2011 GMC ACADIA Owner's Manual

Black plate (49,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-49
The TPMS can warn about a
low tire pressure condition but
it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. SeeTire Inspection
on page 10‑51, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑52 andTires on
page 10‑38.
Notice: Tire sealant materials
are not all the same.
A non-approved tire sealant
could damage the 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.
Factory-installed Tire Inflator Kits
use a GM approved liquid tire
sealant. Using non-approved tire
sealants could damage the TPMS
sensors. See Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit on page 10‑63 for
information regarding the inflator
kit materials and instructions.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 also
displays. The malfunction light and
DIC warning message come on at
each ignition cycle until the problem
is corrected. Some of the conditions
that can cause these 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 malfunction
light and DIC message should
go off after the road tire is
replaced and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See "TPMS Sensor
Matching Process" later in this
section.
.The TPMS sensor matching
process was not done or
not completed successfully
after rotating the tires.
The malfunction light and the
DIC message should go off
after successfully completing
the sensor matching process.
See "TPMS Sensor Matching
Process" later in this section
.One or more TPMS sensors
are missing or damaged.
The malfunction light and
the DIC message should go
off when the TPMS sensors
are installed and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See your dealer
for service.

Black plate (50,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
10-50 Vehicle Care
.Replacement tires or wheels do
not match the original equipment
tires or wheels. Tires and wheels
other than those recommended
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. SeeBuying
New Tires on page 10‑54.
.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
properly, 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. The identification
code needs to be matched to a new
tire/wheel position after rotating the
tires or replacing one or more of the
TPMS sensors. The TPMS sensor
matching process should also be
performed after replacing a spare
tire with a road tire containing the
TPMS sensor. The malfunction
light and the DIC message should
go off at the next ignition cycle.
The sensors are matched to the
tire/wheel positions, using a TPMS
relearn tool, in the following order:
driver side front tire, passenger side
front tire, passenger side rear tire,
and driver side rear. See your
dealer for service or to purchase
a relearn tool. There are two minutes to match
the first tire/wheel position, and
five minutes overall to match all
four tire/wheel positions. If it takes
longer, the matching process stops
and must be restarted.
The TPMS sensor matching
process is:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition to ON/RUN with
the engine off.
3. Press the Remote Keyless Entry (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.

Black plate (51,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-51
4. Start with the driver sidefront tire.
5. Place the relearn tool against the tire sidewall, near the valve
stem. Then press the button
to activate the TPMS sensor.
A horn chirp 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 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 to LOCK/OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the recommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
Tire Inspection
GM recommends that the tires,
including the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, be inspected
for signs of wear or damage at
least once a month. Replace the tire if:
.The indicators at three or
more places around the tire
can be seen.
.There is 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.

Black plate (52,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
10-52 Vehicle Care
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 the vehicle
continues to perform most like
it did when the tires were new.
The first rotation is the most
important. See Scheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2.
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 10‑53 andWheel
Replacement on page 10‑59.
When rotating the vehicle's tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
If the vehicle has a compact
spare tire, do not include it in
the tire rotation.
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 10‑45 andVehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑12. Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See
Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10‑48.
Make certain that all wheel
nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
{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. See If a Tire
Goes Flat on page 10‑61.

Black plate (53,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-53
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.
Make sure the spare tire, if
the vehicle has one, is stored
securely. Push, pull, and then
try to rotate or turn the tire.
If it moves, tighten the cable.
SeeTire Changing on
page 10‑71.When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road conditions
affect the wear rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one way
to tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. See
Tire
Inspection on page 10‑51 andTire
Rotation on page 10‑52 for more
information.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies for the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple conditions
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. 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 (54,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
10-54 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle.
Park a vehicle that will be stored
for at least a month in a cool, dry,
clean area away from direct sunlight
to slow aging. This area should be
free of grease, gasoline, or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period
can cause flat spots on the tires
that may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires
or raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires.
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 10‑39
for additional information.

Black plate (55,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-55
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. SeeTire Inspection
on page 10‑51 andTire Rotation
on page 10‑52 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.
{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 10‑82.{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.

Black plate (56,1)GMC Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2011
10-56 Vehicle Care
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.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor
System on page 10‑47.
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.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
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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 10‑54 andAccessories
and Modifications on page 10‑3
for additional information.