Warranty
12
• Check in ation pressure when the tires are “cold.” Tires
are considered “cold” when the vehicle has been parked
for three hours or more, or if the vehicle has been driven
less than a mile (1.6 km) at moderate speed.
• Never release pressure from a hot tire in order to reach
the recommended cold tire pressure. Normal driv-
ing causes tires to run hotter and in ation pressure to
increase. If you reduce in ation pressure when your tires
are hot, you may dangerously under-in ate your tires.
• If it is necessary to adjust in ation pressure when your
tires are “hot,” set their pressure to 4 psi (28 kPa) above
the recommended cold in ation pressure. Recheck the
in ation pressure when the tires are cold.
• If your tires lose more than 2 psi (14 kPa) per month,
the tire, the valve, or wheel may be damaged. Consult a
quali ed tire service professional for an inspection.
• Use valve caps to keep the valves clear of debris and to
help guard against in ation pressure loss.
TIPS FOR SAFE LOADING
SAFETY WARNING
Driving your vehicle in an overloaded condition is danger-
ous. Overloading causes excessive tire heat build-up and
internal structural damage. This can cause a tire failure -
(even after the load is reduced) - which could lead to serious
personal injury or death. Consult the vehicle tire information
placard, certi cation label, and owner’s manual for the rec-
ommended vehicle load limits and loading recommendations.
• Always keep the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended
in ation pressure in all your tires, including the spare.
Check their pressure monthly and before long trips or car-
rying extra weight.
• Never exceed the maximum load rating stamped on the
sidewall of your tire.
• Never exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
or front/rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWR) of your
vehicle.
• Consult your vehicle owner’s manual for load recommen-
dations and special instructions (such as for trailer/towing
and snow plow installations).
TIRE DAMAGE, INSPECTION AND
SERVICE LIFE
Evaluation and maintenance of your tires is important to
their performance and the service they provide to you.
Over time and/or through use, the condition of a tire can
change from exposure to everyday road conditions, the
environment, damaging events such as punctures, and other
external factors.
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SAFETY WARNING
Driving on damaged tires is dangerous. A damaged tire
can suddenly fail causing serious personal injury or death.
Have your tires regularly inspected by a quali ed tire
service professional.
You should visually inspect your tires on a regular basis
throughout their life, and you should have your tires peri-
odically evaluated by a quali ed tire service professional
when your vehicle is serviced such as routine maintenance
intervals, oil changes, and tire rotations. In particular, note
the following tips for spotting tire damage:
• After striking anything unusual in the roadway, have a
quali ed tire service professional demount the tire and
inspect it for damage. A damaged tire may not show any
visible signs of harm. Yet, the tire may suddenly fail
without warning, a day, a week, or even months later.
• Inspect your tires for cuts, cracks, splits or bruises in the
tread and sidewall areas. Bumps or bulges may indicate
a separation within the tire body. If you see damage or
unusual condition, have your tire inspected by a quali ed
tire service professional. It may be necessary to have it
removed from the wheel for a complete inspection.
• Inspect your tires for adequate tread depth. When the tire
is worn to the built-in indicators at 2/32 inch (1.6 mm)
or less tread groove depth, or the tire cord or fabric is ex-
posed, the tire is dangerously worn and must be replaced
immediately.
• Inspect your tires for uneven wear. Wear on one side of
the tread or at spots in the tread may indicate a problem
with the tire or vehicle. Consult a quali ed tire service
professional.
• Inspect your wheels also. If you have a bent or cracked
wheel, it must be replaced.
• Don’t forget to check the spare tire.
Tire Service Life
Make sure your tires, including the spare, continue to be
regularly inspected after 5 years of service to determine
if they can continue in service. Regardless of the tire’s
condition or tread depth, it is recommended that tires more
than 10 years old be taken out of service and replaced with
new tires. REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR FULL-
SIZE OR TEMPORARY SPARE, ALSO. A spare tire
over 10 years old may look like a new tire, but it should be
replaced. See “Tire Manufacture Date,” the next section in
this manual.
The 10 year period after the date of production is not an
indicator of actual service life for any individual tire. Some
tires will need to be replaced before 10 years due to condi-
tions such as punctures, impact damage, improper in ation,
overloading, tread wear or other conditions involving use
or misuse of the tire. If a tire is worn out or otherwise
unserviceable from damage or conditions of use, it should