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Care & Maintenance — Tire Care Tips

 

Highway Auto And Light Truck Tires Limited Warranty, Tire Care And Maintenance Guides

Always maintain inflation pressure at the level recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer as shown on the vehicle placard, vehicle certification label or in the vehicle owner's manual:

Underinflation is the leading cause of tire failure and may result in severe cracking, component separation or “blowout.” It reduces tire load capacity, allows excessive sidewall flexing and increases rolling resistance, resulting in heat and mechanical damage. Maintaining proper inflation pressure is the single most important thing you can do to ensure tire durability and maximum treadlife.

Overinflation increases stiffness, which may deteriorate ride and generate unwanted vibration. Overinflation also increases the chances of impact damage.

DON'T OVERLOAD YOUR VEHICLE.
Check your vehicle owner's manual to determine the load limits. Overloading your vehicle places stress on your tires and other critical vehicle components. Overloading a vehicle can cause poor handling, increased fuel consumption and may cause tire failure.

Never fit your vehicle with new tires that have less load capacity than shown on the vehicle tire placard and remember that optimum rim width is important for proper tire load distribution and function.

The maximum load capacity stamped on the sidewalls of P-Metric tires is reduced by 10 percent when used on a light truck, utility vehicle or trailer. Never fit P-Metric tires to light trucks that specify LT-type replacement tires.

DON'T SPIN YOUR TIRES EXCESSIVELY.
Avoid excessive tire spinning when your vehicle is stuck in snow, ice, mud or sand. The centrifugal forces generated by a free-spinning tire/ wheel assembly may cause sudden tire explosion resulting in vehicle damage and/or serious personal injury to you or a bystander. Never exceed 35 mph (55 km/h) as indicated on your speedometer. Use a gentle backward and forward rocking motion to free your vehicle for continued driving. Never stand near or behind a tire spinning at high speed as, for example, while attempting to push a vehicle that is stuck or when an on-the-car spin balance machine is in use.

DO CHECK YOUR TIRES FOR WEAR.
Always remove tires from service when they reach two thirtyseconds of an inch (2/32") remaining tread depth. All new tires have tread wear indicators, which appear as smooth banks in the tread grooves when they wear to the two thirty-seconds of an inch (2/32") level. Many wet weather accidents result from skidding on bald or nearly bald tires. Excessively worn tires are also more susceptible to penetrations.

DO CHECK YOUR TIRES FOR DAMAGE.
Frequent (at least monthly) inspection of your tires for signs of damage and their general condition is important for safety. If you have any questions, have your tire dealer inspect them. Impacts, penetrations, cracks, knots, bulges or air loss always require tire removal and expert inspection. Never perform a temporary repair or use an innertube as a substitute for a proper repair. Only qualified persons should repair tires.

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