2008 PONTIAC TORRENT spare wheel

Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this could
affect the way your vehicle performs, including its
braking, ride and handling characteristics, stability, and
resistance to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle
has electronic systems such as anti-lock brakes, rollover
airbags, traction control, and electronic stability control,
the performance of these systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your vehicle
may not provide an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are selected.
You may increase the chance that you will
crash and suffer serious injury. Only use GM
specic wheel and tire systems developed for
your vehicle, and have them properly installed
by a GM certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-70andAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
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Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
If your vehicle has the rear compartment storage
panel/cover, you will have to remove it to access the
load oor. SeeRear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover
on page 2-45for more information.
To access the spare tire and tools:
1. Lift the load oor up and pull it out of the vehicle
and set it aside.2. Remove the nut retaining the spare tire.
3. Remove the compact spare tire. SeeCompact
Spare Tire on page 5-88for more information.
4. Locate the jack and wheel wrench, which are
located on the driver’s side of the rear cargo
area, behind an access door. Pull out the access
door to reach them.
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5. Remove the wing-bolt
holding the jack and
then remove it.
6. Remove the hook and loop fastener straps holding
the bag containing the wheel wrench. Remove the
wheel wrench from the bag.
7. Extend the socket portion of the wrench from the
handle.Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Take off the wheel cover or center cap, if the vehicle
has one, to reach the wheel bolts.
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-76for more
information.
2. Loosen all ve plastic
caps by turning the
wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Do
not try to remove
plastic caps from the
cover or center cap.
3. Pull the cover or center cap away from the wheel.
Store the wheel cover in the cargo area until you
have the at tire repaired or replaced.
4. Use the wheel wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts.
Do not remove them yet.
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10. Remove all of the
wheel nuts.
11. Remove 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
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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 5-76.
12. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.
5-83

13. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting
surface.
{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.
14. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand
until the wheel is held against the hub.
15. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle
counterclockwise.
5-84

{CAUTION:
Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts
can cause the wheel to come loose and even
come off. This could lead to a crash. If you
have to replace them, be sure to get new
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. SeeCapacities
and Specifications on page 5-105for 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. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-105for the wheel nut
torque specication.16. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence, as shown.
17. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack
from under the vehicle.
18. Tighten the wheel nuts rmly with the wheel
wrench.
When reinstalling the wheel cover or center cap on the
full-size tire, tighten all ve plastic caps hand snug with
the aid of the wheel wrench and tighten them with the
wheel wrench an additional one-quarter of a turn.
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.
5-85

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.
To store the at or spare tire and tools:
1. Place the wheel wrench into the bag.
2. Use the hook and loop fastener straps to secure
the bag to the fully collapsed jack.3. Install the jack in the
left side panel of cargo
area and secure
with the wing bolt.
4. Remove the wheel stow rod from the left side of the
oor compartment.
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5. Screw the threaded wheel stow rod onto the spare
tire bracket. The nal position of the wheel stow rod
must be turned to the farthest forward position.6. Remove the cap, if your vehicle has one, from the
center of the load oor. Position the rod through the
hole. Replace the rear compartment load oor
over the wheel stow rod through the hole in
the oor.
7. Place the at, or damaged tire, face down, on the
load oor with the threaded wheel stow rod sticking
up through the center hole of the wheel.
8. Install the nut onto the wheel stow rod and tighten.
9. Install the rear compartment storage panel/cover
in the middle position. SeeRear Compartment
Storage Panel/Cover on page 2-45for more
information.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon
as you can.
5-87