread wear or wear-out. Original equipment tires have no
mileage warranty.
3.
Weather/ozone cracking after 4 years from date of tire
manufacture.
4.
Ride disturbance or vibration after 1/32 inch (0.8mm) of tread
wear use.
5.
Tires with sealant, balance, or other filler material that was not
originally applied or inserted by the tire manufacturer.
6.
Tires used in commercial service.
7.
Tires purchased and normally used outside the United States
and Canada.
8.
The cost of applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
9.
Failure to follow any of the safety and maintenance
recommendations or warnings contained in this manual.
This Limited Warranty is in addition to and/or may be limited by any
other applicable written warranty you may have received concerning
special tires or situations.
CONTINENTAL TIRE
69
TO REPRESENT THROUGH THIS LIMITED WARRANTY AND
ADJUSTMENT POLICY THAT TIRE FAILURES CAN OR
CANNOT HAPPEN.
CTA’S Obligations
Replacement of eligible tires will be made by the dealer where you
purchased your vehicle or by an alternate Authorized Dealer. CTA will
replace the tire pursuant to the terms of this Warranty. Tires that are
replaced under this Waranty become the property of CTA.
Owner’s Obligations
To make an eligible claim under this Warranty, the owner must
present a claim, with the tire to an Authorized Dealer. For the nearest
Authorized Dealer, consult the Continental brand internet address(es),
or the 800 telephone number(s) shown on the back of this Warranty.
Owner must present new vehicle registration form or new vehicle
sales invoice indicating the date of purchase. Owner will be required
to sign the CTA Limited Warranty Claim Form or dealer replacement
sales receipt.
Owner is responsible for paying all applicable taxes charged by the
servicing dealer and is also responsible for paying shipping, local tire-
disposal fees and parts or service regardless of mileage or months of
service. This includes payment for tire rotation, alignment, towing, road
service, valve stems and tire repairs.
Owner is responsible for maintaining proper tire air pressure and for
proper maintenance of the tire.
Safety Warning
Ignoring any of the safety and information contained in this Warranty
may result in tire failure, causing serious injury or death.•
Tire failure due to under inflation /overloading . Follow vehicle
owner’s manual or tire placard in vehicle for proper inflation
and loading.
CONTINENTAL TIRE
70
• Explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper tire mounting.
Tire mounting / demounting can be dangerous. It should be
performed only by a trained tire specialist using proper tools and
procedures. Prior to tire mounting/demounting, the U.S. Tire
Manufacturers Association wall charts and manuals should be
read to obtain the proper procedures. The failure to follow these
procedures may result in faulty positioning of the tire and/or rim,
that may cause the assembly to burst with force sufficient to cause
injury or death.
•
Tire failure due to damage. Inspect your tires frequently for
scrapes, bulges, separations, cuts, snags and other damage from
road hazards. Damage from impact can occur to the inner portions
of your tire without being visible to the outside. If you suspect a tire\
has been damaged from striking anything unusual in the road, you
must have the tire removed from the rim and inspected both inside
and out by a trained tire specialist. Air loss or unusual tire wear
can also be warning signs that a tire may have internal damage. If
you notice these conditions, have your tire inspected by a trained
individual.
•
Tire failure due to excessive tire spinning . Avoid tire spinning.
The centrifugal force generated by a free-spinning tire/rim
assembly may cause a sudden tire explosion resulting in vehicle
damage and/or serious injury or death. Never exceed 35 mph
(55 km/h) as indicated on your speedometer when your vehicle is
stuck in snow, mud or sand and your tire(s) is/ are spinning. Use
a gentle backward and forward rocking motion to free your vehicle
for continued driving. Never stand or permit anyone else to stand
near or behind a tire spinning while attempting to push a vehicle
that is stuck.
Self Supporting Runflat (SSR) Tire Owners
CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse of punctured
Continental SSR tires.
Even a trained tire specialist may be unable to recognize internal
structural damage to a Self Supporting Runflat (SSR) tire resulting
from having been driven in an under inflated or zero inflation pressure
condition. Such damage may not be visible on the surface of the inner
FALKEN
76
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a safety system found
in most vehicles manufactured after 2005. There are pressure
sensing transmitters mounted inside of each tire that sends readings
to the central computer (ECU) in your vehicle. The TPMS system will
alert you when one or more of your tires are underinflated by 25%
or more by turning on a warning light on your vehicle’s dashboard or
heads up display (HUD) screen. This means that one or more of your
tires may have a low-pressure condition. Follow the instructions in your
owner’s manual.
Rotation and Wear
Falken recommends rotating your tires at least every 8,000km (5,000
miles) and periodically inspecting your tires to make sure they are
free of road hazards (such as nails, screws, large wood splinters, etc.)
that might penetrate your tires causing them to lose air pressure and
to ensure they are wearing evenly. Common irregular wear patterns
are: misalignment wear, where the tire shows excessive outer or inner
tread wear. Tire sidewalls should also be inspected for cuts, snags,
bruises, and weather cracking. If any of these noted conditions are
present during inspection, we recommend returning to your servicing
tire dealer to be corrected to ensure long tire life. ***Never include a
temporary spare tire in your rotation pattern***
Rotation patterns
based on what
type of drive
your vehicle is:
FALKEN
78
• A plug and patch or plug/patch combo should be used to effectively
repair a tire puncture.
