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BFGOODRICH TIRE
Safety Maintenance Information
Read this Owner’s Manual, the information on the sidewall of  
your tires, your vehicle owner’s manual and the tire information   
placard that came on your vehicle, for essential safety and 
maintenance information.
While you should have complete confidence in your new 
BFGOODRICH
® tires, it’s important to register your tires so we can 
contact you about any new safety developments. For online tire 
registration, visit www.tireregistration.com.
Tire Failure – Safety Warning
Any tire may fail as a result of an improperly repaired puncture, 
impact damage, improper inflation, overloading, a crack, a bulge or 
other distortion, or other conditions resulting from use or misuse. Tire 
failures, such as a rapid air loss or a tread and belt detachment, may 
increase risk of injury, death, or property damage. To reduce the risk  
of a tire failure, you should thoroughly read and follow the instruction\
s 
 in this manual, your vehicle owner’s manual, the tire information 
placard on the vehicle (located in the vehicle’s door jamb, inside 
the fuel hatch, or on the glove compartment door), and tire sidewall 
information regarding safety warnings, proper tire use, and proper  
tire maintenance.
Controlling a Vehicle When a Tire Failure Occurs
If a tire failure occurs, you may hear a loud noise, feel a vibration, o\
r 
feel the vehicle pull toward the side of the failed tire. If that happen\
s, 
DO NOT BRAKE OR ABRUPTLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. 
Instead, slowly remove your foot from the accelerator and hold the 
steering wheel firmly while steering to remain in your lane. Once the 
vehicle has slowed and is fully in your control, apply the brakes gently\
, 
safely pull over to the shoulder, and come to a stop in the safest 
location possible. Inspect all tires. If any tire looks flat or low , or shows
detachment or any other damage, replace the wheel and tire 
with a properly inflated spare after first inspecting the spare for  

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BFGOODRICH TIRE
visible damage. Bumps, bulges, or cracks in any tire may indicate 
detachment within the tire body and require inspection by a qualified 
tire professional. If any tire, including the spare, has bumps, bulges, \
cracks, or other visible damage, do not resume driving with that tire. I\
f 
you have no other option, you should drive as slowly and cautiously as 
possible until you can obtain towing or mechanical assistance. If the 
spare tire is not properly inflated, do not resume driving with that tire 
unless you have no other option, in which case you should drive only 
as slowly as is safely possible in the traffic conditions until you can 
both get the spare tire properly inflated and have it checked by a tire 
professional to ensure that it is safe to use.
Proper Inflation
Driving on Any Tire That Does Not Have the Correct 
Inflation Pressure Is Dangerous
An underinflated tire builds up excessive heat that may result in 
sudden tire failure and an accident. If your tires are those that came 
as original equipment on your vehicle when it was new, refer to the tire 
information placard that came on your vehicle (located in the vehicle’s 
door jamb, inside the fuel hatch, or on the glove compartment door), 
for the recommended operating pressures. For replacement tires, ask 
your BFGoodrich tire retailer for the correct inflation pressure; if you
do not, refer to the tire information placard that came on your vehicle \
(located in the vehicle’s door jamb, inside the fuel hatch, or on the 
glove compartment door), for the recommended operating pressures. 
These inflation pressures must be maintained as a minimum. Never 
exceed the Maximum Pressure rating stated on the tire sidewall. Note 
that proper inflation pressures for rear tires may differ from proper 
inflation pressures for front tires. The Maximum Pressure rating on
the tire is normally not equal to the placard pressure. 

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BFGOODRICH TIRE
Check the Cold Inflation Pressure in All Your Tires, 
Including the Spare, at Least Once Each Month
Failure to maintain correct inflation may result in improper vehicle 
handling and may cause rapid and irregular tire wear, sudden tire 
failure, loss of vehicle control, and an accident. Therefore, inflation 
pressures should be checked at least once each month and before 
every long-distance trip. This applies to all tires, including sealant types 
and self-supporting tires, which are as susceptible to losing inflation as 
any other type of tire if not properly maintained. Pressures should be 
checked before the tires have been driven on or after they have been 
allowed to cool down to the ambient air temperature. Driving for even
a short distance causes tires to heat up and their inflation to increase, 
and recommended tire pressures are for tires that have not been 
heated by recent driving on them.
Underinflation and Overinflation Must Be Checked  
with a Tire Pressure Gauge
Tires must be checked monthly with a tire pressure gauge. It is 
impossible to determine whether tires are properly inflated by simply 
looking at them. It is almost impossible to feel or hear when a tire is \
being run underinflated or overinflated. Use an accurate tire pressure 
gauge to check tire pressure each month. Small and inexpensive tire 
pressure gauges are available. You should keep one in your vehicle’s 
glove box or trunk and use it monthly and as otherwise needed.
Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
Your vehicle is likely equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System 
(TPMS) that is designed to monitor the pressure of tires mounted on 
your vehicle and sends a signal to the driver if a tire pressure falls 
below a predetermined level. A TPMS should not replace monthly 
manual pressure checks for all four tires and the spare. You should 
manually monitor and check tire pressure inflation with a pressure 
gauge. Your tires should have the recommended pressure listed by 
your vehicle’s manufacturer. This information can be found in the 
vehicle owner’s manual and is on a placard located in the vehicle’s  

