2007 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX flat tire

Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 399
Tires............................................................ 400
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 401
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 405
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 408
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 409
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 414
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 415
Buying New Tires...................................... 416
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 417
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 418
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 419
Wheel Replacement.................................. 419
Tire Chains............................................... 421
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 422
Tire Inator Kit (GXP)................................ 424
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 435
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 436
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire............................................. 438
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 445
Compact Spare Tire.................................. 447Appearance Care........................................ 448
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 448
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 449
Leather...................................................... 451
Ultra Lux Suede........................................ 451
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces................................................ 452
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 452
Weatherstrips............................................ 452
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 453
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 453
Finish Care............................................... 453
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 454
Aluminum Wheels...................................... 454
Tires......................................................... 455
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 455
Finish Damage.......................................... 456
Underbody Maintenance............................ 456
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 456
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 457
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
334

(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. If
your vehicle has a compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire on page 447andIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 422.(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 letters
and numbers following the DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
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.
(E) Tire Ination:The temporary use tire or
compact spare tire should be inated to 60 psi
(420 kPa). For more information on tire pressure
and ination seeInation - Tire Pressure on
page 408.
(F) Tire Size:A combination of letters and
numbers dene a tire’s width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type, and service description. The
letter T as the rst character in the tire size means
the tire is for temporary use only.
Compact Spare Tire Example
403

Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specications on page 466.
{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 435.
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.
415

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.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them only with
new GM original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the right wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for your vehicle.
{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.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 435for 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.
420

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your tires
properly. SeeTires on page 400. 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’d 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.If a tire goes at, and your vehicle has a spare
tire, seeChanging a Flat Tire on page 435.
This information shows you how to use your
vehicle’s tire changing equipment and how
to change a at tire safely.
{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.
422

If a Tire Goes Flat (GXP)
GXP models have no spare tire, no tire changing
equipment, and no place for storing a spare or
at tire. If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level
place and stopping. Then do this:
1. Turn on the hazard warning ashers. See
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 134.
2. Park your vehicle. Set the parking brake rmly
and put the shift lever in PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (P) on page 116for
additional information.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.
If the tire has been separated from the wheel or
has damaged sidewalls or large tears that
allow rapid air loss, call a tire repair facility. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 498.
If the at tire is due to a slow leak caused by a nail
or other similar road hazard, the tire inator kit may
be used to temporarily repair the damaged tire.The kit uses a liquid tire sealant to seal small
punctures in the tread area of the tire. The at tire is
then inated to at least 30 psi (207 kPa) and driven
to evenly distribute the tire sealant. The tire
pressure is checked after driving for a maximum of
ve miles (8.0 km) to see if the slow leak has been
stopped. If the tire pressure is 19 psi (131 kPa) or
more, inate the tire up to the standard operating
pressure as shown on the tire and loading
information label. This label is attached to the
vehicle’s center-pillar below the driver’s door latch.
SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 408.
Notice:If the tire pressure has dropped below
19 psi (131 kPa), the vehicle should not be
driven. Damage to the tire may be severe and
the sealant will not be effective. Contact
Roadside Assistance, seeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 498.
You should have the damaged tire repaired as
soon as possible. The tire sealant is a temporary
repair only. If the tire has been lled with tire
sealant, take the tire to a GM dealer for inspection
and repair. SeeTire Inator Kit (GXP) on
page 424for additional information.
423

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on
your vehicle’s hazard warning ashers. See
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 134for 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.
435

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Your vehicle may have aluminum wheels. If so,
you will see exposed stainless steel 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.
438