1996 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA spare tire

Operating Your Bravada Off Paved Roads
Many of the s’ame design features that help make
Bravada responsive on paved roads during poor weather conditions
-- features like the locking rear axle and
all-wheel drive
-.- help make it much better suited for.
off-road use than a conventional passenger car. Its
higher.ground clearance also helps Bravada step over
some off-road obstacles. But Bravada doesn’t have
features like special underbody shielding and a transfer
case low gear range, things that are usually thought
necessary for extended or severe off-road service. This
guide is for operating your Bravada off paved roads.
Also, see “Anti-Lock Brakes” in the Index.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
I r some definite hazards. The greatest of these is the
’ terrain itself.
t
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the great North
marked. Curves aren’t banked. There are no road signs.
Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or downhill. In
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that’s
why it’s very important that you read this guide. You’ll
find many driving tips and suggestions. These will help
make your off-road driving safer and more enjoyable.
merican road system behind. Traffic lanes aren’t
hort, you’ve gone right back
to nature.
Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before ,you go out. For
example, be sure to have all necessary maintenance and
service work done. Check to make sure all underbody
shields (if
so equipped) are properly attached. Be sure
you read all the information about your
four-wheel-drive vehicle in this manual.
Is there enough
fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflated? Are the fluid levels
up where they should be? What are the local laws that
apply to off-roading where you’ll be driving?
If you
don’t
know, you should check with law enforcement
people in the area. Will you be on someone’s private
land? If
so, be sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road Driving
There are some important things to remember about
how to load your vehicle.
The heaviest things should be on the load floor and
forward of your rear axle. Put heavier items as far
forward as you can.
Be sure the load is secured properly, so driving on
the off-road terrain doesn’t toss things around.
,
4-14
ProCarManuals.com

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The jacking equipment you'll need is stored along the
driver's rear wall. Your vehicle is also equipped
with
work gloves and a plastic ground mat to assist in the
changing
of a flat tire.
To remove the jack
cover, pull up on
the latch
at the end
of the cover,
near the endgate.
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change
a tire.
Then pull up
on the latch on the top of the cover.
Remove the wheel blocks, jack and wheel wrench.
ProCarManuals.com

The spare tire is stowed under the vehicle.
I NOTICE:
Never remove or restow a tire frondto a stowage
position under the vehicle while the vehicle
is
supported by a jack. Always tighten the tire
fully against the underside of the vehicle when restawing.
To remove the spare, insert
the chisel end
of the wheel
wrench, on an angle, into
the hole in the rear bumper.
Be sure the chisel end of the
wheel wrench connects into
the hoist shaft. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire. Keep turning the wheel wrench
until the spare
tire can be pulled out
from under the vehicle.
When the tire has been completely lowered, tilt the
retainer at the end
of the cable and pull it through the
wheel opening. Pull the tire out from under the vehicle.
NOTICE:
To help avoid vehicle damage, do not drive the
vehicle before the cable
is restored.
Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
ProCarManuals.com

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
I
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don’t remove them yet.
lift head.
2. Turn the jack handle clockwise to raise the jack
3. Fit the jack into the appropriate hole nearest the
flat tire.
A. Front Frame Hole
B. Spring Hanger Hole
ProCarManuals.com

x CAUTION: 1 - - -
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured
or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
NOTICE:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned will damage the, vehicle or may allow
the vehicle to fall off the jack. Be sure to
fit the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising your vehicle.
4. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the
ground
so there is enough room for the spare
tire
to fit.
5. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.
5-25
ProCarManuals.com

Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools Follow this diagram to store the spare or flat tire.
I A CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire or other equipment in the
passenger compartment
of the vehicle could
cause injury. In
a sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone. Store all these
in the proper place.
B-I
A. Retainer
B. Valve Stem
(Pointed Down)
C. Spare Tire
D. Spring
E. Wheel Wrench
E Lower
G. Raise
H. Hoist Arm
1. Put the tire on the ground at the rear of the vehicle,
with the valve stem pointed down and to the rear.
2. Pull the retainer through the wheel.
3. Put the chisel end of the wheel wrench, on an angle,
through the hole
in the rear bumper and into the hoist
shaft. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise until
the tire
is raised against the underside
of the vehicle.
You will hear two “clicks” when the tire is secure,
but pull
on the tire to make sure.
ProCarManuals.com

Inflation -- Tire Pressure . ..
The Certificatioflire label; which is on the driver’s
door edge, above the door latch,
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- 1 mile (1.6 km).
NOTICE:
~~
.Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation
is all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough
air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
0 Too much flexing
Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear ’ ,
0 , Bad handling
0 Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued)
,. ..

.N,OTICE:’ (Continued)
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
0 Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
0 Rough ride .
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Also, check the
tire pressure
of the spare tire.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell
if your tires are. properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps,back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out
dirt and moisture.
ProCarManuals.com

I
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly, and you could have
a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on all wheels.
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.) The
grades are molded
on the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does
not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to
30 cm),
or to some limited-production tires. While the tires available
on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
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, and 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 (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
6-41
ProCarManuals.com