2021 GMC SIERRA Tire rotation

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Driving and Operating 221
Warning (Continued)
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel.
.Adjust the climate control system to
circulate the air inside the vehicle and
set the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0238.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and partially close the
window. Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive, when
running the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than
the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to signal
for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow. See “Rocking the Vehicle to Get
It Out” later in this section. The Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control can often help to free a stuck
vehicle. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0248. If TC/ESC cannot free
the vehicle, see “Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out” following.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tire chains on
the vehicle, see Tire Chains0379.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get It Out
Caution
Do not hold the steering wheel at full
rotation for more than 15 seconds and/or
at an elevated RPM. Damage may occur
to the power steering system and there
may be loss of power steering assist. Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. Then
make sure the wheels are pointed straight
ahead. For four-wheel-drive vehicles, shift
into Four-Wheel Drive High. Turn the TCS
off. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and a forward gear, spinning the wheels as
little as possible. To prevent transmission
wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning
before shifting gears. Slowly spinning the
wheels in the forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could free the
vehicle. If that does not get the vehicle out
after a few tries, it might need to be towed
out. See
Towing the Vehicle 0394. Recovery
hooks can be used, if the vehicle has them.
Recovery Hooks
{Warning
Never pull on recovery hooks from the
side. The hooks could break and you and
others could be injured. When using
recovery hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Vehicle Care 321
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
California Proposition 65 Warning . . . . . 322
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 323
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . . 323
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 325
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 333
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
Brake Pad Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343 Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control Function Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . 347
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps . . . . . . 350
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 353
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Left) . . . . . 357
Instrument Panel Fuse Block (Right) . . . 358
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . 365
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 368
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 369
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 374
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 375
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 376
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . 377
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 377
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 378
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 379
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 380
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Vehicle Care 369
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.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation 0369.
See Radio Frequency Statement 0436.
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
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0 222.
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) (Base Level) 0124
or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Midlevel and
Uplevel) 0125.
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
0 222, for an example of the Tire and
Loading Information label and its location.
Also see Tire Pressure 0367.
The TPMS can warn about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace
normal tire maintenance. See Tire Inspection
0 373, Tire Rotation 0374 and
Tires 0360.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
374 Vehicle Care
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). SeeMaintenance Schedule
0 409.
Tires are rotated to achieve a more
uniform wear for all tires. The first
rotation is the most important.
Anytime unusual wear is noticed, rotate
the tires as soon as possible, check for
proper tire inflation pressure, and check
for damaged tires or wheels. If the unusual wear continues after the
rotation, check the wheel alignment.
See
When It Is Time for New Tires 0375
and
Wheel Replacement 0378.Use this rotation pattern when rotating
the tires.
Do not include the spare tire in the tire
rotation.
Adjust the front and rear tires to the
recommended inflation pressure on the
Tire and Loading Information label after the tires have been rotated. See
Tire
Pressure 0367 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0222.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System.
See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
0 369.
Check that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque”
under Capacities and Specifications
0 424.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
cause wheel nuts to become loose
over 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 paper towel can be used; however,
use a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Vehicle Care 375
Lightly coat the inner diameter of the
wheel hub opening with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or tire
rotation to prevent corrosion or rust
build-up.
{Warning
Do not apply grease to the wheel
mounting surface, wheel conical
seats, or the wheel nuts or bolts.
Grease applied to these areas could
cause a wheel to become loose or
come off, resulting in a crash.
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 the tires have only
1.6 mm (1/16 in) or less of tread remaining.
See Tire Inspection 0373 and
Tire Rotation 0374 for additional
information.
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) molded into one side of the
tire sidewall. The last four digits of the TIN
indicate the tire manufactured date. The
first two digits represent the week and the
last two digits, the year. For example, the
third week of the year 2020 would have a
4-digit DOT date of 0320. Week 01 is the
first full week (Sunday through Saturday) of
each year.
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.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
376 Vehicle Care
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. SeeTire
Sidewall Labeling 0362 for additional
information. GM recommends replacing worn tires in
complete sets of four. Uniform tread
depth on all tires will help to maintain
the performance of the vehicle. Braking
and handling performance may be
adversely affected if all the tires are not
replaced at the same time. If proper
rotation and maintenance have been
done, all four tires should wear out at
about the same time. However, if it is
necessary to replace only one axle set
of worn tires, place the new tires on
the rear axle. See
Tire Rotation0374.