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BFGOODRICH TIRE
door jamb, inside the fuel hatch, or on the glove compartment door.  
If you have plus-size tires that require a higher inflation pressure, your 
tire pressure monitoring system will require re-calibration to the new 
proper inflation pressure. Refer to your tire dealer/installer of plus-size 
tires for proper inflation pressure. You should check inflation in all your 
tires, including the spare, once each month and before every long trip. \
Regardless whether your spare is a full-size spare or a mini-spare, 
make sure that it is properly inflated. If the TPMS generates improper 
monitoring or signals, you should consult your vehicle owner’s manual 
and follow up with your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Tire Spinning
Do not spin wheels at more than 35 mph (55 km/h) as indicated 
on your vehicle’s speedometer. Excessive speed in a free-running, 
unloaded tire can cause it to “explode” from centrifugal force. The 
energy released by such an explosion may cause serious physical 
injury or death. Never allow anyone to stand near or behind a spinning 
tire. When in mud, sand, snow, ice, or another slippery condition, 
do not engage in excessive wheel spin. Accelerating the motor 
excessively, particularly with automatic transmission vehicles, may 
cause a drive tire that has lost traction to spin beyond its speed-
enduring capability. This is also true when balancing a drive  
tire/wheel assembly on the vehicle using the vehicle engine to spin  
the tire/wheel assembly.
High Speed Driving Is Dangerous
Correct inflation pressure is especially important. However, at high 
speeds, even with the correct inflation pressure, a road hazard is more 
difficult to avoid, and if tire contact is made with it, there is a greater 
chance of causing tire damage than at a lower speed. Moreover, 
driving at high speed reduces the reaction time available to avoid 
accidents and bring your vehicle to a safe stop. 

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BFGOODRICH TIRE
you should promptly inspect your tires. If you see any damage to any 
tire or wheel, replace it with a properly inflated spare at once and have 
your tires, including the spare, inspected by a tire professional.
A tire that hits a road hazard or object can be damaged but not have 
any visible sign of damage on its surface. A tire damaged by an impact 
can suddenly fail a day, a week, or even months later. You may not 
recall having hit an object or a road hazard and may not see any tire 
damage, but such an event may have damaged one or more of your 
tires. Air loss, unusual tire wear, localized wear, or vibrations can also 
be signs of internal tire damage and, accordingly, should be addressed 
as promptly as are instances of visible tire damage.
If you suspect any damage to your tire or wheel from an impact with a 
curb, pothole, debris on the road, or any other road hazard or object, 
or if you feel or hear any unusual vibration, replace the tire and wheel\
 
with a properly inflated spare at once and immediately visit a qualified 
tire professional.
Inspection
If you see any damage to a tire or wheel, replace it with a properly 
inflated spare at once and visit a BFGoodrich Tire Retailer.
Inspect your tires at least once per month, and immediately after 
contacting any road hazard or object, such as a curb, a pothole, or 
debris. When inspecting your tires, including the spare, check the 
inflation as instructed above. If the pressure check indicates that one 
of your tires has lost pressure of two pounds or more, look for signs of\
 
penetration, valve leakage, or wheel damage that may account for the 
air loss.
Always look for bulges, cracks, cuts, penetrations, and abnormal tire 
wear, particularly on the edges of the tire tread. Any of these may 
be caused by misalignment, contact with road hazards or objects, 
or improper inflation. If any such damage is found, the tire must be  

