tire type BUICK CENTURY 1993 Owners Manual

Don’t overtake a slowly moving vehicle too rapidly.
Even though the brake lights are not flashing, it
may be
slowing down or starting to turn.
driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps you can ease a little
to the right.
If you’re being passed, make it easy for the following
Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what happens
when the three control systems (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the tires
meet the road
to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly
seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable
care suited
to existing conditions, and by not
“overdriving” those conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types
of skids correspond to your Buick‘s three
control systems. In the braking skid your wheels aren’t
rolling.
In the steering or cornering skid, too much speed
or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force. And
in the acceleration skid too much
throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
I
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid are best
handled by easing your foot
off the accelerator pedal. If
your vehicle starts to slide (as when you turn a corner on
a wet, snow- or ice-covered road), ease your
foot off the
accelerator pedal as soon as you feel the vehicle start to
slide. Quickly steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If
you
start steering quickly enough, your vehicle will
straighten out. As it does, straighten the front wheels.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving
to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surfhce
with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration, or
braking (including engine braking
by shifting to a lower
gear).
Any sudden changes could cause the tires to slide.
You may not realize the surface is slippery until your
vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues-
such as enough water, ice or packed snow on the road
to
make a “mirrored surface”-and slow down when you
have
any doubt.
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Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
-1
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed in different ways. Here’s how to remove the type
with a spring release:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arm away from the
2. Press down on the spring with a screwdriver and pull
3. Push the new wiper blade securely onto tL wiper
windshield.
the blade assembly off the wiper
arm.
arm.
Loading Your Vehicle
G INFORMATION
VEHICLE CAP. WT.
FRT. CTR.
RR. TOTAL LBS. KG
MAX. LOADING
& GVWR SAME AS VEHICLE
1 CAPACITY WEIGHT XXX COLD TIRE
TIRE SIZE SPEED PRESSURE
RTG PSI/KPa
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of the driver’s door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number of people that
,
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the Vehicle Capacity Weight
and includes the weight
of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
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Inflation-Tire Pressure When to Check: Check your tires once a month’or
The Tire-Loading Inforlnation label which is on the rear
’ more. Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be
edge of the driver’s door shows
the correct inflation at 60 psi (420 kPa).
pressures for your tires, when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three
hours or driven no more than a ‘mile.
How to Check: Use a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not tell
you the pressure, especially if you have radial tires-which
may look properly inflated even if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back on. \
They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
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When It's Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it's
time for new
tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only
2/32 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if
You can see the indicators at
three 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
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can't
be repaired well because of the size or location
of the
damage. enough to show cord
or fabric.
Buying New Tires
To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new .had a
Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire's sidewall. When you get new tires,
get ones 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,
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 a
"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.
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*
I A CAUTION:
Mlxing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving.
If you mlx tires of different sizes
or types (radial and bias-belted tires) the
vehlcle may not handle
properly, and you
could have
a crash. Be sure to use the same
size and type
tires on all four wheels. It’s all
right to drive wlth your compact spare,
though.
It was developed far use on your
vehicle.
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Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the system developed
by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration which grades tires by treadwear, traction
and temperature performance. (This applies only to
vehicles
sold in the United States.)
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1%) 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 significantly from the norm due to variations
in
driving habits, service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction-A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B,
and C. They represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified 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 braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
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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 specified 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 inflated and
not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls of'passenger
car tires.
While the tires available as standard or optional
equipment on General Motors vehicIes may vary with
respect to these grades, all such tires meet General
Motors performance standards and have been approved
for use
on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the, factory to give you the longest tire life and
best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you-notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need
to be reset. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a
smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts,
and wheel'nuts should be replaced. If the wheel leaks air
out, replace it (except some aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your Buick 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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Appearance Care
A CAUTION:
Cleaning products can be hazardous. Some are
toxic. Others can burst into flame if you
strike
a match or get them on a hot part of the
vehicle. Some are dangerous if you breathe
their fumes in
a closed space. When you use
anything in a container to clean your Buick, be
sure to follow the instructions. And always
open your doors or windows when you're
cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
Gasoline Paint Thinner
Benzene Turpentine
Naphtha Lacquer Thinner
Carbon Tetrachloride Nail Polish Remover
Acetone
They can all be hazardous-some more than
others-and they can all damage your vehicle,
too.
Cleaning the Inside of Your Buick
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Buick dealer has two
GM cleaners-a solvent-type
spot lifter and a foam-type powdered cleaner. They
will
clean normal spots and stains very well.
Here
are some cleaning tips:
Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
Clean up stains as soon as you can-before they set.
Use a clean cloth or sponge, &d change to a clean area
often.
A soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn.
Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area only.
If you use them, don't saturate the stained area.
If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire area
immediately or it will set.
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Snowstorm (see “Winter Driving”)
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................... 117
Sound Systems (see ‘Audio Systems”)
Spare Tire. Compact.
...................... .205. 215. 218
Specifications and Capacities
................... .270. 272
Specifications. Engine
......................... .270. 272
Speed Control (see “Cruise Control”)
Speedometer
..................................... 106
Stains. Removing
.................................. 258
Starting .Your Engine
................................ 74
Starting Your Vehicle if the Battery
is Dead
Steering (see “Jump Starting”)
In Emergencies
.................................. 151
Off-Road Recovery
.............................. 152
Tips
.......................................... l50
Steering Wheel. Tilt ................................ 86
Stereo Sound Systems (see “Audio Systems”)
Storage Armrest
....................................... 103
Convenience Net
................................ 101
Rear Locking Compartment
........................ 103
Rear Storage Security Cover
....................... 101
Storing Your Vehicle ............................... 244
Stuck. If You Are
.................................. 219
Sun Visors
........................................ 100
Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (Air Bag)
.............. 35
TAlgate Ajar warning Light
........................ 111 Tape Player (see “Audio Systems”)
Technical Facts
& Specifications
Bulbs
......................................... 269
Electrical Equipment. Add-on
.............. .75. 117. 265
Fluid Capacities
& Types ................ .270. 272. 292
Fuseusage
.................................... 267
Service
Parts Identification Label ................... 265
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
................ 265
Temperature Warning Light
.......................... 110
Theft
............................................ 71
Thermostat
...................................... 241
Tilt Steering Wheel
................................. 86
Time. Setting the
.......................... .118. 121. 124
Tire hading
................................ .249. 251
Tires
........................................... 251
Chains
................................... .218. 257
Flat. Changing
.................................. 205
Inflation
....................................... 252
Inspection
& Rotation ............................ 253
Loading
................................... 249. 251
Pressure ....................................... 252
QualityGrading
................................. 255
Spare. Compact
......................... .205. 215. 218
Wear Indicators
................................... 254
Wheel Replacement
......................... .256. 257
When to Replace Wheels
.......................... 256
Winter Driving. and Tires
......................... 171
Torquebk
..................................... 170
BuyingNew
.................................... 254
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
.................. 256
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