Introduction
For safety and good performance, you must take care when selecting replacement tires. Disregarding any of these safety precautions and instructions may result in tire failure or explosion and serious personal injury or death.
You are Responsible
YOU are always responsible for the tires installed on your vehicle.
Ultimately, you are responsible for the tires installed on your vehicle. The fitments listed here are only general guidelines. Never assume you can simply substitute the tires shown in these charts. Using the wrong size tire - whether too big or too small for your vehicle - can lead to sudden tire failure and may result in loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury or death.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
Tire Selection
What Tire is Right for Your Vehicle?
When replacing tires, always consult the vehicle manufacturer to determine original equipment requirements.
Consult the tire placard, normally located on a door frame, door edge, or glove box door, or owner's manual for the original tire size, speed rating and recommended operating inflation pressures.
When replacing tires on a vehicle, it is recommended and preferred that all four tires be replaced.
When replacing tires on a vehicle, it is recommended and preferred that all four tires be replaced at the same time for continued optimal vehicle performance. However, for those cases where this is not feasible, the new tires should always be placed on the rear axle of the vehicle. Generally, new tires with deeper tread will provide better grip and evacuate water more effectively, which is important as a driver approaches hydroplane situations. Placing greater traction on the rear axle on wet surfaces is necessary to prevent possible oversteer condition and possible loss of vehicle control, especially during sudden maneuvers.
IMPORTANT: Always check the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation before replacing a tire with a different size and/or construction.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
Tire Size
The tire size is written on the tire's sidewall.
P indicates a passenger (car-type) tire. Other options would be no P indicating metric sizing (essentially the same as P-sizing, which has its heritage in Europe) or LT for light truck. LT truck tires are designed for heavier loads and more rugged service conditions.
Width of the tire, in millimeters. The higher the number the wider the tire.
Aspect ratio - The height of the sidewall section compared to the width of the tire. Example: - If this number was a 50, then the tire section is half as tall as it is wide. Short sidewalls deliver crisp handling. Tall sidewalls give a smoother ride. For a specific tire width, the smaller this number, the shorter the sidewall.
Construction - R indicates radial construction. Unless you specify the other option, bias (which would have a D [diagonal] or B [belted bias] in this position instead of an R), you are purchasing a radial tire.
Wheel Size Designation - This indicates the distance across the "doughnut hole" of a tire, in simple terms. You must match wheel diameter and tire diameter. For example, a 15-inch diameter tire must only be mounted on a 15-inch diameter rim. A tire with a 15 size designation will not work on a 14" wheel, and vice versa. Improperly matching of wheel and tire size can cause serious injury or death during installation.
Service Description - Includes the load index (a number) and a speed symbol (a letter). About load index, remember: Keep the number the same as or greater than the original tires' load index. That number stands for a specific weight-carrying capability. Key is that the higher the number, the greater load-carrying capacity. So keep the number the same or higher, because your tires are matched to the weight of your car. Never choose a tire with a lower load-carrying capacity than the original equipment tire size.
Tire Service Life
Cooper recommends that all tires, including full-size spares, that are 10 or more years from their date of manufacture, be replaced with new tires.
Tire service life is not determined by chronological age. The useful life of a tire is a function of service and storage conditions. For each individual tire, this service life is determined by many elements such as temperature, storage conditions, and conditions of use (e.g., load, speed, inflation pressure, impacts and road hazard damage) to which a tire is subjected throughout its life. Since service and storage conditions vary widely, accurately predicting the service life of any specific tire based on calendar age is not possible.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
In some cases a vehicle manufacturer may make a recommendation for tire replacement earlier than 10 years for their products based upon their understanding of the specific vehicle characteristics and application. If so, the consumer should follow those vehicle manufacturer's specific recommendations for their vehicle.
Under no circumstances should a "maximum" service life recommendation for a tire be considered as an "expected" service life. Tires must be removed from service for several reasons, including tread worn down to minimum depth, signs of damage (cuts, cracks, bulges, impact damage, vibration, etc.) or signs of abuse (underinflation, overloading, improper repair, etc.).
Cooper Tire is not aware of scientific or technical data that establishes or identifies a specific minimum or maximum service life for passenger and light truck tires. However, Cooper recognizes a consumer benefit from a more uniform, global industry-wide approach to the tire service life issue. Accordingly, Cooper recommends that all tires, including full-size spares, that are 10 or more years from their date of manufacture, be replaced with new tires. Tires 10 or more years old should be replaced even if the tires appear to be undamaged and have not reached their tread wear limits. Most tires will need replacement before 10 years due to service conditions. This may be necessary even if the tire has not yet reached its tread wear limits.
Load Capacity
The load carrying capacity of the replacement tires must always equal or exceed the load carrying capacity of the original equipment tires.
The replacement tire must have a maximum load carrying capacity equal to or greater than the maximum load carrying capacity of the original equipment tire. Refer to the tire placard on the vehicle for the recommended inflation pressures of the original equipment size tires. These pressures must be maintained as a minimum. Do not exceed the maximum pressure indicated on the tire sidewall. Tires which are loaded beyond their maximum allowable loads will build up excessive heat that may result in sudden tire destruction.
Do not exceed the gross axle weight ratings for any axle on your vehicle. Consult the vehicle placard and/or owner's manual to determine the gross axle weight rating. Following the loading instructions of the vehicle manufacturer should insure that the tires are not overloaded.
