Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
10-2 Vehicle Care
Electrical System
Electrical SystemOverload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Run-Flat Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-61
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63 Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-78
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-90
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Black plate (59,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-59
Winter Tires
If you expect to drive on snow or ice
covered roads often, you may want
to get winter tires for your vehicle.
All season tires provide good overall
performance on most surfaces but
they may not offer the traction you
would like or the same level of
performance as winter tires on
snow or ice covered roads.
Winter tires, in general, are
designed for increased traction
on snow and ice covered roads.
With winter tires, there may be
decreased dry road traction,
increased road noise, and shorter
tread life. After switching to winter
tires, be alert for changes in
vehicle handling and braking.
See your dealer for details
regarding winter tire availability
and proper tire selection. Also, see
Buying New Tires on page 10‑73.If you choose to use winter tires:.Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
.Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and
speed rating as the original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as your original equipment
tires may not be available for H, V,
W, Y, and ZR speed rated tires.
If you choose winter tires with a
lower speed rating, never exceed
the tire's maximum speed capability.
Run-Flat Tires
This vehicle, when new, had run-flat
tires. There is no spare tire, no tire
changing equipment, and no place
to store a tire in the vehicle. Run-flat
tires perform so well without any air
that a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) is used to alert you if a tire
has lost pressure.
{WARNING
When the low tire warning light is
displayed on the instrument panel
cluster, your vehicle's handling
capabilities will be reduced during
severe maneuvers. If you drive
too fast, you could lose control
of your vehicle. You or others
could be injured. Do not drive
over 55 mph (90 km/h) when the
low tire warning light is displayed.
Drive cautiously and check your
tire pressures as soon as
you can.
If a tire goes flat, you will not
need to stop on the side of the
road to change the tire. You can
keep driving, however, if driven
too far or too fast, the tire may
be permanently damaged and
you might not be able to continue
driving on the tire. The tire can
be driven with no air pressure for
up to 105 km (65 miles) at speeds
slower than 90 km/h (55 mph).
Black plate (61,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-61
Notice:If the vehicle has
low‐profile tires, they are more
susceptible to damage from
road hazards or curb impact
than standard profile tires.
Tire and/or wheel assembly
damage can occur when
coming into contact with
road hazards like, potholes,
or sharp edged objects,
or when sliding into a curb.
The vehicle warranty does not
cover this type of damage.
Keep tires set to the correct
inflation pressure and, when
possible avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other
road hazards.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a
tire is molded into its sidewall.
The example below shows a
typical passenger (p‐metric)
tire sidewall.
Passenger (P‐Metric) Tire Example
(A) Tire Size:The tire size
is a combination of letters
and numbers used to define
a particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“Tire Size” illustration later in this
section for more detail. (B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet
or exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department
of Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance
with the U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
Black plate (72,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
10-72 Vehicle Care
Tire Inspection
We recommend that you
regularly inspect your 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
The tires on your vehicle are
different sizes front to rear.
Due to this, the tires should
not be rotated. Each tire and
wheel should be used only in
the position it is in.
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 the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining.
Black plate (74,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
10-74 Vehicle Care
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 an MS for mud
and snow. SeeTire Sidewall
Labeling on page 10‑61, for
additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires in
sets of four. This is because uniform
tread depth on all tires will help
keep your 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 your
vehicle. See Tire Inspection on
page 10‑72 andTire Rotation on
page 10‑72.{WARNING
Tires could explode during
improper service. You or others
could be injured or killed if you
attempt to mount or dismount
a tire. Only your dealer or an
authorized tire service center
should mount and dismount the
tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as your original equipment
tires may not be available for H, V,
W, Y and ZR speed rated tires.
If you choose snow tires with a
lower speed rating, never exceed
the tire's maximum speed capability.
{WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you to
lose control while driving. If you
mix tires of different sizes (other
than those originally installed on
your vehicle), 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
(other than those originally
installed on your vehicle), brands
or types, may also cause damage
to your vehicle. Be sure to use
the correct size, brand, and type
tires on all four wheels.
Black plate (75,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-75
{WARNING
If you use bias-ply tires on the
vehicle, the wheel rim flanges
could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail
suddenly, causing a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If you must replace your 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 your
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 it. 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
Operation on page 10‑69.
Your vehicle's original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑14,
for more information about the Tire
and Loading Information label and
its location on your vehicle.
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 antilock
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 10‑73 andAccessories and
Modifications on page 10‑4 for
additional information.
Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
10-80 Vehicle Care
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(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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, 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 blow out
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain the tires properly. If air
goes out of a tire, it is much more
likely to leak out slowly. See Tires
on page 10‑58 for additional
information. 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 (11,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2011
INDEX i-11
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
TaillampsTurn Signal, andStoplamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . 13-6
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . 2-14 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Tires Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-75
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Inflation Monitor System . . . . 10-69
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Lifting the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Low Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-51
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Pressure Monitor System . . . 10-68 Tires (cont.)
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Run-Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-78
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Towing General Information . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-86
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86
Traction Active Handling System . . . . . . 9-37
Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . 9-36
Control System WarningLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . 9-42
Selective Ride Control . . . . . . . . 9-42 Transmission
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Fluid, Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-53
One-to-Four Shift Light . . . . . . . 5-22
Transportation Program,
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-10
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Twilight Sentinel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
U
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Universal Remote System . . . . . 5-64 Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-69
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-64
Using this Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv