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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.
TIRE STORAGE
When dismounted from the wheel for storage, the drag tires should
be stored indoors in a cool, dry location. The tires should be placed
away from direct sunlight, harmful ozone-producing electric generators
and motors and sources of heat, such as hot pipes. Storage surfaces
should be clean and free of grease, gasoline, or other substances,
which can deteriorate the rubber.
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160
IDENTIFYING DAMAGED WHEELS
Periodically check to see if any of the following symptoms exist, in
which case the wheel must be replaced:•
If the flange is bent.
•
If welds or rivets are leaking.
•
If the stud holes are elongated and not round. (Improper lug nut
tightening could cause this.)
•
If there are cracks in the wheel.
WORN OUT TIRES
Tires must be replaced when tread is worn to 2/32” (1.6 mm).
Treadwear indicators on Nitto tire treads show the 2/32” depth (1.6
mm). Most states require that tires be replaced when the tread depth is\
worn to 2/32” (1.6 mm). Tires may lose sufficient wet and snow traction
before reaching 2/32” (1.6 mm) of wear. Many wet weather accidents
result from skidding on worn out tires.
Excessively worn tires are more susceptible to penetrations. Consider
replacing your tires earlier if you drive in snow or wet conditions.
Any retail tire dealer will be glad to measure your tire’s tread depth for
you. Nitto recommends that tires be replaced in matched sets of four.
TIRE REPAIRS
If any tire has sustained a puncture, have the tire dismounted and
inspected internally by an authorized Nitto dealer for possible damage
that may have occurred. Only specially trained personnel using the
proper tools and procedures should repair tires.
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162
Nitto speed-rated passenger car tires may be repaired and
returned to service under the following conditions:•
Proper repair materials and procedures have been used.
•
The damage or puncture is not larger than 1/4” (6.4 mm)
in diameter.
•
The repair will be the first repair performed on that tire. (Only
one repair per tire is permitted in order to maintain a limited
speed rating.)
•
The tire must have more than 2/32” (1.6 mm) of tread remaining.
Nitto speed-rated passenger tires that have been properly
repaired qualify for reduced speed ratings as follows:
The maximum speed of a vehicle is limited by the lowest-speedrated
tire on the car.
PROPER SELECTION OF TIRES
When tires need to be replaced, don’t guess what tire is right for your
vehicle. First look at the vehicle Owner’s Manual or the Tire Information
Placard. They tell you the size of the tires that were on the vehicle as
original equipment.
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168
REPLACING TWO TIRES•
When a pair of replacement tires is selected in the same size and
construction as those on the vehicle, the two newer tires must be
installed on the rear axle and must be of equal or higher speed
rating than the front tires. Generally, new tires with deeper tread
will provide better grip and evacuate water more effectively, which
is important as a driver approaches hydroplaning situations.
Placing greater traction on the rear axle on wet surfaces is
necessary to prevent a possible oversteer condition and loss of
vehicle stability.
•
When two new tires have been installed onto the rear axle
positions, they are to be kept on the rear but rotated from side
to side. This is recommended after installing two new tires to the
rear position, or if you discover significant tread depth differences
between the front and rear positions during rotation intervals.
REPLACING ONE TIRE •
Replacing a single tire on a vehicle can have an adverse effect on
suspension systems, gear ratios, transmission, and tire treadwear.
•
If single tire replacement is unavoidable, it is recommended that
the single new tire be paired with the tire that has the deepest
tread and both be placed on the rear axle. Placing greater traction
on the rear axle on wet surfaces is necessary to prevent a possible
oversteer condition and loss of vehicle stability.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING •
Proper wheel alignment and balance are very important
considerations for safety and getting the maximum mileage from
your tires. You need to check how your tires are wearing at least
once a month.
•
Your vehicle may be out of alignment if your tires are wearing
unevenly, such as when the inside shoulder of the tire is wearing
faster than the rest of the tread. This condition not only shortens
the life of your tires, it adversely affects the handling characteristics
of your vehicle, which could be dangerous. If your tires show
irregular wear, have your vehicle’s alignment checked immediately.
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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.)
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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
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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
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203
minimum tread depth and they may be dangerous if left in service.
Tires should be removed from service for numerous reasons,
including tread worn down to minimum depth, damage or abuse
(including, without limitation, punctures, cuts, impacts, cracks, bulges,
under inflation, overloading, etc.). For these reasons, tires, including
spares, should be inspected at least once a month and before long
trips. Inspection should occur regardless of whether the vehicle is
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system. In addition to these
visual conditions, consumers should take note of and address any
change in performance such as increased air loss, noise or vibration or \
other factors.
The mere passage of time (age) does not cause tires to deteriorate,
but rather exposure to outside forces. The service life of a tire is a
function of service and storage conditions. For each individual tire,
this service life is determined by many factors such as temperature/
weather, storage conditions, and service conditions (e.g., load, speed,
inflation pressure, maintenance, and road hazard damage, etc.) to
which a tire is subjected throughout its life. Since service and storage
conditions vary widely, accurately predicting the service life of any
specific tire based on chronological age is not possible. There is no
scientific or technical data that establishes or identifies a minimum
or maximum service life, but the longer a tire has been in service,
the greater the chance that it will need to be replaced due to service-
related conditions.
Only use a mild soap solution to clean tires and rinse the soap off with
low pressure tap water, use of high-pressure sprayers may cause
damage. Never apply cleaners or other products to enhance sidewall
or tire appearance to avoid removal of substances which are intended
to protect the tire and reduce rubber degradation associated with the
impact of ozone and other environmental conditions.
The removal of these substances may degrade the rubber and can
lead to sidewall cracking. To remove the protective film from a Pirelli
tire with white letters, first flood the area with a stream of water from a
hose. After a minute or two the film will soften and it can be removed
with soft nylon brush if needed.