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BFGOODRICH TIRE
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 vehicl\
e 
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 size mounted on 
the front versus the rear axles, and these different tires have rotation 
restrictions. Always check the vehicle owner’s manual for the proper 
rotation recommendations.
Full-Size Spare
Full-size spare tires (not temporary spares) of the same size and 
construction should be used in a five-tire rotation and should be 
inspected by a tire professional during routine tire inspection. Always 
have spare tires inspected before installation. Tires are composed 
of various types of rubber compounds and other materials having 
performance properties essential to the proper functioning of the tire. \
These component properties change over time. Always check the 
inflation pressure of the full-size spare and look for any indication of 
cracking or other damage immediately before incorporating the spare 
into rotation. If you see any damage, or if the tire is underinflated, do 
not resume driving with that tire unless you have no other option, in 
which case you should drive only as slowly as is safely possible in the \
traffic conditions until you can both get the spare tire properly inflated 
and have it checked by a tire professional to ensure that it is safe 
to use. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pattern for 
rotation. If such a recommendation is unavailable, see a qualified  
tire professional.
  

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BFGOODRICH TIRE
Storage
Tires contain materials to protect their outer surfaces from ozone 
and weather checking. As the tire rolls and flexes, those materials 
continually migrate to the surface, replenishing this protection 
throughout the normal use of the tire. Consequently, when tires sit 
outdoors, unused for long periods of time (a month or more), their 
surfaces become dry and more susceptible to ozone and weather 
checking, and the casing becomes susceptible to flat spotting. For 
this reason, tires should always be stored in a cool, dry, clean, indoor 
environment. If storage is for one month or more, eliminate the weight 
from the tires by raising the vehicle or by removing the tires from the \
vehicle. Failure to store tires in accordance with these instructions 
could result in damage to your tires or premature aging of the tires 
and sudden tire failure. When tires are stored, be sure they are placed \
away from sources of heat and ozone such as hot pipes and electric 
generators. Be sure that surfaces on which tires are stored are clean 
and free from grease, gasoline or other substances which could 
deteriorate  the rubber. Tires exposed to these materials during storage 
or driving could be subject to sudden failure.
One reason why your spare tire should be included in the tire rotation 
schedule is that temperatures in a vehicle’s closed trunk, especially 
in sunny geographical areas, can become high enough so that, over 
a sustained period, they can cause small cracks or other changes to 
the properties of a tire stored in the trunk. An accumulation of such 
changes can weaken the tire and, especially if the tire is not kept 
properly inflated, make it unsafe to use when it is needed.
Proper Tire Mounting
Tire mounting can be dangerous and must be done by professionally 
trained persons using proper tools and procedures as specified by the 
U.S. Tire  Manufacturers Association.
Your tires should be mounted on wheels that are the correct size 
and type and are in good, clean condition. Wheels that are bent, 
chipped, rusted (steel wheels) or corroded (alloy wheels) may cause 
tire damage. The inside of the tire must be free from foreign material.  

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Have your tire retailer check the wheels before mounting new tires. 
Mismatched tires and rims can explode during mounting. Also, 
mismatched tires and rims can result in dangerous tire failure on 
the road. If a tire is mounted by error on the wrong-sized rim, do not 
remount it on the proper rim – scrap it. It may have been damaged 
internally (which is not externally visible) by having been dangerously 
stretched and could fail on the highway, resulting in an accident.
Old valves may leak. When new tubeless tires are mounted, have 
new valves  of the correct type installed. Tubeless tires must be 
mounted only on wheels designed for tubeless tires, i.e., wheels that 
have safety humps or ledges. Always utilize valve caps capable of 
containing the tire’s inflation, should the valve core leak. The valve 
cap is the primary seal against air loss. Each tire and wheel assembly 
should be balanced to ensure proper tire and vehicle performance and 
to maintain tire warranty coverage. Tires and wheel assemblies that 
are not balanced may cause steering difficulties, a bumpy ride, and 
irregular tire wear.
Temporary Type Spare Tires
When using any temporary type spare tire, be sure to follow the vehicle \
manufacturer’s instructions.
Reading the Dot
DOT XXXX XXXX XXX (prior to August 2000)
DOT XXXX XXXX XXXX (after July 2000)
The Dot
The “DOT” symbol certifies tire manufacturer’s compliance with 
U.S. Department of Transportation tire safety standards. Next to 
the symbol is the tire identification or “serial number.” The first two 
characters identify the plant where the tire was manufactured. The 
next two characters reflect the tire size. The following one to four 
digits may be used at the tire manufacturer’s option as a descriptive 
code. The last three characters are numbers identifying the week and 
year of manufacture. (Example: “O25” means second week of the