2012 CHEVROLET CORVETTE C6 Owners Manual

Black plate (61,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-61
Maximum Inflation Pressure:
The maximum air pressure to
which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:
The load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight
:The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight
:
The number of occupants a
vehicle is designed to seat
multiplied by 68 kg (150 lbs).
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑14.
Occupant Distribution
:
Designated seating positions. Outward Facing Sidewall
:
The side of an asymmetrical tire
that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted on
a vehicle. The side of the tire
that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering, or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that is
higher or deeper than the same
moldings on the other sidewall
of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
:
A tire used on passenger cars
and some light duty trucks
and multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Inflation
Pressure
:Vehicle
manufacturer's recommended
tire inflation pressure as shown
on the tire placard. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑62 and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑14. Radial Ply Tire
:A pneumatic
tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid at
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Rim
:A metal support for a tire
and upon which the tire beads
are seated.
Sidewall
:The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating
:An alpha-
numeric code assigned to a tire
indicating the maximum speed
at which a tire can operate.
Traction
:The friction between
the tire and the road surface.
The amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire
that comes into contact with
the road.

Black plate (62,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-62 Vehicle Care
Treadwear Indicators:Narrow
bands, sometimes called wear
bars, that show across the
tread of a tire when only
1.6 mm (1/16 in) of tread
remains. See When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 10‑69.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards)
:A tire
information system that
provides consumers with
ratings for a tire's traction,
temperature, and treadwear.
Ratings are determined by
tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures.
The ratings are molded into
the sidewall of the tire.
See Uniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 10‑72. Vehicle Capacity Weight
:
The number of designated
seating positions multiplied by
68 kg (150 lbs) plus the rated
cargo load. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14.
Vehicle Maximum Load on
the Tire
:Load on an individual
tire due to curb weight,
accessory weight, occupant
weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle
capacity weight and the
original equipment tire size
and recommended inflation
pressure. See “Tire and Loading
Information Label” underVehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑14.
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount
of air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice: Neither tire
underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires
that do not have enough air,
can result in:
.Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout.
.Premature or
irregular wear.
.Poor handling.
.Reduced fuel economy.

Black plate (63,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-63
Overinflated tires, or tires
that have too much air,
can result in:
.Unusual wear.
.Poor handling.
.Rough ride.
.Needless damage from
road hazards.
The Tire and Loading
Information label on the
vehicle indicates the original
equipment tires and the correct
cold tire inflation pressures.
The recommended pressure is
the minimum air pressure
needed to support the vehicle's
maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information
regarding how much weight
the vehicle can carry, and an
example of the Tire and Loading Information label, see
Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑14.
How the vehicle is loaded
affects vehicle handling and
ride comfort. Never load the
vehicle with more weight than
it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check the tires once a month
or more.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check the tire
pressure. Proper tire inflation
cannot be determined by
looking at the tire. Check the tire
inflation pressure when the tires
are cold, meaning the vehicle
has not been driven for at least
three hours or no more than
1.6 km (1 mi). Remove the valve cap from the
tire valve stem. Press the tire
gauge firmly onto the valve to
get the pressure measurement.
If the cold tire inflation pressure
matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label, no
further adjustment is necessary.
If the inflation pressure is low,
add air until the recommended
pressure is reached. If the
inflation pressure in high, press
on the metal stem in the center
of the tire valve to release air.
Re‐check the tire pressure with
the tire gauge.
Return the valve caps on the
valve stems to keep out dirt and
moisture and prevent leaks.

Black plate (64,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-64 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 buildup
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.The tires require inflation pressure
adjustment when driving the vehicle
at speeds of 282 km/h (175 mph) or
higher, where it is legal. Set the cold
inflation pressure to the maximum
inflation pressure shown on the
tire sidewall, or 265 kPa (38 psi),
whichever is lower. See the
example following. Return the tires
to the recommended cold tire
inflation pressure when high-speed
driving has ended. See
Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑14.
Example:
The maximum load and inflation
pressure molded on the tire
sidewall, in small letters,
near the rim flange. It will read
something like this: Maximum load
690 kg (1521 lbs) 300 kPa (44 psi)
Max. Press.
For this example, set the inflation
pressure for high‐speed driving at
265 kPa (38 psi). Racing or other competitive driving
may affect the warranty coverage of
the vehicle. See the warranty
booklet for more information.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 (65,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-65
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly
under‐inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under‐inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under‐inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and
tire tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.
Please note that the TPMS is
not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under‐inflation has
not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.Your vehicle has also been
equipped with a TPMS malfunction
indicator to indicate when the
system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then
remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start‐ups as
long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is
illuminated, the system may not be
able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended. TPMS
malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation
of replacement or alternate tires or
wheels on the vehicle that prevent
the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction
telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow
the TPMS to continue to function
properly.
See
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑66 for
additional information.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and
with Industry Canada
Standards
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑21 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
Rules and with Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.

Black plate (66,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-66 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 on your vehicle.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air
pressure in the tires and transmits
the tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition
is detected, the TPMS illuminates
the low tire pressure warning light,
located in the instrument cluster.
If the warning light comes on,
stop as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommendedpressure shown on the tire loading
information label. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14.
A message to check the pressure in
a specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low
tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message appear at
each ignition cycle until the tires
are inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed.
For additional information and
details about the DIC operation and
displays see Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑26 and
Tire Messages on page 5‑49.
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven.
This could be an early indicator that
the air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper
pressure. A Tire and Loading Information label
shows the size of the original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14, for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location. Also see
Tire Pressure on page 10‑62 for
additional information.
The TPMS can warn about a
low tire pressure condition but it
does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
on page 10‑68, Tire Rotation on
page 10‑68, When It Is Time for
New Tires on page 10‑69, and
Tires on page 10‑54.
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

Black plate (67,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-67
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
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:
.The TPMS sensor matching
process was not done or not
completed successfully.
The malfunction light and the
DIC message should go off after
successfully completing the
sensor matching process.
.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.
.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 10‑70.
.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 come 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 replacing
one or more of the TPMS sensors.
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.

Black plate (68,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-68 Vehicle Care
Tire Inspection
We recommend 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.
Tire Rotation
If the vehicle has non-directional
tires, they should be rotated
every 12 000 km/7,500 mi.
SeeMaintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.
Tires are rotated to achieve
uniform wear for all tires.
The first rotation is the most
important.
Any time unusual wear is
noticed, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check the
wheel alignment. Also check
for damaged tires or wheels.
See When It Is Time for New
Tires on page 10‑69 andWheel
Replacement on page 10‑74.
Directional tires should not be
rotated. Each tire and wheel
should be used only in the
position it is in. Directional tires
will have an arrow on the tire indicating the proper direction of
rotation or will have“left”
or“right”
molded on the sidewall.
Different tire sizes should not be
rotated front to rear.
Use this rotation pattern if the
vehicle has different size tires
on the front and rear and they
are non-directional.