2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO Owners Manual

Black plate (67,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-67
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) and
Industry Canada
SeeRadio Frequency Statementon
page 13‑18for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission
(FCC) rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-210/220/310.
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. 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.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the TPMS
will illuminate the low tire pressure
warning symbol 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 loading
information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑23.
At the same time a message to
check the pressure in a specific tire
appears on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display. The low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC
warning message come on at each
ignition cycle until the tires are inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. If your vehicle has DIC
buttons, tire pressure levels can be
viewed by the driver. For additional
information and details about the
DIC operation and displays see
Driver Information Center (DIC)on
page 5‑34and Tire Messageson
page 5‑51.
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) are getting
low and need to be inflated to the
proper pressure.
A 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 your
vehicle's tires when they are cold.

Black plate (68,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-68 Vehicle Care
SeeVehicle Load Limitson
page 9‑23, for an example of
the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location on your
vehicle. Also see Tire Pressure
on
page 10‑63.
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 10‑71,Tire Rotationon
page 10‑71and Tires on
page 10‑55.
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
sensors. TPMS sensor damage
caused by using an incorrect tire
sealant is not covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always use only
the GM approved tire sealant
available through your dealer
or included in the vehicle.
TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the
low tire warning light flashes for
about one minute and then stays
on for the remainder of the ignition
cycle. A DIC warning message is
also displayed. The low tire warning
light and DIC warning message
come on at each ignition cycle until
the problem is corrected. Some of
the conditions that can cause the
malfunction light and DIC message
to come on are:
.One of the road tires has been
replaced with the spare tire.
The spare tire does not have
a TPMS sensor. The TPMS
malfunction light and DIC
message should go off once
you re‐install the road tire
containing the TPMS sensor.
.The TPMS sensor matching
process was started but not
completed or not completed
successfully after rotating the
vehicle's tires. The DIC message
and TPMS malfunction light
should go off once the TPMS
sensor matching process
is performed successfully.
See “TPMS Sensor Matching
Process” later in this section.
.One or more TPMS sensors
are missing or damaged.
The DIC message and the
TPMS malfunction light should
go off when the TPMS sensors
are installed and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See your dealer
for service.

Black plate (69,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-69
.Replacement tires or wheels do
not match your vehicle's original
equipment tires or wheels. Tires
and wheels other than those
recommended for your vehicle
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. SeeBuying
New Tires on page 10‑75.
.Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning it
cannot detect or signal a low tire
condition. See your dealer for
service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message comes on
and stays on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. Any time you
rotate your vehicle's tires or replace
one or more of the TPMS sensors,
the identification codes will need to
be matched to the new tire/wheel
position. The sensors are matched
to the tire/wheel positions in the
following order: driver side front tire,
passenger side front tire, passenger
side rear tire, and driver side rear
tire using a TPMS diagnostic tool.
See your dealer for service.
The TPMS sensors can also be
matched to each tire/wheel position
by increasing or decreasing the
tire's air pressure. If increasing the
tire's air pressure, do not exceed
the maximum inflation pressure
indicated on the tire's sidewall. To decrease air-pressure out of a
tire you can use the pointed end of
the valve cap, a pencil-style air
pressure gage, or a key.
You have two minutes to match
the first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all
four tire/wheel positions. If it takes
longer than two minutes, to match
the first tire and wheel, or more than
five minutes to match all four tire
and wheel positions the matching
process stops and you need to
start over.
The TPMS sensor matching process
is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON/
RUN with the engine off.

Black plate (70,1)Chevrolet Silverado Owner Manual - 2011
10-70 Vehicle Care
3. Press the Remote KeylessEntry (RKE) transmitter's LOCK
and UNLOCK buttons at the
same time for approximately
five seconds. The horn sounds
twice to signal the receiver
is in relearn mode and TIRE
LEARNING ACTIVE message
displays on the DIC screen.
If your vehicle does not
have RKE, press the Driver
Information Center (DIC) vehicle
information button until the
PRESS
VTO RELEARN TIRE
POSITIONS message displays.
The horn sounds twice to signal
the receiver is in relearn mode
and TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
message displays on the DIC
screen.
If your vehicle does not have
RKE or DIC buttons, press
the trip odometer reset stem
located on the instrument panel
cluster until the PRESS
VTO RELEARN TIRE POSITIONS
message displays. The horn
sounds twice to signal the
receiver is in relearn mode
and TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
message displays on the DIC
screen.
4. Start with the driver side front tire.
5. Remove the valve cap from the valve cap stem. Activate the
TPMS sensor by increasing
or decreasing the tire's air
pressure for five seconds,
or until a horn chirp sounds.
The horn chirp, which may take
up to 30 seconds to sound,
confirms that the sensor
identification code has been
matched to this tire and wheel
position.
6. Proceed to the passenger side front tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5. 7. Proceed to the passenger
side rear tire, and repeat the
procedure in Step 5.
8. Proceed to the driver side rear tire, and repeat the procedure in
Step 5. The horn sounds two
times to indicate the sensor
identification code has been
matched to the driver side rear
tire, and that the TPMS sensor
matching process is no longer
active. The TIRE LEARNING
ACTIVE message on the DIC
display screen goes off.
9. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK/OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
11. Put the valve caps back on the valve stems.

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.