2012 CHEVROLET IMPALA spare tire

Black plate (47,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-47
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
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 mi). See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3.
Tires are rotated to achieve a
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 10‑48andWheel
Replacement on page 10‑53.
Use this rotation pattern when
rotating the tires.
Do not include the compact
spare tire in the tire rotation.

Black plate (49,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-49
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.
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 were designed to
meet General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec)
system rating. When
replacement tires are needed,
GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same
TPC Spec rating.
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 MS for mud
and snow. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling on page 10‑36 for
additional information.

Black plate (51,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-51
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
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires on
page 10‑49 andAccessories and
Modifications on page 10‑3 for
additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver, or temporary
use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.

Black plate (56,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
10-56 Vehicle Care
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
The equipment you will need is
located in the trunk.
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on
page 2‑10.
2. Remove the convenience net if the vehicle has one.
3. Remove the spare tire cover.
4. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and remove it. 5. Remove the compact spare tire.
6. Turn the nut holding the jack
counterclockwise and remove it.
Then remove the jack and
wrench.
A. Jack
B. Extension and Protection Guide
C. Wheel Wrench
The tools you will need to change a
tire include the jack (A), extension
and protection guide (B), and wheel
wrench (C).

Black plate (57,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-57
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
This vehicle may have aluminum
wheels with exposed wheel nuts.
Use the wheel wrench to loosen all
the wheel nuts. Do not remove
them yet.
Or, this vehicle may have steel
wheels with plastic covers.
To remove the plastic covers and
wheel nut caps, loosen the plastic
nut caps with the wheel wrench in a
counterclockwise direction.If needed, finish loosening them
with your fingers. The plastic nut
caps will not come off.
If needed, use the flat end of the
wheel wrench and pry along the
edge of the cover until it comes off.
The edge of the wheel cover could
be sharp, so do not try to remove it
with your bare hands. Do not drop
the cover or lay it face down, as it
could become scratched or
damaged. Store the wheel cover in
the trunk until the flat tire is repaired
or replaced.
Once you have removed the wheel
cover, use the following procedure
to remove the flat tire and install the
spare tire.
1. Do a safety check before
proceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑54.
2. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise once on each
wheel nut to loosen it. Do not
remove them yet.

Black plate (58,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
10-58 Vehicle Care
3. For all wheel types, find thejacking location using the
diagram above and the
corresponding jacking notches
located on the bottom side of the
plastic molding. The notches in
the plastic molding are marked
with a triangle shape to help you
find them.
The front location is about
17.7 cm (7.0 in) from the rear
edge of the front wheel well. The
rear location is about 11.4 cm
(4.5 in) from the front edge of the
rear wheel well. 4. Put the compact spare tire
near you.
{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.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.

Black plate (59,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-59
5. Raise the vehicle by turning thejack handle clockwise. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the
ground to install the compact
spare tire.
6. Remove all wheel nuts and the flat tire.
{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
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
7. Remove any rust or dirt from thewheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel. 8. Install the compact spare tire.
{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. Reinstall the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of the nuts toward
the wheel. Tighten each nut
clockwise by hand until the
wheel is held against the hub.

Black plate (61,1)Chevrolet Impala Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-61
Notice:Wheel covers will not fit
on the vehicle's compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel cover on
the compact spare, the cover or
the spare could be damaged.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{WARNING
Storing a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place. After the compact spare tire has
been installed on the vehicle, store
the flat tire in the trunk.
When storing a full-size tire, use the
extension with the extension
protector, located in the foam
holder, to help avoid wheel surface
damage.
To store a full-size tire:
1. Install the tools in their original
location in the trunk area and
secure.
2. Place the tire valve stem facing down and the protector/guide
placed through a wheel bolt hole
and threaded onto the bolt
screw. 3. Remove the protector and attach
the retainer securely
4. Store the cover as far forward as possible.
When storing a compact spare tire
in the trunk, put the protector back
in the foam holder.
The compact spare is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact
spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as you can. See Compact
Spare Tire on page 10‑63. Use this
as a guide for storing the compact
spare tire and tools.