
Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
272 Vehicle Care
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(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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
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 0128.
{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 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.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 273
Warning (Continued)
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 0280. To
use the tire sealant and compressor
kit, see Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit 0273.
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.
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 (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area that
has no fresh air ventilation. For
more information, seeEngine
Exhaust 0163.
{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 inflate the tire to its
recommended pressure. Do not
exceed the recommended
pressure.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
280 Vehicle Care
3. Turn the wing nutcounterclockwise to remove the
tire sealant and compressor
kit bag.
4. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from the bag.
To store the tire sealant and
compressor kit, reverse the steps.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
1. Jack
2. Wrench
3. Tow Hook (If Equipped)
4. Extension Bolt
5. Insulator Pad
To access the spare tire and tools: 1. Open the trunk.
2. Remove the spare tire cover. 3. Turn the retainer nut
counterclockwise and remove
the spare tire. Place the spare
tire next to the tire being
changed.
4. The jack and tools are stored below the spare tire. Remove
them from their container and
place them near the tire being
changed.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
Take off the wheel cover or center
cap, if the vehicle has one, to reach
the wheel bolts.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 281
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat 0271.
2. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to loosen and
remove the wheel nut caps.
Do not try to remove plastic
caps from the cover or
center cap.
3. Pull the cover or center cap away from the wheel. Store the
wheel cover in the cargo area
until you have the flat tire
repaired or replaced.4. Turn the wheel wrenchcounterclockwise to loosen all
the wheel nuts, but do not
remove them yet.
5. Place the jack near the flat tire.
6. 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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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.
7. Attach the wrench to the jack by fitting the hex end of the
wrench over the hex head of
the jack.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
282 Vehicle Care
8. Place the jack under thevehicle.
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.
9. Position the jack lift head at thejack location nearest the flat
tire. The location is indicated by a notch in the vertical
bottom edge of the body side
sheet metal.
The notches in the jack must
align with the notch in the
rocker pinch weld. The jack lift
head lifts on the inward side of
the pinch weld flange.
The jack must not be used in
any other position.10. Raise the vehicle by turning the
jack handle clockwise. Raise
the vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough
room for the road tire to clear
the ground.
11. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
12. 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
(Continued)

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Vehicle Care 283
Warning (Continued)
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.
13. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting
surfaces, and spare wheel.
14. 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.
15. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand until
the wheel is held against
the hub.
16. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack 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
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. SeeCapacities and
Specifications 0317 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 and to the proper
torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications
0 317 for the wheel nut torque
specification.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555849) - 2020 - CRC - 8/21/19
284 Vehicle Care
17. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly ina crisscross sequence, as
shown.
18. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from under the
vehicle.
19. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench.
When reinstalling the wheel cover or
center cap on the full-size tire,
tighten all five plastic caps hand
snug, then tighten them with the
wheel wrench an additional
one-quarter 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.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools with a Screw in Fastener 1. Remove the extension bolt from the foam holder.
2. Screw the extension bolt ontothe end of the spare tire stow
bolt by hand.
3. Replace the foam, jack, and tools in their original storage
location.
4. Remove the insulator pad and place it over the foam holder to
protect the wheel of the flat tire
from the jack.
5. Place the tire facing down over the extension bolt.
6. Turn the retainer nut clockwise to secure the tire.