2022 DODGE CHARGER service

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
44
The 10 year period after the date of production is not an indicator of actual service life
for any individual tire. Some tires will need to be replaced before 10 years due to
conditions such as punctures, impact damage, improper inflation, overloading, tread
wear or other conditions involving use or misuse of the tire. If a tire is worn out or
otherwise unserviceable from damage or conditions of use, it should be replaced
regardless of when it was produced or placed in service.
The vehicle manufacturer may consider vehicle performance characteristics when
ma

king tire replacement recommendations. Consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual for any
information regarding tire service life and replacement and follow the recommendations
applicable to your vehicle.
TIRE MANUFACTURE DATE
The tire manufacture date is determined by examining the DOT tire identification
number, also known as the DOT serial number or code, which can be found on at least
one sidewall near the wheel. It may be necessary to look on both sides of the tire to find
the entire serial code. For more information on DOT serial codes, see “Tire Sidewall
Labeling” in this manual.
Tires Produced Since 2000: T
he last four (4) digits of the serial code identify the week
and year of production. In the example below, the tire was produced in the 18th week of
2000. Another example, a tire with a serial code ending in “2406” would have been
produced in the 24th week of 2006.
Tires Produced Prior to 2000: T
he last three (3) digits of the serial code identify the week
and year of production. For example, a tire with a code ending in “329” would likely have
been produced in the 32nd week of 1999, but possibly produced in 1989. If in doubt,
consult a qualified tire service professional.
TIRE REPAIRS
WARNING!


Driving on an improperly repaired tire is dangerous. An improper repair can be
unreliable or permit further damage to the tire. The tire may suddenly fail, causing
serious personal injury or death.

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
45
A complete inspection and repair of your tire in accordance with US Tire Manufacturers
Association (USTMA) procedures should be conducted by a qualified tire service
professional. While the comprehensive procedures and recommendations for tire repair
are beyond the scope of this manual, a proper tire repair includes the following:
• The tire is demounted from the wheel for a complete inspection, inside and out.
Some
damage to the tire may only be evident on the interior of the tire.
• The puncture injury is 1/4 of an inch (6 m
m) or less and must be within the tread area
as
shown in the graphic. This helps ensure long-term tire and repair durability.
• A patch is applied to the interior of the tire and the puncture hole is filled with a suit -
a
ble plug/stem filler. T
his helps ensure that the interior of the tire is adequately sealed
to prevent inflation pressure loss and prevents contamination of the steel belts and
other plies from the elements (such as water) in the outside world.
Additional notes about tire repairs:
• N ot all punctured or damaged tires can be properly repaired; consequently, they must
b
e replaced. NEVER repair a tire with any of the following conditions:
• W ear to the tire’s built-in tread wear indicators or to 2/32 of an inch (1.6
mm)
re
maining tread depth in any area of the tread.
• W ith a puncture larger than 1/4 of an inch (6
mm).
• W ith a puncture or other damage outside the repairable tread area (as shown in
t
he graphic).
• W ith a pre-existing, improper repair.
•

A ny tire repair done without removing the tire from the wheel is improper. The tire must
b
e demounted from the wheel and the interior inspected for damage that may not be
evident on the exterior of the tire.

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
46
• Using only a plug/stem, or using only a patch, is not a safe or proper repair. A patch must be applied to the interior of the tire and the puncture hole must be filled with a
suitable plug/stem filler to prevent inflation pressure loss and contamination of the
steel belts and other plies.
• N EVER substitute a tube for a proper repair or to remedy an improper repair.
•
Tubes, like tires, should only be repaired by a qualified tire service professional.
•
Some vehicle manufacturers do not recommend using repaired tires. Consult your
v
ehicle Owner’s Manual or contact the vehicle manufacturer before operating a
repaired tire on your vehicle.
ASK how your tire will be repaired. ALWAYS insist on a proper tire repair.
Emergency/Temporary Sealant or Filler Repairs: A
n emergency/temporary sealant or
filler injected into the tire, such as by aerosol can or injection/squeeze-tube, is not a
proper repair and voids the tire Limited Warranty. A tire injected with such sealant/filler
must be replaced by a qualified tire service professional as soon as possible.
Speed Rating: T
he tire’s speed rating is void if the tire is repaired, retreaded, damaged,
abused, or otherwise altered from its original condition. Thereafter, it should be treated
as a non-speed rated tire. See “Tire Speed Ratings” in this manual.
Improper repair voids the tire Limited Warranty. S
ee “Limited Warranty” in this manual.
RFT (Run-Flat Technology) Tires: I
n addition to the above, there are recommendations
specific to the repair of RFT tires; see “RFT Tires with Run-Flat Technology” in this
manual.
TIRE MOUNTING AND OTHER SERVICING
WARNING!


Tell the tire service professional if you have used an aerosol fixer to inflate/seal the
tire. Aerosol fixers could contain a highly volatile gas. Always remove the valve core
outdoors, away from sources of excessive heat, flame, or sparks and completely
deflate the tire before removing it from the wheel.
WARNING!


Removing and replacing tires on wheels can be dangerous. Attempting to mount tires
with improper tools or procedures may result in a tire explosion causing serious
personal injury or death. This is only a job for a qualified tire service professional.
Never perform tire service procedures without proper training, tools, and equipment.

