2011 BUICK LACROSSE tires

Black plate (64,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-64 Vehicle Care
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle.
The original equipment tires
installed on the 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, the 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 the 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.
See
Tire Sidewall Labeling on
page 10‑48 for additional
information.
GM recommends replacing tires
in sets of four. This is because
uniform tread depth on all tires will help keep the vehicle
performing most like it did
when the tires were new.
Replacing less than a full set
of tires can affect the braking
and handling performance of the
vehicle. See
Tire Inspection on
page 10‑61 andTire Rotation on
page 10‑61 for information on
proper tire rotation.
{WARNING
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting to
mount or dismount a tire could
cause injury or death. Only your
dealer or authorized tire service
center should mount or dismount
the tires.

Black plate (65,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-65
{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 the
vehicle. Be sure to use the
correct size, brand, and type
of tires on all wheels. It is
all right to drive with the
compact spare temporarily,
as it was developed for use
on the vehicle. See Compact
Spare Tire on page 10‑85.{WARNING
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel
rim flanges to develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If you must replace the 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 the 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 the 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.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
System on page 10‑56.
The vehicle's original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑12 for more information
about the Tire and Loading
Information label and its
location on the vehicle.

Black plate (66,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-66 Vehicle Care
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, and electronic stability
control, the performance of these
systems can also be affected.
{WARNING
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety
if tires not recommended for
those wheels are selected.
This increases the chance of
a crash and serious injury.
Only use GM specific wheel
and tire systems developed
for the vehicle, and have them
properly installed by a GM
certified technician.
See Buying New Tires on
page 10‑64 andAccessories
and Modifications on page 10‑3
for 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.

Black plate (67,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-67
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.
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition
To These Grades.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 (1½) 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.
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.

Black plate (68,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-68 Vehicle Care
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.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were
aligned and balanced at the
factory to provide the longest tire
life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and
tire balancing will not be necessary
on a regular basis. However, check
the alignment if there is unusual tire
wear or if the vehicle is pulling to
one side or the other. If the vehicle
vibrates when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels might
need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.
Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel that is needed.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset, and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.
Replace wheels, wheel bolts,
wheel nuts, or Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) sensors with new
GM original equipment parts.

Black plate (69,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-69
{WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling
of the vehicle. Tires can lose air,
and cause loss of control, causing
a crash. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel
can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer or odometer
calibration, headlamp aim,
bumper height, vehicle ground
clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and
chassis.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑70 for more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{WARNING
Replacing a wheel with a used
one is dangerous. How it has
been used or how far it has been
driven may be unknown. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Tire Chains
{WARNING
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.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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, readjust
or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and do not
spin the vehicle's wheels. If you
do find traction devices that will
fit, install them on the front tires.

Black plate (70,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
10-70 Vehicle Care
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout,
especially if the tires are maintained
properly. See Tires. If air goes out
of a tire, it is much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if there is ever a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the
vehicle toward that side. Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position,
and then gently brake to a stop,
well off the road, if possible.
AA rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction
as used in a skid. Stop pressingthe accelerator pedal and steer
to straighten the vehicle. It may
be very bumpy and noisy. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.
{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause
a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon
as possible.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑4.

Black plate (85,1)Buick LaCrosse Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-85
Compact Spare Tire
{WARNING
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time
could result in loss of braking
and handling. This could lead
to a crash and you or others
could be injured. Use only one
compact spare tire at a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when the
vehicle was new; however, it can
lose air after a time. Check the
inflation pressure regularly. It should
be 420 kPa (60 psi). After installing the compact spare
on the vehicle, stop as soon
as possible and make sure the
spare tire is correctly inflated.
The compact spare is made to
perform well at speeds up to
105 km/h (65 mph) for distances
up to 5 000 km (3,000 mi), so you
can finish your trip and have the
full-size tire repaired or replaced
at your convenience. Of course,
it is best to replace the spare with
a full-size tire as soon as possible.
The spare tire will last longer and be
in good shape in case it is needed
again.
Notice:
When the compact
spare is installed, do not take
the vehicle through an automatic
car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on
the rails which can damage the
tire, wheel and other parts of the
vehicle. Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire
or wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
Notice:
Tire chains will not fit
the compact spare. Using them
can damage the vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Do not
use tire chains on the compact
spare.