Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 424
Wheel Replacement.................................. 424
Tire Chains............................................... 426
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 427
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 428
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 429
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 431
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 437
Spare Tire................................................. 438
Appearance Care........................................ 440
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 440
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 441
Leather...................................................... 442
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 443
Wood Panels............................................. 443
Speaker Covers........................................ 443
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 443
Weatherstrips............................................ 444
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 444
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 444
Finish Care............................................... 444Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 445
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim................................................ 446
Tires......................................................... 447
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 447
Finish Damage.......................................... 447
Underbody Maintenance............................ 448
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 448
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 449
Vehicle Identi cation.................................. 450
Vehicle Identi cation Number (VIN)........... 450
Service Parts Identi cation Label............... 450
Electrical System........................................ 451
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 451
Headlamp Wiring....................................... 451
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 451
Power Windows and Other Power
Options.................................................. 452
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 452
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 452
Rear Underseat Fuse Block....................... 455
Capacities and Speci cations.................... 460
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
352
(E) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under
the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors: treadwear,
traction and temperature resistance. For more
information seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on
page 422.
(G) Maximum Cold In ation Load
Limit:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that
load. For information on recommended tire
pressure seeIn ation - Tire Pressure on page 411
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 333.
(A) Temporary Use Only:The compact spare
tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use when
a regular road tire has lost air and gone at.
SeeSpare Tire on page 438andIf a Tire Goes
Flat on page 427.
Compact Spare Tire Example
404
Vehicles that have the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) will need to have the sensors
reset after a tire rotation is performed. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 414.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Speci cations on page 460.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after 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. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 428.
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.
419
{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.If your vehicle is a professional model, the wheels
have a unique offset and bolt hole diameter.
Each of the wheels on the professional vehicle
have eight wheels nuts. The wheels on the
non-professional vehicle have ve wheel nuts. See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 428for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has
been used or how far it has been driven. It
could fail suddenly and cause a crash. If
you have to replace a wheel, use a new
GM original equipment wheel.
425
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you
should ever have a blowout, here are a few tips
about what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag
that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your
foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel rmly. Steer to maintain lane
position, and then gently brake to a stop well out
of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear blowout
remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get
the vehicle under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy
and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to
use the jacking equipment to change a at
tire safely.
427