Black plate (60,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-60 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation
{WARNING
Driving at high speeds,
160 km/h (100 mph) or higher,
puts an additional strain on tires.
Sustained high-speed driving
causes excessive heat build up
and can cause sudden tire failure.
You could have a crash and you
or others could be killed. Some
high-speed rated tires require
inflation pressure adjustment
for high speed operation. When
speed limits and road conditions
are such that a vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, make sure
the tires are rated for high speed
operation, in excellent condition,
and set to the correct cold tire
inflation pressure for the
vehicle load.Vehicles with 245/45ZR20 103Y,
P245/50ZR19 104W and
275/40ZR20 106Y size tires,
have tires capable of high speed
use. Make sure the tires are inflated
to the recommended cold inflation
pressures before operating the
vehicle at speeds over 100 mph
(160 km/h). See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑13 andTire
Pressure on page 10‑58.
When you end this high-speed
driving, return the tires to the cold
inflation pressure shown on the
Tire and Loading Information
label. See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑13 andTire Pressure on
page 10‑58.
Tire Pressure Monitor
System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure
levels. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in your tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to
a receiver located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare
(if provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires.)
Black plate (62,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-62 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS is designed to warn
the driver when a low tire pressure
condition exists. TPMS sensors
are mounted onto each tire and
wheel assembly, excluding the
spare tire and wheel assembly,
if the vehicle has one. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure in
the vehicle's tires and transmits the
tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Using the Driver Information Center
(DIC), the driver can also check
tire pressure levels using the DIC.
For additional information and
details about the DIC operation
and displays seeTire Messages on
page 5‑39.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the TPMS
illuminates the low tire pressure
warning light located on the
instrument panel cluster. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑13.
A DIC warning message to check
the pressure in a specific tire is also
shown on the DIC display screen.
The low tire pressure warning light
and the DIC warning message come
at each ignition cycle until the tires
are inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. The low tire pressure warning
light may come on in cool weather
when the vehicle is first started, and
then turn off as you start to drive.
This could be an early indicator
that the air pressure in the tire(s) is
getting low and needs to be inflated
to the proper pressure.
The Tire and Loading Information
label, attached to your vehicle,
shows the size of your vehicle's
original equipment tires and the
correct inflation pressure for the
tires when they are cold. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑13,
for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its
location on your vehicle. Also see
Tire Pressure on page 10‑58.
Your vehicle's TPMS can warn you
about a low tire pressure condition
but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See
Tire Inspection
on page 10‑66, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑66 andTires on
page 10‑50.
Black plate (66,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-66 Vehicle Care
Tire Inspection
We recommend that you
regularly inspect the vehicle's
tires, including the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, for signs
of wear or damage at least once
a month.
Always remove the 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.
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 12 000 km (7,500 miles).
See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11‑2.
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.
See When It Is Time for New
Tires on page 10‑68 andWheel
Replacement on page 10‑74.
Black plate (69,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-69
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 10‑52
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 10‑66
and
Tire Rotation on page 10‑66
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 (70,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-70 Vehicle Care
{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 10‑90.{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 10‑60.
The vehicle's original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑13 for more information
about the Tire and Loading
Information label and its
location on the vehicle.
Black plate (71,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-71
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are
a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, this
could affect the way the vehicle
performs, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover.
Additionally, if the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, and electronic stability
control, the performance of these
systems can 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 10‑69 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 (75,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-75
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. 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(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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, re‐adjust or remove the
device if it is contacting the
vehicle, and do not spin the
wheels. If you do find traction
devices that will fit, install them
on the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your vehicle's tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire,
it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have
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.
Black plate (90,1)Chevrolet Camaro Owner Manual - 2011
10-90 Vehicle Care
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{WARNING
Storing a jack, a tire, 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 all these in
the proper place.
To store a flat or spare tire and
tools:
1. Return the jack and tools as they were originally stored in the
trunk.
2. Return the spare tire cover as it was in the trunk.
3. Install the retainer nut and turn it clockwise until tight. 4. Return the rear trunk carpet.
5. Place the flat tire face up on the
load floor.
6. Route the strap provided, asshown, to secure the flat tire.
The compact spare tire is for
temporary use only. Replace the
compact spare with a full-size tire
as soon as possible.
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 miles),
so you can finish your trip and