tires SATURN AURA 2007 Owner's Manual

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires
made by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever
have questions about your tire warranty and where
to obtain service, see your Saturn Warranty
booklet for details. For additional information refer
to the tire manufacturer’s booklet included with
your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used
tires are dangerous.
Overloading your vehicle’s tires can
cause overheating as a result of too
much friction. You could have an
air-out and a serious accident. See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 242.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Underinated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The
resulting accident could cause serious
injury. Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be checked when
your vehicle’s tires are cold. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 304.
Overinated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured, or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when you hit a
pothole. Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
the tire’s tread is badly worn, or if
your vehicle’s tires have been
damaged, replace them.
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Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into the
sidewall. The following illustration is an example
of a typical P-Metric tire sidewall.
(A) Tire Size:The tire size code is a combination
of letters and numbers used to dene 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.(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specication):Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have
a TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
(C) 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.
(D) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following the DOT code are the
Tire Identication 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.
(E) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) 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, seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on
page 315.
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Radial Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the
ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at
90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.
Rim:A metal support for a tire and upon which
the tire beads are seated.
Sidewall:The portion of a tire between the tread
and the bead.
Speed Rating:An alphanumeric code assigned
to a tire indicating the maximum speed at
which a tire can operate.
Traction:The friction between the tire and the
road surface. The amount of grip provided.
Tread:The portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators:Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of
a tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
remains. SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on
page 311.UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards):A tire information system that
provides consumers with ratings for a tire’s
traction, temperature, and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the tire. SeeUniform
Tire Quality Grading on page 315.
Vehicle Capacity Weight:The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 242.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire:Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard:A label permanently attached to
a vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight
and the original equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” underLoading
Your Vehicle on page 242.
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Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right. It is
not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-ination), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazardsA vehicle specic Tire and Loading Information
label is attached to your vehicle. This label shows
your vehicle’s original equipment tires and the
correct ination pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire ination
pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum
amount of air pressure needed to support
your vehicle’s maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of
the Tire and Loading Information label, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 242. How you load
your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load your vehicle with more weight
than it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
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How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are
properly inated simply by looking at them. Radial
tires may look properly inated even when they
are under-inated. Check the tire’s ination
pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means your
vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage rmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement. If the cold tire
ination pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and Loading Information
label, no further adjustment is necessary. If the
ination pressure is low, add air until you reach the
recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Re-check the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). This system uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure levels. Sensors
are mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure
in your vehicle’s 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 inated to
the ination pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
ination pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of
a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire ination
pressure for those tires.)
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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
signicantly
under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a signicantly
under-inated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-ination 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-ination 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 ash 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.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the low tire pressure warning light
on the instrument panel cluster, and at the same
time the CHECK TIRE PRESS message appears
on the Driver Information Center (DIC) display.
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The low tire pressure warning light on the
instrument panel cluster, and the CHECK TIRE
PRESS message displays at each ignition
cycle until the tires are inated to the correct
ination pressure. For additional information and
details about the DIC operation and displays
seeDIC Operation and Displays on page 180and
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 182.
The tire pressure warning light may come on in cool
weather when the vehicle is rst started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This could be an early
indicator that the tire pressures are getting low and
need to be inated to the proper pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information label, attached to
your vehicle, shows the size of your vehicle’s
original equipment tires and the correct ination
pressure for your vehicle’s tires when they
are cold. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 242,
for an example of the Tire and Loading
Information label and its location on your vehicle.
Also seeInation - Tire Pressure on page 304.Your vehicle’s TPMS system can warn you about
a low tire pressure condition but it does not
replace normal tire maintenance. SeeTire
Inspection and Rotation on page 310andTires on
page 298.
Notice:Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). Use only the
GM-provided tire sealant. Other liquid tire
sealants may damage the tire pressure
sensors.
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more
of the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable.
See your Saturn retailer for service if all TPMS
sensors are installed and the TPMS error message
comes on and stays on.
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TPMS Sensor Identication Codes
Each TPMS sensor has a unique identication
code. Any time you replace one or more of
the TPMS sensors or rotate the vehicle’s tires, the
identication codes need to be matched to the
new tire/wheel position. The sensors are matched,
to the tire/wheel positions, in the following order:
driver side front tire, passenger side front tire,
passenger side rear tire, and driver side rear tire
using a TPMS diagnostic tool. See your Saturn
retailer for service.
The TPMS sensors can also be matched to each
tire/wheel position by increasing or decreasing
the tire’s air pressure. When increasing the tire’s
pressure, do not exceed the maximum ination
pressure indicated on the tire’s sidewall. To
decrease the tire’s air-pressure use the pointed
end of the valve cap, a pencil-style air pressure
gage, or a key.
You have two minutes to match each tire and wheel
position. If it takes longer than two minutes to match
any tire and wheel position, the matching process
stops and you need to start over.The TPMS matching process is outlined below:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ON with the
engine off.
3. Press and hold both the Lock and Unlock
buttons on the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter, at the same time, for
approximately ve seconds or until you hear
the horn sound twice.
4. The horn sounding twice indicates the
receiver is ready to learn the TPMS sensors.
The driver side front turn signal comes on
indicating that corner’s sensor is ready to be
learned.
5. Start with the driver side front tire.
6. Remove the valve cap from the tire’s valve
stem. Activate the TPMS sensor by increasing
or decreasing the tire’s air pressure for
about eight seconds. The horn chirp, can take
up to 30 seconds to sound. It sounds one
time and all the turn signals ash one time to
conrm the sensor identication code has
been matched to the tire/wheel position.
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7. The passenger side front turn signal comes
on to indicate that corner’s sensor is ready to
be learned. Proceed to the passenger side
front tire and repeat the procedure in Step 6.
8. The passenger side rear turn signal comes on
to indicate that corner’s sensor is ready to be
learned. Proceed to the passenger side
rear tire and repeat the procedure in Step 6.
9. The driver side rear turn signal comes on to
indicate that corner’s sensor is ready to be
learned. Proceed to the driver side rear
tire, and repeat the procedure in Step 6.
10. After hearing the single horn chirp for the driver
side rear tire, two additional horn chirps sound
to indicate the tire learning process is done.
Turn the ignition switch to OFF.
11. Set all four tires to the recommended air
pressure level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
12. Put the valve caps back on the valve stems.Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Industry and Science
Canada
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
operates on a radio frequency subject to Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) Rules
and with Industry and Science Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference.
2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
and Science Canada. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other
than an authorized service facility could void
authorization to use this equipment.
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Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 to 13 000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate your tires
as soon as possible and check wheel alignment.
Also check for damaged tires or wheels. SeeWhen
It Is Time for New Tires on page 311andWheel
Replacement on page 316for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The
rst rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance” for additional information.When rotating your tires, always use the correct
rotation pattern shown here.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear ination pressures as shown on the
Tire and Loading Information label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 242, for an example of
the tire and loading information label and
its location on your vehicle.
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