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vehicles have specific recommendations regarding Winter tire use;
consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual and tire information placard.
• If Winter tires are to be applied to the front axle of any vehicle, they
m
ust also be applied to the rear axle for safe operation. This applies
to all passenger cars and light trucks, including Front Wheel Drive
(FWD), Four Wheel Drive (4WD) and All Wheel Drive (AWD) vehi -
cles.
• If Winter tires are to be applied to the rear axle of any vehicle, it is
r
ecommended that they also be installed on the front axle.
• It is generally acceptable to apply a tire with a lower speed rating
t
han your original tires for use in Winter weather conditions;
however, speed should be reduced accordingly. All Winter tires
should be the same speed rating. See “Tire Speed Ratings” in this
manual.
• Winter tires used in warmer, Summer weather conditions may wear
m
ore rapidly.
• Studded Winter tires follow the same recommendations as above;
c
onsult a qualified tire service professional for information
regarding any seasonal restrictions.
TIRE MIXING
HIGH SPEED DRIVING
• R egardless of the speed and handling capabilities of your car and its
t
ires, a loss of vehicle control can result from exceeding the
maximum speed allowed by law or warranted by traffic, weather,
vehicle, or road conditions.
WARNING!
Driving your vehicle with an improper mix of tires is dangerous.
Yo
ur 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 and a qualified tire
service professional for proper tire replacement.
WARNING!
Driving at high speed is dangerous and can cause a vehicle
ac
cident, including serious personal injury or death.
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• High-speed driving should be left to trained professionals operating
under controlled conditions.
• No tire, regardless of its design or speed rating, has unlimited
c
apacity for speed, and a sudden tire failure can occur if its limits are
exceeded. See “Tire Speed Ratings,” the next section in this manual.
Refer to your vehicle Owner’s Manual for any tire pressure
re
commendations for high speed driving.
TIRE SPEED RATINGS
A tire bearing a letter “speed rating” designation indicates the tire’s
sp
eed capability according to standardized laboratory tests. This
speed rating system is intended to permit comparison of the speed
capabilities of different tires. When replacing your tires, consult your
vehicle Owner’s Manual and tire information placard for
recommendations, if any, concerning the use of speed rated tires.
• To avoid reducing the speed capability of the vehicle, replace a
s
peed rated tire only with another tire having at least the same
speed rating. It is the “top speed” of the “slowest” tire on the vehicle
which limits the vehicle’s top speed without tire failure.
• The tire’s speed rating is void if the tire is repaired, retreaded,
d
amaged, abused, or otherwise altered from its original condition.
Thereafter, it should be treated as a non-speed rated tire.
• Non-speed rated tires are usually for ordinary passenger car or light
t
ruck service and not for high speed driving.
• For winter tires used in cold weather conditions, it is generally
a
cceptable to apply a tire with a lower speed rating than your orig -
inal tires; however, speed should be reduced accordingly. All winter
ti
res should be the same speed rating. Some vehicles have specific
recommendations regarding winter tire use; consult your vehicle
Owner’s Manual and tire information placard. See “Winter Tires” in
this manual.
These speed ratings are based on standardized laboratory tests under
sp
ecific, controlled conditions. While these tests may relate to
performance on the road, real-world driving is rarely identical to any
test conditions. Your tire’s actual speed capability may be less than its
rated speed since it is affected by factors such as inflation pressure,
load, tire condition (including damage), wear, vehicle condition
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(including alignment), driving conditions, and duration at which the
speed is sustained. Use the following chart to compare the speed
ratings of tires.
The tire’s speed rating designation appears on the tire sidewall with
t h
e tire size. Examples:
* In standardized laboratory tests that relate to highway speeds.
Ac
tual tire speed and performance capability depend on factors such
as inflation pressure, load, tire condition, wear, and driving
conditions.
** Any tire having a maximum speed capability above 149 mph
(2
40 km/h) may, at the tire manufacturer’s discretion, include a “Z” in
th
e size designation (i.e. P275/40ZR17).
*** For tires having a maximum speed capability above 186 mph
(3
00 km/h), a “Z” must appear in the size designation and a “Y”
ma
rked in brackets (as shown) in the service description.
