1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD ESP

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration which grades tires by
treadwear, traction and temperature performance. (This applies only to vehicles sold in the United States.)
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, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(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 significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability 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: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering
(turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under controlled conditions 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
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
€3 and A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls of passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicles may vary with
6-53
ProCarManuals.com

respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved
for use on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition
to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire
life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need
to be reset. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
Pontiac dealer
if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset, and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts,
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts.
This way, you will be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
Pontiac model.
6-54
ProCarManuals.com

Section 8 Customer Assistance Information
Here you will find out how to contact Pontiac if you
need assistance. This section also tells you how to obtain
service publications and how
to report any safety
defects.
This section includes information on: Customer Satisfaction Procedure, Customer Assistance for Hearing
or Speech Impaired,
BBB Auto Line - Alternative
Dispute Resolution Program, Reporting Safety Defects,
Roadside Assistance, and Service Publications.
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
Your satisfaction and goodwill are important to your
dealer and Pontiac. Normally, any concern with the sales
transaction or the operation of your vehicle will be
resolved by your dealer’s Sales or Service Departments.
Sometimes, however, despite the best intentions of all
concerned, misunderstandings can occur. If your
concern has not been resolved to your satisfaction, the
following steps should be taken:
STEP ONE -- Discuss your concern with a member of
dealership management. Normally, concerns can be
quickly resolved at that level. If the matter
has already
been reviewed with the
Sales, Service, or Parts Manager,
contact the owner of the dealership or the General
Manager.
STEP TWO -- If after contacting a member of
dealership management, it appears your concern cannot
be resolved by the dealership without further help,
contact the Pontiac Customer Assistance Center by
calling 1-800-PM CARES. In Canada, contact
GM of
Canada Customer Assistance Center in Oshawa by
calling 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French).
In Mexico, call (525) 254-3777. In Puerto Rico, call
1-800-496-9992 (English) or 1-800-496-9993
(Spanish). In the
U.S. Virgin Islands, call
1-800-496-9994. In other overseas locations, contact
GM North American Export Sales in Canada by calling
1-905-644-4112.
8-1
ProCarManuals.com

ToReduceSpeed ............................ 2-48
To Resume a Set Speed
........................ 2-47
ToSet
..................................... 2-46
UseonHills
................................ 2-48
Customer Assistance for the Hearing or Speech
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.................... 8- 1
Impaired ..................................... 8-2
Damage. Finish ............................... 6-63
Damage. Sheet Metal ............................ 6-63
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-50
Defects. Reporting
............................... 8-4
Defensive Driving ............................... 4- 1
Defogging ..................................... 3-3
Differential. Limited Slip
......................... 6-29
Dolby 00 Noise Reduction ........................ 3-8
DoorLocks
..................................... 2-3
DriverPosition
................................. 1-13
Driving
On Grades. With a Trailer .................. 4-37
Driving
AtNight ................................... 4-16
City
....................................... 4-20
Defensive
................................... 4-1
Drunken
.................................... 4-2
Freeway
.................................... 4-21
DeadBattery ................................... 5-2
Defogger. Rear Window .......................... 3-4
Defrosting
..................................... 3-3
InaBlizzard ................................ 4- 27
In Foreign Countries ........................... 6-5
IntheRain
.................................. 4-17
OnCurves
.................................. 4-11
On
Hill and Mountain Roads ................... 4-23
On Snow and Ice ............................. 4-26
Through Deep Standing Water
.................. 2-20
Winter
..................................... 4-25
With a Trailer
............................... 4-35
DrunkenDriving ................................ 4-2
Electric Mirror Control ......................... 2-54
Electrical Equipment, Adding
..................... 6-65
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
............. 6-66, 6-69
Engine Coolant
................................. 6-30
Adding .................................... 6-31
Checking
................................... 6-31
Heater
..................................... 2-21
Temperature Gage ............................ 2-72
Exhaust
.................................... 2-37
Identification
................................ 6-65
Oil ........................................ 6-12
Engine Oil
.................................... 6-12
Adding
.................................... 6-15
Additives
................................... 6-18
Checking
................................... 6-14
Engine
What Kind to Use (3.4L, 5.7L) .................. 6-17
What Kind to Use (3.8L)
...................... 6-16
9-4
. ...
ProCarManuals.com