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FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) VEHICLES
If no instructions for tire mixing appear in the vehicle Owner’s Manual, follow these
guidelines:
• D o not mix tire sizes. All four tires must be marked with the same tire size, unless
o
therwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer. This also applies to winter/snow
tires.
• D o not mix tread pattern types such as all-terrain and all- season.
STUDLESS WINTER/SNOW TIRES
• It is always preferable to apply winter/snow tires to all wheel positions, including dual
tires, to maintain vehicle mobility and control.
• I f winter/snow tires are applied to the f
ront axle of any vehicle, winter/snow tires must
also be installed on the
rear axle. DO NOT apply winter/snow tires only to the front
axle. This applies to all passenger and light truck vehicles, including front-wheel- drive,
4WD, and AWD vehicles.
• If winter/snow tires are installed on the rear axle of any vehicle, it is recommended
(but not required) that they also be installed on the
front axle.
STUDDED WINTER/SNOW TIRES
• Studded winter/snow tires have higher traction qualities under most winter weather conditions.
• I f studded winter/snow tires are installed on the f
ront axle of any vehicle, studded
winter/snow tires must also be installed on the
rear axle. DO NOT apply studded
winter/snow tires only to the front axle.
• If studded winter/snow tires are installed on the rear axle of any vehicle, it is strongly
recommended that they should also be installed on the
front axle. Only if studded
winter/snow tires are installed on all wheel positions of a vehicle will optimum
handling characteristics be achieved.
WARNING!
Unless winter/snow tires on the rear axle have comparable traction qualities to the
tires on the front axle, the vehicle may experience adverse handling characteristics.
This may result in loss of vehicle control, which can lead to serious personal injury or
death.
WARNING!
Installing only two studded winter/snow tires on the front axle of any vehicle (including
front-wheel-drive vehicles) without studded winter/snow tires on the rear axle can
cause adverse vehicle handling characteristics. This can result in a loss of vehicle
control, which could cause serious personal injury or death.
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178
REPLACING TWO TIRES
• When a pair of replacement tires is selected in the same size and construction as those on the vehicle, the two newer tires must be installed on the rear axle and must
be of equal or higher speed rating than the front tires. Generally, new tires with deeper
tread will provide better grip and evacuate water more effectively, which is important
as a driver approaches hydroplaning situations. Placing greater traction on the rear
axle on wet surfaces is necessary to prevent a possible oversteer condition and loss
of vehicle stability.
• W hen two new tires have been installed onto the rear axle positions, they are to be
k
ept on the rear but rotated from side to side. This is recommended after installing two
new tires to the rear position, or if you discover significant tread depth differences
between the front and rear positions during rotation intervals.
REPLACING ONE TIRE
• Replacing a single tire on a vehicle can have an adverse effect on suspension systems, gear ratios, transmission, and tire treadwear.
• I f single tire replacement is unavoidable, it is recommended that the single new tire
b
e paired with the tire that has the deepest tread and both be placed on the rear axle.
Placing greater traction on the rear axle on wet surfaces is necessary to prevent a
possible oversteer condition and loss of vehicle stability.
WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND BALANCING
• Proper wheel alignment and balance are very important considerations for safety and getting the maximum mileage from your tires. You need to check how your tires are
wearing at least once a month.
• Y our vehicle may be out of alignment if your tires are wearing unevenly, such as when
t
he inside shoulder of the tire is wearing faster than the rest of the tread. This condi -
tion not only shortens the life of your tires, it adversely affects the handling character -
istics of your vehicle, which could be dangerous. If your tires show irregular wear, have
y o
ur vehicle’s alignment checked immediately.
CAUTION!
In some cases, the vehicle manufacturer may specifically advise against replacing
fewer than all four tires. Always check and follow the recommendations in the vehicle
Owner’s Manual. For 4WD and AWD vehicles, even small differences in outside
diameter may cause drivetrain damage or mechanical malfunction.
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TIRE WEAR – VISUAL CHECK
If you experience a blowout or a sudden tire failure, the following information should be
helpful:
• W hen the tire failure occurs, you may hear a loud noise, or feel a vibration, and/or the
v
ehicle may pull toward the side of the failed tire. Do not abruptly brake or turn.
• M aintain steady pressure on the accelerator pedal.
•
Hold the steering wheel firmly and steer to maintain your lane position.
•
Find a safe place to pull off the road and allow the vehicle to gradually decelerate.
A
pply light braking as required to stop safely.
WARNING!
