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TIRE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING
TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE
Tires need proper inflation pressure to operate effectively and perform as intended. Tires
carry the vehicle, passenger, and cargo loads and transmit the braking, acceleration, and
turning forces. The vehicle manufacturer recommends the inflation pressures for the
tires mounted on your vehicle.
These situations can cause a tire failure, even at a later date, which could lead to serious
pe
rsonal injury or death. Consult the vehicle tire information placard and/or Owner’s
Manual for the recommended inflation pressures. In addition to tire damage, improper
inflation pressure may also:
• A dversely affect vehicle ride and handling.
•
Reduce tire tread wear.
•
Affect fuel economy.
T
herefore, follow these important recommendations for tire and vehicle safety, mileage,
a n
d economy:
• Always keep the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure in all your
t
ires, including the spare.
• Check their pressure monthly and before long trips or carrying extra weight.
WARNING!
It is not often that a properly maintained tire will “blow out” while you are driving. More
commonly, if inflation pressure is lost, it will be gradual. If you do experience a blowout
or sudden tire failure, the following information should be helpful:
• W hen the failure occurs, you may hear a loud noise, feel a vibration, and/or the
v
ehicle may pull toward the side of the failed tire.
• D O NOT abruptly brake or turn.
•
Slowly remove your foot from the accelerator, hold the steering wheel firmly, and
s
teer to maintain your lane position.
• O nce the vehicle has slowed, apply the brakes gently.
•
Gradually pull over to the shoulder and come to a stop, as far off the road as
p
ossible.
WARNING!
Driving on tires with improper inflation pressure is dangerous.
• U nder-inflation causes excessive tire heat build-up and internal structural damage.
•
Over-inflation makes it more likely for tires to be cut, punctured, or broken by sudden
i
mpact.
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Your vehicle’s tire information placard and/or Owner’s Manual will tell you the
recommended cold inflation pressure for all your tires, including the spare. Examples of
placards are shown in Figures 1 and 2. Your placard may look different and have
different tire and loading information than that shown in either of the figures. You must
check the driver side door edge or door jamb area for the actual placard that applies to
your vehicle. For questions about locating or understanding the tire information placard,
consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual or ask a qualified tire service professional.
Figure 1: EXAMPLE—Tire And Loading Information Placard
Figure 2: EXAMPLE—Tire Information Placard
Maximum Pressure Indicated on the Tire Sidewall: This is the maximum permissible
inflation pressure for the tire only. The vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tire
pressures may be lower than, or the same as, the maximum pressure indicated on the
tire sidewall. The vehicle manufacturer’s specification of tire pressure is limited to your
particular vehicle and takes into account your vehicle’s load, ride, and handling
characteristics, among other criteria. Since there may be several possible vehicle
applications for a given tire size, a vehicle manufacturer may choose a different inflation
pressure specification for that same size tire on a different vehicle. Therefore, always
refer to the inflation pressure specifications on the vehicle tire information placard and/
or in your vehicle Owner’s Manual.
Different Tire Pressures for the Front and Rear Tires: F
or some vehicles, the
recommended front and rear inflation pressures may be different (such as in the
example shown in Figure 2). Make sure you take this into account during inflation
pressure checks and when rotating tires.
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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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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.
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• 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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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.
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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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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) ****