User Manual

19
TEMPORARY TYPE SPARE TIRES
When using any temporary type spare tire, be sure to follow the vehicle
manufacturer’s instructions.
READING THE DOT
DOT XXXX XXXX XXX (prior to August 2000)
DOT XXXX XXXX XXX (1990-1999)
DOT XXXX XXXX XXXX (after July 2000)
THE DOT
The “DOT” symbol certies tire manufacturer’s compliance with U.S.
Department of Transportation tire safety standards. Next to the symbol is
the tire identication or “serial number.” The rst two characters identify
the plant where the tire was manufactured. The next two characters
reect the tire size. The following one to four digits may be used at the tire
manufacturer’s option as a descriptive code. The last three characters are
numbers identifying the week and year of manufacture. (Example: “O25”
means second week of the year of decade, e.g.: 1995, 1985, etc.) For
the 1990-1999 decade MICHELIN
®
brand tires are marked with a triangle
pointing to the last three numeric characters. Tires produced after July
2000 have an additional digit to identify a given decade. For example,
2800 means the tire was produced during the 28th week of 2000; 0201
during the 2nd week of 2001. If the last digits of your DOT number contain
three numeric characters and are not marked with a triangle, consult a
qualied tire professional to determine the year of manufacture.
SERVICE LIFE FOR PASSENGER CAR AND LIGHT TRUCK
TIRES INCLUDING SPARE TIRES
Tires are composed of various types of material and rubber compounds
having performance properties essential to the proper functioning of the
tire itself. These component properties evolve over time. For each tire, this
evolution depends upon many factors such as weather, storage conditions,
and conditions of use (load, speed, ination pressure, maintenance etc.) to
which the tire is subjected throughout its life. This service-related evolution
varies widely so that accurately predicting the serviceable life of any specic
tire in advance is not possible. That is why, in addition to regular inspections
and ination pressure maintenance by consumers, it is recommended
that passenger car and light truck tires, including spare tires be inspected
regularly by a qualied tire specialist, such as a Michelin tire retailer, who
will assess the tire’s suitability for continued service. Tires which have been
in use for 5 years or more should continue to be inspected by a specialist
at least annually. Consumers are strongly encouraged to be aware not only
of their tires’ visual condition and ination pressure but also of any change
in dynamic performance such as increased air loss, noise or vibration,
which could be an indication that the tires need to be removed from
service to prevent tire failure. It is impossible to predict when tires should
be replaced based on their calendar age alone. However, the older a tire,
the greater the chance that it will need to be replaced due to the service-
related evolution or other conditions found upon inspection or detected
during use. While most tires will need replacement before they achieve 10
years, it is recommended that any tires in service 10 years or more from the
date of manufacture, including spare tires, be replaced with new tires as a
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