1981 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO wheel size

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Break·ln Schedule
See the new vehicle break-in instructions in this manual. Also, we
recommended you drive your new vehicle for 500 miles (600 kilometers) before
trailer towing . AI the end of this 500 mile (600 kilometer) break-in period, avoid
speeds over 50 mph (80 km/h) and full throttle starts during the first 500 miles (800 kilometers) of trailer towing.
CAUTIONS:
BRAKES-To help avoid personal injury due 10 poor braking action:
• Trailer brakes of adequate size are required on Irailers more Ihan 450 kilograms (1,000 pounds) loaded weight.
• If you use trailer brakes with this vehicle , follow the installation and balance
instructions of the trailer brake maker.
• Do not tap into the vehicle's brake system tl the trailer brake system uses
more than 0.3 cubic centimeter (0.02 cubic inch) of fluid from the vehitle's
master cylinder. In this case, the vehicle brake fluid capacity will not be enough to operate both the vehicle and trailer brakes under all kinds of
use.
• All brake fluid parts must be able to stand 20 650 kPa (3,000 psi) .. The
brake fluid tap must be made to the master cylinder port supplying fluid to
the rear brakes. Copper tubing is subject to fatigue failure and must not be
used.
• Before going down a steep or long grade, reduce speed. and shiftlhe transmission into a lower gear 10 help control too' long or too often . This
could cause
Ihe brakes 10 overheal and reduce brake ef\ectiveness. .
HITCHES2T6 HeIP'avoid pe,sona/ ,jQiYry.Que 10 sway caused by such things as
crosswinds , big trucks passing or roact roughness, or due to separalion of the
trailer :
• A properly installed and adjusted (1) frame mounted, weight-distributing
hitch and (2) sway control with enough capacity are required for trailers
more than 900 kilograms
(2,000 pounds) loaded weight.
• If your vehicle has air shocks, keep them at a minimum pressure of 70 to 105 kPa (10 to 15 psi) when installing, adjusting or towing with a weight­
distributing hitch.
• Keep the trailer tongue load at 10"10 of the loaded trailer \'feight for dead­
weight hitches, and 12"10 for weight-distribuling hitches. Tongue loads can be adjusted by proper distribution of the load in the trailer. This can be
checked by
weighjng separately the loaded trailer and then the tongue .
• Do not use axle-mounted hitches. They can damage the axle hOuSing, wheel bearings, wheels or lires.
•
When you remove a trailer hitch, be sure to seal any mounting holes in the
bocjy. This will help prevent entry of exhaust fumes, dirt or water. (See
"Engine Exhaust Gas Caution (Carbon Monoxide)" at the beginning of "Starting and Operating," Section 2 of this manual.)
1-13

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Compact Spare
The-compact spare tire is designed to.save-space in your trunk, and its lighter
weight makes it easier to install if a flat tire occurs. The lighter weight also
helps
improve fuel economy.
If you have a flat tire, follow the japking .instructions in this manual, while keeping these points in mind:
• Check the tire inflation pressure as soon as practical after installing the
spare (we suggest you use a pOcket-type high-pressure inflation gage) and
adjust to 415
kPa (60 psi). The tire pressure should be checked at least
monthly and kept at 415 kPa (60 psi) while the tire is stored.
c"""'.M~llijIW.9u~ use at speeds over 50 mph (80 km/h) is not recommended.
NOTICE: -Bec~us~ this tire is, smaller than the standard tire,-vehicle ground clearance is reduced. Avoid driving over obstacles, -and do 'not take your car through an automatic car wash -while _ the spare is installed. The car may catch on the equipment, possibly resulting in property damage.
• You can expect tread ,life up to 3,660 rhiles(4800 kilometers), depending onJqact~ondi~ions and your driving ~~bits. To conserve tire tread life, returri the -spare to _ the storage area as soon as the standard tire _ can be
repaired or replaced.
•
Because the compact spare was specifically designed for your car, it should not be used on any.other vehicle.
• The
compact spare tire and wheel are cfesigned for use with each other.
The comp,,:ct spare tire should not be mounted on any other type of wheel,
and the compact spare wheel should not have any other type of tire mounted on it. Also, do not try to use wheel covers or trim rings on the
compact spare wheel since they will not fit. If such use is attempted,
damage to these items or other vehicle components may occur.
• Do not use tire chains with your compact spare tire. Because of the smaller
tire size, a tire ChaiR will not fit properly. This could cause damage to the car and result in loss of the chain.
3-8

