BFGOODRICH® TIRES
40
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.
Old valves may leak. When new tubeless tires are mounted, have
ne
w valves of the correct type installed. Tubeless tires must only be
mounted on wheels designed for tubeless tires i.e., wheels which
have safety humps or ledges.
It is recommended that you have your tires and wheels balanced. Tires
an
d wheels which are not balanced may cause steering difficulties, a
bumpy ride, and irregular tire wear.
Be sure that all your valves have suitable valve caps. The valve cap
is
the primary seal against air loss.
SERVICE LIFE FOR PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT TRUCK TIRES
IN
CLUDING SPARE TIRES
The following recommendation applies to passenger car and light
tr
uck tires. Tires are composed of various types of material and rubber
compounds, having performance properties essential to the proper
functioning of the tire itself. These component properties evolve over
time. For each tire, this evolution depends upon many factors such as
weather, storage conditions, and conditions of use including load,
speed, inflation pressure, maintenance etc. to which the tire is
subjected throughout its life. This service-related evolution varies
widely so that accurately predicting the serviceable life of any specific
tire in advance is not possible.
In addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance
by
consumers, it is recommended to have passenger car and light
truck tires, including spare tires, inspected regularly by a qualified tire
specialist, such as a tire dealer, who will assess the tire’s suitability for
continued service. Tires which have been in use for five years or more
should continue to be inspected by a specialist at least annually.
Consumers are strongly encouraged to be aware not only of their tires’
vi
sual condition and inflation pressure but also of any change in
dynamic performance such as increased air loss, noise or vibration,
which could be an indication that the tires need to be removed from
service to prevent tire failure.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
63
HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES
Many new vehicles come equipped from the factory with high
pe
rformance and/or low aspect ratio tires. Generally, these tires
provide increased vehicle handling capability, but may also have
numerous engineering performance trade-offs associated with their
designs.
• Low aspect ratio tires, with reduced sidewall height, may be more
s
usceptible to damage from potholes, road hazards, and other
objects such as curbs. This is true for the wheels as well. Therefore,
as with all other tires, it is important to drive with care and maintain
proper inflation pressure and load conditions. See “Tire Inflation
Pressure” and “Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life” in this
manual.
• Some sports cars and other handling performance enhanced vehi -
c
les, including sedans and light trucks/SUVs, may be originally
eq
uipped with high performance tires that are more optimized for
warmer weather use. Colder, winter weather traction may be
reduced for these types of tires. Winter tires may be recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer for colder weather application. See
“Winter Tires,” the next section in this manual.
• High performance tires may also wear more quickly, ride more
f
irmly, and produce more noise during operation.
Consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual and tire information placard, or
a
qualified tire service professional, for more information and
specifics regarding these types of tires.
WINTER TIRES
In Winter driving conditions, vehicle control and safe operation under
b r
aking and cornering is especially dependent upon the rear tires. For
this reason, Winter tires are best applied to all wheel positions. Some
WARNING!
Winter driving presents special challenges for vehicle mobility.
Th
e use of winter tires (including studs and chains)—while
improving traction performance in snow and ice—requires special
care with regard to acceleration, braking, cornering, and speed. It
is important to drive with care, not only on snow and ice, but on
dry and wet roads as well.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
68
If your spare is the same size, load rating, and type of tire as your road
tires, it should be included in the tire rotation process. For vehicles
with a “full-size” spare, the following rotation patterns may be used:
NOTE:
• Never include a “temporary use” spare tire in the rotation.
• Tires with directional tread patterns must be rotated so the direction
o
f revolution does not change; this may require demounting/
mounting the tires.
• Special attention should be given if your vehicle is equipped with a
T
ire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Rotation of your tires
may affect the system; consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual or a
qualified tire service professional.
• Some vehicles may have different size tires/wheels on front and
r
ear which would restrict rotation. Always check and follow the
vehicle manufacturer’s rotation recommendation.
• To use a full-size spare in the rotation pattern on vehicles with dual
r
ear wheels, consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual for the recom -
mended procedures or consult the vehicle manufacturer.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
69
YOUR SPARE TIRE
Consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual for proper application of your
sp
are tire. Your car may be equipped with a “temporary use” spare
tire; this spare may differ in size and construction from the other tires
on your vehicle.
The spare tire in your vehicle is intended to be used as a spare when
n e
eded. The spare tire carrier is not intended to be used for long term
storage, except for “temporary use” tires. If your spare is the same
size, load rating, and type of tire as your road tires, it should be
included in the tire rotation process; see “Radial Tire Rotation” in this
manual for more information.
The spare should be included in regular tire inspections and inflation
pr
essure checks. In addition, it should be replaced 10 years after date
of manufacture, regardless of condition or tread depth. For more
information, see the “Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life” in this
manual.
TIRE STORAGE
Tires should be stored indoors in a cool, dry place where water cannot
co
llect inside them. Tires should be placed away from electric
generators/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.
WARNING!
Check inflation pressure before use. Failure to have proper
in
flation pressure when using your spare tire can result in serious
personal injury or death. See Tire Inflation Pressure in this
manual.
WARNING!
