2007 CHEVROLET OPTRA 5 spare tire

Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Hatchback)............................................ 296
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
(Wagon)................................................. 297
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps
(Hatchback)............................................ 298
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps (Wagon)........................ 299
Taillamps, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps
(Hatchback)............................................ 300
License Plate Lamp................................... 301
Replacement Bulbs................................... 301
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 302
Tires............................................................ 303
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 304
Tire Terminology and Definitions............... 307
Inflation - Tire Pressure............................. 311
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 312
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 316
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 317Buying New Tires...................................... 318
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 319
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 320
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 321
Wheel Replacement.................................. 322
Tire Chains............................................... 323
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 324
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 324
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 326
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire............................................. 329
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 333
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 334
Appearance Care........................................ 335
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 335
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 337
Leather...................................................... 338
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 338
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 339
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
246

Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into its
sidewall. The examples below show a typical
passenger car tire and a compact spare tire
sidewall.(A) Tire Size:The tire size is a combination of
letters and numbers used to define a particular
tire’s width, height, aspect ratio, construction type
and service description. See the “Tire Size”
illustration later in this section for more detail.
(B) DOT (Department of Transportation):
The Department of Transportation (DOT) code
indicates that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following DOT code are the Tire
Identification Number (TIN). The TIN shows
the manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and
date the tire was manufactured. The TIN is molded
onto both sides of the tire, although only one
side may have the date of manufacture.
Passenger Car Tire Example
304

(D) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(E) 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 320.
(F) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
For information on recommended tire pressure
seeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 311
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 236.
(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 flat.
SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 334andIf a
Tire Goes Flat on page 324.
Compact Spare Tire Example
305

(B) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The Tire
Identification Number (TIN). The TIN shows
the manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and
date the tire was manufactured. The TIN is molded
onto both sides of the tire, although only one
side may have the date of manufacture.
(D) Maximum Cold Ination Load
Limit:Maximum load that can be carried and
the maximum pressure needed to support
that load. SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 334
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 236.
(E) Tire Ination:The temporary use tire or
compact spare tire should be inflated to 60 psi
(420 kPa). For more information on tire pressure
and inflation seeInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 311.
(F) Tire Size:A combination of letters and
numbers define a tire’s width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type and service description.
The letter T as the first character in the tire size
means the tire is for temporary use only.Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a
typical passenger car tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P
as the first character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards set
by the U. S. Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates
the tire section width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.
306

Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right.
It is not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-ination), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazardsA vehicle specific tire and loading information
label is attached to your vehicle. This label shows
your vehicle’s original equipment tires and the
correct inflation pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire inflation
pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum
amount of air pressure needed to support
your vehicle’s maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example
of the tire and loading information label, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 236. How you load
your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort, never load your vehicle with more weight
than it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more. Do not
forget to check the compact spare tire. For
additional information regarding the compact spare
tire, seeCompact Spare Tire on page 334.
311

How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check
tire pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are
properly inflated simply by looking at them. Radial
tires may look properly inflated even when they
are under-inflated. Check the tire’s inflation
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 firmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire
inflation pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and Loading Information
label, no further adjustment is necessary. If the
inflation pressure is low, add air until you reach
the recommended amount.
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Re-check 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.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses
radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure
levels. If your vehicle has this feature, sensors
are mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly,
except for the spare tire. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of
a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.)
312

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.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 317
andWheel Replacement on page 322for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The
first rotation is the most important. SeePart A:
Scheduled Maintenance Services on page 358.When rotating your tires, always use the correct
rotation pattern shown here.
Do not include the compact spare tire in the tire
rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear inflation pressures as shown on the
tire and loading information label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 236for an example of
the tire and loading information label and where it
is located on your vehicle.
316

Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need,
look at the tire and loading information label
attached to your vehicle. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 236for a label example and
where it is attached to your vehicle.
Make sure the replacements are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as your 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. Using tires of different sizes,
brands, or types may also cause damage
to your vehicle. Be sure to use the correct
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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.
SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 334.
{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.
318