Warranty

14
be replaced regardless of when it was produced or placed
in service.
The vehicle manufacturer may consider vehicle perfor-
mance characteristics when making tire replacement rec-
ommendations. 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 identi cation 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  nd the entire serial code. For more
information on DOT serial codes, see “Tire Sidewall Label-
ing” in this manual.
Tires Produced Since 2000: The 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: The 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 quali ed
tire service professional.
TIRE REPAIRS
SAFETY 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. A complete inspection and repair
of your tire in accordance with Rubber Manufacturers
Association (RMA) procedures should be conducted by a
quali ed 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.
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❏ The puncture injury is 1/4 inch
(6 mm) 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  lled with a
suitable plug/stem  ller. This helps ensure that the in-
terior of the tire is adequately sealed to prevent in ation
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:
•
Not all punctured or damaged tires can be properly
repaired; consequently, some tires must be replaced.
NEVER repair a tire with any of the following condi-
tions:
– Wear to the tire’s built-in treadwear indicators or to
2/32 inch (1.6 mm) remaining tread depth in any area
of the tread.
– With a puncture larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm).
– With a puncture or other damage outside the repairable
tread area (as shown in the graphic).
– With a pre-existing, improper repair.
• Any tire repair done without removing the tire from the
wheel is improper. The tire must be demounted from the
wheel and the interior inspected for damage that may not
be evident on the exterior of the tire.
• Using only a plug/stem, or using only a patch, is not a
safe or proper repair. A patch must be applied to the inte-
rior of the tire and the puncture hole must be  lled with a
suitable plug/stem  ller to prevent in ation pressure loss
and contamination of the steel belts and other plies.
• NEVER substitute a tube for a proper repair or to remedy
an improper repair.
• Tubes, like tires, should only be repaired by a quali ed
tire service professional.
• Some vehicle manufacturers do not recommend using
repaired tires. Consult your vehicle 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: An
emergency/temporary sealant or  ller 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/ ller must be replaced by a quali-
 ed tire service professional as soon as possible.
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