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine PART NUMBER
1051516
1050017
1052277
1050172
1050173
1050174
1050214
f' 1050237 .... 1050244
1052280
1050427 1050429
1052349
1050729
1051055
1051398
1051515 1051172 1051855 1051858
1052103
1052271 1052272
APPEARANCE CARE AND MAINTENANCE MATERIALS
SIZE DESCRIPTION
32 02. 10.946 U Washer -Solvent and Gas Line De-Icer 3 '2 oz, (0.946 LI Power Steering Fluid 16 oz. (0.473 LI Spray-A-Sq ueak
16 oz. (0.473 L) Tar and Road Oil Remove'r 16 oz . (0.473 L) Chrome Cleaner and Polish 1602.10,473 LI WhiteSidewall Tire Cleaner , 32 oz. 10.946 L) Vinyl/Leather Cleaner 16 oz. 10.473 L) Finish Guard Cleaner 16 oz. (0.473 L) Fabric Cleaner 1'2 oz. 10.354 L) Heat Valve Lubricant 23 oz. (0.680 L) Glass Cleaner 6 lb. 12.72 kg) Multi·Purpose Powdered Cleaner
16 oz. (0.453 kg) Lubriplate (White Grease) 8 oz. 10.237 Ll Vinyl Top Cleaner 16 oz. (0.473 LI Preservatone 8 oz. 10.237 L) Spot Lifter 32 oz, 10.946 LI GM Optikleen 20 oz . (0.567 kg) presofl®ed-Cleaner/wax 32 oz. 10.946 U Dexron II 16 oz. (0.473 1I GM Engine Oil Supplement (E.O.sJ 1 gal. 13.785 L) Anti·Free ze Coolant lethylene glycol base) 23 oz. 10.680 L ) GM Gear Lubricant 15 gal. (60 L) GM Gear Lubricant
USAGE
Washer Solvent and gas line Oe-icer Power Steering Weather Strips -stops squeaks on metal-to-metal and metal-to~ rubber contact Removes old waxes, polishes, tar, and road oil Removes rust and corrosion on chrome and stainless steel
Cleans white imd black tires Spot and stain removal on leather or vil'lyl One step cleaner and wax and aluminum· wheels Spot and stain removal on cloth and fabric Free up sticky heat ri;ers -general purpose penetrant Glasscleaning and spot cleaning on vinyls
Cleans vinyl and cloth on door trim, seats, and carpet-also, tires and mats Grease for hood, trunk and door hinges and latches
Cleaning of vinyl tops Viny l Top Dressing SPOt and stain removal on cloth and fabric
W indshield washer solvent and anti-freeze One step c leaner/wax Automatic transmission Consult your Dealer for specific usage
Year round coolant and anti-freeze Rear axle lubricant Same as 1052271

