BFGOODRICH® TIRES
28
You should have complete confidence in your new BFGoodrich®
tires. Still it is important to register your tires in the event that we need
to contact you. For online tire registration, visit
https://
www.tireregistration.com
.
TIRE DISABLEMENT SAFETY WARNING
Any tire may fail as a result of an improperly repaired puncture,
i m
pact damage, improper inflation, overloading 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 or death and/
or property damage. To reduce the risk of a tire failure, BFGoodrich®
recommends you thoroughly read and follow the recommendations
in this BFGoodrich® Limited Warranty/Owner’s Manual, the vehicle
Owner’s Manual, tire placard information, and tire sidewall
information regarding safety warnings, proper tire use and
maintenance.
CONTROLLABILITY
CONTROLLING A VEHICLE WHEN A TIRE FAILURE OCCURS
If a tire failure occurs, you may hear a loud noise, feel a vibration,
a n
d/or the vehicle may pull toward the side of the failed tire. If
possible, step on the accelerator momentarily to maintain forward
momentum and ensure vehicle control.
It is important that you DO NOT BRAKE OR ABRUPTLY TURN
TH
E STEERING WHEEL.
Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator and hold the steering
wh
eel firmly while steering to remain in your lane. Once the vehicle
has slowed and is fully under control, apply the brakes gently; safely
pull over to the shoulder and come to a stop. Inspect the tires. If one
or more tires look flat or low, show detachment or other damage,
remove tire assembly and replace it with a properly inflated spare.
Bumps or bulges may indicate detachment within the tire body and
require inspection by a qualified tire technician.
WARNING!
DISREGARDING ANY OF THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS AND/
OR
INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN THIS MANUAL MAY
RESULT IN TIRE FAILURE OR EXPLOSION CAUSING
SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
BFGOODRICH® TIRES
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DRIVING ON ANY TIRE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT
INFLATION PRESSURE IS DANGEROUS
Any underinflated tire builds up excessive heat that may result in
su
dden tire destruction. If tires are supplied as original equipment,
refer to the tire decal on the vehicle (check vehicle and/or vehicle
Owner’s Manual for decal location) for the recommended operating
pressures. For replacement tires, the correct inflation pressure will be
provided by your tire retailer; if not, refer to the vehicle decal.
These inflation pressures must be maintained as a minimum.
Ho
wever, do not exceed the maximum pressure rating indicated on
the tire sidewall.
CHECK THE COLD INFLATION PRESSURES IN ALL YOUR
TI
RES, INCLUDING THE SPARE, AT LEAST ONCE EACH
MONTH
Failure to maintain correct inflation may result in improper vehicle
ha
ndling and may cause rapid and irregular tire wear, sudden tire
destruction, loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
Therefore, inflation pressures should be checked at least once each
month and always prior to long distance trips. This applies to all tires,
including sealant types, and Self-Supporting tires which are as
susceptible to losing air pressure as any other type of tire if not
properly maintained.
UNDERINFLATION
It is impossible to determine whether tires are properly inflated by
si
mply looking at them. It is almost impossible to “feel or hear” when
a tire is being run underinflated or nearly flat. Tires must be checked
monthly with a tire pressure gauge.
Pressures should be checked when tires are cold, in other words,
be
fore they have been driven on. Driving, even for a short distance,
causes tires to heat up and air pressure to increase.
Checking pressure when tires are hot:
If pressures are checked after tires have been driven for more than
th
ree minutes or more than 1 mile, (1.6 km) the tires become hot and
th
e pressures will increase by approximately 4 psi. Therefore when the
tire pressure is adjusted under these conditions, it should be increased
to a gauge reading of 4 psi greater than the recommended cold
inflation pressure.
BFGOODRICH® TIRES
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Check cold pressure as soon as possible, preferably within 24 hours.
“Bleeding” air from hot tires could result in under-inflation. Use an
accurate tire gauge to check pressures. Never allow children to
inflate or deflate tires.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring
Sy
stem (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. We recommend that you manually monitor and check tire
pressure inflation with a pressure gauge.
Your tires should have the recommended pressure listed by your
ve
hicle’s manufacturer. This information can be found in the vehicle
Owner’s Manual and often on a placard located in the vehicle’s door
jamb, inside the fuel hatch, or on the glove compartment door. If you
have a plus size fitment that requires a higher inflation pressure, your
TPMS will require re-calibration to the new inflation pressure. Refer
to your tire dealer/installer of plus size tires for proper inflation
pressure.
