FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
94
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
FALKEN
MADE BY SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES
Congratulations!
Your new vehicle is fitted with high performance and high quality
Fa
lken tires.
In order to guarantee that you receive the best performance and
qu
ality from your new Falken tires, we recommend that you read and
follow all of the maintenance and safety tips provided in this
document. We also suggest that you have your Falken tires
periodically inspected and maintained by a qualified tire service
professional.
A) TIRE CARE AND RECOMMENDATIONS
PROPER INFLATION AND FUEL ECONOMY
Ensure maximum performance and a long life from your tires by
ch
ecking the air pressures at least once a month and set them to the
vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure(s) listed on the
vehicle’s tire placard or in your Owner’s Manual. Always check and
adjust your air pressure when your tires are cold, preferably first thing
in the morning before driving. Never release air pressure from tires
when they are hot. Wait until the tires cool down and recheck, adding
air or releasing as required. Falken endorses the use of nitrogen in
your tires because it helps your tires maintain optimal pressure for
longer periods of time and reduces the amount of moisture inside of
the tire and wheel assembly.
*Some plus size applications may require different air pressure(s)
t h
an what is listed on your vehicle’s placard or Owner’s Manual. In
this case, please consult your tire dealer or Falken Tire for proper
inflation pressure(s).
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
95
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Tires need to be properly inflated to effectively operate and perform
as
intended. Tires carry the weight of the vehicle, passengers, and
cargo as well as bear the forces of braking, accelerating, and turning.
The vehicle manufacturer sets the inflation pressures for the original
equipment tires that are on your vehicle.
Driving with improperly inflated tires is dangerous. An under
in
flated tire will generate excessive heat build-up that will cause
damage to the internal structure and inner liner of the tire. Besides tire
damage, improper tire inflation pressures can also affect your
vehicle’s ride and handling, tire tread wear, and fuel economy. It is
recommended to always keep all of your tires, including the spare, at
the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressures and be
sure to check the air pressure monthly and before going on long road
trips or carrying extra weight in your vehicle.
Your vehicle’s tire placard and/or Owner’s Manual will list the cold
in
flation pressure(s) for your vehicle’s original equipment tires,
including the spare. The placard can be found on the driver side door
or door jamb area. If you have questions about understanding your
vehicle’s tire placard, please refer to your Owner’s Manual or ask a
qualified tire service professional.
Example of what your tire placard looks like:
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102
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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MAX LOAD AND INFLATION
The maximum load and inflation pressure are marked on the tire
si
dewall in english and metric units.
PLY COMPOSITION AND MATERIALS
The number of plies and their generic composition of cord materials in
th
e sidewall and tread areas can be found on at least one sidewall of a
tire.
RADIAL MARKING
A radial ply tire will have the word “radial” marked on at least one
si
dewall. An “R” found in the tire size marking also refers to the tire
being a radial ply tire.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING SYSTEM (UTQG)
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQG) were created to
he
lp you make an informed decision when purchasing passenger car
tires by providing relative information about a tire’s treadwear,
traction, and temperature characteristics. Here is a breakdown of the
different categories that the UTQG grades:
TREAD WEAR
The tread wear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate
of
the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half (1½) 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 variations 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
grades represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specific government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
GOODYEAR® DUNLOP® TIRES
124
This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have
other rights that vary from state to state or province to province.
HOW DO YOU OBTAIN AN ADJUSTMENT?
1. You must present the tire to be adjusted to an authorized Good -
y
ear® or Dunlop® service facility. Tires replaced on an adjustment
ba
sis become the property of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Company or Goodyear Canada Inc.
2. You must pay for taxes and any additional services you order at the
t
ime of adjustment plus any additional service that may be unique
to your application, e.g., Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
3. You must submit your claim on an approved claim form supplied
b
y an authorized Goodyear® or Dunlop® service facility. The form
must be filled out completely and signed, where you the owner or
an authorized agent presented the tire for adjustment. You must go
to an authorized Goodyear® or Dunlop® outlet for replacement
tires and all warranty service.
SAFETY WARNINGS
Property damage, serious injury or death may result from:
• TIRE FAILURE DUE TO UNDERINFLATION/OVERLOADING/
M
ISAPPLICATION. Follow the vehicle Owner’s Manual or tire
placard in vehicle.
• TIRE FAILURE DUE TO IMPACT DAMAGE/IMPROPER
M
AINTENANCE. Tires should be inspected regularly by a quali -
fied technician for signs of damage, such as punctures or impacts.
• TIRE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER REPAIRS.
See Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) established repair procedures at
www.ustires.org
and/or go to
www.goodyear.com
for information
on proper repair procedures.
• EXPLOSION OF TIRE/RIM ASSEMBLY DUE TO IMPROPER
M
OUNTING. Only specially trained persons should mount tires.
• FAILURE TO MOUNT RADIAL TIRES ON APPROVED RIMS.
• FAILURE TO DEFLATE SINGLE OR DUAL ASSEMBLIES
C
OMPLETELY BEFORE DEMOUNTING.
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.
GOODYEAR® DUNLOP® TIRES
129
When replacing tires, you must maintain the outside diameter and
load-carrying capacity of the Original Equipment tire. Inflation
pressure may need to be adjusted to avoid overloading the tire.
Consult the Tire & Rim Association Load and Inflation Tables,
European Tire and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO) or Japan
Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association (JATMA) standards for
correct load and inflation information.
NEVER FIT TIRES TO A VEHICLE THAT HAVE LESS
LO
AD-CARRYING CAPACITY THAN REQUIRED BY THE
ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER
Examples: Many vehicles, such as large passenger vans, require Load
Ra
nge E tires as designated by the vehicle manufacturer. Fitment of a
tire, such as a Load Range D, with less carrying capacity is not
allowed. In other cases, tires of the same size may carry different load
indexes in the service description. You must make certain the
replacement tires fitted to the vehicle have a load-carrying capacity
equal to or greater than what the Original Equipment manufacturer
specifies.
NOTE:
Goodyear® manufactured and/or marketed European- Metric
pa
ssenger tires and P-Metric passenger tires are interchangeable as
long as they have the same section width, same aspect ratio, same rim
diameter.
WARNING!
Before you replace your tires, always consult the vehicle owner’s
ma
nual and follow the vehicle manufacturer’s replacement tire
recommendations. Vehicle handling may be significantly affected
by a change in tire size or type. When selecting tires that are
different from the Original Equipment size, see a professional
installer in order to make certain that proper clearance,
load-carrying capacity and inflation pressure are selected. Never
exceed the maximum load capacity and inflation pressure listed
on the sidewall of the tire. Always drive safely and obey all traffic
laws. Avoid sudden, sharp turns or aggressive lane changes.
Failure to follow this warning may result in loss of control of the
vehicle, leading to an accident and serious injury or death.