2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE spare tire

5-27
When reinstalling the
nut caps on aluminum
wheels, tighten the
caps snug with the
wheel wrench.
Then continue tightening one
-quarter turn
for plastic caps, or one
-eighth turn for steel caps.
Do not overtighten.
If you have aluminum wheels with a center cover
that hides the wheel nuts, when reinstalling the
center cover do not use a hammer or mallet, as they
could damage the cover.
Storing the Flat 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.
After you've put the compact spare tire on your vehicle,
you'll need to store the flat tire in your trunk.
Store the flat tire as far forward in the trunk as possible.
Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment in
the trunk. For storage, the jack must be raised until the
screw end is flush with the edge of the jack.

5-28 Storing the 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.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full
-size tire as soon as you
can. See ªCompact Spare Tireº later in this section.
See the storing instructions label to return your compact
spare into your trunk properly.A. Wrench
B. Jack
C. Jack ContainerD. Retainer
E. Spare Tire Cover
F. Retainer

5-29
Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire 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 speeds up to 65 mph (105 km/h) 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. You must calibrate the Check Tire
Pressure System after installing or removing the compact
spare. See ªCheck Tire Pressure Systemº in the Index.
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.
NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don't take
your vehicle 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.
Don't use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don't mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They won't fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won't fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don't use tire chains on your
compact spare.

6-46
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. 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.
Check Tire Pressure System
The check tire pressure system can alert you to a large
change in the pressure of one tire. The system won't
alert you before you drive that a tire is low or flat.
You must begin driving before the system will
work properly.The CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message will appear on
the Driver Information Center (DIC) or the systems
monitor TIRE PRESS light will come on if pressure
difference (low pressure) is detected in one tire. The
check tire pressure system may not alert you if:

more than one tire is low,

the vehicle is moving faster than 65 mph (105 km/h),

the system is not yet calibrated,

the tire treadwear is uneven,

the compact spare tire is installed,

tire chains are being used, or

the vehicle is being driven on a rough or frozen road.
If the anti
-lock brake system warning light comes on,
the check tire pressure system may not be working
properly. See your dealer for service. Also, see
ªAnti
-Lock Brake System Warning Lightº in the Index.
The check tire pressure system detects differences in tire
rotation speeds that are caused by changes in tire pressure.
The system can alert you about a low tire
-- but it doesn't
replace normal tire maintenance. See ªTiresº in the Index.

6-47
When the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message appears
on the Driver Information Center or the systems monitor
TIRE PRESS light comes on, you should stop as soon as
you can and check all your tires for damage. If a tire is
flat, see ªIf a Tire Goes Flatº in the Index. Also check
the tire pressure in all four tires as soon as you can.
See ªInflation
-Tire Pressureº in the Index.
Any time you adjust a tire's pressure or have one or
more tires repaired or replaced, you'll need to reset
(calibrate) the check tire pressure system. You'll also
need to reset the system whenever you rotate the tires,
buy new tires, install or remove the compact spare, and
whenever the vehicle's battery has been disconnected.
Don't reset the check tire pressure system without first
correcting the cause of the problem and checking and
adjusting the pressure in all four tires. If you reset the
system when the tire pressures are incorrect, the check
tire pressure system will not work properly and may not
alert you when a tire is low or high.
To reset (calibrate) the system with a Driver Information
Center (DIC):
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON.
2. Using the MODE and SELECT buttons, change the
DIC to display TIRE PRESSURE.
3. Press and hold the RESET button for about
five seconds.4. The display should change to read TIRE PRESSURE
RESET. If TIRE PRESSURE RESET does not
appear on the display after about five seconds, see
your dealer for service.
5. When you release the button after seeing the TIRE
PRESSURE RESET message, the display will
change to read TIRE PRESSURE NORMAL.
To reset (calibrate) the system with a systems monitor:
1. Turn the ignition switch to ON.
2. Press and hold the TIRE PRESS RESET button for
about five seconds.
3. The TIRE PRESS light on the systems monitor
should begin to flash. If the TIRE PRESS light does
not begin to flash after about five seconds, see your
dealer for service.
4. Release the TIRE PRESS RESET button and the
system should reset The TIRE PRESS light will
go out.
The system completes the calibration process during
driving. Calibration time can take 45 to 90 minutes,
depending on your driving habits. After the system has
been calibrated, the system will alert the driver that a tire
is low, up to a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h).

6-48 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 ªWhen It's Time for New Tiresº and
ªWheel Replacementº 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 ªScheduled
Maintenance Servicesº in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.Don't include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire
-Loading
Information label. Reset the Check Tire Pressure
System. See ªCheck Tire Pressure Systemº in the Index.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See ªWheel Nut Torqueº in the Index.
CAUTION:
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 ªChanging a Flat Tireº in the Index.

6-50
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,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel could
fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only radial
-ply
tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
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.

6-62
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It appears on
a plate in the front corner of the instrument panel, on the
driver's side. You can see it if you look through the
windshield from outside your vehicle. The VIN also
appears on the Vehicle Certification and Service Parts
labels and the certificates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine code. This
code will help you identify your engine, specifications
and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identification Label
You'll find this label on your spare tire cover. It's very
helpful if you ever need to order parts. On this label is:

your VIN,

the model designation,

paint information and

a list of all production options and
special equipment.
Be sure that this label is not removed from the vehicle.