BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
53
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. 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 pressure 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 collect 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.
The spare tire in your vehicle is intended to be used as a spare when needed. The spare
t i
re 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: 8 00-356-4644 or Canada: 800-267-1318.
A
dditional information on the care and service of automobile and light truck tires is
a v
ailable 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 Mississauga,
O n
tario L5N 1W1 https://www.tracanada.ca/
WARNING!
Mounting a “temporary use” tire on a wheel which is not specifically 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.
WARNING!
Improper storage can damage your tires in ways that may not be visible and can lead
to a failure resulting in serious personal injury or death.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
55
The vehicle or TPMS manufacturer may advise checking the TPMS regularly to confirm it
is in working order. In addition, a new pressure sensor, certain components, or
reprogramming may be necessary when a tire is serviced. Consult your vehicle Owner’s
Manual, vehicle manufacturer, or a Bridgestone® Firestone® Run-Flat Certified Retailer
for questions regarding TPMS operation and service.
RUN-FLAT OR LOW TIRE PRESSURE OPERATION
General Instructions
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) required in your vehicle may have different
m e
thods of alerting you when your tire has lost inflation pressure. The international
standard for the definition of run-flat operation is pressure at or below 10 psi (70 kPa);
however, some vehicle manufacturers may have established a different pressure limit.
Consult your vehicle Owner’s Manual for the details of your TPMS. Once the TPMS has
indicated that a tire has reduced inflation pressure, the run-flat mode of operation has
commenced. During this phase of operation, please follow these instructions:
• Reduce speed as much as safely and reasonably possible; do not exceed 50 m
ph
(8
0 km/h). The greater the speed, the less distance the tire can travel.
• Avoid abrupt or aggressive acceleration, braking, or cornering maneuvers as much as
s
afely and reasonably possible. Pot holes and other road hazards should be avoided.
Careful driving limits potential damage to the tire, wheel, and vehicle.
• Proceed to a safe and convenient location for tire service as soon as possible.
Take
note of your mileage; your operation distance is limited. See "Distance—How Far You
Can Drive,” the next section in this manual.
• If an unusual vibration or vehicle handling difficulty arises, stop driving as soon as
s
afely and reasonably possible. The tire may be about to suddenly fail. Release the
accelerator and gradually reduce speed. The tire will need to be replaced before
proceeding.
• If towing a trailer, stop driving as soon as safely and reasonably possible. In this condi -
t
ion, it is potentially dangerous to operate a vehicle/trailer combination. I
f possible,
disconnect the trailer and proceed as noted above. Do not continue to tow any trailer
until proper tire service or replacement has been performed.
• Do not touch a tire recently run-low or run-flat (it may be very hot).
Allow the tire to cool
before handling.
WARNING!
Serious personal injury or death may result from a tire failure or accident due to
improper run-flat or low tire pressure operation. Read and follow the instructions
below, and the other maintenance and safety recommendations elsewhere in this
manual.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
60
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (“UTQG”) standards are intended to assist you in
making an informed choice in your purchase of passenger car tires by providing
information indicating relative performance of these tires in the areas of tread wear, wet
braking traction (straight-ahead), and temperature resistance. All passenger car tires
must conform to federal safety requirements in addition to these grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when
te
sted under controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example,
a tire graded 150 would wear one and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm due to
variation in driving habits, service practices and differences in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
t h
e tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
NOTE:
The traction grade assigned to a tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests,
an
d does not include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteris -
tics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance
t o
the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
WARNING!
The temperature grade is established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup and a possible tire failure.
BRIDGESTONE® - FIRESTONE®
62
sion components, improper tire mounting or demounting, tire/wheel assembly
imbalance, or other vehicle conditions, defects, or characteristics.
• Contamination or degradation
by petroleum products or other chemicals, fire or
other externally generated heat, or water or other material trapped inside the tire
during mounting or inflation.
• Improper repair.
Improper repair voids this Limited Warranty
• For RFT tires only, improper run-flat or low tire pressure operation,
including,
without limitation: Exceeding speed, distance, or other run-flat/lowpressure oper-
ation limitations.
2. R apid tread wear or wear-out. Original equipment tires have no mileage warranty.
3
. W eather/ozone cracking after 4 years from date of tire manufacture.
4
. R ide disturbance or vibration after 1/32 of an inch (0.8mm) of tread wear use.
5
. T ires with sealant, balance, or other filler material that was not originally applied or
i
nserted by the tire manufacturer.
6. T ires used in commercial service.
7
. T ires purchased and normally used outside the United States and Canada.
8
. T he cost of applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
9
. F ailure to follow any of the safety and maintenance recommendations or warnings
c
ontained in this manual.
This Limited Warranty is in addition to and/or may be limited by any other applicable
w r
itten warranty you may have received concerning special tires or situations.
REPLACEMENT PRICE
Radial passenger and light truck tires adjusted under this Limited Warranty will be
replaced free of charge during the first 25% of tread wear or within 12 months from the
d a
te of purchase (proof of purchase date required; without proof of purchase date, then
within 12 months from the date of tire manufacture), whichever occurs first. During the
f r
ee replacement period, mounting and balancing are included free of charge.
