1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE: (Continued) I
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Rough ride
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.
If you have a 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.
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.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6.000 to 8.000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear. 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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine i
I
LWA r I
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire, don’t include it
in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the
CertificationRire label. Make certain that all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” in
the Index.
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it
is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When
you change a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but
be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing a Flat Tire”
in the Index.)
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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.
You need
a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around
the tire.
0 You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire's rubber.
0 The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough to
show cord or fabric.
0 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.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need. look at
the CertificatiodTire 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.
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
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.
t oet ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
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.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare
(if you have one). It was developed for use on
your vehicle.
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 lirnited-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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Traction -- A, B, C
The traction sades, from highest to lowesr. 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 per-fornmance.
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 B 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.
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.
Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are
not
needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or
the other. the alipment
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
GM dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer
will know the kind of wheel you need.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 vehicle.
I A CAUTION:
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire
or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts
on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision in which
you or others could be injured. Always use the
correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
See “Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index for
more information.
Used ’Replacement Wheels
I A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or
how
far it’s been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause an accident.
If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new
GM original equipment wheel.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Chains
NOTICE:
If your vehicle has P235/75R15, P235/70R15 or
31x10.50Rl5LT/C size tires, don’t use tire chains.
They can damage your vehicle because there’s
not enough clearance.
Use another type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends
it for use on your
vehicle and tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions.
To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device
if it’s contacting your vehicle, and don’t
spin your wheels.
NOTICE: (Continued) NOTICE:
(Continued)
If you do find a traction device that will fit, install
them on the rear tires.
If you have other size tires, use tire chains only
where legal and
only when you must. Use only
SAE Class “S”’type chains that are the proper
size for your tires. Install them
on the drive axle
tires (four-wheel-drive vehicles can use chains on
both axles) and tighten them
as tightly as possible
with the ends securely fastened. Drive slowly and
follow the chain manufacturer’s instructions..
If
you can .hear the chains contacting your vehicle,
, stop and retighten them. If the contact continues,
slow down until it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains
on will damage
your vehicle.
6-48
I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst
into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
Paint Thinner
0 Turpentine
0 Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle. too.
Don’t use any of these unless this manual says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your
GM dealer has two cleaners, a solvent-type spot
lifter and
a foam-type powdered cleaner. They will clean
normal spots and stains very weil.
Do not use them on
vinyl or leather.
Here are some cleaning tips:
1. Always read the instructions on me cleaner label.
2. Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
3. Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean
area often. A soft brush may be used
if stains
are stubborn.
4. Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area
5. If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
only.
If you use
them, don’t saturate the stained area.
area immediately or
it will set.