10. Set all four tires to the
recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the tire
and loading information label.
11. Put the valve caps back on the
valve stems.
The tires air pressure will not
appear on the screen until you start
driving the vehicle.
Tire Inspection
We recommend that you
regularly inspect your vehicle’s
tires, including the spare tire, if
the vehicle has one, for signs of
wear or damage. SeeWhen It Is
Time for New Tires on page 9-62
for more information.
Tire Rotation
Tire rotation is not
recommended if the vehicle
has different size tires on the
front and rear wheels.
Different tire sizes should not be
rotated front to rear. Each tire
and wheel should only be used in
its original front or rear position.
Tire rotation is recommended if
the vehicle has the same size
tires on all four wheel positions.
These tires should be rotated
every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km). See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 10-2.
The purpose of a regular tire
rotation is to achieve a uniform
wear for all tires on the vehicle.
This will ensure that your vehicle
continues to perform most like it
did when the tires were new.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 9-62
andWheel Replacement
on page 9-67.
When rotating the vehicle’s tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Vehicle Care 9-61
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 inflation
pressures as shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
SeeTire Pressure on page 9-54
andVehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor Operation on page 9-57.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Speci cations on
page 11-2.{WARNING
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
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, 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. SeeIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 9-69.
When It Is Time for
New Tires
Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading,
and road conditions influence
when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it is time for
new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which appear when the
tires have only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm)
or less of tread remaining.
9-62 Vehicle Care
The vehicle needs 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 the vehicle has one. Multiple
conditions affect how fast this aging
takes place, including temperatures,
loading conditions, and inflationpressure maintenance. With proper
care and maintenance tires typically
wear out before they degrade due to
age. If you are unsure about the
need to replace the tires as they get
older, consult the tire manufacturer
for more information.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific 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
Specification (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 specifications 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 9-49for 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
when the tires were new.
Vehicle Care 9-63
Replacing less than a full set of
tires can affect the braking and
handling performance of your
vehicle. SeeTire Inspection on
page 9-61andTire Rotation on
page 9-61for information on
proper tire rotation.
{WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you
to lose control while driving.
If you mix tires of different
sizes, 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, brands, or types may
also cause damage to your
vehicle. Be sure to use the
correct size, brand, and type
of tires on all wheels. It is all
right to drive with your compact
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
spare temporarily, as it was
developed for use on your
vehicle. SeeCompact Spare
Tire on page 9-83.
{WARNING
If you use bias-ply tires on the
vehicle, the wheel rim flanges
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 your vehicle.
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 9-56.
Your vehicle’s original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information Label.
SeeVehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12, for more information
about the Tire and Loading
Information Label and its location
on your vehicle.
9-64 Vehicle Care
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 specified
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 significantly 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 specified
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
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 specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
9-66 Vehicle Care
Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
SeeHazard Warning Flashers on
page 5-4.
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be dangerous.
The vehicle can slip off the jack
and roll over or fall on you or other
people. You and they could be
badly injured or even killed. Find
a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from
moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic
transmission shift lever in
P (Park), or shift a manual
transmission to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do
not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to
remain in the vehicle.
To be certain the vehicle will not
move, put blocks at the front and
rear of the tire farthest away from
the one being changed. That
would be the tire on the other side,
at the opposite end of the vehicle.
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant
and compressor kit. To use the jack
and spare tire, follow the instructions
below. To use the tire sealant and
compressor kit, seeTire Sealant and
Compressor Kit on page 9-71.When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
9-70 Vehicle Care
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
{WARNING
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness and
even death. Never run the engine
in an enclosed area that has no
fresh air ventilation. For more
information, seeEngine Exhaust
on page 8-25.
{WARNING
Over-inflating a tire could cause
the tire to rupture and you or
others could be injured. Be sure to
read and follow the tire sealant and
compressor kit instructions and
inflate the tire to its recommended
pressure. Do not exceed the
recommended pressure.
{WARNING
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit 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 the tire sealant
and compressor kit in its original
location.If this vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit, there may not be a
spare tire, tire changing equipment,
and on some vehicles there may not
be a place to store a tire.
The tire sealant and compressor
can be used to temporarily seal
punctures up to 6 mm (
1⁄4inch) in the
tread area of the tire. It can also be
used to inflate an under inflated tire.
If the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a large puncture, the tire
is too severely damaged for the tire
sealant and compressor kit to be
effective. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 12-6.
Read and follow all of the tire
sealant and compressor kit
instructions.
Vehicle Care 9-71
Removal and Installation of
the Sealant Canister
To remove the sealant canister:
1. Remove the plastic cover.
2. Unscrew the connector (B) from
the canister (A).
3. Pull up on the canister (A) to
remove it.
4. Replace with a new canister
which is available from your
dealer/retailer.5. Push the new canister into place.
6. Screw the connector (B) to the
canister (A).
7. Slide the plastic cover back on.
Storing the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit
This vehicle may have a tire sealant
and compressor kit in place of a jack
or spare tire. It is located in a foam
container in the trunk.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools
Spare Tire
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on
page 1-8.
2. Remove the carpet.
3. Turn the center retainer
counterclockwise to remove
the spare tire cover.
4. Remove the spare tire and place
it next to the tire being changed.
Vehicle Care 9-77