VEHICLE CARE 297
change or tire rotation to prevent
corrosion or rust buildup. Do not
get grease on the wheel mounting
surface or on the wheel nuts or
bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds, vehicle
loading, and road conditions affect the
wear rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when thetires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in) or
less of tread remaining. See
Tire
Inspection 0295 and
Tire Rotation 0296.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors including
temperatures, loading conditions, and
inflation pressure maintenance affect
how fast aging takes place. GM
recommends that tires, including the
spare if equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread wear. To
identify the age of a tire, use the tire
manufacture date which is the last
four digits of the DOT Tire
Identification Number (TIN) which is
molded into one side of the tire
sidewall. 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.
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,
VEHICLE CARE 299
Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give an
inaccurate low-pressure warning if
non-TPC Spec rated tires are
installed. SeeTire Pressure Monitor
System 0291.
The Tire and Loading Information
label indicates the original
equipment tires on the vehicle.
See Vehicle Load Limits 0170.
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, electronic stability control,
or All-Wheel Drive, 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 developed for the
vehicle, and have them properly
installed by a GM certified
technician.
See Buying New Tires 0297 and
Accessories and Modifications 0249.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
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 tires, compact 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.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
VEHICLE CARE 303
{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.
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 0143.
{Warning
Changing a tire can be dangerous.
The vehicle can slip off the jack and
roll over or fall causing injury or
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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 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.
This vehicle may come with a jack
and spare tire or a tire sealant and
compressor kit. To use the jacking
equipment to change a spare tire
safely, follow the instructions below.
Then see Tire Changing 0310. To use the tire sealant and compressor kit,
see
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
0 304.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a guide
to assist you in the placement of
wheel blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
304 VEHICLE CARE
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
{Warning
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area
with poor ventilation is dangerous.
Engine exhaust may enter the
vehicle. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death. Never run the engine in an
enclosed area that has no fresh air
ventilation. For more information,
seeEngine Exhaust 0183.
{Warning
Overinflating a tire could cause the
tire to rupture and you or others
could be injured. Be sure to read
and follow the tire sealant and
compressor kit instructions and
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
inflate the tire to its recommended
pressure. Do not exceed the
recommended pressure.
{Warning
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit 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 the tire sealant and
compressor kit in its original
location.
If this vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit, there may not be a
spare tire or tire changing equipment,
and on some vehicles there may not
be a place to store a tire. The tire sealant and compressor can
be used to temporarily seal punctures
up to 6 mm (0.25 in) in the tread area
of the tire. It can also be used to
inflate an underinflated tire.
If the tire has been separated from the
wheel, has damaged sidewalls, or has
a large puncture, the tire is too
severely damaged for the tire sealant
and compressor kit to be effective. See
Roadside Service
0353.
Read and follow all of the tire sealant
and compressor kit instructions.
The kit includes:
1. Sealant Canister Inlet Valve
VEHICLE CARE 311
4. Turn the wing nut (4)counterclockwise to remove the
jack (1), wheel wrench (2), and
strap (3). Place the tool container
near the tire being changed.5. Remove the nut retaining thespare tire.
6. Remove the spare tire and place it next to the tire being changed.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat
0 302.
2. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to loosen all
the wheel nuts, but do not
remove them yet.
3. Place the jack near the flat tire.
Caution
Make sure that the jack lift head is
in the correct position or you may
damage your vehicle. The repairs
would not be covered by your
warranty.
VEHICLE CARE 313
Do not raise the vehicle yet.
6. Put the compact spare tire near you.
7. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench clockwise in the
jack. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to fit
under the wheel well.
8. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
9. Remove 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 off and cause a
crash. 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.
10. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.
11. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.
{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.
12. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel
is held against the hub.
314 VEHICLE CARE
13. Lower the vehicle by turning thejack handle counterclockwise.
{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 0346 for original
equipment wheel nut torque
specifications.
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
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
and to the proper torque
specification. SeeCapacities and
Specifications 0346 for the wheel
nut torque specification.
14. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown.
15. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from under the
vehicle.
16. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench. When reinstalling the wheel cover or
center cap on the full-size tire, tighten
all six plastic caps hand snug with the
aid of the wheel wrench and tighten
them with the wheel wrench an
additional one-quarter of a turn.
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 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.
VEHICLE CARE 315
To store the flat or spare tire and
tools:1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate
0 23.
2. Replace the tools as they were stored in the rear storage
compartment and put the
compartment cover back on.
3. Place the tire, lying flat, in the rear storage compartment.
4. Place the loop end of the strapthrough the cargo tie-down.
Place the hook end of the strap through the loop and pull it until
the strap is fastened securely to
the tie-down.
5. Route the strap hook through the
wheel, as shown.
6. Attach the strap to the other cargo tie-down in the rear of the
vehicle.
7. Tighten the strap and secure it using the buckle.
The compact spare is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact spare
tire with a full-size tire as soon as
you can.
Compact Spare Tire
{Warning
Driving with more than one
compact spare tire at a time could
result in loss of braking and
handling. This could lead to a crash
and you or others could be injured.
Use only one compact spare tire at
a time.
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new;
however, it can lose air over time.
Check the inflation pressure regularly.
It should be 420 kPa (60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check
that the spare tire is correctly inflated
after being installed on the vehicle.
The compact spare tire is designed for
temporary use only. The vehicle will
perform differently with the spare tire
installed and it is recommended that
the vehicle speed be limited to
80 km/h (50 mph). To conserve the
tread of the spare tire, have the