Beware of Sudden Tire Vibration. A tire failure may lead to loss of vehicle control,
which could cause serious personal injury or death. Many tire failures are preceded by
vibration, bumps, bulges, or irregular wear. If while driving your vehicle you experience
any unusual vibration, pull, ride disturbance, or noise and/or you suspect possible
vehicle or tire damage, do not continue to drive. Pull over to a safe area as soon as
possible and inspect the tires for signs of bulges, blisters, or separations. Seek
roadside assistance or change the damaged tire with your spare tire.
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180
• Gradually pull over to the shoulder and come to a stop. Look for a damaged tire on your vehicle.
• S eek roadside assistance or change the damaged tire with your spare tire.
•
Have all of your tires and the vehicle thoroughly inspected by a tire professional.
TIRE ROTATION
The purpose for rotating tires is to achieve more uniform wear for all tires on a vehicle.
Your tires should be thoroughly examined on a lift by a tire dealer for any abnormalities.
If tires show uneven treadwear, ask the service person to check and/or correct any
vehicle wheel alignment or other mechanical problem before rotation.
The following rotation patterns are acceptable. Please refer to your vehicle Owner’s
M a
nual for rotation advice.
Full-size spare tires (not temporary spares) of the same size, construction, and speed
r a
ting may be used in a five-tire rotation pattern.
After rotation, check the inflation pressure of all the tires. The front and rear tire
p r
essures may vary according to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications.
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Remember to follow your vehicle Owner’s Manual for tire rotation intervals. Your Limited
Warranty recommends Toyo Tires® brand tires to be rotated as follows:
• E very 3,500
miles or less for high performance (low profile) tires.
• E very 7,500
miles or less for standard passenger and light truck tires.
More frequent rotation or a thorough vehicle inspection may be necessary if, upon
i n
spection, irregular or erratic treadwear is beginning to appear.
It is important to remember the following:
• These tire rotation recommendations do not take into account different tire and c
onstruction types mixed on the vehicle.
• S ome tires cannot be rotated in the manner described. Such tires include unidirec -
t
ional tires. Unidirectional tread patterns must be rotated front-to-rear only so that the
d i
rection of revolution does not change.
• S ome vehicles are designed with different tire sizes on the front and rear axles.
N
ormally, such combinations will not allow rotation. Prior to rotating, consult the
vehicle Owner’s Manual.
• F or vehicles with dual rear wheels, see the vehicle Owner’s Manual for the vehicle
m
anufacturer’s procedures. If your vehicle Owner’s Manual is not available, please
contact the vehicle manufacturer.
• S ome vehicles are equipped with wheels that limit the choice of rotation pattern.
C
onsult the vehicle Owner’s Manual.
• D o not include temporary spare tires in the rotation pattern. However, if your spare tire
i
s the same size and type as a road tire (for LT tires of the same size, type, and load
rating), it should be included in the tire rotation process. The proper procedure is to
use the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tire rotation procedures, or if not avail -
able, to use the appropriate rotation pattern shown, inserting the spare in the right
r e
ar position. Place the tire that would have gone to the right rear in the spare tire
storage position as the new spare.
• I mportant! After rotation, adjust the pressure of the individual tires to the vehicle
m
anufacturer’s recommendation or the inflation pressure recommended by Toyo
Tires® for an optional fitment according to the tire’s new location on the vehicle.
• D o not mix speed-rated tires on the same axle. Higher speed-rated tires must remain
o
n the rear axle. Consult an authorized Toyo Tires® dealer.
TIRE SPEED RATING
All Toyo Tires® passenger, light truck, and truck tires have a maximum speed rating
based on size and type. Tires must never be operated in excess of their rated speed limit!
Consult your tire dealer or contact Toyo Tires® at 1-800-442-8696 (Pacific Time) or
1-888-444-8696 (Eastern Time) if you are not sure about the maximum speed rating of
your tires.
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Toyo Tires® does not endorse the operation of any vehicle in an unsafe or unlawful
manner. Obey all local speed limits.
Tire speed ratings do not imply that a vehicle can be safely driven at the speed for which
th
e tire is rated. Speed ratings are based on laboratory tests and relate to performance
on the road, but are not applicable if tires are underinflated, overloaded, worn out,
damaged, or altered.
EXPLANATION OF TIRE SPEED SYMBOLS
A speed rating is designated by a letter that indicates the maximum speed capability of
a tire. The speed rating of a tire is based on standards for reaching and sustaining a
specified speed, and is determined via laboratory tests that simulate road performance
at various speeds.
