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Pressure Loss: Tires can lose 1 psi (7 kPa) per month under normal conditions and can
lose 1 psi (7 kPa) for every 10° F (5.6° C) temperature drop. A puncture, leaking valve,
or other damage could also cause inflation pressure loss. If a tire loses more than 2 psi
(14 kPa) per month, have it checked by a qualified tire service professional.
TIPS FOR SAFE TIRE INFLATION
• Check your tire pressures, including your spare tire, monthly and before long trips or carrying extra weight. Be sure to use an accurate pressure gauge.
• C heck inflation pressure when the tires are “cold.” Tires are considered “cold” when
t
he vehicle has been parked for three hours or more, or if the vehicle has been driven
less than a mile at moderate speed.
• N ever release pressure from a hot tire in order to reach the recommended cold tire
p
ressure. Normal driving causes tires to run hotter and inflation pressure to increase.
If you reduce inflation pressure when your tires are hot, you may dangerously under -
inflate your tires.
• I f it is necessary to adjust inflation pressure when your tires are “hot”, set their pres -
s
ure to 4 psi (28 kPa) above the recommended cold inflation pressure. Recheck the
i n
flation pressure when the tires are cold.
• I f your tires lose more than 2 psi (14 kPa) per month, the tire, the valve, or wheel may
b
e damaged. Consult a qualified tire service professional for an inspection.
• U se valve caps to keep the valves clear of debris and to help guard against inflation
p
ressure loss.
TIPS FOR SAFE LOADING
• Always keep the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure in all your tires, including the spare. Check their pressure monthly and before long trips or
carrying extra weight.
• N ever exceed the maximum load rating stamped on the sidewall of your tire.
WARNING!
Inflating an unsecured tire is dangerous. If it bursts, it could be hurled into the air with
explosive force resulting in serious personal injury or death. Never inflate a tire unless
it is secured to the vehicle or a tire mounting machine.
WARNING!
Driving your vehicle in an overloaded condition is dangerous. Overloading causes
excessive tire heat build-up and internal structural damage. This can cause a tire
failure, even at a later date, which could lead to serious personal injury or death.
Consult the vehicle tire information placard, certification label, and owner’s manual
for the recommended vehicle load limits and loading recommendations.
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43
• Never exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or front/rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) of your vehicle.
• C onsult your vehicle Owner’s Manual for load recommendations and special instruc -
t
ions such as for trailer/towing and snow plow installations.
TIRE DAMAGE, INSPECTION AND SERVICE LIFE
Evaluation and maintenance of your tires is important to their performance and the
service they provide to you. Over time and/or through use, the condition of a tire can
change from exposure to everyday road conditions, the environment, damaging events
such as punctures, and other external factors.
You should visually inspect your tires on a regular basis throughout their life, and you
sh
ould have your tires periodically evaluated by a qualified tire service professional when
your vehicle is serviced such as routine maintenance intervals, oil changes, and tire
rotations. In particular, note the following tips for spotting tire damage:
• A fter striking anything unusual in the roadway, have a qualified tire service profes -
s
ional demount the tire and inspect it for damage. A tire may not have visible signs of
d a
mage on the tire surface. Yet, the tire may suddenly fail without warning, a day, a
week, or even months later.
• I nspect your tires for cuts, cracks, splits or bruises in the tread and sidewall areas.
B
umps or bulges may indicate a separation within the tire body. Have your tire
inspected by a qualified tire service professional. It may be necessary to have it
removed from the wheel for a complete inspection.
• I nspect your tires for adequate tread depth. When the tire is worn to the built-in indi -
c
ators at 2/32 of an inch (1.6 mm) or less tread groove depth, or the tire cord or fabric
i s
exposed, the tire is dangerously worn and must be replaced immediately.
• I nspect your tires for uneven wear. Wear on one side of the tread or flat spots in the
t
read may indicate a problem with the tire or vehicle. Consult a qualified tire service
professional.
• I nspect your wheels also. If you have a bent or cracked wheel, it must be replaced.
•
Don’t forget to check the spare tire.
M
ake sure your tires, including the spare tire, continue to be regularly inspected after 5
y e
ars of service to determine if they can continue in service. Even when your tires appear
to be usable from their external appearance or the tread depth may have not reached
the minimum wear out depth, it is recommended that all tires (including spare tires and
“temporary use” spares) more than 10 years old be replaced with new tires.
WARNING!
Driving on damaged tires is dangerous. A damaged tire can suddenly fail causing
serious personal injury or death. Have your tires regularly inspected by a qualified tire
service professional.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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51
TIRE SPINNING
RADIAL TIRE ROTATION
The purpose of tire rotation is to minimize irregular or uneven wear caused 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.
I n
dividual tire pressures must be checked 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 manufacturer’s
r e
commended 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 grass 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 capable 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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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.