2010 PONTIAC VIBE weight

Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
•The weight of the trailer.
•The weight of the trailer tongue.
•The total weight on your
vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
680 kg (1,500 lbs). But even
that can be too heavy.
It depends on how the rig is used.
For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and
how much the vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. It can
depend on any special equipmenton the vehicle, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry.
See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue”
later in this section for more
information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the tow
vehicle and it has all the required
trailering equipment. The weight of
additional optional equipment,
passengers and cargo in the tow
vehicle must be subtracted from the
maximum trailer weight.
Ask your dealer/retailer for our
trailering information or advice, or
you can write us at our Customer
Assistance Offices. See
Customer
Assistance Offices on page 12-3
for more information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes
the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle. If
there are a lot of options, equipment,
passengers or cargo in the vehicle, it
will reduce the tongue weight the
vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight the vehicle
can tow. If towing a trailer, the
tongue load must be added to the
GVW because the vehicle will be
carrying that weight, too. See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 8-12 for more
information about the vehicle’s
maximum load capacity.
8-48 Driving and Operating

The trailer tongue (A) should weigh
10 to 15 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s
Tires
Be sure the vehicle’s tires are
inflated to the upper limit for cold
tires. These numbers can be found
on the Tire-Loading Information
label. SeeVehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12. Make sure not to go over
the GVW limit for the vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer
tongue.
Towing Equipment
Hitches
It is important to have the correct
hitch equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by and rough roads are
a few reasons why the right hitch is
needed.
•The rear bumper on the vehicle is
not intended for hitches. Do not
attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use
only a frame-mounted hitch that
does not attach to the bumper.
•Will any holes be made in the
body of the vehicle when the
trailer hitch is installed? If there
are, then be sure to seal the holes
later when the hitch is removed.
If the holes are not sealed, dirt,
water, and deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from the exhaust
can get into the vehicle. See
Engine Exhaust on page 8-23 .
Safety Chains
Always attach chains between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the
safety chains under the tongue of the
trailer to help prevent the tongue
from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Always leave just enough slack so
the rig can turn. Never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
Driving and Operating 8-49

Tire Designations
Tire Size
The following illustration
shows an example of a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
:The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first character in
the tire size means a passenger
vehicle tire engineered to
standards set by the U.S.
Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width
:The three-digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall. (C) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 60, as shown in
item C of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire’s sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply construction;
and the letter B means
belted-bias ply construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(F) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the tire.
The load index represents the
load carry capacity a tire is
certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
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.
9-46 Vehicle Care

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. See 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 Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 8-12.
GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the front axle.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12.
GAWR RR
:Gross Axle
Weight Rating for the rear axle.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12. 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 inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:The load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
Vehicle Care 9-47

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). See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 8-12.
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 inflation pressure as shown
on the tire placard. See Tire
Pressure on page 9-49 and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12.
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.
See When It Is Time for New
Tires on page 9-56.
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. See Uniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 9-58.
9-48 Vehicle Care

Vehicle Capacity Weight:The
number of designated seating
positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 8-12.
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 inflation
pressure. See “Tire and Loading
Information Label” under Vehicle
Load Limits on page 8-12 .
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount
of air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone
tell you that under-ination or
over-ination is all right. It is
not. If your tires do not have
enough air (under-ination),
you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air
(over-ination), you can get
the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards A vehicle specific Tire and
Loading Information label
is attached to your vehicle.
This label shows your vehicle’s
original equipment tires and the
correct inflation pressures for
your tires when they are cold.
The recommended cold tire
inflation pressure, shown on the
label, is the minimum amount of
air pressure needed to support
your vehicle’s maximum load
carrying capacity.
For additional information
regarding how much weight
your vehicle can carry, and an
example of the Tire and Loading
Information label, see
Vehicle
Load Limits on page 8-12 .
How you load your vehicle
affects vehicle handling and
ride comfort. Never load your
vehicle with more weight than
it was designed to carry.
Vehicle Care 9-49