Page 337 of 430
Black plate (73,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-73
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire.
To help prevent the vehicle
from moving:1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic transmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and donot restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks on both sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed. When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Page 338 of 430
Black plate (74,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
10-74 Vehicle Care
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
Equipment needed for a cargo van
or a passenger van is located in the
passenger side rear corner of the
vehicle.
Remove the retaining wing bolt and
lift it off of the mounting bracket.
Equipment needed for a
15‐passenger seating arrangement
is secured on the rear floor on the
passenger side of the vehicle.
Remove the retaining wing bolt and
lift it out of the mounting bracket to
access the equipment.The tools you will be using include:
A. Jack
B. Jack Handle
C. Hoist Extension
D. Jack Handle Extension
E. Wheel Wrench
The spare tire is mounted in the rear
underbody of the vehicle.
Use the hoist extension, jack handle
extensions, and the wheel wrench
to remove the underbody‐mounted
spare tire.
Page 339 of 430
Black plate (75,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-75
To lower the spare tire from the
vehicle:
A. Spare Tire
B. Tire/Wheel Retainer
C. Hoist Cable
D. Hoist Assembly
E. Hoist Shaft
F. Jack Handle and HoistExtensions
G. Wheel Wrench
1. Assemble the wheel wrench (G) to one or two of the jack handles
and the hoist extensions (F).
Insert the hoist extension end
through the hole in the rear
bumper.
2. Be sure the hoist extension end connects to the hoist shaft. The
chiseled end of the extension is
used to lower the spare tire. 3. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire to the ground.
Continue to turn the wheel
wrench until the spare tire can
be pulled out from under the
vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower to
the ground, the secondary latch
is engaged causing the tire not
to lower. See Secondary Latch
System on page 10‑83.
Page 340 of 430

Black plate (76,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
10-76 Vehicle Care
4. When the tire has been lowered,pull it closer to reach the tire
retainer and pull it up through
the wheel opening.
For a vehicle that was
completed from a cab and
chassis, refer to the information
from the body supplier/installer.
The spare tire is a full‐size tire,
like the other tires on the
vehicle.
5. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
If the vehicle has plastic wheel nut
caps, loosen them by turning the
wheel wrench counterclockwise.
The wheel nut caps are designed
to remain with the center cap.
Remove the center cap.
If the wheel has a smooth center
piece, place the chisel end of the
wheel wrench in the slot on the
wheel and gently pry it out.
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑72 for more
information.
2. Loosen all the wheel nuts with the wheel wrench. Do not
remove them yet.
A. Jack
B. Jack Handle
C. Hoist Extension
D. Jack Handle Extension
E. Wheel Wrench
Page 341 of 430
Black plate (77,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-77
3. Assemble the jack and tools:Front Flat: Assemble the
jack (A) together with the jack
handle (B), one or two jack
handle extensions (D), and the
wheel wrench (E).
Rear Flat: Assemble the jack (A)
together with the jack handle (B),
two jack handle extensions (D),
and the wheel wrench (E).
Front Position
Front Position
Rear Position
Rear Alternative Position (Diesel
Vehicles)
Page 342 of 430

Black plate (78,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
10-78 Vehicle Care
4. Position the jack under thevehicle, as shown.
The front position jacking point is
on the frame. The rear position
jacking point is on the rear axle.
If the exhaust system interferes
in the jack location in the rear
axle, such as in Diesel vehicles,
place the jack (A) on the rear
axle between the axle housing
and the shock absorber
bracket in order to avoid any
interference with the exhaust
pipe (B).
{WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it is
jacked up is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack you could
be badly injured or killed. Never
get under a vehicle when it is
supported only by a jack.
{WARNING
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help
avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
5. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle.
Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to fit.
6. Remove all the wheel nuts.
7. Take flat tire off of the mountingsurface.
{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
(Continued)
Page 343 of 430
Black plate (79,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-79
WARNING (Continued)
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
8. Remove any rust or dirt from thewheel bolts, mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
{WARNING
Never use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle's wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
9. Put the wheel nuts back on withthe rounded end of the nuts
toward the wheel. Tighten each
wheel nut by hand until the
wheel is held against the hub. 10. Turn the jack handle
counterclockwise to lower the
vehicle. Lower the jack
completely.
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are not tight can
work loose. If all the nuts on a
wheel come off, the wheel can
come off the vehicle, causing a
crash. All wheel nuts must be
properly tightened. Follow the
rules in this section to be sure
they are.
Page 344 of 430

Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Express Owner Manual - 2012
10-80 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
If wheel studs are damaged, they
can break. If all the studs on a
wheel broke, the wheel could
come off and cause a crash.
If any stud is damaged because
of a loose-running wheel, it could
be that all of the studs are
damaged. To be sure, replace all
studs on the wheel. If the stud
holes in a wheel have become
larger, the wheel could collapse in
operation. Replace any wheel if
its stud holes have become larger
or distorted in any way.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Inspect hubs and hub‐piloted
wheels for damage. Because of
loose running wheels, piloting pad
damage may occur and require
replacement of the entire hub, for
proper centering of the wheels.
When replacing studs, hubs,
wheel nuts or wheels, be sure to
use GM original equipment parts.
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.