To determine the replacement price after the free tire replacement period, the percent
o f
used tread wear is multiplied by the current selling price for the replacement tire(s).
The appropriate taxes, mounting, balancing, disposal fee, and other service charges may
be added to the adjustment replacement price.
In Canada, the tire will be adjusted at dealerships (subject to dealer discretion) at a
p r
edetermined “Adjustment Price.”
REPLACEMENT WARRANTY
If you receive a replacement tire under this Limited Warranty, it will be covered by the
manufacturer’s warranty, if any, given on that tire at that time.
66
CONTINENTAL TIRE
LIMITED WARRANTY AND ADJUSTMENT POLICY FOR ORIGINA L EQUIPMENT PASSENGER
CAR & LIGHT TRUCK TIRES (Including TEMPORARY SPARE Tires)
This booklet also includes important safety warnings. ELIGIBILITY
This Limited Warranty and Adjustment Policy applies to the original owner of new
Continental brand passenger and light truck (LT) tires that are the new vehicle original
equipment tires bearing the Continental brand name and DOT Tire Identification
Number, operated in norma l service, and used on the same vehicle on which they were
originally installed according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.
Tire(s) on any vehicle registered and normally operated outside the United States and
Canada are excluded from eligibility under this Limited Warranty and Adjustment Policy.
WHAT IS THE ADJUSTMENT POLICY AND HOW LONG IS IT APPLICABLE? BASIC
COVERAGE:
Eligible Tires are covered by this Warranty for a maximum of 72 months from the date of
purchase, determined by the new vehicle registration date or new vehicle sales invoice
showing date of purchase.
Where to Go for Warranty Replacement: Contact the dealer from where you purchased
the vehicle or an alternate authorized Continental brand tire dealer (Authorized Dealer)
to determine the eligible warranty coverage for your tires and how to proceed from there.
Free Replacement Period: PASS & LT: If an eligible Continental brand PASS or LT tire
becomes unserviceable from a warrantable condition, other than those listed under
Section 3, during the first 12 months or first 2/32 of an inch (1.6 mm) of tread wear
(whichever comes first), it will be replaced with a **comparable new Continental brand
tire FREE OF CHARGE, including mounting and balancing (excluding on line orders).
Owner pays all applicable taxes.
TEMPORARY SPARE: If a temporary spare tire becomes unserviceable from a condition
other than those listed in Section 3, during the first 1/32 of an inch (0.8 mm) of tread
wear, then it will be replaced with a **comparable new Continental brand TS tire FREE
OF CHARGE, including mounting and balancing. The owner pays all applicable taxes.
After this "Free Replacement Period" for your temporary spare tire expires, no warranty
claim will be accepted.
After the Free Replacement Period: The tire (except temporary spare tire) may still be
eligible for a pro rata replacement up to 72 months from date of original purchase until
the tread is worn down to the tread wear indicators (2/32 of an inch or 1.6 mm of tread
remaining.) If an eligible tire becomes unserviceable under the stipulations of this
Limited Warranty and Adjustment policy it will be replaced with a comparable 1
new
Continental brand tire, charging the owner a prorated amount. Owner pays all applicable
taxes (including F.E.T.), mounting and balancing charges.
1. A "comparable" new Continental brand tire may be of either the same tire line or the same basic construction but with a different sidewall or tread configuration. If a higher priced tire is selected, the
consumer will pay the difference in price.
CONTINENTAL TIRE
67
The replacement tire price will be determined by multiplying the percentage of the usable
tread worn by the Dealers Selling Price (excluding all applicable taxes) at the time of the
adjustment. The usable tread is the original tread down to the tread wear indicators
(2/32 of an inch or 1.6 mm of tread remaining.)
WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY THIS WARRANTY
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT COVERED:
• Road Hazard:
Any tire with road hazard damage. This includes, but is not limited to:
cuts, snags, punctures, bruises, and impact breaks.
• Ride/Vibration:
Any ride/vibration complaint after the first 2/32 (1.6 mm) of an inch
of
tread wear or 12 months of service, whichever comes first.
• Repairs:
If a tire is returned under complaint and the reason for the tire’s disablement
is in any way associated with a repair, or with the situation that led to the repair, the
manufacturer’s warranty is invalidated.
• Mileage:
Tread wear out up to a predetermined mileage is not covered under this
policy.
• Improper operation or maintenance:
This includes, but is not limited to, effects caused
by:
1. Improper tire inflation and/or improper load/speed practices: These practices
can cause excessive operational temperatures and stresses that exceed the
tire’s capabilities.