•
If anything seems questionable at any time during the repair
process, ask your service advisor for more details and/or call the
tire manufacturer to make sure the tire’s warranty isn’t
being voided.
Tire Mix Usage
SAFETY WARNING
Never mix tires of different size or construction and/or type on any axle.
(Except for temporary use as a spare tire.) Always refer to the vehicle’s
owner manual for proper tire fitments.
Tire Speed Ratings
Falken recommends replacing your tire(s) with the same speed rating
as the original tires equipped on your vehicle.
It is okay to use a lower speed rated tire when using winter tires.
However, speeds should be reduced to match the tires new “maximum”
speed capability.
Any tire that is repaired, damaged, abused, altered from its original
state or retreaded voids the speed rating on that particular tire and
should be considered a non-speed rated tire.
SAFETY WARNING
Falken does not recommend the use of mixing different speed ratings
on a vehicle. This can cause poor handling and unpredictable steering.
High Performance, Low Aspect Ratio Tires
Various new vehicles come equipped with high performance and/or
low aspect ratio tires from the factory. These tires generally provide
increased vehicle handling characteristics, but may also have
engineering performance trade-offs related with their designs. Low
aspect ratio tires have reduced sidewall heights and may be more
vulnerable to damage from road hazards, potholes, and other objects,
FALKEN
79
like curbs. Your vehicle’s wheels are susceptible to these same
dangers as well. Some vehicles may be originally equipped with high
performance tires that are designed for warmer weather use reducing
traction in colder, winter weather conditions. High performance tires
also pose the possibility of wearing more quickly, giving a stiffer ride,
and producing louder noise than standard all-season tires during
operation. Refer to your vehicle owner’s manual, tire information
placard, or qualified tire service professional for more information about
these kinds of tires.
Winter Tires
Falken recommends all four tires be replaced when replacing your
original equipment tires and installing winter tires for the winter mont\
hs.
SAFETY WARNING
Never use just two winter tires. It could lead to adverse handling, loss
of control, which could cause serious injury or death.
Storing Your Tires
When storing your tires for any extended period of time, be sure to
thoroughly clean your tires with a tire brush, soap, and water to remove\
any dirt, salt, and brake dust from the tires. If you are storing your
tires still mounted on the wheels, use a wheel brush and approved
wheel cleaner to clean your wheels. Then dry the wheels and tires
with a towel and allow them to fully dry. DO NOT apply any tire
dressings while storing your tires. Tire compounds are made to resist
weather cracking and ozone damage. Place each clean and dry tire
in an airtight plastic bag and seal the bag with tape to help reduce oil\
evaporation. Store your tires out of direct sunlight and somewhere that \
is well shielded from the elements, like a climate-controlled room or
dry basement. Storing the tires in a garage or shed usually exposes
the tires to a wide range of temperatures as well as precipitation and
humidity. Keep the tires away from sources that emit ozone like electric
motors that use contact brushes, furnaces, sump pumps, etc. Although
tires will still age regardless of how they are stored, these precaution\
s
will help slow the aging process and reduce the damage to your tires.
FALKEN
80
Speed Limits
SAFETY WARNING
Operating your vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit or the
maximum speed allotted by driving conditions has the potential to be
dangerous. Higher driving speeds create excessive heat buildup in a
tire, leading to a possible tire failure.
Tire Spinning
SAFETY WARNING
Spinning a tire to get a stuck vehicle out of mud, ice, snow, sand,
or wet grass can be potentially dangerous. A spinning tire at a
speedometer reading above 55 km/h (35 mph) can be capable of
disintegrating a tire with explosive force. In some circumstances, a tir\
e
may be spinning at twice the speed displayed on the speedometer.
This can cause serious injury or death to you, a passenger, or
bystander. Never spin a tire above 55 km/h (35 mph).
Limited Warranty
This limited warranty applies to Falken brand Original Equipment
Passenger Car, Temporary Spare, and Light Truck steel belted radial
tires bearing the complete description and serial number required by
the Department of Transportation (DOT). This warranty is effective only
to tires for which claims are made within 6 (six) years of the date of
production, based on the tire DOT serial number.
What Is Covered and for How Long
Falken tires that are originally equipped on this vehicle are warranted \
against any defects in the materials and workmanship for the usable
life of the original tread. The limited warranty terminates at the flush
appearance of the tread wear indicators at 1.6mm (2/32 of an inch)
remaining tread depth.
a.
Free Replacement
If a tire becomes unserviceable due to such defect within the first
1.6mm (2/32 of an inch) of tread wear, the tire will be replaced