Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
1-22 In Brief
Performance and
Maintenance
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The traction control system limits
wheel spin. The system turns on
automatically every time the vehicle
is started.
.To turn off traction control, press
and release the Active Handling
button located on the center
console.
iilluminates and the
appropriate DIC message
displays. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑44.
.Press and release the active
handling button again to turn on
traction control.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑36.
The vehicle has an Active Handling
System that helps maintain
directional control of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions.
See
Active Handling System on
page 9‑38.
The vehicle may have
Competitive Driving Mode
(except ZR1), Performance
Traction Management (Z06, ZR1),
and Launch Control systems
designed to allow increased
performance while accelerating
and cornering. See Competitive
Driving Mode on page 9‑39.
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure
of one of the vehicle's tires. If the warning light comes on, stop
as soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑14. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver ’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑64.
Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
5-24 Instruments and Controls
Active Handling System
Light
The Active Handling System light
comes on briefly while starting the
engine. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light stays on or comes on
while driving, a chime sounds and a
SERVICE ACTIVE HANDLING
SYSTEM message appears on the
DIC and the vehicle need service.
When the Active Handling System
is turned off, the light comes on,
a chime sounds, and the
TRACTION SYSTEM AND ACTIVE
HANDLING–OFF message
displays in the DIC. The Traction Control System is off and the
Active Handling System does not
assist with controlling the vehicle.
When the Active Handling System is
turned back on, the light turns off, a
chime sounds, and the TRACTION
SYSTEM AND ACTIVE
HANDLING–
ON message displays
in the DIC.
See Ride Control System Messages
on page 5‑44 for more information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS. When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. See
Vehicle Messages on
page 5‑35 for more information.
Stop as soon as possible, and
inflate the tires to the pressure value
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑62 for more information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition
cycle. See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑66 for more
information.
Black plate (51,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-51
the tire pressure values. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑26.
To acknowledge the message,
press the RESET button.
A message reappears every
10 minutes until the condition is
corrected.
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
This message displays if a part on
the Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) is not working
properly. The tire pressure light also
flashes and then remains on during
the same ignition cycle. See Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑24.
Several conditions may cause this
message to appear. See Tire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑66 for more information.
If the warning comes on and stays
on, there may be a problem with the
TPMS. See your dealer.
TIRE FLAT
{WARNING
When the LOW TIRE
PRESSURE or TIRE FLAT
message is displayed on the
Driver Information Center, 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
PRESSURE or TIRE FLAT
message is displayed. Drive
cautiously and check your tire
pressures as soon as you can.
This message displays when one
or more of the tires is flat. This
message also displays LEFT
FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate which tire is affected. Multiple
chimes sound and the tire pressure
light on the instrument panel cluster
comes on when this message is
displayed. See
Tire Pressure Light
on page 5‑24.
This message is followed by the
MAXIMUM SPEED 90 km/h
(55 MPH) message, and then by
the REDUCED HANDLING
message. The Active Handling
System will intervene more quickly
when a flat tire has been detected.
Adjust your driving accordingly.
You can receive more than
one tire pressure message at a
time. To read other messages that
may have been sent at the same
time, press the RESET button. If a
tire pressure message appears on
the DIC, stop as soon as you can.
Have the tire pressures checked
and set to those shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
Black plate (56,1)Chevrolet Corvette Owner Manual - 2012
10-56 Vehicle Care
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.
The vehicle also has a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
that indicates a loss of tire pressure
in any of the tires.
{WARNING
If the low tire warning light
displays on the instrument panel
cluster, the handling capabilities
will be reduced during severe
maneuvers. Driving too fast could
cause loss of control and you or
others could be injured. Do not
drive over 90 km/h (55 mph)
when the low tire warning light is
displayed. Drive cautiously and
check the tire pressures as soon
as possible.If a tire goes flat, there is no need to
stop on the side of the road to
change the tire. Continue driving,
however, do not drive too far or too
fast. Driving on the tire may not be
possible if there is permanent
damage. 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). The shorter the
distance and the slower the speed,
the greater the chance the tire will
not have to be replaced. As soon
as possible, contact the nearest
authorized GM or run-flat servicing
facility for inspection and repair or
replacement. When driving on a
deflated run-flat tire, avoid potholes
and other road hazards that could
damage the tire and/or wheel
beyond repair. When a tire has been
damaged, or if driven any distance
on a deflated run-flat tire, check with
an authorized run-flat tire service
center to determine whether the
tire can be repaired or should be
replaced. To maintain the run-flat
feature, all replacement tires must
be run-flat tires. To locate the nearest GM or run-flat
servicing facility, call Roadside
Assistance. See
Roadside
Assistance Program (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑8 orRoadside
Assistance Program (Mexico) on
page 13‑10 for details.
The valve stems on run-flat
tires have sensors that are part of
the TPMS. See Tire Pressure
Monitor System on page 10‑64.
These sensors contain batteries that
are designed to last for 10 years
under normal driving conditions.
See your dealer for wheel or sensor
replacement.
Notice: Using liquid sealants can
damage the tire valves and tire
pressure monitor sensors in the
run-flat tires. This damage is not
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Do not use liquid sealants in
run-flat tires.
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.