Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain
begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.
If the vehicle has theTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 5-8 orEnhanced Traction System (ETS) on
page 5-11, it improves the ability to accelerate on slippery
roads, but slow down and adjust your driving to the road
conditions. When driving through deep snow, turn off the
ETS, if equipped, to help maintain vehicle motion at lower
speeds. The
Antilock Brake System (ABS) on page 5-4 improves
vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads,
but whether the vehicle has ABS or not, apply the
brakes sooner than when on dry pavement. Without
ABS, if the vehicle begins to slide, let up on the brake
pedal a little and apply steady pedal pressure to get the
most traction. On vehicles without ABS, braking so
hard that the wheels stop rolling can cause the vehicle
to slide — brake so the wheels always keep rolling
so you can still steer.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
5-21
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 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.
6-67
Carbon MonoxideEngine Exhaust ........................................... 3-33
Trunk ......................................................... 3-11
Winter Driving ............................................. 5-21
Care of Safety Belts ................................................ 6-96
CD, MP3 ....................................................... 4-63
Center Console Storage ................................... 3-36
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ...........6-43
Chains, Tire ................................................... 6-70
Charging System Light .................................... 4-25
Check Engine Lamp .............................................. 4-30
Checking Things Under the Hood ......................6-10
Chemical Paint Spotting .................................6-100
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children ...........................2-35
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children ..........2-43
Older Children ............................................. 2-32
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position .................................................. 2-49
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ........................................... 2-52
Systems ..................................................... 2-39
Where to Put the Restraint ...........................2-41
Cigarette Lighter ............................................. 4-14
Circuit Breakers ............................................ 6-103Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels ..............6-99
Exterior Lamps/Lenses ................................. 6-97
Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 6-95
Finish Care ................................................. 6-98
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ................................................. 6-96
Interior ....................................................... 6-94
Leather ...................................................... 6-96
Tires ........................................................ 6-100
Underbody Maintenance .............................6-100
Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 6-97
Weatherstrips .............................................. 6-97
Windshield
and Wiper Blades ........................6-98
Climate Control System ................................... 4-14
Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 4-17
Climate Controls ............................................. 1-14
Clock, Setting ................................................. 4-50
Clutch, Hydraulic ............................................. 6-19
Collision Damage Repair .................................. 8-11
Compact Spare Tire ........................................ 6-93
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant ............................6-72
Content Theft-Deterrent .................................... 3-15
Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 5-3
Convenience Net ............................................ 3-36
Coolant Engine ....................................................... 6-24
Engine Temperature Warning Light .................4-29
3
W
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators...............4-19
Warnings DIC Warnings and Messages ........................4-38
Hazard Flashers ............................................ 4-3
Safety and Symbols ......................................... iv
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance ..........................6-68
Different Size .............................................. 6-66
Replacement ............................................... 6-68
When It Is Time for New Tires ..........................6-64
Where to Put the Child Restraint .......................2-41
Windows ....................................................... 3-13
Manual ...................................................... 3-13
Power ........................................................ 3-14Windshield
Washer ........................................................ 4-6
Washer Fluid .............................................. 6-28
Wiper Blade Replacement .............................6-47
Wiper Blades, Cleaning ................................6-98
Wiper Fuses ............................................. 6-102
Wipers ......................................................... 4-5
Winter Driving ................................................ 5-21
Wiper Activated Headlamps ..............................4-10
X
XM Radio Messages....................................... 4-70
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna ..................................................... 4-84
14