2. Improper or insufficient tire rotation
3
. Improper vehicle alignment
4
. Damage due to:
• Rim irregularities or rim damage
• S now chains
•
Vehicle mechanical problems, including brake problems, and vehicle wheel
a
lignment
• Extreme temperature exposure
•
Negligent and abusive driving such as tire spinning, or racing
•
Improper tire storage
•
Automotive accident
•
Chemical corrosion or fire
•
Use contrary to the vehicle manufacturer’s tire recommendations
•
Misuse or misapplication
• Improper Mounting or Demounting
• Alteration:
such as, but not limited to, adding a white inlay on black wall, tread
regrooving, tire truing or siping, or adding sealant materials to the tire.
• Weather checking/cracking: Not covered after 48
months from the date of purchase.
• Failure to observe safety and maintenance precautions set forth in the Safety Warning
S
ection.
CONTINENTAL TIRE
69
regardless of mileage or months of service. This includes payment for tire rotation,
alignment, towing, road service, valve stems and tire repairs.
Owner is responsible for maintaining proper tire air pressure and for proper maintenance
o f
the tire.
SAFETY WARNING:
Ignoring any of the safety and information contained in this warranty may result in tire
f a
ilure, causing serious injury or death.
• Tire failure due to underinflation/overloading.
Follow vehicle Owner’s Manual or tire
placard in vehicle for proper inflation and loading.
• Explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper tire mounting.
Tire mounting/
demounting can be dangerous. It should be performed only by a trained tire specialist
using proper tools and procedures. Prior to tire mounting/demounting, the US Tire
Manufacturers Association (USTMA) wall charts and manuals should be read to obtain
the proper procedures. The failure to follow these procedures may result in faulty posi -
tioning of the tire and/or rim, which may cause the assembly to burst with force suffi -
cient to cause injury or death.
• T
ire failure due to damage.
Inspect your tires frequently for scrapes, bulges, separa -
tions, cuts, snags and other damage from road hazards. Damage from impact can
o c
cur to the inner portions of your tire without being visible to the outside. If you
suspect a tire has been damaged from striking anything unusual in the road, you must
have the tire removed from the rim and inspected both inside and out by a trained tire
specialist. Air loss or unusual tire wear can also be warning signs that a tire may have
internal damage. If you notice these conditions, have your tire inspected by a trained
individual.
• T ire failure due to excessive tire spinning. A
void tire spinning. The centrifugal force
generated by a free-spinning tire/rim assembly may cause a sudden tire explosion
resulting in vehicle damage and/or serious injury or death. Never exceed 35 mph
( 5
5km/h) as indicated on your speedometer when your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud,
or sand and your tire(s) is/are spinning. Use a gentle backward and forward rocking
motion to free your vehicle for continued driving. Never stand or permit anyone else to
stand near or behind a tire spinning while attempting to push a vehicle that is stuck.
SELF SUPPORTING RUNFLAT (SSR) TIRE OWNERS
Continental Tire the Americas, LLC (CTA) does not recommend any repair to or reuse of
punctured Continental SSR tires.
Even a trained tire specialist may be unable to recognize internal structural damage to a
S e
lf Supporting Run-flat (SSR) tire resulting from having been driven in an under inflated
or zero inflation pressure condition. Such damage may not be visible on the surface of
the inner liner or sidewall making it impossible to determine the tire suitability for repair
or reuse. CTA does not recommend any repair to or reuse of Continental SSR tires. You
may visit https://www.continentaltire.com/ or www.continentaltire.ca and select
Customer Care FAQs to obtain additional SSR information.
FALKEN TIRE CORPORATION
73
Example of what your tire placard looks like:
CHECKING YOUR TIRE AIR PRESSURE
Checking your air pressure at least once a month is vital to help your tires perform
p r
operly and help you get the best gas mileage possible. Tires can lose up to 7 kPa
(1 psi) per month under normal conditions and lose up to 7 kPa (1 psi) per every 9°C
( 1
6°F) drop in temperature. Here are some simple steps on how to check the air
pressures in your tires:
1. R emove the valve stem cap.
2
. P lace the end of the tire gauge firmly against the tire’s valve stem.
3
. R ead the current pressure displayed on the gauge that is currently in the tire.
4
. I ncrease pressure at this time (if needed) and recheck with your tire gauge.
5
. R eplace the valve stem cap.
6
. R epeat until all of your tires have been checked and adjusted accordingly.
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
A Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is a safety system found in most
vehicles manufactured after 2005. There are pressure sensing transmitters
mo
unted inside of each tire that send readings to the central computer in your
vehicle. The TPMS system will alert you when one or more of your tires are
underinflated by 25% or more by turning on a warning light on your vehicle’s
dashboard or Heads Up Display (HUD) screen. This means that one or more of your tires
may have a low-pressure condition. Follow the instructions in your Owner’s Manual.
ROTATION AND WEAR
Falken recommends rotating your tires at least every 8,000 km (5,000 miles).
Pe
riodically inspecting your tires to make sure they are free of road hazards (such as
nails, screws, large wood splinters, etc.) that might penetrate your tires causing them to
lose air pressure and to ensure they are wearing evenly. Common irregular wear patterns
are: misalignment wear, where the tire shows excessive outer or inner tread wear. Tire
sidewalls should also be inspected for cuts, snags, bruises, and weather cracking. If any