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Tire Inspection and Rotation
We recommend that you regularly inspect your
vehicle's tires, including the spare tire, for signs of
wear or damage. SeeWhen It Is Time for New
Tires
on page 6‑82for more information.
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km). See Scheduled Maintenance
on page 7‑3.
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 your
tires as soon as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See When It Is Time for New Tires
on
page 6‑82
and Wheel Replacementon page 6‑87.
If your vehicle has dual rear wheels, also see
Dual Tire Operation
on page 6‑75.
If your vehicle has single rear wheels and the
tread design for the front tires is the same as the
rear tires, use the rotation pattern shown here
when rotating the tires.
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Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See“Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on page 6‑126.
{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 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. See
Changing a Flat Tire
on page 6‑90.
If your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS), reset the TPMS sensors after
rotating the tires. See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
on page 6‑76. Make sure the spare tire, if your vehicle has one,
is stored securely. Push, pull, and then try to
rotate or turn the tire. If it moves, tighten the
cable. See
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
on page 6‑106.
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 your tires have only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or less
of tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires
may not have treadwear
indicators.
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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 inflation 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 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 a MS, for mud
and snow. See Tire Sidewall Labeling
on page 6‑65for
additional information.
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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.
{WARNING:
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 specific wheel and tire
systems developed for your vehicle, and have
them properly installed by a GM certified
technician.
See Buying New Tires
on page 6‑83andAccessories
and Modificationson page 6‑4for 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.
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Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
Crew Cab
A. Wing Nut Retaining Tool Kit
B. Tool Kit
C. Wheel Blocks D. Jack
E. Jack Knob F. Wing Nut Retaining Wheel Blocks
Regular Cab
A. Wing Nut Retaining Tool Kit
B. Tool Kit
C. Wheel Blocks D. Jack
E. Jack Knob F. Wing Nut Retaining Wheel Blocks
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Extended Cab
A. Wing Nut Retaining Tool Kit
B. Tool Kit C. Wheel Blocks
D. Jack
E. Jack Knob For regular cab models, the equipment you will need is
behind the passenger's seat. For extended and crew
cab models, the equipment is on the shelf behind the
passenger's side second row seat.
1. Turn the knob on the jack counterclockwise to lower the jack head to release the jack from its
holder.
2. Remove the wheel blocks and the wheel block retainer by turning the wing nut counterclockwise.
3. Remove the wing nut used to retain the storage bag and tools by turning it counterclockwise.
You will use the jack handle extensions and the wheel
wrench to remove the underbody-mounted spare tire.
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A. Spare Tire (ValveStem Pointed Down)
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist Cable
D. Tire/Wheel Retainer E. Hoist Shaft F. Hoist End of
Extension Tool
G. Hoist Shaft Access Hole H. Wheel Wrench I. Jack Handle Extensions
J. Spare Tire Lock (If equipped) 1. Open the spare tire lock cover on the bumper and
use the ignition key to remove the spare tire
lock (J). To remove the spare tire lock, insert the
ignition key turn and pull straight out.
2. Assemble the wheel wrench (H) and the two jack
handle extensions (I) as shown.
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3. Insert the hoist end(open end) (F) of the
extension through the
hole (G) in the rear
bumper.
Do not use the
chiseled end of the
wheel wrench.
Be sure the hoist end of the extension (F) connects
to the hoist shaft (E). The ribbed square end of the
extension is used to lower the spare tire. 4. Turn the wheel wrench (H) counterclockwise to
lower the spare tire to the ground. Continue to turn
the wheel wrench until the spare tire can be pulled
out from under the vehicle.
If spare tire does not lower to the ground, the
secondary latch, if the vehicle has one, may be
engaged causing the tire not to lower. See
Secondary Latch System on page 6‑103.
5. Use the wheel wrench
hook which allows you
to pull the hoist cable
towards you to assist in
reaching the spare tire.
6-95