Warranty
18
• If winter tires are to be applied to the front axle of any
vehicle, they must also be applied to the rear axle for safe
operation. This applies to all passenger cars and light
trucks, including front wheel drive, 4x4, and all-wheel-
drive vehicles.
• If winter tires are to be applied to the rear axle of any
vehicle, it is recommended that they also be installed on the
front axle.
• It is generally acceptable to apply a tire with a lower
speed rating than your original tires for use in winter
weather conditions; however, speed should be reduced ac-
cordingly. All winter tires should be the same speed rating.
See “Tire Speed Ratings” in this manual.
• Winter tires used in warm weather conditions may wear
more rapidly.
• Studded winter tires follow the same recommendations
as above; consult a quali ed tire service professional for
information regarding any seasonal restrictions.
HIGH SPEED DRIVING
SAFETY WARNING
Driving at high speed is dangerous and can cause an ac-
cident, resulting in serious personal injury or death.
• Regardless of the speed and handling capabilities of your
car and its tires, a loss of vehicle control can result from ex-
ceeding the maximum speed allowed by law or warranted
by traf c, weather, vehicle, or road conditions.
• High-speed driving should be left to trained professionals
operating under controlled conditions.
• No 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 pres-
sure recommendations for high speed driving.
TIRE SPEED RATINGS
A tire bearing a letter “speed rating” designation indicates
the tire’s speed capability according to standardized labora-
tory 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 with 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.
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• The 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.
• Non-speed rated tires are usually for ordinary passenger
car or light truck service and not for high speed driving.
• For winter tires used in cold weather conditions, it is
generally acceptable to apply a tire 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 speci c recommen-
dations regarding winter tire use; consult your vehicle
owner’s manual and tire information placard. See “Win-
ter Tires” in this manual.
These speed ratings are based on standardized laboratory
tests under speci c, controlled 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 in ation 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. Remember: reg-
erdless of the tire’s speed rating, drivers should obey speed
limits and adjust their speed based on traf c, weather,
vehicle and road conditions.
The tire’s speed rating designation appears on the tire side-
wall with the tire size. Examples:
P275/40ZR17 max > 149 mph (240 km/h) ****
P275/40R17 93W max = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93W max = 168 mph (270 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93Y max = 186 mph (300 km/h)
P275/40ZR17 93(Y) max > 186 mph (300 km/h) ****
* In standardized laboratory tests that relate to highway
speeds. Actual tire speed and performance capability
Speed Speed Category*
Symbol mph km/h
M 81 130
Q 99 160
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 >300