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine STANDARD EXTRA B C o
TIRE-LOAD AND INFLATION PRESSURES
TIRE lOAO RAlliGE
-{METRIC SIZE TIRE) " -{METRIC SIZE T!RE) -(ALPKA-NUMIiRIC SJZETIRE) -(ALPHA-NUMERIC SIZE TIRE) -(ALPHA-NUMERIC SIZE TIRE)
MAXIMUM COLO INHATtoN "'E$SURE
2
40 kPI 280 kPa 220 kPa 2M! kPt 27S kP.
t 35 psi J (41 psi) (32 psi) (36 psi) (40 p.JiI
TIRE LOAD RANGE IS MOLDED Off TIRE. !SEE I UUSTRATIOff ON PAGE ,So11 fOR lOCATION ON THE TIRE S IDEWALl! .
4. Always use a tire pressure gage when checking inflation pressures (we
suggest
you purchase a quality pocket-type gage). Simply looking at the
tires to check inftation pressures is not enough , especially with radia l tires .
Underinflated radial tires may
look like correctly inflated radial tires. H the.
inflation pressure on a tire is often low , have your d9aler correct the cause.
) , I" , "
,
~ , ~ , , , , ) ,
,
,
'"
,
~
'"
,
0:: ~ , , ~ :0 , ,
PROPERLY INFlATED IMPROPERLV INRATED
l ___ ~_~)
y IlADIAL TIRE
5. Be sure to put the tire inflation valve caps back on, if so equipped. This
will help keep dirt · and moisture from getting into the valve core which
could cause a leak.
6. If an air loss occurs while driving, do not drive on the flat tire more than is
needed to stop safely. Driving even a short distance
ona flat tire can
damage a tire and wheel beyond repair.
Inspection and Rotation
Front and rear tires perlorm different jobs and can wear differently depending
on the types of roads driven , your driving habits, etc .
For longer tire
life, you should inspect and rotate your tires as recommended in
Section A of the Maintenance Schedule folder. Many car and tire dealers will perform a free tire inspection to look for uneven or abnormal tire wear (usually
caused
by wrong inflation pressures, lack of regular rotation, improper wheel
alignment, out
of balance tires, or poor driving habits).
After rotation , adjust the front
and. rear tire pressures (see the Tire Placard)
and be sure to check wheel nut tightness . (Wheel nuts should also be
tightened at certain intervals; see the Wheel Nut Torque Caution in "In Case of
Emergency" section,
page 3·7, for further information.)
5-13

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If yqurv~hicle has TPC radial tires (see ;'Tire Aeplaceinent" in this section),
your tires were designed to provide better snow traction than bias or
bias­
belled tir~ wijhout snow treed. However, ij you use conventional snow tires,
be sure they are the same size, ioadrange , and construction type (bias, bias­belted, or radial) as your other tires .
Tire Chains or Similar Traction Devices
Use of chains may adversely affect your vehicle's handling. When using
chains:
(1) adjust speed to road conditions, (2) avoid sharp turns, and (3) when possible, avoid locked-wheel biaking.
I~ addition , to help prevent chain damage to your vehicle:
• Inslall the chains on the 'rear tires as tightly as possible , then tighten them
again af1er driving 1 /4 to 1 /2 mile «}:4t6·(} .. 8 kilometer) . The use 01 chains
on the front tires is not recommended; the chains may contact
and possibly
damage the vehicle :
If you intend to use chains on the front tires; be sure ther~ is enough clearance.
• Danai exceed 45 mph (70 krn/h), or the chain manufacturer's speed' limit, if lower.
•
Drive in a restrained manner and avoid large bumps, potholes, severe turns .
and other manuevers wliich could cause the tires to bounce up and down.
• Follow any other instructions 'of il1li -chain manufacturer which do not
disagree with the above.
n you buy tire chains, make sure the side chain fasteners are not wider than
the side chain
links; otherwise, the .chains may contact and possill!y.d~age. your vehicle. • .
Spare Tire
For the·useandinslalla~qf"I'WL.~~._tire, see "In Case of Emergency," Section 3 of this manual. ..,· •.. 4.
Tire Replacement
CAlITION: Do not mix different tire construction types (such as radial, bias, artd bl .. belted) on your vehicle except In emergenci •• , bee.UN your vehicle's handling could be aftKtedandmay resun"in loea o':control. ThiscauUon does not apply to a stowaway ; compact, or temporary spare Ore furnished with your vehicle.
On most vehicles originally equipped wijh radial .tires, you will find a TPC Spec . No. (Tire Performance Crijeria Specijication Number) molded into the tire
sidewall near the tire size marking . This shows that the tire meets rigid size
and performance standards which
weredevelopelffor your vehicle . The TPC
Spec. No: assures a proper combination of endurance , handling, load capacity,
ride and traction on wet, dry, and snow-covered surfaces. When you replace
your tires with tires having the
same TPC Sp~. No., your new tires will be
cOrTlpatible with your vehicle .
5-15