We recommend checking air pressure once each month, and before a
lo
ng trip. Whether you have a full-sized or mini-spare, make sure that
it is properly inflated as well. If the TPMS generates improper
monitoring or signals we recommend that you consult your Owner’s
Manual provided with your vehicle and follow up with FCA US LLC.
For Example Only:
Gauge reading of hot tire: .............................................. 32 psi (220 kPa)
If recommended cold inflation pressure is: .................... 30 psi (205 kPa)
Desired gauge reading of hot tire 30 + 4 psi = .............. 34 psi (205 + 30 = 235 kPa)
Therefore: add 2 psi ...................................................... (15 kPa)
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31
TIRE SPINNING
Do not spin wheels in excess of 35 mph (55 km/h) as indicated on the
sp
eedometer. Excessive speed in a free-running, unloaded tire can
cause it to “explode” from centrifugal force. The energy released by
such an explosion is sufficient to cause serious physical injury or
death. Never allow anyone to stand near or behind the spinning tire.
When in mud, sand, snow, ice or other slippery conditions, do not
en
gage 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 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 CAN BE DANGEROUS
Correct inflation pressure is especially important. H
owever, at high
speeds, even with the correct inflation pressure, a road hazard, for
example is more difficult to avoid and if contact is made, has 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.
If you see any damage to a tire or wheel, replace it with the spare at
on
ce and visit a participating BFGoodrich® Tire Retailer.
Exceeding the maximum speeds shown on the following page for each
ty
pe of BFGoodrich® tire will cause the tire to build up excessive heat
which can cause tire damage that could result in sudden tire
destruction and rapid air loss. Failure to control a vehicle when one or
more tires experience a sudden air loss can lead to an accident.
In any case, you should not exceed reasonable speeds as indicated
by
the legal limits and driving conditions.
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Anytime you see any damage to your tires or wheels, replace with the
spare at once and immediately visit any BFGoodrich® tire retailer.
IMPACT DAMAGE
A tire impacted by a road hazard (curb, pothole, debris) may be
da
maged but not have visible signs of damage on its surface. A tire
damaged by an impact may sustain a sudden failure a day, week, or
even months later. You may not recall hitting an object that damaged
or injured your tires. Air loss, unusual tire wear, localized wear or
vibrations can also be signs of internal 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 if you
feel or hear any unusual vibration, replace with a properly inflated
spare at once and immediately visit any qualified tire technician.
INSPECTION
When inspecting your tires, including the spare, check the air
pr
essures. 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
we
ar, particularly on the edges of the tire tread, which may be
caused by misalignment or underinflation. If any such damage is
found, the tire must be inspected by your BFGoodrich® tire retailer
at once. Use of a damaged tire could result in tire failure and an
accident.
All tires will wear out faster when subjected to high speeds as well as
ha
rd cornering, rapid starts, sudden stops, frequent driving on roads
which are in poor condition, and off road use. Roads with holes and
rocks or other objects can damage tires and cause misalignment of
your vehicle. When driving on such roads, drive carefully and slowly,
and before driving again at normal or highway speeds, examine your
tires for any damage, such as cuts, bulges, penetrations, unusual wear
patterns, etc.
WEAR BARS
BFGoodrich® tires contain “Wear-Bars” in the grooves of the tire tread
wh
ich show up when only 2/32 nds of an inch (1.6 mm) of tread is
re
maining. At this stage, your tires must be replaced. Tires worn
beyond this stage are extremely dangerous.
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36
It is especially important to check the vehicle manufacturer’s Owner’s
Manual when mixing, matching or replacing tires on 4 Wheel Drive
(4WD) vehicles, as this may require special precautions.
BFGOODRICH® DOES NOT RECOMMEND MIXING SELF
SU
PPORTING STRUCTURE (SSS) TIRES WITH NON-SSS TIRES
OTHER THAN THE TEMPORARY USE OF THE SPARE TIRE.
WINTER DRIVING
Tires which meet the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA)
de
finition of snow tires are marked M/S, M&S. On such tires, this
designation is molded into the sidewall. Tires without this notation
are not recommended for winter driving.
While All-Season tires are designed to provide reliable
performance in some winter conditions, the use of four
wi
nter tires is recommended for optimum perfor -
mance. Tires designated for use in severe winter condi -
tions are marked on at least one sidewall with the letter
“M
” and “S” plus a pictograph of a mountain with a snowflake on it.
