Loading Your Vehicle
COLD TIRE PRESSURE
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The Certificationmire label is found on the rear edge of
the driver’s door. The label shows the size of your
original tires and the inflation pressures needed to obtain
the gross weight capacity
of your vehicle. This is called
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR
includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel
and cargo. The
Certificationrnire label also tells
you the maximum
weights for the front and rear axles, called Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). To find
out the actual loads on
your front and rear axles, you need to go to a weigh
station and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread out your load equally on
both sides of the centerline.
Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle, or the
GAWR for either the front or rear axle.
And,
if you do have a heavy load, you should spread
it out.
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Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
GVWR, or either the maximum front or rear
GAWR. If
you do, parts on your vehicle can break,
or it can change the way your vehicle handles.
These could cause you
to lose control. Also,
overloading can shorten the life of your vehicle.
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Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the
Certification label at the rear edge of the driver’s door or
see “Tire Loading” in
the Index. Then be sure you don’t
go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle, including the
weight of the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are
a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for
hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Use only
a
frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to the
bumper. Do not use a ball hitch, because it could pull
the bumper loose.
If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than
4,000 lbs. (1 800 kg), be sure to use
a properly mounted, weight-distributing hitch and
sway control
of the proper size. This equipment is
very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you’re driving.
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If you’re using the wiring provided by the
factory-installed hitch, you should not need to make
any holes in the body
of your vehicle. However, if
you have an aftermarket hitch installed, you may
need to make holes in
the body.
If you do, then be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly
carbon monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get
into your vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide”
in the
Index). Dirt and water can, too.
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Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
Your spare tire is stored underneath the rear of your
vehicle.
You will use the ratchet and extension to lower
the spare tire.
A flat rear tire reduces clearance to remove the spare
tire.
If there is less than 12 inches (30.48 cm) between
the ground and the rear bumper or any trailer hitch, jack
up the vehicle until the flat tire is off the ground. (See
“Removing the Flat Tire” and “Installing the Spare
Tire,” Steps
4 through 8, in this section.) Unless your vehicle has
a flat rear tire, do not remove
or restore a tire fromho
a storage position under the
vehicle while the vehicle is supported by a jack. Always
tighten
the tire fully against the underside of the vehicle
when restoring.
If you have a vehicle which was completed from a cab
and chassis, refer to the information from the body
supplierhnstaller.
The spare tire is a
full size tire, like the other tires on
your vehicle.
Remove the retaining wing bolt and lift it off the
mounting bracket. Set the jack and jacking equipment
near the flat tire.
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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.
Some commercial truck
tires may
not have
treadwear indicators.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
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.
0 The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
0 The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because
of the size or location
of
the damage.
Dual Tire Operation
When the vehicle is new, or whenever a wheel, wheel
bolt or wheel
nut is replaced, check the wheel nut
torque after 100,
1,000 and 6,000 miles (160, 1 600 and
IO 000 km) of driving. For proper torque, see “Wheel
Nut Torque”
in the Index.
The outer tire
on a dual wheel setup generally wears
faster than the inner tire. Your tires will wear more
evenly and last longer if you rotate
the tires periodically.
If you’re going to be doing a lot of driving on
high-crown roads, you can reduce tire wear by adding
5 psi (35 kPa) to the tire pressure in the outer tires. Be
sure
to return to the recommended pressures when no
longer driving under those conditions. See “Changing a
Flat Tire”
in the Index for more information.
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A CAUTION:
If you operate your vehicle with a tire that is
badly underinflated, the tire can overheat. An
overheated tire can lose air suddenly or catch
fire. You or others could be injured. Be sure all
tires (including the spare) are properly inflated.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Certificationmire 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
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.
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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.
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Whenever a wheel, wheel bolt or wheel nut is replaced
on a dual wheel setup, check the wheel nut torque after
100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles (160, 1 600 and 10 000 km)
of driving. For proper torque, see “Wheel Nut Torque”
in the Index.
See “Changing
a Flat Tire” in the Index for more
information.
I 3 Wheels
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.
Tire Chains
NOTICE:
Use tire chains only where legal and only when you
must. Use chains that are the proper size for your
tires. Install them on the tires
of the rear axle.
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.
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Appearance Care Materials Chart
PART NUMBER SIZE DESCRIPTION USAGE
994954 23 in. x 25 in. Polishing Cloth - Wax
Treated
Exterior polishing cloth
1050172 16
oz. (0.473 L) Tar and Road Oil Remover Removes tar, road oil and asphalt
1050 173 16
oz. (0.473 L) Chrome Cleaner and Polish
Use on chrome, stainless steel, nickel, copper and brass
1050174 16 oz. (0.473 L) White
Sidewall Tire Cleaner Removes soil and black marks from whitewalls
10502 I4 32
oz. (0.946 L) Vinyl Cleaner Cleans vinyl tops, upholstery and
convertible tops
I050427
23 oz. (0.680 L) Glass Cleaner Removes
dirt, grime, smoke and fingerprints
1052870 16
oz. (0.473 L) Wash Wax
Concentrate Cleans
and lightly waxes
I 10529 18”“ I 8 oz. (0.237 L) I Armor All Protectant Protects leather, wood,
acrylics, Plexiglas l‘, plastic,
rubber and vinyl
I 1052925 1 16 oz. (0.473 L) I I
Multi-Purpose Interior Cleans
carpets, seats, interior trim, door panels
Cleaner and floor mats
1052929
16 oz. (0.473 L) Wheel Cleaner
Spray on and rinse with water
1052930
8 oz. (0.237 L) Capture Dry Spot Remover Attracts, absorbs and removes
soils
12345002 16
oz. (0.473 L) Armor All TM Cleaner Cleans
and shines a variety of surface types
1234572
1 2.5 sq. ft. Synthetic Chamois Shines
vehicle without scratching
12345725 12
oz. (0.354 L) Silicone Tire Shine Spray on tire shine
12377964
16 02. (0.473 L) Finish Enhancer Removes dust, fingerprints and surface contaminants
I 12377966 I 16 oz. (0.473 L) I Cleaner Wax I Removes light scratches and oxidation and protects finish
I 12377984 I 16 oz. (0.473 L) I Surface Cleaner I Removes contaminants, blemishes and swirl marks
See your General Motors
Parts Department for these products. **Not recommended for use on instrument panel vinyl.
See “Fluids and Lubricants’’ in the Index.
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