Care and Service of Passenger and Light Truck Tires TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 - BASIC TIRE INFORMATION Overview ...............................................................................................................................................1 Tire Construction and Terminology .........................................................................................................1 Tire Size Designations ...........................................................................................................................2 The Sidewall Story ................................................................................................................................5 Tire Service Description .........................................................................................................................9 Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards for Passenger Car Tires ............................................................10 Sidewall Marking for Retread Tires .......................................................................................................10 Tire Registration and Recall Information ................................................................................................10 CHAPTER 2 - TIRE CARE AND SERVICE Overview ............................................................................................................................................11 Proper Tire Inflation ............................................................................................................................11 Tire Loading .......................................................................................................................................14 Sudden Ride Disturbance or Vibration ..................................................................................................14 Tire Inspection Guidelines ...................................................................................................................14 Tire Service Life ..................................................................................................................................16 Tire Rotation ......................................................................................................................................19 Conditions Affecting Tread Wear ..........................................................................................................19 Proper Tire Repair ...............................................................................................................................21 Passenger and Light Truck Used Tires ..................................................................................................23 Spare Tire Maintenance .......................................................................................................................24 Tire Storage Recommendations ............................................................................................................24 Cleaning Tires .....................................................................................................................................24 Tire Sidewall Indentations ...................................................................................................................24 Tire Explosions and Flammable Substances ..........................................................................................25 Tire Spinning ......................................................................................................................................26 Mounting and Demounting Procedures .................................................................................................26 Tire/Wheel Balancing and Installation ...................................................................................................29 Ride Comfort Optimization Procedures and Diagnoistics ..........................................................................30 “Zipper Ruptures” in Steel Cord Radial Medium and Light Truck Tires ....................................................30 Tire Retreading ...................................................................................................................................31 Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 3 - TIRE REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES Overview .............................................................................................................................................32 The Right Tire for the Vehicle ...............................................................................................................32 Tire Size, Inflation & Load ....................................................................................................................32 Self-Supporting Runflat Tire Replacement ..............................................................................................34 Tire Mixing ..........................................................................................................................................35 Replacing Less Than Four Tires .............................................................................................................36 Tire Rim/Wheel Selection ......................................................................................................................37 Tire, Vehicle Clearance and Tire Diameter..............................................................................................37 Plus Sizing ...........................................................................................................................................37 Important Considerations .....................................................................................................................39 Passenger and Light Truck Used Tires ...................................................................................................40 CHAPTER 4 - RECREATIONAL VEHICLE APPLICATIONS Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 41 RV Tire and Vehicle Placards/Labels ...................................................................................................... 41 RV Tire and Vehicle Load Limits ............................................................................................................ 42 Proper RV Tire Inflation ........................................................................................................................ 42 Proper RV Tire and Vehicle Loading ....................................................................................................... 44 How to Determine an RV’s Actual Weight .............................................................................................. 45 RV Tire Inspection Guidelines ............................................................................................................... 46 Severe Service Operation ...................................................................................................................... 46 Sudden Ride Disturbance/Vibration ....................................................................................................... 47 Tire Rotation ........................................................................................................................................ 47 RV Tire Service Life .............................................................................................................................. 47 Weighing an RV or Travel Trailer .......................................................................................................... 48 Weighing a Single Axle Recreational Vehicle .......................................................................................... 48 Weighing a Tandem Axle Recreational Vehicle ....................................................................................... 49 Weighing a Pulling Vehicle and Travel Trailer ......................................................................................... 49 Proper Tire Repair ................................................................................................................................ 51 Parking an RV ..................................................................................................................................... 52 Passenger and Light Truck Used Tires ................................................................................................... 53 Storing RV Tires ................................................................................................................................... 53 Page ii Purpose THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN TIRE SAFETY, The purpose of this manual is to provide both the tire PERFORMANCE AND SERVICE LIFE ARE: service professional and end user (consumer) with an understanding of the many factors that are essential to • PROPER TIRE SIZE, TYPE, AND LOAD CAPACITY the proper care and service of passenger and light truck (OR LOAD RANGE) • PROPER INFLATION PRESSURE tires (also known as “light vehicle tires”*). • PROPER VEHICLE LOADING • REGULAR TIRE ROTATION This manual is not all inclusive. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers • REGULAR INSPECTION Association (USTMA) does not intend for it to eliminate • PROPER TIRE REPAIR the need for in-depth, hands-on training, especially in • VEHICLE CONDITION, ALIGNMENT AND such areas as: tire mounting and demounting; tire and MAINTENANCE wheel balancing; tire retreading;