2008 CHEVROLET SILVERADO flat tire

Bulb Replacement..........................................5-61
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-61
Headlamps..................................................5-62
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp.............................................5-63
Pickup Box Identication and
Fender Marker Lamps................................5-64
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-64
License Plate Lamp......................................5-66
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-66
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-67
Tires..............................................................5-68
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-69
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-73
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-76
Dual Tire Operation.......................................5-77
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-78
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-79
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-83
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-86
Buying New Tires.........................................5-86
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-88
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-89Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-90
Wheel Replacement......................................5-90
Tire Chains..................................................5-92
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-93
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-94
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-95
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire..............................................5-100
Secondary Latch System..............................5-106
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...........5-110
Spare Tire.................................................5-113
Appearance Care..........................................5-114
Interior Cleaning.........................................5-114
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-115
Leather......................................................5-116
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-117
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-117
Weatherstrips.............................................5-117
Washing Your Vehicle..................................5-118
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-118
Finish Care................................................5-119
Windshield and Wiper Blades.......................5-120
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim................................................5-120
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

If your vehicle has dual
rear wheels and the
tread design for the front
tires is different from
the dual rear tires,
always use the correct
rotation pattern
shown here when
rotating the tires.
The dual tires are rotated as a pair, and the inside
rear tires become the outside rear tires.
When you install dual wheels, be sure the vent
holes in the inner and outer wheels on each side
are lined up.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and rear ination pressures as shown
on the Tire and Loading Information label.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-76
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-36.
Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-133.
{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 5-94.
If your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS), reset the TPMS sensors after
rotating the tires. SeeTire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 5-79.
Make sure the spare tire, if your vehicle has one,
is stored securely. Push, pull, and then try to
rotate or turn the tire. If it moves, tighten the cable.
SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on
page 5-110.
5-85

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.Whenever a wheel, wheel bolt or wheel nut is replaced
on a dual wheel setup, check the wheel nut torque
after 100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles (160, 1 600 and
10 000 km) of driving. For proper torque, see “Wheel
Nut Torque” underCapacities and Specifications
on page 5-133.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-94for more
information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on the 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.
5-91

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your vehicle’s tires properly.
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 creates 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 would
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.{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.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
5-93

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 hazard
warning ashers. SeeHazard Warning Flashers on
page 3-8for 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).
3. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle,
be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear – not in NEUTRAL.
4. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
5. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
To be even more certain the vehicle will not
move, 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.
When your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement of
the wheel blocks.
The following information will tell you next how to use
the jack and change a tire.
5-94

Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Use the following pictures and instructions to remove
the at tire and raise the vehicle.
The tools you will be using include the jack (A), the
wheel blocks (B), the jack handle (C), the jack handle
extensions (D), and the wheel wrench (E).
1. Do a safety check before proceeding.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-94
for more information.2. If your vehicle has
wheel nut caps, loosen
them by turning the
wheel wrench
counterclockwise.
If the vehicle has a center cap with wheel nut caps,
the wheel nut caps are designed to stay with the
center cap after they are loosened. Remove
the entire center cap.
5-100

6. Remove all the wheel
nuts and take off the
at tire.
{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 5-94.7. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.
8. Install the spare tire.
{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 crash.
9. Put the wheel nuts back on with the rounded end of
the nuts toward the wheel.
10. Tighten each wheel nut by hand. Then use the
wheel wrench to tighten the nuts until the wheel
is held against the hub.
5-104

Secondary Latch System
Your vehicle has an underbody-mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the spare tire from suddenly falling
off your vehicle. For the secondary latch to work,
the spare must be installed with the valve stem pointing
down. SeeStoring a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools on
page 5-110.
{CAUTION:
Before beginning this procedure read all the
instructions. Failure to read and follow the
instructions could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get hurt. Read and
follow the instructions listed next.To release the spare tire from the secondary latch:
1. Check under the
vehicle to see if the
cable end is visible.
If the cable is not
visible proceed
to Step 6.
2. If it is visible, rst try to tighten the cable by
turning the wheel wrench clockwise until you
hear two clicks or feel it skip twice. You cannot
overtighten the cable.
3. Loosen the cable by turning the wrench
counterclockwise three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least two times. If the
spare tire lowers to the ground, continue with
Step 5 ofRemoving the Spare Tire and Tools
on page 5-95.
5. If the spare does not lower, turn the wrench
counterclockwise until approximately 6 inches
(15 cm) of cable is exposed.
5-106