Replacing original equipment light truck tire with passenger tire.
If you replace an original equipment light truck tire with a passenger car tire, you cannot install a passenger car tire which has the same "maximum load" rating as the light truck tire (which is shown on the sidewall of the light truck tire identified on the vehicle manufacturer's tire placard). The replacement passenger tire must have a "maximum load" rating of at least 10% greater than the original equipment light truck tire specified on the vehicle placard.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
Speed Rating
The speed capability of the replacement tires must always equal or exceed the original equipment tires.
When replacing your tires, consult the placard or the owner's manual for the correct size. If the tires shown on the vehicle placard do not have speed ratings, the appropriate size tire with any speed rating may be applied.
When the placard tire size contains a speed symbol, for example P205/60HR15 or p205/60R15 90H, the replacement tire must have the same or higher speed rating symbol if the speed capability of the vehicle is to be maintained. If the replacement tire is not speed rated, the speed capability of the vehicle is limited by the speed capability of the replacement tire. A Cooper-produced non-speed rated passenger tire's maximum speed is 85 mph (137 km/h)
Speed Category
S 180 km/h (112 mph)
T 190 km/h (118 mph)
U 200 km/h (124 mph)
H 210 km/h (130 mph)
V 240 km/h (149 mph)
*W 270 km/h (168 mph)
*Y 300 km/h (186 mph)
Cooper's speed symbol designations in this table are based upon indoor wheel test conducted in accordance with the Procedure for Load/Speed Performance Tests of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE-30)
* For tires having a maximum speed capability above 240 km/h (149 mph), a "ZR: may appear in the size designation.
Example:
Tire Designation - Maximum Speed
P275/40R17 93W - 270 km/h (168 mph)
P275/40R17 93Y - 300 km/h (186 mph)
P275/40ZR17 93W - 270 km/h (168 mph)
P275/40ZR17 93Y - 300 km/h (186 mph)
While a speed symbol is an indication of the speed capability of the tire, we do not endorse the operation of any vehicle in an unsafe or unlawful manner.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
Winter Tires
The initial movement and acceleration of any vehicle in winter or other adverse driving conditions are dependent on the traction available from the tires on the driving axle. However, the handling, cornering and braking of a vehicle after it is in motion, especially in any adverse weather conditions, are dependent on the traction from both the front and rear tires. The rear tires of any vehicle must have comparable or higher traction capabilities than the front tires in order to optimize vehicle mobility and control, especially during sudden maneuvers.
Winter/Snow tires - It is always preferable to apply winter/snow tires to all wheel positions, including duals, to maintain vehicle mobility and control.
If winter/snow tires are applied to the front axle of any vehicle, winter/snow tires must also be installed on the rear axle. DO NOT apply winter/snow tires only to the front axle. This applies to all passenger and light truck vehicles including front-wheel-drive, 4WD, and AWD vehicles. WARNING! Without winter/snow tires on the rear axle, which have comparable traction qualities to the tires on the front axle, the vehicle may experience adverse handling characteristics. This may result in loss of vehicle control, which could cause serious injury or death.
If winter/snow tires are installed on the rear axle of any vehicle, it is recommended that they also be installed on the front axle.
Studded Winter/Snow tires - Studded winter/snow tires have higher traction qualities under most winter weather conditions.
If studded winter/snow tires are installed on the front axle of any vehicle, studded winter/snow tires must also be installed on the rear axle. DO NOT apply studded winter/snow tires only to the front axle. WARNING! Installing only two studded winter/snow tires on the front axle of any vehicle (including front-wheel-drive vehicles) without studded winter/snow tires on the rear axle can cause adverse vehicle handling characteristics. This may result in loss of vehicle control, which could cause serious injury or death.
Tire Mixing
Replacement tires should always have the same construction.
Tire mixing can be dangerous. Most passenger tires today are radial tires. For best performance, we recommend the same size and type of tire be used on all four wheel positions unless the vehicle manufacturer specified different sizes, front and rear, as original equipment. Check the vehicle placard.
On the front or rear wheel drive vehicles, if different size tires are used on different axles, always place the lower series tires on the rear axle.
If only two radials are mounted with two non-radials, the radial should be mounted on the rear. If tires of different types are mixed on a vehicle in any configuration, they should not be used for long periods and speeds should be kept to a minimum.
Mixing or matching of tires on 4-wheel drive vehicles requires special precautions. Always check vehicle manufacturers' manual for their recommendations.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
Approved Rims
Mount tires only on approved rims.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
Vehicle Modifications
After-market modifications to your vehicle can adversely affect vehicle handling and stability.
Vehicle modifications such as lift kits and other suspension alterations and/or the use of tires not recommended by the vehicle manufacturer can adversely affect vehicle handling and stability.
Certain vehicle manufacturer's may advise against the application of replacement tires other than that of the same size and type of the original equipment tires. For this reason, always check with and follow the vehicle manufacturer's replacement tire recommendations.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.
Tire Mounting
Tire mounting can be dangerous and should be done only by trained persons using proper tools and procedures.
Serious injury or death may result from explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper mounting. Always have your tire dealer mount your tires on rims. If you are not thoroughly familiar with Rubber Manufacturers Association mounting procedures, never attempt to mount tires.
If you have any questions, please contact your local tire dealer or call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-854-6288.