**** Consult the tire manufacturer for maximum speed capability.
Speed
Symbol Speed Category*
mph km/h
M 81130
Q 99160
R 106 170
S 112 180
T 118 190
U 124 200
H 130 210
V 149 240
Z** >149 >240
W 168 270
Y 186 300
(Y)** >186
P275/40ZR17 max > 149 mph (240 km/h)****
P275/40R17 93Wmax = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93Wmax = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93Ymax = 186 mph (300 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93(Y)max > 186 mph (300 km/h)****
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TIRE SPINNING
RADIAL TIRE ROTATION
The purpose of tire rotation is to minimize irregular or uneven wear
c a
used by maintaining a tire in one rotation direction and one position
over an extended period. Rotate tires as recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer or every 5,000 miles. Individual tire pressures must be
ch
ecked after rotation and adjusted to the vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendation for the tire’s new location on the vehicle. Vehicle
alignment should be checked if irregular wear is evident.
For vehicles with a “temporary use” spare tire, follow the vehicle
ma
nufacturer’s recommended pattern for rotation, or, if not provided,
the following may be used:
WARNING!
Spinning a tire to remove a vehicle stuck in mud, ice, snow, or wet
gr
ass can be dangerous. A tire spinning at a speedometer reading
above 35 mph (55 km/h) can in a matter of seconds reach a speed
ca
pable of disintegrating a tire with explosive force. Under some
conditions, a tire may be spinning at a speed twice that shown on
the speedometer. This could cause serious personal injury or
death to a bystander or passenger. Never spin a tire above a
speedometer reading of 35 mph (55 km/h).
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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.
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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.
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The spare tire in your vehicle is intended to be used as a spare when
needed. The spare tire carrier is not intended to be used for long term
storage, except for “temporary use” tires. For more information, see
“Your Spare Tire” and “Radial Tire Rotation” in this manual.
TIRE SERVICE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Normal tire maintenance and Limited Warranty services are available
at
locations across the US and Canada. For more information, visit us
on the internet at
www.bridgestonetire.com
, or please call the
Technical Service Department:
US: 800-356-4644 or Canada: 800-267-1318
A
dditional information on the care and service of automobile and
li
ght truck tires is available from the following organizations:
U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association 1400 K Street, N.W. Washington,
DC
20005-2403
https://www.ustires.org
Rubber Association of Canada 2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 4, Suite 250
Mi
ssissauga, Ontario L5N 1W1
https://www.tracanada.ca
TIRE REGISTRATION
Registration of your tires is an important safety precaution since it
en
ables the manufacturer to notify you in the event of a recall. When
you purchase replacement tires, the retailer will provide a registration
card on which the tire identification numbers have been recorded; fill
in your name and address on the card and mail it promptly. Some
retailers may submit the registration for you. You do not need to
register tires which come as original equipment on new vehicles—the
vehicle and tire manufacturers handle that for you.
WARNING!
Improper storage can damage your tires in ways that may not be
vi
sible and can lead to a failure resulting in serious personal
injury or death.
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RFT TIRES WITH RUN-FLAT TECHNOLOGY
If your vehicle is equipped with
Bridgestone® or Firestone® brand
RF
T tires, this chapter presents
specific maintenance and safety issues
associated with these tires that are in addition to those covered
elsewhere in this manual.
What is RFT? Run-Flat Technology tires are extraordinary tires that
ut
ilize specially designed components to temporarily support your
vehicle in the event of inflation pressure loss, such as from a
puncture. This gives you the ability to drive to a convenient and safe
location to change your tire (if equipped with a spare) or have it
inspected for possible repair or replacement.
Naturally, certain run-flat and low pressure operating limitations
ap
ply, which varies according to the specific self-supporting tire
design. Like all tires, during normal operation, they must be properly
inflated and maintained. Regardless of the design or quality, no tire is
indestructible.
RFT — How to Identify: B
ridgestone® and Firestone® brand tires are
marked on the sidewalls, near the wheel, with the RFT logo (shown
above).
RFT INFLATION PRESSURE
Like other tires, RFT tires need proper inflation pressure maintenance
fo
r safe operation and to achieve the maximum tire life and
performance. Check inflation pressures monthly and before long trips
or carrying extra weight. Use an accurate tire gauge and check
pressures when the tires are cold. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendation for inflation pressure settings as indicated on the
vehicle tire information placard and/or in the vehicle Owner’s
Manual. Do not forget the spare, if applicable. See “Tire Inflation
Pressure” in this manual.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
A functioning Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) must be used
wi
th your Run Flat tires. These tires ride so well even without inflation
pressure, the TPMS may be necessary to alert you of an inflation
pressure loss condition. When alerted, follow the instructions in your
vehicle Owner’s Manual and see “Run-Flat or Low Tire Pressure
Operation,” the following section in this manual.