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 specified
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 significantly 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 specified 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.
361
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
specified 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 inflated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, 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/retailer 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.
362
Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place.
Turn on your vehicle’s hazard warning flashers.
SeeHazard Warning Flashers on page 146
for more information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will
not move, you should put blocks at the
front and rear of the tire farthest away
from the one being changed. That would
be the tire, on the other side, at the
opposite end of the vehicle.
366
A
Accessories and Modifications..................... 290
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle....................................................... 97
Additives, Fuel............................................ 294
Add-On Electrical Equipment....................... 393
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine............................. 308
Air Conditioning........................................... 160
Airbag
Off Light.................................................. 170
Passenger Status Indicator....................... 172
Readiness Light....................................... 169
Airbag System............................................... 78
What Will You See After an Airbag
Inflates?................................................. 84
When Should an Airbag Inflate?................. 82
Where Are the Airbags?............................. 80
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle......................... 97
Airbag Off Switch....................................... 86
How Does an Airbag Restrain?.................. 84
Passenger Sensing System....................... 89
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..... 96
What Makes an Airbag Inflate?.................. 84All-Wheel Drive........................................... 336
All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System.................... 238
AM-FM Radio.............................................. 190
Antenna, Fixed Mast................................... 226
Anti-Lock Brake System.............................. 233
Anti-Lock Brake, System Warning Light....... 176
Appearance Care
Aluminum Wheels.................................... 388
Care of Safety Belts................................ 385
Chemical Paint Spotting........................... 390
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.............. 386
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 382
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 384
Finish Care.............................................. 386
Finish Damage......................................... 389
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces............................................... 385
Sheet Metal Damage............................... 389
Tires........................................................ 389
Underbody Maintenance........................... 390
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials.......... 391
Washing Your Vehicle.............................. 386
Weatherstrips........................................... 385
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 387
Ashtray....................................................... 159
445
Audio System.............................................. 187
AM-FM Radio.......................................... 190
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player.......... 224
Care of Your CD Player........................... 226
Care of Your CDs.................................... 225
Chime Level Adjustment........................... 226
Fixed Mast Antenna................................. 226
Radio with Cassette and CD.................... 198
Radio with CD......................................... 193
Radio with Six-Disc CD............................ 211
Setting the Time with Radio Data
Systems (RDS)..................................... 189
Setting the Time without Radio Data
Systems (RDS)..................................... 189
Theft-Deterrent Feature............................ 223
Understanding Radio Reception............... 224
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................................ 309
Operation................................................. 125
B
Battery........................................................ 329
Run-Down Protection............................... 158
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.................... 252Brake
Emergencies............................................ 235
Parking.................................................... 128
Brakes........................................................ 325
System Warning Light.............................. 175
Braking....................................................... 232
Braking in Emergencies............................... 235
Break-In, New Vehicle................................. 119
Bulb Replacement....................................... 340
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL).............................................. 342
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps..................................... 342
Halogen Bulbs......................................... 340
Headlamps............................................... 340
Replacement Bulbs.................................. 344
Taillamps.................................................. 343
Buying New Tires........................................ 358
C
Calibration................................................... 134
California Fuel............................................. 293
California Proposition 65 Warning................ 291
Canadian Owners........................................... 3
446
Capacities and Specifications...................... 398
Carbon Monoxide......................132, 256, 269
Care of
Safety Belts............................................. 385
Your Cassette Tape Player....................... 224
Your CD Player........................................ 226
Your CDs ................................................. 225
Cargo Door Relocking................................. 109
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).... 342
Center Passenger Position, Safety
Belts................................................... 33, 34
Chains, Tire................................................. 364
Charging System Light................................ 174
Check
Engine Light............................................ 178
Gages Warning Light............................... 185
Checking Things Under the Hood................ 300
Chemical Paint Spotting.............................. 390
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems............................. 47
Infants and Young Children........................ 44
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..... 54
Older Children........................................... 41
Securing a Child Restraint in a Center
Seat Position.......................................... 66Child Restraints (cont.)
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Outside Seat Position or the Second
Row Center Seat Position...................... 63
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position.......................... 68, 72
Where to Put the Restraint........................ 52
Chime Level Adjustment.............................. 226
Cigarette Lighter.......................................... 159
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels.................................... 388
Exterior Lamps/Lenses............................. 386
Fabric/Carpet........................................... 384
Finish Care.............................................. 386
Inside of Your Vehicle.............................. 382
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces............................................... 385
Tires........................................................ 389
Underbody Maintenance........................... 390
Washing Your Vehicle.............................. 386
Weatherstrips........................................... 385
Windshield and Wiper Blades................... 387
Climate Control System............................... 160
Outlet Adjustment..................................... 162
Rear Air Conditioning and Heating
System................................................. 164
Rear Heating System............................... 163
447
Driving
At Night................................................... 244
City.......................................................... 249
Defensive................................................. 228
Drunken................................................... 229
Freeway................................................... 250
Hill and Mountain Roads.......................... 254
In Rain and on Wet Roads...................... 246
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.......... 260
Winter...................................................... 256
Dual Tire Operation..................................... 355
E
EDR ............................................................ 441
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment................................... 393
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............. 395
Floor Console Fuse Block........................ 394
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 393
Headlamp Wiring..................................... 393
Windshield Wiper Fuses........................... 393
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter...................................... 308
Change Engine Oil Light.......................... 183
Check and Service Engine Soon Light..... 178
Coolant.................................................... 312Engine (cont.)
Coolant Heater......................................... 123
Coolant Temperature Gage...................... 178
Drive Belt Routing.................................... 418
Engine Compartment Overview................ 302
Exhaust................................................... 132
Fan Noise................................................ 323
Fuel Regulator......................................... 123
Oil ........................................................... 303
Oil Life System........................................ 306
Overheating............................................. 315
Reduced Power Light............................... 184
Running While Parked............................. 133
Starting.................................................... 122
Entry Lighting.............................................. 158
Event Data Recorders................................. 442
Exit Lighting................................................ 158
Extender, Safety Belt..................................... 40
Exterior Lamps............................................ 155
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner................................... 308
Finish Damage............................................ 389
Fixed Mast Antenna.................................... 226
Flashers, Hazard Warning........................... 146
449
Flash-to-Pass.............................................. 149
Flat Tire...................................................... 365
Flat Tire, Changing...................................... 366
Flat Tire, Storing......................................... 380
Fluid
Automatic Transmission............................ 309
Power Steering........................................ 323
Windshield Washer.................................. 324
Front Axle................................................... 338
Fuel............................................................ 292
Additives.................................................. 294
California Fuel.......................................... 293
E85 (85% Ethanol)................................... 295
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.............. 299
Filling Your Tank...................................... 297
Fuels in Foreign Countries....................... 296
Gage....................................................... 186
Gasoline Octane...................................... 293
Gasoline Specifications............................ 293
Regulator................................................. 123
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............. 395
Floor Console Fuse Block........................ 394
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...................... 393
Windshield Wiper..................................... 393G
Gage
Check Gages Warning Light..................... 185
Engine Coolant Temperature.................... 178
Fuel......................................................... 186
Oil Pressure............................................. 182
Speedometer........................................... 168
Voltmeter Gage........................................ 175
Gasoline
Octane..................................................... 293
Specifications........................................... 293
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.......... 429
H
Hazard Warning Flashers............................ 146
Headlamp Wiring......................................... 393
Headlamps.................................................. 340
Bulb Replacement.................................... 340
Daytime Running Lamps.......................... 156
Exterior Lamps......................................... 155
Flash-to-Pass........................................... 149
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps..................................... 342
450