2005 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Owners Manual

Some road hazards can damage a tire beyond repair.
This damage could occur even before you’ve driven
on the tire in a deated condition. When a tire has been
damaged, or if you’ve driven any distance on a
deated EMT, check with an authorized Goodyear EMT
Service Center to determine whether the tire can be
repaired or should be replaced. To maintain your
vehicle’s extended mobility feature, all replacement tires
must be Extended Mobility Tires. As soon as possible,
contact the nearest authorized GM or Goodyear
EMT servicing facility for inspection and repair or
replacement. To locate the nearest GM or Goodyear
EMT servicing facility, call Roadside Assistance.
For phone numbers and Roadside Assistance details
seeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.
You may also contact Goodyear, for the nearest
authorized EMT servicing facility, by calling
1-800-789-9878.
{CAUTION:
Extended mobility tires are constructed
differently than other tires and could explode
during improper service. You or others could
be injured or killed if you attempt to repair,
replace, dismount, or mount a extended
mobility tire. Let only an authorized EMT
Service Center repair, replace, dismount and
mount extended mobility tires.
The valve stems on your extended mobility tires have
sensors that are part of the Tire Pressure
Monitor (TPM). SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on
page 5-60. The TPM sensors contain batteries which are
designed to last for 10 years under normal driving
conditions. See your dealer if you ever need to have a
wheel replaced, or if the sensors ever need
replacement.
Notice:Using liquid sealants can damage the tire
valves and tire pressure monitor sensors in your
extended mobility tires. This damage would not be
covered by warranty. Don’t use liquid sealants
in your extended mobility tires.
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Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right. It is not.
If your tires do not have enough air (under-ination),
you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination), you
can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazardsA Tire and Loading Information label is attached to the
vehicle’s b-pillar. This label lists your vehicle’s original
equipment tires and shows the correct ination
pressures for your tires when they are cold. The
recommended cold tire ination pressure, shown on the
label, is the minimum amount of air pressure needed
to support your vehicle’s maximum load carrying
capacity.
For additional information regarding how much weight
your vehicle can carry, and an example of the tire
and loading information label, seeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-31. How you load your vehicle affects
vehicle handling and ride comfort, never load your
vehicle with more weight than it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly inated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly
inated even when they’re under-inated. Check the tire’s
ination pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
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Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire ination pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment is necessary. If
the ination pressure is low, add air until you reach
the recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Re-check the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) that
sends tire pressure information to the Driver Information
Center (DIC). Using the DIC control buttons, the
driver is able to check tire pressure levels in all four
tires. SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 5-60
andDIC Controls and Displays on page 3-49for
additional information.
High Speed Operation
{CAUTION:
Driving at high speeds, 100 mph (160 km/h) or
higher, puts an additional strain on tires.
Sustained high-speed driving causes
excessive heat build up and can cause sudden
tire failure. You could have a crash and you or
others could be killed. Some high-speed rated
tires require ination pressure adjustment for
high speed operation. When speed limits and
road conditions are such that a vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, make sure the tires are
rated for high speed operation, in excellent
condition, and set to the correct cold tire
ination pressure for the vehicle load.
If you will be driving your vehicle at speeds of 175 mph
(282 km/h) or higher, where it is legal, set the cold
ination pressure to the maximum ination pressure
shown on the tire sidewall, or 38 psi (265 kPa),
whichever is lower. See the example following.
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When you end this high-speed driving, return the tires to
the cold ination pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-31.
Example:
You will nd the maximum load and ination pressure
molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small letters, near
the rim ange. It will read something like this: Maximum
load 690 kg (1521 lbs) 300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the ination pressure for
high-speed driving at 38 psi (265 kPa).
Racing or other competitive driving may affect the
warranty coverage of your vehicle. See your warranty
booklet for more information.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) System on your
vehicle, uses radio and sensor technology to check tire
pressure levels. Sensors, mounted on each tire and
wheel assembly transmit tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the vehicle. The TPM sensors
transmit tire pressure readings once every 60 seconds
while the vehicle is being driven and once every
60 minutes when the vehicle is stationary for more than
15 minutes. Using the Driver Information Center (DIC),
tire pressure levels can be viewed by the driver.The TPM system also uses the DIC to warn the driver
when air pressure, in one or more tires, falls below
24 psi (164 kPa) or is above 42 psi (290 kPa).
For additional information and details about the DIC
operation and displays seeDIC Controls and Displays
on page 3-49andDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 3-54.
A low tire pressure warning light also appears on the
instrument panel cluster when a low tire condition exists.
The low tire pressure warning light will be shown
each time the engine is started and stays on until the
low tire condition is corrected.
When the tire pressure
monitoring system warning
light is lit, one or more
of your tires is signicantly
under-inated.
You should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inate them to the proper pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information placard.
Driving on a signicantly under-inated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
5-60

Under-ination also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability. Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and set to the
recommended ination pressure as specied in the
vehicle placard and owner’s manual.
The Tire and Loading Information Label (tire information
placard) is attached to the vehicle’s b-pillar. This
label shows the size of your vehicle’s original tires and
the correct ination pressure for your vehicle’s tires
when they are cold. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-31.
Your vehicle’s TPM system can alert you about a low or
high tire pressure condition but it does not replace
normal tire maintenance. SeeInation - Tire Pressure
on page 5-58andWhen It Is Time for New Tires
on page 5-62.
Each TPM sensor has a unique identication code that
is matched to one of the four tire positions on your
vehicle. The tire and wheel assembly positions are, left
front (LF); right front (RF); right rear (RR) and left
rear (LR). Any time you rotate your vehicle’s tires or
replace one or more TPM sensors, the identication
codes will need to be matched to the new tire and wheel
position. The TPM matching process is performed in
a specic sequence and time limit. A special tool is also
required. See your dealer for service.The SERVICE TIRE MONITOR message is displayed
when the TPM system is malfunctioning. For example,
one or more TPM sensors may be inoperable or
missing. Also, the active handling system will be
affected, seeActive Handling System on page 4-10.
See your dealer for service.
The TPM system operates on a radio frequency subject
to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules
and with Industry and Science Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules and
with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Tire Rotation
The tires on your vehicle are different sizes front to rear.
Due to this, your tires should not be rotated. Each tire
and wheel should be used only in the position it is in.
5-61

When It Is 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.
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.
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.
5-62

Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire and Loading Information label. For information
about this label and where to nd it, seeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-31.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a
Tire Performance Criteria Specication (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
GM recommends that you get tires 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, load range, traction, ride, tire
pressure monitoring system performance 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).
Whenever you 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.
If you replace your vehicle’s tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, the tire pressure monitoring
system may give an inaccurate low-pressure warning.
Non-TPC Spec tires may give a low-pressure warning
that is higher or lower than the proper warning level you
would get with TPC Spec numbered tires.{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes
(other than those originally installed on your
vehicle) or types (radial and bias-belted tires),
the vehicle may not handle properly, and you
could have a crash. Using tires of different
sizes (other than those originally installed on
your vehicle) may also cause damage to your
vehicle. Be sure to use the correct size and
type tires on all four wheels.
{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim anges 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.
5-63

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.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1.5) 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 signicantly 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 specied 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.
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