2009 PONTIAC G8 tire pressure

Tire and Loading Information
Label
A vehicle specic Tire and
Loading Information label is
attached to the vehicle’s center
pillar (B-pillar). With the driver’s
door open, you will nd the label
attached near the door lock post.
The Tire and Loading Information
label shows the number ofoccupant seating positions (A),
and the maximum vehicle
capacity weight (B) in kilograms
and pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
tire size of the original
equipment tires (C) and the
recommended cold tire ination
pressures (D). For more
information on tires and ination
seeTires on page 9-42and
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-49.
There is also important loading
information on the Certication
label. It tells you the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for the front and
rear axle. See “Certication
Label” later in this section.Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1.Locate the statement “The
combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs”
on your vehicle placard.
2.Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight
of the driver and passengers
from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting gure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1400 lbs and there will
be ve 150 lb passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage
load capacity is 650 lbs
(1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).Label Example
Driving and Operating 8-31

Vehicle Service
and Care
Service
Service...............................9-2
Accessories and
Modications.....................9-3
California Proposition 65
Warning............................9-3
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements.....9-3
Doing Your Own
Service Work....................9-4
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of the Vehicle......9-4
Owner Checks
Owner Checks....................9-5
Hood Release.....................9-5
Engine Compartment
Overview...........................9-6
Engine Oil..........................9-8
Engine Oil Life System.....9-10
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. . . .9-11
Cooling System.................9-13
Engine Coolant.................9-15
Pressure Cap....................9-19
Engine Overheating...........9-20
Power Steering Fluid.........9-21
Windshield Washer Fluid. . . .9-23
Windshield Wiper Blade
Replacement...................9-24
Brakes..............................9-25
Battery..............................9-28
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming..............9-28
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement.............9-31
Halogen Bulbs..................9-31
Headlamps and Parking
Lamps.............................9-31
Front Turn Signal Lamps. . .9-33
Taillamps..........................9-34
License Plate Lamp..........9-35
Replacement Bulbs...........9-35
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical
Equipment.......................9-36
Headlamp Wiring..............9-36
Windshield Wiper Fuses. . . .9-36
Power Windows and
Other Power Options.......9-36
Instrument Panel
Fuse Block......................9-36
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-38
Rear Compartment
Fuse Block......................9-41
Tires
Tires.................................9-42
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......9-42
Tire Terminology and
Denitions.......................9-46
Ination - Tire Pressure. . . .9-49
High-Speed Operation.......9-51
Tire Pressure Monitor
System............................9-52
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation........................9-54
Tire Inspection and
Rotation..........................9-57
When It Is Time for
New Tires.......................9-59
Buying New Tires.............9-59
Different Size Tires
and Wheels.....................9-61
Vehicle Service and Care 9-1

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with
high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer.
If you ever have questions about
your tire warranty and where
to obtain service, see your
vehicle Warranty booklet for
details.
{CAUTION
Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
Overloading your
vehicle’s tires can cause
overheating as a result
of too much exing.
You could have an air-out
and a serious accident.
SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-30.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Underinated tires
pose the same danger
as overloaded tires.
The resulting accident
could cause serious
injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain the
recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be
checked when your
vehicle’s tires are cold.
SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 9-49.
Overinated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when
you hit a pothole. Keep
tires at the recommended
pressure.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
Worn, old tires can cause
accidents. If the tire’s
tread is badly worn, or
if your vehicle’s tires
have been damaged,
replace them.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire
is molded into its sidewall.
The examples show a typical
passenger vehicle tire and
a compact spare tire sidewall.
9-42 Vehicle Service and Care

(A) Tire Size:The tire size is
a combination of letters and
numbers used to dene a
particular tire’s width, height,
aspect ratio, construction
type, and service description.
See the “Tire Size” illustration
later in this section for more
detail.(B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specication)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM’s specic tire performance
criteria have a TPC specication
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet
or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance with
the U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identication Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following 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.
(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 9-62.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination
Load Limit
:Maximum load
that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
Example
Vehicle Service and Care 9-43

(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 9-83andIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 9-66.
(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 see
Inflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-49.
(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.
(G) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specication)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM’s specic tire performance
criteria have a TPC specication
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet
or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
Compact Spare Tire Example
9-44 Vehicle Service and Care

Tire Terminology and
Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch
of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in pounds per square
inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight
:This
means the combined weight
of optional accessories.
Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic
transmission, power steering,
power brakes, power windows,
power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire’s height to its width.Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords that is located between the
plies and the tread. Cords may
be made from steel or other
reinforcing materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in pounds per square
inch (psi) or kilopascals (kPa)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 9-49.Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard
and optional equipment including
the maximum capacity of fuel,
oil, and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) motor vehicle safety
standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identication
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and date
of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-30.
9-46 Vehicle Service and Care

GAWR FRT:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the front axle.
SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 8-30.
GAWR RR
:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the rear axle.
SeeLoading the Vehicle on
page 8-30.
Intended Outboard Sidewall
:The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
:A tire used on light duty trucks
and some multipurpose
passenger vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.Maximum Ination
Pressure
:The maximum air
pressure to which a cold tire can
be inated. The maximum air
pressure is molded onto the
sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:The load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible ination
pressure for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight
:The sum of curb weight,
accessory weight, vehicle
capacity weight, and production
options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight
:The number of occupants
a vehicle is designed to seat
multiplied by 150 lbs (68 kg).
SeeLoading the Vehicle
on page 8-30.
Occupant Distribution
:Designated seating positions.Outward Facing Sidewall
:The side of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted
on a vehicle. The side of the
tire that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering, or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that
is higher or deeper than the
same moldings on the other
sidewall of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
:A tire used on passenger
cars and some light duty trucks
and multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Ination
Pressure
:Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended
tire ination pressure as
shown on the tire placard.
SeeInflation - Tire Pressure on
page 9-49andLoading the
Vehicle on page 8-30.
Vehicle Service and Care 9-47

Radial Ply Tire:A pneumatic
tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid
at 90 degrees to the centerline
of the tread.
Rim
:A metal support for a
tire and upon which the
tire beads are seated.
Sidewall
:The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating
:An alphanumeric
code assigned to a tire
indicating the maximum speed
at which a tire can operate.
Traction
:The friction between
the tire and the road surface.
The amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with the road.Treadwear Indicators
:Narrow
bands, sometimes called
wear bars, that show across
the tread of a tire when only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
remains. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 9-59.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards)
:A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a
tire’s traction, temperature,
and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers
using government testing
procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the
tire. SeeUniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 9-62.Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The number of designated
seating positions multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg) plus the rated
cargo load. SeeLoading the
Vehicle on page 8-30.
Vehicle Maximum Load on
the Tire
:Load on an individual
tire due to curb weight,
accessory weight, occupant
weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle’s
capacity weight and the original
equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure.
See “Tire and Loading
Information Label” under
Loading the Vehicle on
page 8-30.
9-48 Vehicle Service and Care