tire size SATURN ION 2004 User Guide

Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires your vehicle
needs, look at the tire and loading information label.
For more information about this label and its location on
your vehicle, seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-33.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specication (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
GM recommends that you get tires with that same
TPC Spec number. That way your vehicle will
continue to have tires that are designed to give proper
endurance, handling, speed rating, load range,
traction, ride and other things during normal service on
your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will be followed by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same
size, load range, speed rating and construction type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes
or types (radial and bias-belted tires), the
vehicle may not handle properly, and you
could have a crash. Using tires of different
sizes may also cause damage to your vehicle.
Be sure to use the same size and type tires
on all wheels. It’s all right to drive with your
compact spare temporarily, it was developed
for use on your vehicle. SeeCompact Spare
Tire on page 5-86.
{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim anges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel
could fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
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Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has P195/60R15, P205/55R16 or
215/45ZR17 size tires, don’t use tire chains,
there’s 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.
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
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
vehicle, drive slowly, readjust or remove the
device if it’s contacting your vehicle, and don’t
spin your wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t,
install them on the front tires.
Notice:If your vehicle has a tire size other than
P195/60R15, P205/55R16 or 215/45ZR17 size
tires, use tire chains only where legal and only
when you must. Use only SAE Class “S” type
chains that are the proper size for your tires.
Install them on the front tires and tighten them as
tightly as possible with the ends securely fastened.
Drive slowly and follow the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. If you can hear the chains contacting
your vehicle, stop and retighten them. If the contact
continues, slow down until it stops. Driving too
fast or spinning the wheels with chains on will
damage your vehicle.
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1. Remove the stow bolt extension rod and sleeve
from the jack.
2. Reattach the wheel wrench to the jack.
3. Screw the stow bolt extension rod and the sleeve
into the existing spare tire hold-down bolt.
4. Place the at tire face down into the spare tire hub.
Avoid scraping the aluminum wheel on the
hold-down bolt.
5. Place the jack into the center of the at tire, being
careful not to scratch the inside of the wheel.
6. Place the smaller jack hold-down nut in a safe
place for use when you put the compact spare
tire back into the trunk.
7. Remove the plastic sleeve from the stow bolt
extension rod. Secure the jack and road wheel
using the larger plastic retainer.
The compact spare tire is for temporary use only.
Replace the compact spare with a full-size tire as soon
as possible.
2.0L Supercharged Engine
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Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time.
Check the ination pressure regularly. It should be
60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare tire on your vehicle,
you should stop as soon as possible and make sure
your compact spare tire is correctly inated. The
compact spare tire is made to perform well at speeds
up to 65 mph (105 km/h) for distances up to 3,000 miles
(5 000 km), so you can nish your trip and have your
full-size tire repaired or replaced where you want.
Of course, it’s best to replace your spare with a full-size
tire as soon as you can. Your spare will last longer
and be in good shape in case you need it again.Notice:When the compact spare is installed, don’t
take your vehicle through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact spare can get caught
on the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare tire on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel
with other wheels or tires. They won’t t. Keep your
compact spare tire and its wheel together.
Notice:Tire chains won’t t your compact spare.
Using them can damage your vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on
your compact spare.
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Theft-Deterrent System...................................... 2-6
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-17
Passlock
®...................................................2-17
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-7
Tire Ination Check.........................................6-10
Tire Sidewall Labeling......................................5-60
Tire Size.......................................................5-62
Tire Terminology and Denitions........................5-63
Tires.............................................................5-58
Buying New Tires........................................5-70
Chains.......................................................5-74
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-76
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-86
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-75
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-66
Inspection and Rotation................................5-68
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-71
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-72
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-69
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater....................2-22
Top Strap......................................................1-39
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-41
Torque Lock...................................................2-32
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires..................4-42Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-31
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-39
Your Vehicle...............................................4-31
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-8
Low Message.............................................3-42
Traction Off Message......................................3-42
Trailer Brakes.................................................4-42
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-24
Fluid Cold Message.....................................3-43
Fluid Hot Message......................................3-42
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-25
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-23
Transaxle Operation, Manual............................2-28
Transmission
Up-Shift Light..............................................3-32
Trunk............................................................2-12
Trunk Ajar Warning Message............................3-44
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-8
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer..................4-44
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