Black plate (71,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-71
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
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 miles).
SeeScheduled 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 your 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 10‑74and Wheel
Replacement
on page 10‑80.
If your vehicle has dual rear
wheels, also see Dual Tire
Rotation
on page 10‑73.
If your vehicle has single rear
wheels and the tread design
for the front tires is the same as
the rear tires, use the rotation
pattern shown here when
rotating the tires.
Black plate (72,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-72 Vehicle Care
If your vehicle has dual rear
wheels and the tread design for
the front tires is the same as the
rear tires, always use one of the
correct rotation patterns shown
here when rotating the tires.If your vehicle has dual rear
wheels and the tread design
for the front tires is different
from the dual rear tires, always
use the correct rotation pattern
shown here when rotating the
tires.The dual tires are rotated as a
pair, and the inside rear tires
become the outside rear tires.
When you install dual wheels,
be sure the vent holes in the
inner and outer wheels on each
side are lined up.
After the tires have been
rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Tire
Pressure
on page 10‑63and
Vehicle Load Limits
on
page 9‑23
.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on
page 12‑2
.
Black plate (73,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-73
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on
the parts to which it is fastened,
can make wheel nuts become
loose after time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident.
When changing a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where
the wheel attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, use a cloth or a
paper towel to do this; but be sure
to use a scraper or wire brush
later, if needed, to get all the rust
or dirt off. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10‑81.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on
the wheel nuts or bolts.
If your vehicle has a Tire
Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS), reset the TPMS
sensors after rotating the tires.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
on page 10‑67.
Make sure the spare tire,
if your vehicle has one, is stored
securely. Push, pull, and then
try to rotate or turn the tire.
If it moves, tighten the cable.
See “Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools” underTire Changing
on page 10‑83.
Dual Tire Rotation
When the vehicle is new,
or whenever a wheel, wheel
bolt or wheel nut is replaced,
check the wheel nut torque
after 160, 1 600 and 10 000 km
(100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles) of
driving. For proper torque and wheel
nut tightening information, see
“Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools” underTire Changing
on
page 10‑83.
Black plate (74,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-74 Vehicle Care
The outer tire on a dual wheel
setup generally wears faster than
the inner tire. Your tires will wear
more evenly and last longer
if you rotate the tires periodically,
seeTire Inspection
on page 10‑71and Tire Rotationon page 10‑71.
Also see Scheduled Maintenance
on page 11‑2.
{WARNING
If you operate your vehicle with a
tire that is badly underinflated, the
tire can overheat. An overheated
tire can lose air suddenly or catch
fire. You or others could be
injured. Be sure all tires (including
the spare) are properly inflated.
See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑63,
for information on proper tire
inflation.
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.
Some commercial truck tires
may not have treadwear indicators.
See
Tire Inspection
on page 10‑71andTire Rotationon page 10‑71for
additional information.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This is also true for the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
not being used. Multiple conditions
affect how fast this aging takes
place, including temperatures,
loading conditions, and inflation
pressure maintenance. Tires will
typically need to be replaced due to
wear before they may need to be
replaced due to age. Consult the tire
manufacturer for more information
on when tires should be replaced.
Black plate (76,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-76 Vehicle Care
Replacing less than a full set of
tires can affect the braking and
handling performance of your
vehicle. SeeTire Inspection
on
page 10‑71and Tire Rotationon
page 10‑71for information on
proper tire rotation.
{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.
{WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you
to lose control while driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes,
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
brands, or types (radial and
bias-belted tires), the vehicle
might not handle properly, and
you could have a crash. Using
tires of different sizes, brands,
or types could also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure
to use the same size, brand, and
type of tires on all wheels.
Your vehicle may have a different
size spare than the road tires
(those originally installed on your
vehicle). When new, your vehicle
included a spare tire and wheel
assembly with a similar overall
diameter as your vehicle's road
tires and wheels, so it is all right
to drive on it. Because this spare
was developed for use on your
vehicle, it will not affect vehicle
handling.
{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.
Black plate (77,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-77
Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system may give an
inaccurate low‐pressure warning
if non‐TPC Spec-rated tires
are installed on your 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. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor System
on
page 10‑65.
Your vehicle's original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑23for 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 10‑75and Accessories and
Modificationson page 10‑3for
additional information.
Black plate (79,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-79
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.
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 on the vehicle
were aligned and balanced carefully
at the factory to give the longest tire
life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and
tire balancing will not be necessary
on a regular basis. However, if there
is unusual tire wear or the vehicle
pulls to one side or the other, the
alignment should be checked. 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.
Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-80 Vehicle Care
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
(except some aluminum wheels,
which can sometimes be repaired).
See your dealer if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of the
wheels, wheel bolts, wheel nuts
or Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) sensors, replace them only
with new GM original equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts,
wheel nuts, and TPMS sensors for
the vehicle.{WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control.
You could have a collision in
which you or others could be
injured. 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. Whenever a wheel, wheel
bolt or wheel nut is replaced
on a dual wheel setup, check
the wheel nut torque after
100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles
(160, 1 600 and 10 000 km)
of driving. For proper torque,
see
“Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications
on
page 12‑2.
See If a Tire Goes Flat
on
page 10‑81for more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
{WARNING
Putting a used wheel on the
vehicle is dangerous. You cannot
know how it has been used
or how far it has been driven.
It could fail suddenly and cause
a crash. If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.