
GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
204 Driving and Operating
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
. Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped.
. Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
. Remove any underbody air
deflector, if equipped. Re-attach
the air deflector after off-road
driving.
. Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower air
dam, if equipped. However, driving
without the air dam reduces fuel
economy.Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the front
fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper airflow to the
engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{Warning
. Unsecured cargo on the
load floor can be tossed
about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck
by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
. Keep cargo in the cargo
area as far forward and as
low as possible. The
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
heaviest things should be
on the floor, forward of the
rear axle.
. Heavy loads on the roof
raise the vehicle's center of
gravity, making it more likely
to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if
the vehicle rolls over. Put
heavy loads inside the
cargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loading
the vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits
0 212 and
Tires 0363.
Environmental Concerns
.
Always use established trails,
roads, and areas that have been
set aside for public off-road
recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
. Do not damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
292 Driving and Operating
Weight-Distributing Hitch and Adjustment
A weight-distributing hitch may be useful with some trailers. Use the following guidelines to determine if a
weight-distributing hitch should be used.Vehicle Series Trailer Weight Weight-Distributing Hitch
Usage Hitch Distribution
1500 Up to 3 175 kg (7,000 lb) OptionalRefer to trailer
manufacturer ’s
recommendation
1500 Over 3 175 kg (7,000 lb) Required50%
1. Front of Vehicle
2. Body to Ground Distance
When using a weight-distributing
hitch, measure the front fender
height above the front axle
distance (2) before and after the
connecting trailer. Adjust the spring
bars until the front fender height
distance (2) is approximately half
way between the first and second
measurements.
Tires
.
Do not tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire on the
vehicle. .
Tires must be properly inflated to
support loads while towing a
trailer. See Tires0363 for
instructions on proper tire
inflation.
Safety Chains
Always attach safety chains
between the vehicle and the trailer.
Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer
manufacturer.
If the trailer being towed weighs up
to 2 271 kg (5,000 lb) with a
factory-installed step bumper, safety

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 317
Tire Pressure MonitorOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 375
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 382
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 383
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 386
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 388
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 399
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 413
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
366 Vehicle Care
Passenger (P-Metric)/Spare Tire
(1) Tire Size:The tire size code
is a combination of letters and
numbers used to define a
particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“Tire Size” illustration later in this
section for more detail.
(2) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet or
exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(3) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the
tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
DOT Tire Date of
Manufacture
:The last four
digits of the TIN indicate the tire
manufactured date. The first two
digits represent the week
(01-52) and the last two digits,
the year. For example, the third
week of the year 2010 would
have a four-digit DOT date
of 0310. (4) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT code are the
Tire Identification Number (TIN).
The TIN shows the
manufacturer and plant code,
tire size, and date the tire was
manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the
tire, although only one side may
have the date of manufacture.
(5) Tire Ply Material
:The type
of cord and number of plies in
the sidewall and under the tread.
(6) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG)
:Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature
resistance. For more
information, see Uniform Tire
Quality Grading 0385.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 367
(7) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load. For
information on recommended
tire pressure see Tire Pressure
0 372 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0212.
(8) Temporary Use Only
:Only
use a temporary spare tire until
the road tire is repaired and
replaced. This spare tire should
not be driven on over 112 km/h
(70 mph), or 88 km/h (55 mph)
when pulling a trailer, with the
proper inflation pressure. See
Full-Size Spare Tire 0399.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
(1) Tire Size:The tire size code
is a combination of letters and
numbers used to define a
particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“Tire Size” illustration later in this
section for more detail.
(2) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet or
exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(3) Dual Tire Maximum Load
:
Maximum load that can be
carried and the maximum
pressure needed to support that
load when used in a dual
configuration. For information on
recommended tire pressure see
Tire Pressure
0372 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0212.
(4) DOT (Department of
Transportation)
:The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the
tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 373
load the vehicle with more
weight than it was designed to
carry.
When to Check
Check the pressure of the tires
once a month or more.
Do not forget the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one. See
Full-Size Spare Tire0399 for
additional information.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check 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 a 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 is 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.
Put the valve caps back on the
valve stems to keep out dirt and
moisture and prevent leaks. Use
only valve caps designed for the
vehicle by GM. TPMS sensors
could be damaged and would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation
{Warning
Driving at high speeds, 160 km/h
(100 mph) or higher, puts
additional strain on tires.
Sustained high-speed driving
causes excessive heat buildup
and can cause sudden tire failure.
This could cause 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 allow the vehicle
to be driven at high speeds, make
sure the tires are rated for
high-speed operation, are in
excellent condition, and are set to
the correct cold tire inflation
pressure for the vehicle load.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
374 Vehicle Care
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.)
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 0375.
See Radio Frequency Statement
0 448.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/
Mexico-1500-11698638) - 2019 - CRC - 5/14/19
Vehicle Care 375
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, excluding the spare tire
and wheel assembly. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure in
the tires and transmit 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 on the instrument cluster.
If the warning light comes on, stop
as soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressureshown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load
Limits 0212.
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 come on at
each ignition cycle until the tires are
inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. If the vehicle has DIC
buttons, tire pressure levels can be
viewed. For additional information
and details about the DIC operation
and displays, see Driver Information
Center (DIC) (Midlevel and Uplevel)
0 163 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0161.
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 0212, for an example of the
Tire and Loading Information label
and its location. Also see Tire
Pressure 0372.
The TPMS can warn about a low
tire pressure condition but it does
not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
0 380, Tire Rotation 0381 and
Tires 0363.
Caution
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 GM approved tire sealant
available through your dealer or
included in the vehicle.