BRIDGESTONE / FIRESTONE
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You should visually inspect your tires on a regular basis throughout
their life, and you should have your tires periodically evaluated by a
qualified 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 qualified tire
service professional demount the tire and inspect it for damage. A
tire may not have visible signs of damage on the tire surface. 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. Have your tire inspected by a qualified 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 exposed, the tire is dangerously
worn and must be replaced immediately.
•
Inspect your tires for uneven wear. Wear on one side of the tread
or flat spots in the tread may indicate a problem with the tire or
vehicle. Consult a qualified 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.
Make sure your tires, including the spare tire, continue to be regularly\
inspected after 5 years of service to determine if they can continue in \
service. Even when your tires appear to be usable from their external
appearance or the tread depth may have not reached the minimum
wear out depth, it is recommended that all tires (including spare tires
and “temporary use” spares) more than 10 years old be replaced wi\
th
new tires.
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 conditions such as punctures, impact
damage, improper inflation, overloading, tread wear or other conditions
