BUICK RANDEZVOUS 2007 Owner's Manual

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.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specied government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA,
A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.Warning:The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a
specied indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel than
the minimum required by law.
Warning:The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
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Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you
the longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire balancing
will not be necessary on a regular basis. However,
if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle
pulling to one side or the other, the alignment may
need to be checked. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your 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 (except some aluminum wheels, which can
sometimes be repaired). See your dealer if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load-carrying capacity, diameter, width, offset
and be mounted the same way as the one
it replaces.
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If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM original equipment parts. This way, you will be
sure to have the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts on your vehicle
can be dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling of your vehicle,
make your tires lose air and make you
lose control. You could have a collision
in which you or others could be injured.
Always use the correct wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel nuts for replacement.Notice: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.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 428for more
information.Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has
been used or how far it has been driven. It
could fail suddenly and cause a crash. If
you have to replace a wheel, use a new
GM original equipment wheel.
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Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
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 you to lose control of your vehicle
and you or others may be injured in a
crash.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Use another type of traction device only if
its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions. To help avoid
damage to your vehicle, drive slowly,
readjust or remove the device if it is
contacting your vehicle, and do not spin
the wheels. If you do nd traction devices
that will t, install them on the front tires
for front-wheel-drive vehicles. If your
vehicle has all-wheel drive, install traction
devices on either the front tires or all four
tires, but never on the rear tires only.
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Accessory Inator
Your vehicle may have an accessory inator. With
it, you can inate things like air mattresses and
basketballs, and you can also use it to bring your
tires up to the proper pressure.
The accessory inator is located in the rear
compartment on the driver’s side. To remove the
cover, pull the tab on the cover and pull it off.
This is the symbol on
the accessory inator
switch.There may be an accessory inator kit stored in
the glove box. It includes a 20-foot (6 m) hose with
an air pressure gage and nozzle adapters.
{CAUTION:
Inating something too much can make it
explode, and you or others could be
injured. Be sure to read the inator
instructions, and inate any object only to
its recommended pressure.
To use your accessory inator system, do the
following:
1. Turn the ignition to ACCESSORY or ON.
2. Attach the appropriate nozzle adapter,
if required, to the end of the hose that has the
pressure gage.
3. Attach that end of the hose to the object you
wish to inate.
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4. Remove the protective cap covering the outlet.
5. Attach the other end of the hose to the
outlet.
6. Press the accessory inator switch. The light
in the switch will come on to show the system
is working.
If the accessory inator system does not turn on or
the light does not come on, the fuse may be blown
or installed incorrectly. SeeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 463or see your dealer for
service.
Your accessory inator will automatically shut off
after about 10 minutes. The light in the switch will
blink. After about one minute you can use the
system again. Press the inator switch and the
indicator light will come on.
Notice:If you run the accessory inator
longer than 30 minutes at a time, you could
damage the inator. The repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Run the inator
for short periods of time only.After running the accessory inator for 30 minutes,
wait at least 10 minutes before restarting the
accessory inator.
To turn off the inator, do the following:
1. Press the switch and detach the hose, rst
from the inated object, then from the outlet.
2. Put the protective cap back on.
3. Place the inator kit tools in the pouch, and
store in the glove box.
To put the cover back on, line up the tabs at the
back of the cover and put it in place. Push down the
tab to secure the cover.
426

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout while you are
driving, especially if you maintain your vehicle’s
tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly. But if you should ever
have a blowout, here are a few tips about what to
expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel
rmly. Steer to maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane.A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much
like a skid and may require the same correction you
would use in a skid. In any rear blowout remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way you want the
vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but
you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off
the road if possible.
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to
do maintenance or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate safety equipment
and training. The jack provided with your
vehicle is designed only for changing a
at tire. If it is used for anything else, you
or others could be badly injured or killed
if the vehicle slips off the jack. Use the
jack provided with your vehicle only for
changing a at tire.
If a tire goes at, the next part shows how to use the
jacking equipment to change a at tire safely.
427

Changing a Flat Tire
If a tire goes at, avoid further tire and wheel
damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on
your vehicle’s hazard warning ashers. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 176for more
information.
{CAUTION:
Changing a tire can be dangerous. The
vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over
or fall on you or other people. You and
they could be badly injured or even killed.
Find a level place to change your tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake rmly.
2. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart
while the vehicle is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in
the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will
not move, you should put blocks at the
front and rear of the tire farthest away
from the one being changed. That would
be the tire, on the other side, at the
opposite end of the vehicle.
428

When your vehicle has a at tire, use the following
example as a guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks.
The following information will tell you next how to
use the jack and change a tire.Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is located in the
storage compartment on the passenger’s side,
at the rear of the vehicle.
1. Open the jack storage compartment by lifting
up the tab and pulling the cover off.
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A. Jack
B. Wing Bolt
C. Jacking
InstructionsD. Folding Wrench
E. Wing Nut
F. J-Hook
2. Remove the jack and jacking tools by turning
the wing bolt counterclockwise.
Lift up slightly on the jack to remove it from
the bracket. Then take it out of the storage
compartment.3. Separate the jack and remove the folding
wrench from the jack.
The tools you will be using include the jack (A),
folding wrench (B), wing nut (C), and J-hook (D).
Removing the Spare Tire (Vehicles
without a Rear Convenience Center)
The compact spare tire is located under the
vehicle, behind the rear bumper. Use the spare
tire hoist to raise, lower and store the compact
spare tire. SeeCompact Spare Tire on page 450
for more information about the compact spare.
430