1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER spare tire

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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4-16 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.
CAUTION:

Cargo on the load floor piled higher than
the seatbacks can be thrown forward
during a sudden stop. You or your
passengers could be injured. Keep cargo
below the top of the seatbacks.

Unsecured cargo on the load floor can be
tossed about when driving over rough
terrain. You or your passengers can be
struck by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.

Heavy loads on the roof raise the vehicle's
center of gravity, making it more likely to
roll over. You can be seriously or fatally
injured if the vehicle rolls over. Put heavy
loads inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
Keep cargo in the cargo area as far forward
and low as possible.
You'll find other important information in this manual.
See ªVehicle Loading,º ªLuggage Carrierº and ªTiresº
in the Index.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-19
JE±15±0002±X
The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and
change a tire.
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
JE±15±0013±X
The jacking equipment you'll need is stored in the
luggage compartment on the driver's side of the vehicle.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-21
JE±15±0015±X
1. The spare tire is
mounted on your
tailgate. To remove the
cover from the spare
tire, insert your key into
the wheel lock and pull
the wheel lock off.
JE±15±0016±X
2. Using the wheel wrench, remove the wheel nut from
the tire. Gently pry the spare tire cover off the wheel.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-22
JE±15±0017±X
3. Remove the remaining wheel nuts from the spare tire
with the wheel wrench.
4. Remove the spare tire from the mounting bracket
and place it near your flat tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
JE±15±0018±X
1. Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts.
Don't remove them yet.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-24
JE±15±0021±X
3. 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.
JE±15±0022±X
4. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
flat tire.
X±05±0617±T
5. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces and
spare wheel.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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5-27
NOTICE:
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to
brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specification.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
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.
JE±15±0030±X
Store your vehicle's flat or spare tire by mounting it on
the tailgate.
Replace the jack, jack handle and wheel wrench.
A. Wrench
B. Jack Handle
C. Jack

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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6-43 Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
driver's door lock pillar, shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires when they're cold. ªColdº
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:

Too much flexing

Too much heat

Tire overloading

Bad wear

Bad handling

Bad fuel economy.
NOTICE: (Continued)
NOTICE: (Continued)
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.
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.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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6-47 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 -- AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A,
B, and C. Those grades 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 straight
-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.