1995 PONTIAC FIREBIRD tires

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi
(420 kPa). After installing the compact spare on your
vehicle, you should stop as soon
as possible and make
sure your spare tire is correctly inflated.
The compact
spare is made to perform well at posted speed limits for
distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can
finish
your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or
replaced where you want. Of course, it’s best to replace
your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can. Your
spare
will last longer and be in good shape in case you
need it again.
I
I NOTICE:
Don’t take your compact spare through an
automatic car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on the rails. That
can damage the tire and wheel, and maybe other
parts
of your vehicle.
NOTICE:
If the compact spare is used as a rear tire, do not
1 drive faster than 50 mph (80 km/h). Damage to
the rear axle may occur if the compact spare
is
driven faster than 50 mph. This speed limitation
does not apply when the compact spare is used as
a front tire.
Don’t use your compact spare on some other vehicle.
And don’t mix your compact spare or wheel with other
wheels or tires. They
won’t fit. Keep your spare and its
wheel together.
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NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the area around your front wheels. If your vehicle
has traction control, you should turn the system
off. (See
“Traction Control System” in the Index.) Then shift
back and forth between REVERSE (R) and
a forward
gear (or with a manual transmission, between FIRST
(1)
or SECOND (2) gear and REVERSE), spinning the
wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear.
If that doesn’t
get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed
out. If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Car” in the Index.
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Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly
applied, This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
If you have rear drum brakes, they don’t have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake rubbing
noise, have the rear brake linings inspected.
Also, the
rear brake drums should be removed and inspected each
time the tires are removed for rotation or changing.
When you have the front brakes replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height, or
if there is a rapidincrease in pedal
travel.
This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, your disc
brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make a moderate or
heavier stop, then your brakes might not adjust correctly.
If you drive in that way, then -- very carefully -- make
a few moderate brake stops about every 1,000 miles
(1 600 km), so your brakes will adjust properly.
If your brake pedal goes down farther than norrid, your
rear drum brakes may need adjustment. Adjdsi them by
backing up and firmly applying the brakes a few times.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complkx. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and wokk well.
together if the vehicle is to have really good briking.
Vehicles
we design and test have top-quality GM brake
parts
in them, as your Pontiac does when it is new.
When you replace parts of your braking system, -- for
example, when your brake linings wear down dnd yob .
have to have new ones put in -- be sure you get new
genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, yuia
brakes
may no longer work properly. For em$le, if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong
€& ybuf
vehicle, the balance between your front and re& btakes
can change
-- for the worse. The braking perfoi-mhnce ,
you’ve come to expect can change in many other way$ if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
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I
, We don’t make tires. Your new vehicle comes with high
quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. These
tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers and their
warranties are delivered with every new Pontiac.
Tf your
spare tire is a different brand than your road tires, you
will have a tire warranty folder from each of these
manufacturers.
I Tires
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Inflation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label which is on the
driver’s door shows the correct inflation pressures for
your tires, when they’re cold. “Cold” means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven no more than a mile.
If you’ll be driving at speeds higher than 100 mph (160 km/h)
where it is legal, raise the “cold” inflation pressure of\
each
tire to 35 psi (240 k Pa). When you end this very high speed
driving, reduce the “cold” inflation pressures to those
listed
on the tire loading information label.
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinnation or
overinflation
is all right. It’s not. If’ your tires don’t
have enough
air (underinflation) you can get:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Bad wear
0 Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
(Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
. ., .. ,
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not tell you the
pressure, especially if you have radial tires
-- which
may look properly inflated even
if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back
on. They help prevent leaks by keeping ou,t dirt and
moisture.
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear. If
unusual wear is present, rotate your tires as soon as
possible and check wheel alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See “When it’s Time for New
Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for
all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation
is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
I I 1
If you don’t have P245/5OZR16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C
tires, use the rotation pattern shown above for your tires.
n
If you have P245/5OZR16 Goodyear Eagle GS-C tires,
they must roll
in a certain direction for the best overall
performance. The direction
is shown by an arrow on
both sidewalls. Because these tires are directional, they should be rotated as shown here. These tires should only
be moved from front to rear and rear to front on the
same side
of the vehicle. I I
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After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures
as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the
Index.
When it’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires
is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your
tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6
mm) or
less of tread remaining.
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You need a new tire if
0
0
e
0
0
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord
or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut
or snagged deep
enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or location
of the damage.
design, the TPC number will be followed by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size, load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When
you get new tires,
get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way,
your vehicle
will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle.
If your tires have an all-season tread
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