TIRE ROTATION AND REPLACEMENT
To obtain maximum tire wear, it may be necessary to rotate your tires.
Re
fer to your vehicle Owner’s Manual for instructions on tire rotation.
If you do not have an Owner‘s Manual for your vehicle, BFGoodrich®
recommends rotating your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (10,000 to
12
,000 km).
Monthly inspection for tire wear is recommended. Your tires should
be
rotated at the first sign of irregular wear, even if it occurs before
6,000 miles (10,000 km). This is true for all vehicles.
When rotating tires with a directional tread pattern, observe the
ar
rows molded on the sidewall which show the direction the tire
should turn. Care must be taken to maintain the proper turning
direction.
Some Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) may not recognize
th
at 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 vehicle Owner’s Manual or your vehicle dealer.
Determine whether rotated tires require tire inflation adjustment as
fr
ont and rear position tire pressure may vary according to the vehicle
BFGOODRICH® TIRES
37
manufacturer’s specification due to the actual load on that wheel
position. Some vehicles may have different sized tires mounted on the
front and rear axles, and these different sized 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
co
nstruction should be used in a five tire rotation. Always check the
inflation pressure of the full-size spare immediately before
incorporating it into rotation. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s
recommended pattern for rotation, or if not available, see a qualified
tire technician.
REPLACEMENT OF TWO TIRES
It is recommended that all four tires are replaced at the same time.
Ho
wever, whenever only two tires are replaced, the new ones should
be put on the rear. The new tires, with deeper tread, may provide
better grip and water evacuation in wet driving conditions.
CUSTOMIZATION OF TIRES, WHEELS, OR SUSPENSION ON
SU
VS AND LIGHT TRUCKS
Due to their size, weight and higher center of gravity, vehicles such as
SU
Vs and light trucks do not
have the same handling characteristics
as automobiles. Because of these differing characteristics, failure to
operate your SUV/truck in a proper and safe manner can increase the
likelihood of vehicle rollover. Modifications to your SUV/truck tire
size, tire type, wheels or suspension can change its handling
characteristics and further increase the likelihood of vehicle rollover.
Whether your SUV/truck has the original equipment configuration
for tires, wheels and suspension or whether any of these items have
been modified, always drive safely, avoid sudden, sharp turns or lane
changes and obey all traffic laws. Failure to do so may result in loss of
vehicle control leading to an accident and serious injury or death.
TIRE ALTERATIONS
Do not make or allow to be made any alterations on your tires.
Al
terations may prevent proper performance, leading to tire damage
which can result in an accident. Tires which become unserviceable due
to alterations such as trueing, whitewall inlays, addition of balancing
or sealant liquids, or the use of tire dressing containing petroleum
distillates are excluded from warranty coverage.
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38
REPAIRS - WHEREVER POSSIBLE, SEE YOUR BFGOODRICH®
TIRE RETAILER AT ONCE
If any BFGoodrich® tire sustains a puncture, have the tire demounted
an
d thoroughly inspected by any BFGoodrich® tire retailer for
possible damage that may have occurred.
A tread area puncture in any BFGoodrich® passenger or light truck
ti
re can be repaired provided that the puncture hole is not more than
1/4” in diameter, not more than one radial cable per casing ply is
damaged, and the tire has not been damaged further by the
puncturing object or by running underinflated. Tire punctures
consistent with these guidelines can be repaired by following the
Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommended repair
procedures.
TIRE REPAIRS
Repairs of all tires must be of the combined plug and inside patch
t y
pe. Plug only repairs are improper. A tire should be removed from
the rim and inspected prior to repair. Any tire repair done without
removing the tire from the rim is improper. An improperly repaired
tire will cause further damage to the tire by either leaking air or
allowing air, moisture and contaminants to enter the structure of the
tire. An improperly repaired tire can fail suddenly at a later date.
Never repair a tire with less than 2/32 nds of an inch tread remaining.
At
this tread depth, the tire is worn out and must be replaced.
TEMPORARY SPARE TIRES
When using any temporary spare tire, be sure to follow the vehicle
ma
nufacturer’s instructions.
READING THE DOT
DOT XXXX XXXX XXX (prior to August 2000)
DOT XXXX XXXX XXX (1990-1999)
DOT XXXX XXXX XXXX (after July 2000)
THE DOT
The “DOT” symbol certifies tire manufacturer’s compliance with US
De
partment of Transportation (DOT) 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