Tire replacement guide
For safety and good performance, you must take care when selecting replacement tires. Read our tire changing safety tips.
Disregarding any of these safety precautions and instructions may result in tire failure or explosion and serious personal injury or death.
Tire selection - Which Tires do I need?
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 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 tyres 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 aquaplane situations. Placing greater traction on the rear axle on wet surfaces is necessary to prevent possible oversteer 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.
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 and that no tire over 6 years old should be put into service. Since the spare tire is used so infrequently, carmakers have switched to narrow, compact spares to save space and weight. A spare tire is a lifesaver when regular tires go pop, but leaving the temporary tire on for longer than the manufacturer recommends invites a host of problems.
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 tyre based on calendar age is not possible.
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.
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.).
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.
Speed rating
Cooper Tire recommends that the speed capability of the replacement tires should always equal or exceed the original equipment tires.
When replacing your tires, consult the owner's manual for the correct size.
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-Reg 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 |
275/40R17 93W | 270 km/h (168 mph) |
275/40R17 93Y | 300 km/h (186 mph) |
275/40ZR17 93W | 270 km/h (168 mph) |
275/40ZR17 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. NB: Load Carrying capacity is reduced as speeds increase over 130mph. Seek advice from your tire dealer or Cooper Tires on maximum loads and speeds.
Winter tires
Always fit winter tires to all wheel positions.
Tire mixing
Replacement tires should always have the same construction.
Most passenger tires today are radial tyres. For best performance, we recommend the same size and type of tyre be used on all four wheel positions unless the vehicle manufacturer specified different sizes, front and rear, as original equipment. Check the vehicle owner’s manual.
Approved rims
Tires are designed to work on specific size rims. Please ensure that the tire is fitted to a suitable rim.
Vehicle modifications
After-market modifications to your vehicle can adversely affect vehicle handling and stability.
Vehicle modifications and suspension alterations and/or the use of tires not recommended by the vehicle manufacturer can adversely affect vehicle handling and stability.
Certain vehicle manufacturers may advise against the application of replacement tires other than that of the same size and type of the original equipment tyres. For this reason, always check with and follow the vehicle manufacturer's replacement tire recommendations.
Unsuitable fitment may also invalidate the manufacturing warranty offered by Cooper Tire.
Tire fitting
Tire fitting can be dangerous and should be done only by trained persons using proper tools and procedures.
Serious injury or death may result from an explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper fitting.
Always get a tire dealer to fit your tires on rims.