2008 PONTIAC G8 flat tire

Uniform Tire Quality
Grading...........................9-59
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance...........................9-60
Wheel Replacement..........9-61
Tire Chains.......................9-62
Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat............9-62
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
(V8 Engine)
.....................9-64
Changing a Flat Tire
(V6 Engine).....................9-71
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools........................9-72
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
.......................9-73
Storing a Flat or Spare
Tire and Tools.................9-78
Compact Spare Tire..........9-79
Jump Starting
Jump Starting...................9-80
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle.........9-84
Shift Lock Manual
Release...........................9-84
Recreational Vehicle
Towing............................9-85
Towing a Trailer................9-85
Appearance Care
Interior Cleaning................9-91
Exterior Cleaning..............9-94
Sheet Metal Damage........9-98
Finish Damage..................9-98
Underbody Maintenance. . . .9-98
Chemical Paint Spotting. . . .9-98
Vehicle Care/Appearance
Materials.........................9-99
Service
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer/retailer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one
of these marks:
9-2 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

(E) Tire Ply Material:The type
of cord and number of plies
in the sidewall and under
the tread.
(F) 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 9-59.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.(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. SeeCompact Spare
Tire on page 9-79andIf a
Tire Goes Flat on page 9-62.(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.
Compact Spare Tire Example
Vehicle Service and Care 9-41
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate the 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 9-56andWheel
Replacement on page 9-61.
When rotating the vehicle’s tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.The compact spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, is not included
in the tire rotation.
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 9-46andLoading the
Vehicle on page 8-28.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 9-51.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on page 10-2.{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 (V6 Engine) on
page 9-71.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-55
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

the alignment might need to be
checked. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a
smooth road, the tires and wheels
might 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/retailer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer/retailer 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 the
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 the 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 (V6
Engine) on page 9-71for 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.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-61
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Tire Chains
{CAUTION
Do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire
chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to
the brakes, suspension or other
vehicle parts. The area
damaged by the tire chains
could cause you to lose control
of the vehicle and you or others
may be injured in a crash.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for use on the
vehicle and tire size
combination and road
conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions. To
help avoid damage to the
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust
or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and do
not spin the vehicle’s wheels. If
you do nd traction devices
that will t, install them on the
front tires.
Tire Changing
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your tires properly. See
Tires on page 9-39. 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.
9-62 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

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.
If a tire goes at, and your vehicle
has a compact spare tire, see
Changing a Flat Tire (V6 Engine) on
page 9-71. This information shows
you how to use the 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.
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
If your vehicle has a factory installed
Tire Sealant and Compressor kit,
there is no spare tire, no tire
changing equipment and no place to
store a tire.If a tire goes at, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place and stopping.
1. Turn on the hazard warning
ashers. SeeHazard Warning
Flashers on page 4-4.
2. Park your vehicle. Set the
parking brake rmly and put the
shift lever in PARK (P). See
Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 8-10.
3. Turn off the engine.
4. Inspect the at tire.
If the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a puncture larger than a
14inch (6 mm), the tire is too
severely damaged for the tire
sealant and compressor kit to be
effective. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 12-6.
If the tire has a puncture less than a
14inch (6 mm) in the tread area
of the tire, seeTire Sealant
and Compressor Kit (V8 Engine) on
page 9-64.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-63
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

Using the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit to
Temporarily Seal and Inate a
Punctured Tire
Follow these directions closely for
correct sealant usage.
A. On/Off Switch
B. Air Compressor Accessory Plug
C. Air Compressor
D. Sealant Canister
E. Sealant/Air Hose
F. Air-only Hose
G. Pressure GageDo a safety check before
proceeding. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 9-62.
Inspect the damaged tire.
The sealant cannot seal sidewall
damage, large punctures, or a
tire that has unseated from
the wheel. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 12-6.
Do not remove any objects that
have penetrated the tire.
1. Place the tire sealant and
compressor kit on the ground and
unwrap the sealant/air hose (E)
from the side of the compressor.
2. Remove the air compressor
accessory plug (B) from the unit.
Do not plug the plug in yet.
3. Turn the tire valve stem cap
counterclockwise to remove.
4. Attach the sealant/air hose (E)
onto the tire valve stem. Turn
it clockwise until tight.5. Make sure the sealant and
compressor kit on/off switch (A) is
in the O (off) position.
Plug the air compressor
accessory plug (B) into an
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 4-9for
more information.
Do not slam door or close
window on the compressor
accessory plug cord.
{CAUTION
Idling the engine in a closed-in
place or with the climate
control system off can cause
deadly carbon monoxide (CO).
SeeEngine Exhaust on
page 8-12.
6. Start the vehicle. The vehicle
must be running while using
the air compressor.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-65
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual

19. Wipe off any sealant from the
wheel, tire or vehicle.
20. Dispose of the used sealant
canister at a local dealer/retailer
or in accordance with local
state codes and practices.
After using the sealant canister,
replace it with a new canister
available from your
dealer/retailer.
This is a temporary repair. Take
the vehicle to your dealer/retailer
to have the tire repaired or
replaced as soon as possible.Using the Air Compressor
without Sealant to Inate an
Underinated Tire
To use the air compressor to inate
a tire with air only and not sealant:
A. Air Compressor Accessory Plug
B. Air Compressor
C. Sealant Canister
D. Sealant/Air Hose
E. Air-only Hose
F. Pressure Gage
G. On/Off SwitchDo a safety check before
proceeding. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 9-62.
To use the air compressor to inate
a tire with air only and not sealant:
1. Lift the lever and pull the air-only
hose (E) from the bottom of
the kit.
2. Remove the tire valve stem cap
from the at tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
3. Push the air-only hose (E) onto
the tire valve stem and push
the lever down to secure in place.
4. Plug the air compressor
accessory plug (A) into an
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. SeeAccessory Power
Outlet(s) on page 4-9for
more information.
9-68 Vehicle Service and Care
2008 - Pontiac G8 Owner Manual