Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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282 Vehicle Care
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
are not necessary on a regular
basis. Consider an alignment check
if there is unusual tire wear or the
vehicle is significantly pulling to one
side or the other. Some slight pull to
the left or right, depending on the
crown of the road and/or other road
surface variations such as troughs
or ruts, is normal. If the vehicle is
vibrating when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels may need
to be rebalanced. See your dealer
for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel that is needed.
Each new wheel should have the
same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset, and be
mounted the same way as the one it
replaces.
Replace wheels, wheel bolts, wheel
nuts, or Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) sensors with new
GM original equipment parts.
{Warning
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling of
the vehicle. Tires can lose air,
and cause loss of control, causing
a crash. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
Caution
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp
aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance, and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and
chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used
one is dangerous. How it has
been used or how far it has been
driven may be unknown. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 283
Tire Chains
{Warning
Do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire chains
used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes,
suspension, or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause loss of
control and a crash.
Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for the vehicle's
tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive slow
and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the
vehicle. Do not spin the wheels.
If traction devices are used, install
them on the front tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. SeeTires
0 264. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if there ever is a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect
and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction as
used in a skid. Stop pressing the
accelerator pedal and steer to
straighten the vehicle. It may be
very bumpy and noisy. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.{Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been
driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.
{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
(Continued)
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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284 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
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.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers 0146.
{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. (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
2. Put an automatictransmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of
the tire at the opposite
corner of the tire being
changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing Tools
The tools needed to remove the
spare tire are located in the storage
compartment on the driver side, at
the rear of the vehicle.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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286 Vehicle Care
4. Turn the wrench (2)counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire (5) to the ground.
Continue turning the wrench
until the spare tire can be
pulled out from under the
vehicle.
5. Tilt the retainer and slip it
through the wheel opening to
remove the spare tire from the
cable.
6. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the cable back up after
removing the spare tire.
Do not store a full-size or a flat
road tire under the vehicle. See
“Storing the Spare Tire” and
“Storing the Flat Tire” later in
this section.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before
proceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat 0283 for more information.
2. If the vehicle has a wheel cover, loosen the plastic nut
caps with the wheel wrench.
They will not come off. Then,
using the flat end of the wheel
wrench, pry along the edge of
the cover until it comes off. Be
careful; the edges may be
sharp. Do not try to remove the
cover with your bare hands.
Store the wheel cover securely
in the rear of the vehicle until
you have the flat tire repaired
or replaced.
If the vehicle has aluminum
wheels, remove the wheel nut
caps using the wheel wrench.
3. Loosen the wheel nuts —but
do not remove them —using
the wrench. For wheels with a
wheel lock key, use the wheel
lock key between the lock nut
and wrench. The key is
supplied in the front passenger
door pocket.
Caution
If this vehicle has wheel locks and
an impact wrench is used to
remove the wheel nuts, the lock
nut or wheel lock key could be
(Continued)
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 287
Caution (Continued)
damaged. Do not use an impact
wrench to remove the wheel nuts
if this vehicle has wheel locks.
4. To identify the appropriatejacking location, find the
triangle or rectangular notch
about 30.5 cm (12 in) from the
front tire or about 27 cm
(10.5 in) from the rear tire.
Triangle Shown, Without Similar
The triangle may be located
near each wheel on the
vehicle's exterior.
Caution
If a jack is used to raise the
vehicle without positioning it
correctly, the vehicle could be
damaged. When raising the
vehicle on a jack, avoid contact
with the rear axle control arms. 5. Attach the wrench to the jack,
and turn the wrench clockwise
to raise the jack head
7.6 cm (3 in).
6. Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put the compact spare tire
near you.
{Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is
lifted on a jack 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.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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288 Vehicle Care
7. Raise the vehicle by turning thewrench clockwise in the jack.
Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so that there is
enough room for the spare tire
to fit under the wheel well.
8. Remove all the wheel nuts and the flat tire.
9. Remove the plastic spare tireheat shield by pulling the
rubber latch. Store the plastic
spare tire heat shield. See
“Storing the Spare Tire” later in
this section for more
information.
{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, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
{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.
10. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces, and spare wheel.
11. Place the spare tire on the wheel mounting surface. 12. Put the nuts on by hand by
turning them clockwise until the
wheel is held against the
mounting surface. Make sure
the rounded end is toward the
wheel.
13. Lower the vehicle by attaching the wrench to the jack and
turning the wrench
counterclockwise. Lower the
jack completely.
{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. See Capacities and
Specifications 0323 for original
equipment wheel nut torque
specifications.
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Vehicle Care 289
Caution
Improperly tightened wheel nuts
can lead to brake pulsation and
rotor damage. To avoid expensive
brake repairs, evenly tighten the
wheel nuts in the proper
sequence and to the proper
torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications
0323 for the wheel nut torque
specification.
14. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as
shown.
Caution
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 the Spare Tire
{Warning
The underbody-mounted spare
tire needs to be stored with the
valve stem pointing down. If the
spare tire is stored with the valve
stem pointing upwards, the
secondary latch will not work
properly and the spare tire could
loosen and suddenly fall from the
vehicle. If this happened when
the vehicle was being driven, the
tire might contact a person or
another vehicle, causing injury
and damage to itself. Be sure the
underbody-mounted spare tire is
stored with the valve stem
pointing down.
{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.
To store the spare tire: 1. Lay the compact spare tire near the rear of the vehicle with
the valve stem down.
2. Reinstall the plastic spare tire heat shield on the compact
spare tire.
3. Slide the cable retainer through the center of the wheel and
start to raise the compact
spare tire.
Make sure the retainer is fully
seated across the underside of
the wheel.
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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290 Vehicle Care
4. When the compact spare tire isalmost in the stored position,
turn the tire so the valve is
toward the rear of the vehicle.
This position helps when
checking the air pressure in the
compact spare tire.
5. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the vehicle.
Continue turning the wrench
until you feel more than two
clicks. This indicates that the
compact spare tire is secure
and the cable is tight. The
spare tire hoist cannot be
overtightened.6. Make sure the tire is storedsecurely. Push, pull, and then
try to turn the tire. If the tire
moves, use the wrench to
tighten the cable.
Storing the Flat Tire
1. Cable
2. Liftgate Hinges
3. Spare Tire Heat Shield
4. Center of the Wheel
5. Door Striker
1. Remove the cable package
from the jack storage area. 2. Remove the small center cap
by tapping the back of the cap
with the extension of the shaft,
if the vehicle has aluminum
wheels.
3. Put the flat tire in the rear storage area with the valve
stem pointing toward the rear
of the vehicle.
4. Pull the cable (1) through the door striker (5), the center of
the wheel (4), and the plastic
spare tire heat shield (3), as
shown.