Brake Wear
Your vehicle has four-wheel disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with your brakes.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return
to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
As you make brake stops, your disc brakes
automatically adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its
many parts have to be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested with
top-quality GM brake parts. When you replace parts
of your braking system — for example, when your
brake linings wear down and you need new ones
put in — be sure you get new approved GM
replacement parts. If you do not, your brakes may
no longer work properly. For example, if someone
puts in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between your front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
401
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery.
For battery replacement, see your dealer or the
service manual. To purchase a service manual,
seeService and Owner PublicationsinService
Publications Ordering Information on page 497.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days
or more, remove the black, negative (−) cable from
the battery. This will help keep your battery from
running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 403for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
You must close all doors and the trunk before
reconnecting the battery. After reconnecting
the battery, you must press the unlock button on
the keyless access transmitter. Failure to
follow this procedure may result in the alarm
sounding. Pressing unlock on the keyless access
transmitter would stop the alarm.
402
When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS illuminates the low tire pressure warning
light, located in the instrument panel cluster,
and at the same time the LOW TIRE PRESSURE
warning message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) displays. The low tire pressure
warning light and the DIC warning message
appear at each ignition cycle until the tires are
in ated to the correct in ation pressure. For
additional information and details about the DIC
operation and displays seeDIC Controls and
Displays on page 204andDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 206.
You may notice, during cooler weather conditions,
that the low tire pressure warning light and the
LOW TIRE PRESSURE DIC warning message
may come on when the vehicle is rst started, and
then turn off as you start to drive. This may be
an early indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s)
is getting low and needs to be in ated to the
proper pressure.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when cold and in ated to
the in ation pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
in ation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires ofa different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire in ation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire in ation
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety
feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with
a tire pressure
monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates
a low tire pressure
telltale when one
or more of your tires is
signi cantly
under-in ated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and in ate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a signi cantly
under-in ated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-in ation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
424
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your
original equipment tires may not be available for H,
V, W, Y, and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose
snow tires with a lower speed rating, never
exceed the tire’s maximum speed capability.
{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), brands, 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), brands or
types, may also cause damage to your
vehicle. Be sure to use the correct size,
brand, 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.
If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with those
that do not have a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size, load range, speed
rating, and construction type (radial and
bias-belted tires) as your vehicle’s original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure monitoring
system may give an inaccurate low-pressure
warning if non-TPC spec rated tires are installed
on your vehicle. Non-TPC Spec rated tires
may give a low-pressure warning that is higher or
lower than the proper warning level you would
get with TPC Spec rated tires. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 423.
429
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.
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.
431
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.
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.
432
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to “blow out” while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is much more
likely to leak out slowly. SeeTires on page 413for
additional information.
Your vehicle, when new, had run- at tires. This
type of tire can operate effectively with no air
pressure, so you will not need to stop on the side
of the road to change a at tire. You can just
keep on driving. The shorter the distance you drive
and the slower the speed, the greater the
chance that the run- at tire will not have to be
replaced. Run- at tires perform so well without any
air that a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) is used
to alert you if a tire has lost pressure. SeeRun-Flat
Tires on page 420andTire Pressure Monitor
System on page 423.{CAUTION:
When the TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55,
REDUCED HNDLG message is displayed
on the Driver Information Center, your
vehicle’s handling capabilities will be
reduced during severe maneuvers. If you
drive too fast, you could lose control of
your vehicle. You or others could be
injured. Don’t drive over 55 mph (90 km/h)
when the TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55,
REDUCED HNDLG message is displayed.
Drive cautiously and check your tire
pressures as soon as you can.
If the TPM system detects a tire pressure below
5 psi (34 kPa), the TIRE FLAT MAX SPD 55,
REDUCED HNDLG warning message is displayed
on the Driver Information Center (DIC). See
DIC Controls and Displays on page 204andDIC
Warnings and Messages on page 206for
information and details about the DIC operation
and displays.
440