2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA Owners Manual

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Your vehicle may have aluminum wheels with
exposed wheel nuts. Use the wheel wrench to
loosen all the wheel nuts. Do not remove them yet.
Or, your vehicle may have steel wheel covers.
To remove the steel wheel covers and wheel nut
caps, loosen the plastic nut caps with the wheel
wrench in a counterclockwise direction. If needed,
you can nish loosening them with your ngers.
The plastic nut caps will not come off.Use the at end of the wheel wrench and pry
along the edge of the cover until it comes off.
The edge of the wheel cover could be sharp,
so do not try to remove it with your bare hands.
Do not drop the cover or lay it face down, as
it could become scratched or damaged. Store the
wheel cover in the trunk until you have the at
tire repaired or replaced.
Once you have removed the wheel cover, use the
following procedure to remove the at tire and
install the spare tire.
1. It is recommended that you do a safety check
before preceding. SeeChanging a Flat Tire
on page 374for more information.
2. Turn the wheel
wrench once on
each wheel nut to
loosen them. Do not
remove them yet.
377

3. For all wheel types, nd the jacking
location using the diagram above and the
corresponding hoisting notches located on
the bottom side of the plastic molding. The
notches in the plastic molding are marked
with a triangle shape to help you nd them.
The front location is about 7.0 inches (17.7 cm)
from the rear edge of the front wheel well. The
rear location is about 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) from
the rear edge of the wheel well.
4. Put the compact spare tire near you.
{CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked
up is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off
the jack you could be badly injured or
killed. Never get under a vehicle when it is
supported only by a jack.
{CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage the
vehicle and even make the vehicle fall.
To help avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to t the jack lift head
into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.
378

{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.
5. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground to install the compact spare tire.
6. Remove all wheel nuts and take off the at tire.
379

{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts
to which it is fastened, can make the
wheel nuts become loose after time.
The wheel could come off and cause an
accident. When changing a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from the places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an
emergency, a cloth or a paper towel can
be used to do this; but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to
get all the rust or dirt off.7. Remove any rust or
dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting
surfaces and
spare wheel.
8. Install the compact spare tire.
380

{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a
serious accident.
9. Reinstall the wheel
nuts with the
rounded end of the
nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each
nut by hand until the
wheel is held against
the hub.10. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.
381

{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to come loose and even come off.
This could lead to an accident. Be sure
to use the correct wheel nuts. If you have
to replace them, be sure to get new GM
original equipment wheel nuts. Stop
somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specication. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 403
for wheel nut torque specication.
Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage.
To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence
and to the proper torque specication. See
Capacities and Specifications on page 403for
the wheel nut torque specication.11. Tighten the wheel
nuts rmly in a
crisscross sequence
as shown.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your
vehicle’s compact spare. If you try to put a
wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or
the spare could be damaged.
382

Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of the
vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden
stop or collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in the
proper place.
After the compact spare tire has been installed on
the vehicle, store the at tire in the trunk.When storing a full-size tire, use the extension
with the protector, located in the foam holder,
to help avoid wheel surface damage.
To store a full-size tire:
1. Install the tools in their original location in the
trunk area and secure.
2. Place the tire valve stem facing down and
the protector/guide placed through a wheel
bolt hole.
3. Remove the protector and attach the retainer
securely.
4. Store the cover as far forward as possible.
When storing a compact spare tire in the trunk, put
the protector back in the foam holder.
383

The compact spare is for temporary use only.
Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire
as soon as you can. SeeCompact Spare Tire
on page 385. Use this as a guide for storing the
compact spare tire and tools.A. Cover
B. Retainer
C. Compact Spare Tire
D. Wing Nut
E. Jack
F. Wheel Wrench
G. Extension Protector
H. Foam Holder
I. Bolt Screw
Compact Spare Tire
384