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CHECKING YOUR TIRE’S AIR PRESSURE
Checking your air pressure at least once a month is vital to help your
ti
res perform properly and help you get the best gas mileage possible.
Tires can lose up to 7 kPa (1 psi) per month under normal conditions
and lose up to 7 kPa (1 PSI) per every 9°C (16°F) drop in temperature.
Here are some simple steps on how to check the air pressures in your
tires:
1. Remove the valve stem cap.
2
. Place the end of the tire gauge firmly against the tire’s valve stem.
3
. Read the current pressure displayed on the gauge that is currently
i
n the tire.
4. Increase pressure at this time (if needed) and recheck with your tire
g
auge.
5. Replace the valve stem cap.
6
. Repeat until all of your tires have been checked and adjusted
a
ccordingly.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is a safety
system found in most vehicles manufactured after 2005.
Th
ere are pressure sensing transmitters mounted inside of
each tire that sends readings to the central computer 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.
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ROTATION AND WEAR
Falken recommends rotating your tires at least every 8,000 km
(5,000 miles) and periodically inspecting your tires to make sure they
ar
e 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***
TIRE REPLACEMENT
Falken recommends replacing your tires when the tread wears down
t o
the wear bars at 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch), which are located across
th
e tread in several locations around the tire. If only two tires are being
replaced, the two new tires should always be installed on the rear of
the vehicle to aid in preventing your vehicle from hydroplaning, even
if your car is front wheel drive. It is always recommended to have your
new tires balanced during installation, and alignment checked if the
previous tires show and irregular wear. Tires that have been in use for
five years or more should continue to be inspected by a qualified tire
specialist, at least annually. It is recommended that any tires 10 years
old or older 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 have not reached the legal worn out limit
at 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch).
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TIRE REPAIRS
In the event that you get a flat tire while driving, it is best to find a
ne
arby, safe place to stop and install your spare tire or call a tow truck.
The less distance that you drive on your low or flat tire, the better
chances your tire has of being repairable. Once you are able to get to
your local servicing tire dealer, have them dismount the tire from the
rim and thoroughly inspect the inside of the tire. It is important to
know the difference between a proper tire repair and an improper one
because it can be critical to you and your vehicle’s safety. An improper
repair could pose a safety threat to you and your family and could also
affect your tire’s manufacturer warranty. Here are some tips in
determining if your damaged tire can be properly repaired or not:
• A lways have the tire removed from the wheel and inspected before
a
ny repair is performed.
• Tires with less than 1.6
mm (2/32 of an inch) of tread should NOT
be
repaired.
• Never repair a tire with a puncture larger than 6
mm (1/4 of an
in
ch).
• Repairs should be limited to the tread area only.
•
Repairs cannot overlap one another.
•
A plug and patch or plug/patch combo should be used to effectively
r
epair a tire puncture.
• If anything seems questionable at any time during the repair
p
rocess, ask your service advisor for more details and/or call the
tire manufacturer to make sure the tire’s warranty is not being
voided.
TIRE MIX USAGE
WARNING!
Never mix tires of different size or construction and/or type on
an
y axle. (Except for temporary use as a spare tire.) Always refer to
the vehicle’s owner manual for proper tire fitments.
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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.
Ho
wever, speeds should be reduced to match the tires new
“maximum” speed capability.
Any tire that is repaired, damaged, abused, altered from its original
st
ate or retreaded voids the speed rating on that particular tire and
should be considered a non-speed rated tire.
HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES
Various new vehicles come equipped with high performance and/or
lo
w 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,
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
o r
iginal equipment tires and installing winter tires for the winter months.
WARNING!
Falken does not recommend the use of mixing different speed
ra
tings on a vehicle. This can cause poor handling and
unpredictable steering.
WARNING!
Never use just two winter tires. It could lead to adverse handling,
lo
ss of control, which could cause serious injury or death.
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STORING YOUR TIRES
When storing your tires for any extended period of time, be sure to
th
oroughly 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
precautions will help slow the aging process and reduce the damage
to your tires.
SPEED LIMITS
TIRE SPINNING
WARNING!
Operating your vehicle in excess of the posted speed limit or the
ma
ximum 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.
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
di
sintegrating a tire with explosive force. In some circumstances,
a tire 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
(3
5 mph).
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B) LIMITED WARRANTY
This limited warranty applies to Falken brand original equipment
pa
ssenger 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 five years of the date of
production, based on the tire DOT serial number.