Mounting a “temporary use” tire on a wheel which is not
sp
ecifically designed for it, or placing another type tire on a wheel
designated for temporary use can be dangerous. Your vehicle’s
handling characteristics can be seriously affected. You could have
an accident resulting in serious personal injury or death. Consult
your vehicle owner’s manual for proper application of your
“temporary use” spare tire.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
78
Ply Composition and Materials: The actual number of plies in the
sidewall and tread area and the generic name(s) of their cord
material(s) are marked on at least one sidewall. For example:
• TREAD 2 PLY POLYESTER + 2 STEEL
•
SIDEWALL 2 PLY POLYESTER
R
adial: Radial ply tires will have the word "radial" on at least one
s
idewall. An “R” in the tire size designation also indicates radial ply
construction.
Tubeless or Tube Type: T
ires are marked as either “tubeless” or “tube
type,” whichever is applicable, on at least one sidewall.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (“UTQG”) standards are intended
to
assist you in making an informed choice in your purchase of
passenger car tires by providing information indicating relative
performance of these tires in the areas of tread wear, wet braking
traction (straight-ahead), and temperature resistance. All passenger
car tires must conform to federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of
th
e tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a
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
gr
ades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
NOTE:
The traction grade assigned to a tire is based on straight-ahead
br
aking traction tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
98
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.
GOODYEAR® DUNLOP® TIRES
125
•TIRE SPINNING. On slippery surfaces such as snow, mud, ice, etc.,
do not spin tires in excess of 35 mph (55 km/h), as indicated on the
sp
eedometer.
• EXCESSIVE WHEEL SPINNING.
This can also result in tire disin-
tegration or axle failure.
TIRE CARE AND MAINTENANCE GUIDE
The easiest way to help ensure satisfactory mileage and performance
f r
om your Goodyear® or Dunlop® tires is to give them a simple but
frequent (at least monthly) inspection for proper inflation, even tread
wear and the presence of any damage.
DO MAINTAIN PROPER INFLATION PRESSURE IN YOUR TIRES
Proper inflation pressure is necessary for optimum tire performance,
sa
fety and fuel economy. Check inflation pressures at least once a
month and before long trips. Use an accurate tire pressure gauge.
Always check pressures when the tires are cold (when the vehicle has
been driven less than one mile). If you must check inflation when the
tires are hot, add 4 psi (27 kPa) to the recommended cold inflation
pressure. It is difficult to tell just by looking at radial tires whether
they are underinflated.*
WARNING!
Vehicle handling, traction, ride comfort and other performance
pa
rameters may be significantly affected by a change in tire size
or type. Before replacing tires, always consult and follow the
vehicle owner’s manual because some vehicle manufacturers
prohibit changing tire size. When selecting tires that are different
from the original equipment size make certain:
1. The tires have adequate load-carrying capacity based on the
v
ehicle placard,
2. The tires have sufficient inflation pressure to carry the load and
3
. There is proper clearance with no interference points between
t
he tire and vehicle.
The consumer must be aware to always drive safely and obey all
tr
affic laws. Avoid sudden, sharp turns or aggressive lane
changes. Failure to follow any of these warnings may result in
loss of control of the vehicle, leading to an accident and serious
injury or death.
GOODYEAR® DUNLOP® TIRES
126
Furthermore, when operating a vehicle equipped with radial tires, it
is difficult to notice when a tire has gone flat or nearly flat since the
“feel” of the vehicle does not change significantly.
*Evidence of air loss or repeated underinflation always requires
ex
pert inspection to determine the source of leakage and tire
removal to determine repairability. To avoid injury, NEVER attempt
to reinflate a tire that has been run severely underinflated. Progressive
air loss may result from punctures, cuts, curbing, impacts or partial
bead unseating. Some fitment causes for air loss are (1) incomplete
bead seating, (2) bead tearing caused by a machine tool due to
insufficient lubrication or improper adjustment. Leaking valve core or
rubber valve components should be replaced when problems are
detected and whenever tires are replaced.
Always maintain inflation pressure at the level recommended by
t h
e vehicle manufacturer as shown on the vehicle placard, vehicle
certification label or in the vehicle Owner’s Manual:
Under inflation is the leading cause of tire failure and may result in
se
vere cracking, component separation or “blowout.” It reduces tire
load capacity, allows excessive sidewall flexing and increases rolling
resistance, resulting in heat and mechanical damage. Maintaining
proper inflation pressure is the single most important thing you can
do to promote tire durability and maximize tread life.
Over inflation increases stiffness, which may deteriorate ride and
ge
nerate unwanted vibration. Over inflation also increases the
chances of impact damage.
DON’T OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLE
Check your vehicle Owner’s Manual to determine the load limits.
Ov
erloading your vehicle places stress on your tires and other critical
vehicle components. Overloading a vehicle can cause poor handling
or increased fuel consumption and may cause tire failure.
Overloading your tires can result in severe cracking, component
separation or “blowout.”
Never fit your vehicle with new tires that have less load capacity than
sh
own on the vehicle tire placard and remember that optimum rim
width is important for proper tire load distribution and function. The
maximum load capacity stamped on the sidewalls of P-Metric &
European Metric tires is reduced by 10% when used on a light truck,
utility vehicle or trailer. Never fit P-Metric or European Metric tires to
light trucks that specify LT-type replacement tires.