Tires may be marked with one of these speed symbols: M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, U, H, V, W, Y,
o r
(Y) to identify the particular tire’s speed rating. Additionally, the letter Z may appear in
the size designation.
When purchasing or replacing speed-rated tires, make sure to:
• U se the ranking in the following chart to compare the speed symbols of all the tires.
•
Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations, if any, concerning the use of
s
peed-rated tires.
To avoid reducing the speed capability of the vehicle, replace a speed-rated tire only with
a n
other tire having at least the same or higher speed rating. Remember, the “top speed”
of the “lowest rated” tire on the car cannot be exceeded without risk of tire failure.
WARNING!
No tire, regardless of its design or speed rating, has an unlimited capacity for speed.
Exceeding the tire’s speed capability could cause overheating and sudden tire failure,
possibly leading to loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury or death.
WARNING!
High-speed driving with underinflated or overloaded tires may result in immediate tire
failure, possibly leading to loss of vehicle control, which could cause an accident,
including serious personal injury or death.
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The letter symbols and corresponding design speeds are:
* Any tire with a speed capability above 149 mph (240 km/h) can, at the tire manufacturer’s option, include
a
“Z” in the size designation (e.g., 245/40ZR18). If the load index and the speed symbol are not included,
the tire manufacturer must be consulted for the maximum speed capability (P245/40ZR18 speed capability
is greater than 149 mph [240 km/h]). If a service description is included with the size description, the speed
c a
pability is limited by the speed symbol in the service description (i.e., 235/45ZR17 97W = maximum
speed 168 mph [270 km/h]).
** Although no upper limit speed is specified, the indicated tires nonetheless have limited rated speed
c a
pability. Call 1-800-442-8696 (Pacific Time) or 1-888-444-8696 (Eastern Time) for a referral for more
technical information.
Speed-Rated Symbol Speed Category
M Up to 81 mph (130 km/h)
N Up to 87 mph (140 km/h)
P Up to 93 mph (150 km/h)
Q Up to 99 mph (160 km/h)
R Up to 106 mph (170 km/h)
S Up to 112 mph (180 km/h)
T Up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
U Up to 124 mph (200 km/h)
H Up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V Up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
W Up to 168 mph (270 km/h)*
Y Up to 186 mph (300 km/h)*
ZR Over 149 mph (240 km/h)**
(Y) Over 186 mph (300 km/h)**
CAUTION!
Tire speed symbols do not imply that vehicles can be safely driven at the maximum
speed for which the tire is rated, particularly under adverse road and weather
conditions, or if the vehicle has unusual characteristics. Never operate a vehicle in an
unsafe or unlawful manner.
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TIRE SPINNING
TOWING OR USE OF SLIDE-IN TRUCK CAMPERS
If you are towing a trailer or using a slide-in truck camper, refer to your vehicle Owner’s
Manual.
WINTER (SNOW) TIRES
Winter driving presents special challenges for vehicle handling. The use of
winter tires, studs, and chains, while improving traction performance in snow
a n
d ice, requires additional caution and care with regard to 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.
• T raction is considerably reduced as snow tires approach 50% tread wear, and replace -
m
ent should be considered in order to maintain effectiveness in heavy snow condi-
tions.
• T ire speed rating – When lower-speed-rated winter tires replace higher-speed-rated
t
ouring and high performance all-season radial tires, do not exceed the lower-rated
speed.
• F ollow recommendations in the vehicle Owner’s Manual for winter tires, studs, and
c
hains.
• C onsult your tire dealer, the US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) website
h
ttps://www.ustires.org/ , or your state’s Department of Transportation (DOT) for infor -
mation regarding regulatory and seasonal restrictions for stud usage.
• A lso see the “Tire Mixing” section in this manual for more details.
•
Toyo Tires® recommends that snow tires be installed in matched sets of four.
WARNING!
Spinning a tire to remove a vehicle stuck in mud, snow, or wet grass can be
dangerous. This could cause serious personal injury or death to a bystander or
passenger and extensive vehicle damage. A tire spinning at a speedometer reading
above 35
mph (55 km/h) can reach a speed capable of disintegrating a tire with
e x
plosive force within a matter of seconds. Under some conditions, a tire may be
spinning at twice the speed shown on the speedometer. Never spin a tire above a
speedometer reading of 35 mph (55 km/h). Never allow anyone to stand near or
d i
rectly behind the spinning tire. Do not spin if a drive wheel is off the ground.
WARNING!
Studded tires may require longer braking distances on dry or wet paved surfaces.
Failure to allow for adequate braking distance could result in serious personal injury or
death.