2009 PONTIAC SOLSTICE traction control

You need new tires if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over time, even if they are
not being used. This is also true for the spare tire, if
your vehicle has one. Multiple conditions affect how fast
this aging takes place, including temperatures, loading
conditions, and ination pressure maintenance. With
proper care and maintenance tires will typically wear out
before they degrade due to age. If you are unsure
about the need to replace your tires as they get older,
consult the tire manufacturer for more information.
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 a MS, for mud
and snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on page 5-49
for additional information.
5-63

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 5-63andAccessories
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.
5-65

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.
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.
5-66

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 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.
If a Tire Goes Flat
Your vehicle has a tire sealant and compressor kit. See
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit (Without Selector
Switch) on page 5-71orTire Sealant and Compressor
Kit (With Selector Switch) on page 5-80. There is
no spare tire, no tire changing equipment, and no place
to store a tire.
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while you are driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. See
Tires on page 5-47. If air goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly. But, if you should
ever have a blow out, 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.
A rear blow out, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require the same correction you
would use in a skid. In any rear blow out, 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.
5-70

Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-29
Tire Sealant
Storing.......................................................5-89
Tires.............................................................5-47
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning.................................................5-96
Buying New Tires........................................5-63
Chains.......................................................5-70
Cleaning....................................................5-96
Different Size..............................................5-65
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-70
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-53
Inspection and Rotation................................5-60
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-56
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-54
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit...........5-71, 5-80
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-49
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-50
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-67
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-67
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-62
Winter Tires................................................5-48
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-25
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-25
Your Vehicle...............................................4-25Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-8
Limited-Slip Rear Axle..................................4-10
Traction Control System...................................3-27
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-22
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-23
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-19
Transmission Operation, Manual........................2-22
Trunk.............................................................. 2-8
Trunk Ajar Light
..............................................3-33
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-6
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-65
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-3
Loading......................................................4-20
Parking Your...............................................2-26
Running While Parked..................................2-28
Symbols......................................................... iv
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy..................7-15
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