1. WHAT IS COVERED AND FOR HOW LONG
F
alken tires that are originally equipped on this vehicle are war -
ranted against any defects in the materials and workmanship for
th
e usable life of the original tread. The limited warranty termi -
nates at the flush appearance of the tread wear indicators at 1.6 mm
(2
/32 of an inch) remaining tread depth.
• Free Replacement If a tire becomes unserviceable due to such
d
efect within the first 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch) of tread wear, the
ti
re will be replaced free of charge with the same or comparable
Falken tire.
• Prorated Replacement After the first 1.6
mm (2/32 of an inch) of
we
ar, a prorated adjustment credit will be given based on the
percentage of remaining usable tread depth, down to the
remaining 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch) tread wear bar indicator. No
cr
edit is given if the tire is worn beyond the flush appearance of
the tread wear bar indicator (less than 1.6 mm (2/32 of an inch)
tr
ead depth remaining).
• Out-of-Round / Out-of-Balance Replacement Tires that are
d
eemed to be out-of-round or out-of-balance will be accepted for
adjustment during the first 0.8 mm (1/32 of an inch) of the orig -
inal tread depth and will be replaced free of charge with the same
or
similar Falken tires (no labor costs will be covered). A set of
four (4) tires from the same vehicle will not be accepted for
out-of-round or out-of-balance claims.
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2. WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY
• Tires that becomes unserviceable due to road hazard damages
(
cuts, snags, punctures, bruises, impact breaks, etc.) improper
repair technique or materials, improper inflation, overload,
irregular wear, wheel imbalance, defective mechanical vehicle
components (brakes, suspension, wheels, etc.) improper suspen -
sion alignment, accident, fire, chemical damage, damage from
ch
ain use, racing, off-road use, run flat, improper installation,
vandalism, or abuse.
• Tires branded “NA” or a tire in which the DOT numbering has
b
een removed.
• Tires presented for a warranty claim by someone other than by
t
he original purchaser, or tires that were transferred to another
vehicle from the vehicle in which the tires were originally
installed.
• Tires having a failure or failures caused by a previous damages
o
r repairs.
• The cost of tire repair or retreading is not covered by this
w
arranty and will be the sole responsibility of the tire owner.
Possible NON Covered Reasons/Conditions due to:
Chipping/Chunking/Tearing Puncture
Corrosion/Wreck Racing or any Competition
Fire Repair Failure
Impact Break or Concussions Road Hazards
Improper Inflation Pressure Sidewall Cut or Damage
Improper Mounting/Dismount Theft or Vandalism
Mechanical Defects of the Vehicle Tread Cuts
Misalignment Wheel Imbalance
Misapplication Willful Abuse
Overloading
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3. OWNER’S OBLIGATIONS
At least monthly, the vehicle owner(s) should check the tires’ air
pr
essure with a gauge and inflate to the recommended cold air
pressure level listed on the driver door placard. Do not rely on car
servicers to perform the checks. The tires should be rotated at least
every 8,000km (5,000 miles) or earlier if uneven wear is occurring,
an
d proof of maintenance records should be kept. The owner(s)
should have the tires rebalanced if vibration is experienced, and the
vehicle’s alignment should be checked if uneven or rapid wear is
occurring, or when suggested by the vehicle’s manufacturer.
All warranty claims must be presented to an authorized Falken
de
aler or participating car dealership. The owner(s) must present
any supporting maintenance records and documentation neces -
sary to help determine if the tire(s) in question are deemed covered
by
the limited warranty or not.
4. LEGAL RIGHTS A
ll implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability
an
d fitness for a particular purpose shall be limited in duration to
the above period. To the extent permitted by law, Falken Tire Cor -
poration shall not be responsible for incidental or consequential
da
mages, such as loss of use of the tire or the vehicle on which it is
used, inconvenience, or commercial loss, some states do not allow
limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, or the exclusion
or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above
limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives
you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights, which
vary from state to state. This is the only express warranty applica -
ble to Falken brand tires and supersedes the terms of any previous
wa
rranty. Falken neither assumes nor authorizes anyone to make
or assume for it any other warranty.
C) UNDERSTANDING YOUR TIRES
TIRE SPEED SYMBOLS
Tires that are speed-rated are identified by the following letter
sy
mbols: Q, S, T, U, H, V, W, Y, (Y), or (ZR). The Speed Rating’s
Symbol can be found as a part of the tire size designation (ex: 215/
65HR16) or after the load index immediately following the tire size
designation (ex: 215/65R16 97H). The Speed Rating’s Symbol
indicates the maximum speed that a tire can handle when properly
inflated and loaded.