{Warning
Tires could explode during improper
service. Attempting to mount or
dismount a tire could cause injury or
death. Only your dealer or authorized
tire service center should mount or
dismount the tires.
{Warning
Mixing tires of different sizes (other
than those originally installed on the
vehicle), brands, tread patterns,
or types may cause loss of vehicle
control, resulting in a crash or other
vehicle damage. Use the correct size,
brand, and type of tire on all wheels.
{Warning
Using bias-ply tires on the vehicle
may cause the wheel rim flanges to
develop cracks after many miles of
driving. A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on
the vehicle.
Winter tires with the same speed rating
as the original equipment tires may not
be available for H, V, W, Y and ZR
speed rated tires. Never exceed the
winter tires’ maximum speed capability
when using winter tires with a lower
speed rating.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
Vehicle Care 391
Caution (Continued)
would not be covered by the warranty.
Never use four-wheel drive when a
different size spare tire is installed on the
vehicle.
The vehicle may have a different size spare
tire than the road tires originally installed
on the vehicle. This spare tire was developed
for use on this vehicle, so it is all right to
drive on it. If the vehicle has four-wheel
drive and a different size spare tire is
installed, drive only in two-wheel drive.
After installing the spare tire on the vehicle,
stop as soon as possible and check that the
spare is correctly inflated. The spare tire is
made to perform well at speeds up to
112 km/h (70 MPH) at the recommended
inflation pressure, so you can finish
your trip.
Have the damaged or flat road tire repaired
or replaced and installed back onto the
vehicle as soon as possible so the spare tire
will be available in case it is needed again.
Do not mix tires and wheels of difference
sizes, because they will not fit. Keep the
spare tire and its wheel together. If the vehicle has a spare tire that does not
match the original road tires and wheels in
size and type, do not include the spare in
the tire rotation.
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America
For more information about the vehicle
battery, see
Battery - North America 0343.
If the vehicle's battery (or batteries) has run
down, you may want to use another vehicle
and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps
to do it safely.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Batteries also contain other chemicals
known to the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER HANDLING.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
For more information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 0322
and the back cover.
{Warning
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can burn you.
.They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
.They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.
Caution
Ignoring these steps could result in costly
damage to the vehicle that would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Trying
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 1500 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./
Canada/Mexico-14632426) - 2021 - CRC - 11/5/20
408 Service and Maintenance
Service and Maintenance
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Maintenance Schedule
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Special Application Services
Special Application Services . . . . . . . . . . . . 415
Additional Maintenance and Care
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . 415
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and
Parts
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 418
Maintenance Replacement Parts . . . . . . . 419
Maintenance Records
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 422
General Information
This maintenance section applies to vehicles
with a gasoline engine. For diesel engine
vehicles, see "Maintenance Schedule" in the
Duramax diesel supplement.
Your vehicle is an important investment.
This section describes the required
maintenance for the vehicle. Follow this
schedule to help protect against major repair
expenses resulting from neglect or
inadequate maintenance. It may also help to
maintain the value of the vehicle if it is
sold. It is the responsibility of the owner to
have all required maintenance performed.
Your dealer has trained technicians who can
perform required maintenance using genuine
replacement parts. They have up-to-date
tools and equipment for fast and accurate
diagnostics. Many dealers have extended
evening and Saturday hours, courtesy
transportation, and online scheduling to
assist with service needs.
Your dealer recognizes the importance of
providing competitively priced maintenance
and repair services. With trained technicians,
the dealer is the place for routine maintenance such as oil changes and tire
rotations and additional maintenance items
like tires, brakes, batteries, and wiper blades.
Caution
Damage caused by improper maintenance
can lead to costly repairs and may not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Maintenance intervals, checks,
inspections, recommended fluids, and
lubricants are important to keep the
vehicle in good working condition.
Do not have chemical flushes that are not
approved by GM performed on the
vehicle. The use of flushes, solvents,
cleaners, or lubricants that are not
approved by GM could damage the
vehicle, requiring expensive repairs that
are not covered by the vehicle warranty.
The Tire Rotation and Required Services are
the responsibility of the vehicle owner. It is
recommended to have your dealer perform
these services every 12 000 km/7,500 mi.
Proper vehicle maintenance helps to keep
the vehicle in good working condition,
improves fuel economy, and reduces vehicle
emissions.