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
47
This manual is not intended to provide proper training or service procedures for tire
mounting, demounting, balancing, rotation, or repair. Please leave these tasks to
qualified tire service professionals. For your safety and that of others:
• A lways stand well clear of any tire mounting operation. This is especially important
w
hen the service operator inflates the tire. If the tire has been improperly mounted, it
may burst with explosive force causing serious personal injury or death.
• T ires must match the width and diameter requirements of the wheels. For example,
1
6 inch diameter tires must only be mounted to 16 inch diameter wheels. Radial tires
m u

st only be mounted to wheels approved for radial tires.
• W heels must be free of cracks, dents, chips, and rust. Tires must be free of bead
d
amage, cuts, and punctures.
• N ever inflate a tire beyond 40 psi (275 kPa) to seat the beads. Be absolutely certain
b
eads are fully seated before adjusting inflation pressure to the level recommended
for vehicle operation.
• N ever put flammable substances in tire/wheel assemblies at any time. Never put any
f
lammable substance into a tire/wheel assembly and attempt to ignite to seat the
beads.
• A lways stand well away from the work area when tires are being spin balanced either
o
n or off the vehicle.
HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW ASPECT RATIO TIRES
Many new vehicles come equipped from the factory with high performance 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.
• Lo w aspect ratio tires, with reduced sidewall height, may be more susceptible to
d
amage 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 Pres -
sure” and “Tire Damage, Inspection and Service Life” in this manual.
• Some sports cars and other handling performance enhanced vehicles, including s
edans and light trucks/SUVs, may be originally equipped 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.
• H igh performance tires may also wear more quickly, ride more firmly, and produce
m
ore noise during operation.
Consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual and tire information placard, or a qualified tire
s e

rvice professional, for more information and specifics regarding these types of tires.

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
48
WINTER TIRES
In Winter driving conditions, vehicle control and safe operation under braking and
cornering is especially dependent upon the rear tires. For this reason, Winter tires are
best applied to all wheel positions. Some 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 must also be a
pplied 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) vehicles.
• I f Winter tires are to be applied to the rear axle of any vehicle, it is recommended that
t
hey also be installed on the front axle.
• I t is generally acceptable to apply a tire with a lower speed rating than your original
t
ires for use in Winter weather conditions; however, speed should be reduced accord -
ingly. All Winter tires should be the same speed rating. See “Tire Speed Ratings” in this
m a

nual.
• W inter tires used in warmer, Summer weather conditions may wear more rapidly.
•
Studded Winter tires follow the same recommendations as above; consult a qualified
t
ire service professional for information regarding any seasonal restrictions.
TIRE MIXING
WARNING!


Winter driving presents special challenges for vehicle mobility. The 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.
WARNING!


Driving your vehicle with an improper mix of tires is 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 and a qualified
tire service professional for proper tire replacement.

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
49
HIGH SPEED DRIVING
• Regardless of the speed and handling capabilities of your car and its tires, a loss of vehicle control can result from exceeding the maximum speed allowed by law or
warranted by traffic, weather, vehicle, or road conditions.
• H igh-speed driving should be left to trained professionals operating under controlled
c
onditions.
• N o tire, regardless of its design or speed rating, has unlimited capacity 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 recommendations for high
s p

eed driving.
TIRE SPEED RATINGS
A tire bearing a letter “speed rating” designation indicates the tire’s speed 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 speed rated tire only w
ith 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.
• T he tire’s speed rating is void if the tire is repaired, retreaded, damaged, abused, or
o
therwise altered from its original condition. Thereafter, it should be treated as a
non-speed rated tire.
• N on-speed rated tires are usually for ordinary passenger car or light truck service and
n
ot for high speed driving.
• F or winter tires used in cold weather conditions, it is generally acceptable to apply a
t
ire with a lower speed rating than your original tires; however, speed should be
reduced accordingly. All winter tires 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 specific,
co
ntrolled 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
WARNING!


Driving at high speed is dangerous and can cause a vehicle accident, including
serious personal injury or death.

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
50
pressure, load, tire condition (including damage), wear, vehicle condition (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 the tire size.
Ex

amples:
* In standardized laboratory tests that relate to highway speeds. Actual 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 (240 km/h) may, at the tire manufacturer’s
d i

scretion, include a “Z” in the size designation (i.e. P275/40ZR17).
*** For tires having a maximum speed capability above 186 mph (300 km/h), a “Z” must appear in the size
d e

signation and a “Y” marked 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) ****

BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
52
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 of revolution
d
oes not change; this may require demounting/mounting the tires.
• S pecial attention should be given if your vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Moni -
t
oring System (TPMS). Rotation of your tires may affect the system; consult your
v e

hicle Owner’s Manual or a qualified tire service professional.
• S ome vehicles may have different size tires/wheels on front and rear which would
r
estrict rotation. Always check and follow the vehicle manufacturer’s rotation recom -
mendation.
• T o use a full-size spare in the rotation pattern on vehicles with dual rear wheels,
c
onsult your vehicle Owner’s Manual for the recommended procedures or consult the
vehicle manufacturer.
YOUR SPARE TIRE
Consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual for proper application of your spare 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.
WARNING!


Check inflation pressure before use. Failure to have proper inflation pressure when
using your spare tire can result in serious personal injury or death. See Tire Inflation
Pressure in this manual.