tire size SATURN VUE HYBRID 2009 User Guide

When It Is Time for New
Tires
Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures, driving
speeds, vehicle loading, and
road conditions inuence when you
need new tires.
One way to tell when it is time for
new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which will appear
when the tires have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining.You need new tires if any of the
following statements are true:You can see the indicators at
three or more places around
the tire.
You can see 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.
The rubber in tires degrades over
time, even if they are not being
used. This is also true for the spare
tire, if the vehicle has one. Multiple
conditions affect how fast this
aging takes place, including
temperatures, loading conditions,
and ination pressure maintenance.With proper care and maintenance
tires typically wear out before
they degrade due to age. If you are
unsure about the need to replace
the tires as they get older, consult
the tire manufacturer for more
information.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specic tires for your vehicle.
The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new,
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specication (TPC spec) system
rating. If you need replacement tires,
GM strongly recommends that
you get tires with the same TPC
Spec rating. This way, your vehicle
will continue to have tires that
are designed to give the same
performance and vehicle safety,
during normal use, as the original
tires.
Service and Appearance Care 5-51
ProCarManuals.com

GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specications that impact the overall
performance of your 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 a MS, for mud and
snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on
page 5-39for additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires
in sets of four. This is because
uniform tread depth on all tires will
help keep your vehicle performing
most like it did when the tires
were new. Replacing less than a full
set of tires can affect the brakingand handling performance of your
vehicle. SeeTire Inspection
and Rotation on page 5-50for
information on proper tire rotation.
{CAUTION
Mixing tires could cause you
to lose control while driving. If
you mix tires of different sizes,
brands, or types (radial and
bias-belted tires) the vehicle
may not handle properly, and
you could have a crash. Using
tires of different sizes, brands,
or types may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be
sure to use the correct size,
brand, and type of tires on
your vehicle’s wheels.
{CAUTION
If you use bias-ply tires on the
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 the vehicle.
If you must replace your vehicle’s
tires with those that do not have a
TPC Spec number, make sure they
are the same size, load range, speed
rating, and construction type (radial
and bias-belted tires) as your
vehicle’s original tires.
5-52 Service and Appearance Care
ProCarManuals.com

Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give an
inaccurate low-pressure warning if
non-TPC Spec rated tires are
installed on your vehicle. Non-TPC
Spec rated tires may give a
low-pressure warning that is higher
or lower than the proper warning
level you would get with TPC Spec
rated tires. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor System on page 5-45.
Your vehicle’s original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Loading the Vehicle on page 4-18,
for more information about the
Tire and Loading Information label
and its location on your vehicle.Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a
different size than your original
equipment wheels and tires,
this may affect the way your vehicle
performs, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover.
Additionally, if your vehicle has
electronic systems such as, anti-lock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, and stability control,
the performance of these systems
can be affected.
{CAUTION
If you add different sized wheels,
your vehicle may not provide an
acceptable level of performance
and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels
are selected. You may increase
the chance that you will crash and
suffer serious injury. Only use
Saturn specic wheel and tire
systems developed for your
vehicle, and have them properly
installed by a Saturn certied
technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-51
andAccessories and Modifications
on page 5-3for additional
information.
Service and Appearance Care 5-53
ProCarManuals.com

{CAUTION
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause
the wheel to become loose and
even come off. This could lead to a
crash. Be sure to use the correct
wheel nuts. If you have to replace
them, be sure to get new Saturn
original equipment wheel nuts.
Notice: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 specication.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 Saturn original
equipment wheel.
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.
(Continued)
CAUTION (Continued)
The area damaged by the tire
chains could cause you to lose
control of the 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 the
vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions. To
help avoid damage to the vehicle,
drive slowly, readjust or remove
the device if it is contacting the
vehicle, and do not spin the
vehicle’s wheels. If you do nd
traction devices that will t, install
them on the front tires.
Service and Appearance Care 5-57
ProCarManuals.com

Storage Areas (cont.)
Cupholders......................2-37
Driver Storage
Compartment................2-38
Glove Box.......................2-37
Rear Seat Armrest............2-38
Sunglasses Storage
Compartment................2-37
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit................5-66
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow..........................4-17
Sun Visors..........................2-10
T
Tachometer.........................3-24
Taillamps
Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.............5-36
Theft-Deterrent, Radio...........3-82
Theft-Deterrent Systems........2-10
Content Theft-Deterrent.....2-10
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic
Immobilizer...................2-12
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic
Immobilizer Operation....2-12Tilt Wheel............................. 3-6
Time, Setting.......................3-56
Tire
Pressure Light..................3-29
Tire Sealant
Storing............................5-66
Tires..................................5-38
Aluminum Wheels,
Cleaning......................5-72
Buying New Tires.............5-51
Chains............................5-57
Cleaning..........................5-72
Different Size...................5-53
If a Tire Goes Flat............5-58
Ination - Tire Pressure.....5-43
Inspection and Rotation.....5-50
Pressure Monitor
Operation.....................5-46
Pressure Monitor System . . . 5-45
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit.............5-59
Tire Sidewall Labeling.......5-39
Tire Terminology and
Denitions....................5-41
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading.......................5-54Tires (cont.)
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance.......................5-55
Wheel Replacement..........5-55
When It Is Time for New
Tires............................5-51
Towing
Recreational Vehicle..........4-23
Towing a Trailer................4-26
Your Vehicle.....................4-22
Traction
Control System (TCS)......... 4-8
StabiliTrak
®System............ 4-7
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic................5-17
Transmission Operation,
Automatic........................2-20
Trip Odometer.....................3-24
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals............................. 3-6
Turn Signal/Multifunction
Lever................................ 3-6
i-10 INDEX
ProCarManuals.com

U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . 5-54
Universal Home Remote
System...........................2-32
Operation........................2-33
V
Vehicle
Control............................. 4-4
Design.............................. 4-2
Loading...........................4-18
Running While Parked.......2-26
Symbols.............................. iii
Vehicle Customization, DIC....3-49
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy............................7-14Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN)...................5-74
Service Parts Identication
Label...........................5-74
Ventilation Adjustment...........3-22
Visors.................................2-10W
Warning Lights, Gages, and
Indicators........................3-22
Warnings
DIC Warnings and
Messages....................3-42
Hazard Warning Flashers.... 3-5
Safety and Symbols.............. iii
Washer Fluid, Low Warning
Light...............................3-34Wheels
Alignment and Tire
Balance.......................5-55
Different Size...................5-53
Replacement....................5-55
Where to Put the Restraint....1-29
Windows.............................. 2-9
Power ............................... 2-9
Windshield
Rainsense™ II Wipers......... 3-8
Washer............................. 3-8
Washer Fluid....................5-24
Wiper Blade
Replacement................5-38
Wiper Blades, Cleaning.....5-71
Wiper Fuses....................5-75
Wipers.............................. 3-7
Windshield, Rear Washer/
Wiper............................... 3-9
Winter Driving......................4-15
Wiper Activated Headlamps . . . 3-12
INDEX i-11
ProCarManuals.com