2006 PONTIAC GTO Owners Manual

How you load your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride comfort. When driving with less than the maximum load
capacity allowed for your vehicle, you can set tire in¯ation pressure to the recommended amounts shown in the
following chart. Never load your vehicle with more weight than it was designed to carry.
Tire SizeRecommended Cold Tire In¯ation
Occupant and Cargo Weight:
470 lbs (210 kg) or LessOccupant and Cargo Weight:
Up to 740 lbs (330 kg)
(Vehicle Capacity Weight)
Front Tires Rear Tires Front Tires Rear Tires
245/45ZR17 95W 30 psi (210 kPa) 30 psi (210 kPa) 35 psi (240 kPa) 35 psi (240 kPa)
235/40ZR18 91W 33 psi (230 kPa) 33 psi (230 kPa) 33 psi (230 kPa) 39 psi (270 kPa)
T145/70R17 96M
(Compact Spare)60 psi (420 kPa) 60 psi (420 kPa) 60 psi (420 kPa) 60 psi (420 kPa)
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Do not forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa). For more information about your
vehicle's compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire
on page 5-76.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can't tell if your tires are properly in¯ated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly in¯ated even when they're underin¯ated. Check
the tire's in¯ation 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).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 in¯ation pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment is necessary. If
the in¯ation pressure is low, add air until you reach
the recommended amount.
If you over®ll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck 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.
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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 in¯ation 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
in¯ation pressure for the vehicle load.Vehicles equipped with 245/45ZR17 95W size tires, do
not require additional air pressure for high-speed
operation. If your vehicle has 235/40ZR18 91W size
tires, use the following chart to determine the cold tire
in¯ation pressure when operating your vehicle under
high-speed conditions.Tire Size: 235/40ZR18 91W Recommended Cold
Tire In¯ation Pressure for High Speed Operation
Occupant and Cargo
Weight:
470 lbs (210 kg) or lessOccupant and Cargo
Weight:
Up to 740 lbs (330 kg)
(Vehicle Capacity
Weight)
Front
TiresRear Tires Front Tires Rear Tires
36 psi
(250 kPa)36 psi
(250 kPa)39 psi
(270 kPa)44 psi
(300 kPa)
When you end high-speed driving, return the tires to the
cold in¯ation pressure shown on the tire and loading
information label.
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 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 Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-62andWheel Replacement
on page 5-66for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The ®rst rotation
is the most important. See
Scheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
When rotating non-directional tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.If your vehicle has 235/40ZR18 tires, they must roll in a
certain direction for the best overall performance.
The direction is shown by an arrow on the tire sidewall.
Because these tires are uni-directional, they should
be rotated as shown here. These tires should only be
moved from front to rear and rear to front on the
same side of the vehicle.
Don't include the compact spare tire in your tire rotation.
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After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear in¯ation pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened. See ªWheel Nut Torqueº
under
Capacities and Speci®cations on page 5-90.
{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 needed, to get all
the rust or dirt off. See
Changing a Flat Tire on
page 5-69
.
When It Is Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it is
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
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
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Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched speci®c tires for your
vehicle. The original equipment tires installed on
your vehicle, when it was new, were designed to meet
General Motors tire performance criteria. GM's tire
performance criteria considers over a dozen critical
speci®cations that impact the overall performance
of your vehicle, including brake system performance,
ride and handling, and traction control. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that you
replace your vehicle's tires with the same size, load
range, speed rating, and construction type (radial and
bias-belted tires) as your vehicle's original tires.
This way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that
are designed to give the same performance and vehicle
safety, during normal use, as the original tires.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes,
brands, or types (radial and bias-belted tires),
the vehicle may not handle properly, and you
could have a crash.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Using tires of different sizes, brands, or types
may also cause damage to your vehicle. Be
sure to use the correct size, brand, and type of
tires on all wheels. It is all right to drive with
your compact spare temporarily, as it was
developed for use on your vehicle. See
Compact Spare Tire on page 5-76.
{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.
Your vehicle's original equipment tires are listed on the
Tire and Loading Information Label. This label is
attached to the vehicle's center pillar (B-pillar). See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-29, for more information
about the Tire and Loading Information Label and its
location on your vehicle.
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Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this may
affect the way your vehicle performs, including its
braking, ride and handling characteristics, stability and
resistance to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle
has electronic systems such as, anti-lock brakes,
traction control, and electronic stability control, the
performance of these systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your vehicle
may not provide an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are selected.
You may increase the chance that you will
crash and suffer serious injury. Only use GM
speci®c wheel and tire systems developed for
your vehicle, and have them properly installed
by a GM certi®ed technician.
See
Buying New Tires on page 5-63andAccessories
and Modi®cations on page 5-3for additional information.
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 (NHTSA), 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 (UTQG) 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.
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Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a speci®ed 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 signi®cantly 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 speci®ed 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.
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 speci®ed 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 in¯ated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underin¯ation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you the
longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire balancing will
not be necessary on a regular basis. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling to
one side or the other, the alignment may need to
be checked. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your tires and wheels
may need to be rebalanced. See your dealer for proper
diagnosis.
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 dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
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.
{CAUTION:
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.
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.
See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-69for more
information.
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