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When replacing tires with those not having a TPC Spec. No., you should use
the same size,
load range, and constructiontype (bias, bias-bened, or radial)
as the original tires on your
vehicle . Although ~ is not generaly recommended ,
some alpha-size and metric-size tires can be interchanged. (For size
equivalency, contact your Chevrolet
dealer or a tire dealer) . A different size or
type of tire may affect ride,
handling, speedometer /odometer calibration,
vehicle ground clearance , and tire or tire chain clearance to the body or
chassis .
II replacing only a single tire, it should be paired on the same axle with the least worn tire of the other three.
UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING
The following information relates to the tire grading system developed by the
National Highway Traffic Safety' Adminlslration which will grade tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance.
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified government test
course . For example, the tire graded 150 would wear one and a haij (1-1/2)
times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the. actual conditions of their _ use , however ,
and may depart significanlly from the norm due to variations in driving habits , service practices and. differences in road characteristics and climate.
TRACTION -A, B,C
. T~~tr~ction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B, and C. They represent
the ' fiie'sability to stop on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete . A
tire marked C may have poor traction performance .
Warning: Thetr.ction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and· doellnot include cornerillg (turning) tractlon.
TEMPERATURE -A, B, C
The ·temperature grades are A (the highest), B, andC, representing the tire's
resistance to the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditio 'ns on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained 'high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure .
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federat Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109 . Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The
temperature grade for Ihis tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinllaiion, or excessive loading, either separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible lire failure.
5-16

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine AI Ihis lime your lires mayor may nol have a grade. These grades will be
molded on the sidewalls of passenger car lires over Ihe nexl several years
according to a schedule established by the Nalional Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the tire manufacturers.
While the lires available as standard or optional equipment on General
Motors
vehicles may vary with respect to these grades, all such tires
meet General Motors performance standards and have been approved
for useon General Motors vehicles.
All passenger car tires must conform to Federal safety requirements In addition to these grades.
You should
replace your tires when:
I. The lires are worn to a point where 1.6 millimeters (2/32 inch) or less
tread remains, or the cord or fabric
is showing . To help you detect this,
your tires have built-in tread wear indicators that appear between the tread
grooves when the tread is 1.6 millimeters (2/32 inch) or less. When the
indicators. appear in two or mors adjacent grooves at three. spots around Ihe tire, the tire should be replaced.
TREAD WEAR INDICATORS
lOAD RANG[
........ _.-' ;'CotfS1WC1l0N UtAMI'L[ TilE
2. The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep enough to expose
the cord or fabric.
3. The tire has a bump , bulge or split.
4. The tire has a puncture, cut, or other injury that can't be correctly repaired
because of the size or location of the injury.
Wheel Replacement
Damaged wheels must be rePlaced. For example, replace wheels if they are bent, cracked , or heavily rusted , or if _ wheel nuts ohen become loose. Also
replace wheels which leak air (except" some aluminum wheels which can be repaired-- see your authorized dealer).
Do not use bent wheels which have been -straightened, and do not use inner
tubes in leaking wheels designed for tubeless tires. Such wheels may have
structural damage
and could fail without warning. When replacing wheels for
any reason, the
new wheels should be equal in load limit, diameter, width,
offset. and mounting configurations to those
originally installed on your vehicle.
5-17

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A wheel of the wrong size or type may adversely affect wheel and bearing life,
brake coo~ng, speedometer /odometer calibration, stopping abiUty, headlight
aim , bumper height, vehicle ground clearance , and tire or tire chain clearance
to
.the body and chassis. Replacement with USed. wheels is not advised: they
may have been treated harshly or have very high mileage, and could fail
without warning.
You can get wheels from your dealer.
CAUTION: Before installing whee .. , remove any buildup of corrOsion on the wheel mounting surfaee, and brake drum or brake disc mounllng surface, by scraping and wire brushing. Installing wheels without good metal-to-metal corrtact at the. mounting surfaces can cause wheel nuts to loosen, which can lirter allow • wheel to come off while the vehicle is moving, poJ$ibly cau~ng loss _otCQlltroi . lAIIo ~ the " Wheel Nut Torque " Caution in "In Case of Emergency ," Section 3 01 thi& manual
Warranty
Tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers. Warranty information is included in the manufacturer 's warranty folder furnished with your vehicle .
5-18