2009 CHEVROLET CORVETTE traction control

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the area
around the front wheels. Turn the traction control system
off. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.
For a manual transmission, shift slowly between either
1 (First) or 2 (Second) and R (Reverse), allowing the
wheels to stop before shifting into gear. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning
before shifting gears. Release the accelerator pedal while
shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when
the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions causes a rocking
motion that could free the vehicle. If that does not get the
vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to be towed out.
If the vehicle does need to be towed out, seeTowing
Your Vehicle on page 4-28.
Loading the Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo and all nonfactory-installed
options. Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load the vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or
either the maximum front or rear Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on the
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of the vehicle.
4-22

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:
Accessories and Modications
When non-dealer/non-retailer accessories are added
to the vehicle, they can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as airbags, braking, stability,
ride and handling, emissions systems, aerodynamics,
durability, and electronic systems like antilock brakes,
traction control, and stability control. Some of these
accessories could even cause malfunction or damage
not covered by the vehicle warranty.
Damage to vehicle components resulting from the
installation or use of non-GM certied parts, including
control module modications, are not covered under the
terms of the vehicle warranty and may affect remaining
warranty coverage for affected parts.
5-3

Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specic tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires installed on
your vehicle, when it was new, were designed to meet
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria Specication
(TPC Spec) system rating. If you need replacement tires,
GM strongly recommends that you get tires with the same
TPC Spec rating. This way, your vehicle will continue
to have tires that are designed to give the same
performance and vehicle safety, during normal use,
as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling, traction control, and
tire pressure monitoring performance. GM’s TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire’s sidewall near the tire
size. If the tires have an all-season tread design, the
TPC Spec number will be followed by an MS for mud
and snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on page 5-64,
for additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires in sets of four.
This is because uniform tread depth on all tires will
help keep your vehicle performing most like it did whenthe tires were new. Replacing less than a full set of
tires can affect the braking and handling performance
of your vehicle. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation
on page 5-76.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your original
equipment tires may not be available for H, V, W, Y
and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose snow tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire’s maximum
speed capability.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes (other
than those originally installed on your vehicle),
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 (other
than those originally installed on your vehicle),
brands or types, may also cause damage to your
vehicle. Be sure to use the correct size, brand,
and type tires on all four wheels.
5-78

{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on the 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 the
vehicle.
If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with those that
do not have a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the
same size, load range, speed rating, and construction
type (radial and bias-belted tires) as your vehicle’s
original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure monitoring system
could give an inaccurate low-pressure warning if
non-TPC Spec rated tires are installed on it. Non-TPC
Spec rated tires may give a low-pressure warning that is
higher or lower than the proper warning level you would
get with TPC Spec rated tires. SeeTire Pressure Monitor
System on page 5-73.
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed on
the Tire and Loading Information label. SeeLoading the
Vehicle on page 4-22, for more information about the Tire
and Loading Information label and its location on your
vehicle.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this may 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, antilock brakes, 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 5-78andAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for additional information.
5-79

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.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specied
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5)
times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires
depends upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart signicantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
5-80

Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
{WARNING:
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specied indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the
tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire
failure. The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum required by law.
{WARNING:
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
5-81

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. Use another type of
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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, re-adjust or remove
the device if it is contacting the vehicle, and do not
spin the wheels. If you do nd traction devices that
will t, install them on the rear tires.
5-85

J
Jump Starting.................................................5-51
K
Keyless Access System..................................... 2-4
Keyless Access System, Operation...................... 2-5
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-64
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-42
Lamps
Courtesy....................................................3-18
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-17
Reading.....................................................3-18
Twilight Sentinel
®........................................3-16
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-22
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-36
Latches, Seatback............................................ 1-8
Lifting the Vehicle, Tires...................................5-86Light
Active Handling System................................3-40
Airbag Readiness........................................3-35
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-39
Brake System Warning.................................3-38
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-47
Highbeam On.............................................3-47
Lights On Reminder.....................................3-47
One-to-Four Shift.........................................3-38
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-36
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-34
Security.....................................................3-47
TCS Warning Light......................................3-40
Tire Pressure..............................................3-42
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-40
Lighting
Entry/Exit...................................................3-18
Lights
Exterior Lamps............................................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-9
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-15
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.....................................4-10
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................4-22
Lockout Protection..........................................2-12
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