tires BUICK LACROSSE 2007 Owner's Guide

(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 421.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(A) Temporary Use Only:The compact spare
tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use
when a regular road tire has lost air and gone at.
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire on page 437andIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 425.
Compact Spare Tire Example
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(B) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following the DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is 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.
(D) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(E) Tire Ination:The temporary use tire or
compact spare tire should be inated to 60 psi
(420 kPa). For more information on tire pressure
and ination seeInation - Tire Pressure on
page 409.
(F) Tire Size:A combination of letters and
numbers dene a tire’s width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type, and service description. The
letter T as the rst character in the tire size means
the tire is for temporary use only.(G) 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.
Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a
typical passenger vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P
as the rst character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards
set by the U.S. Tire and Rim Association.
(B) Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates
the tire section width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.
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Normal Occupant Weight:The number of
occupants a vehicle is designed to seat multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg). SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 319.
Occupant Distribution:Designated seating
positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted on a vehicle.
The side of the tire that contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bears manufacturer, brand,
and/or model name molding that is higher
or deeper than the same moldings on the other
sidewall of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:A tire used on
passenger cars and some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Ination Pressure:Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended tire ination
pressure as shown on the tire placard. See
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 409andLoading
Your Vehicle on page 319.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 417.
408

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 421.
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 319.
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 319.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 hazards
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A Tire and Loading Information label is attached
to the vehicle’s center pillar (B-pillar). 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,
seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 319. 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. Do not
forget to check the compact spare tire, it should be
at 60 psi (420 kPa). For additional information
regarding the compact spare tire, seeCompact
Spare Tire on page 437.
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.
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Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses
radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure
levels. TPMS sensors are mounted onto each
tire and wheel assembly, except for the spare tire.
The TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in
your vehicle’s tires and transmit tire pressure
readings to a receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS illuminates the low tire pressure
warning light, located in the instrument panel
cluster. If your vehicle has the uplevel Driver
Information Center (DIC), a warning message to
check the pressure in a specic tire displays at
the same time the low tire pressure warning light
comes on. The low tire pressure warning light
and the DIC warning message CHECK TIRE
PRESSURE come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inated to the correct
ination pressure. Vehicles that have the
uplevel DIC buttons can also check tire
pressure levels by pressing the gages button.For additional information and details about the
DIC operation and displays seeDIC Operation and
Displays on page 200andDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 208.
During cooler weather conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light and the DIC warning
message, if your vehicle has this feature, may
come on when the vehicle is rst started, and then
turn off as you start to drive. This could be an
early indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s)
are getting low and need to be inated to the
proper pressure.
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.
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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.
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 319,
for an example of the Tire and Loading
Information label and its location on your vehicle.
Also seeInation - Tire Pressure on page 409.
Your vehicle’s TPMS system can warn you
about a low tire pressure condition but it does
not replace normal tire maintenance. See
Tire Inspection and Rotation on page 416and
Tires on page 402.Notice:Do not use a tire sealant if your
vehicle has Tire Pressure Monitors. The liquid
sealant can damage the tire pressure monitor
sensors.
The TPMS will not function properly if one or more
of the TPMS sensors are missing or inoperable.
When the system detects a missing or inoperable
sensor, an error message SERVICE TIRE
MONITOR SYSTEM appears on the DIC display,
if your vehicle has this feature. If you have
replaced a tire/wheel assembly without transferring
the TPMS sensors, the error message displays.
Once you re-install the TPMS sensors, the
error message should go off. See your dealer for
service if all TPMS sensors are installed and
the 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 dealer
for service.
The TPMS sensors may 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.
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 RUN with the
engine off.
3. Press the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter’s LOCK and UNLOCK buttons
at the same time for approximately
ve seconds. The horn sounds twice to
signal the receiver is in relearn mode and the
TPMS sensor matching process can begin.
4. Start with the driver side front tire.
5. Remove the valve cap from the tire’s valve
stem. Activate the TPMS sensor by increasing
or decreasing the tire’s air pressure for
10 seconds, or until a horn chirp sounds.
The horn chirp, which may take up to
30 seconds to sound, conrms that the sensor
identication code has been matched to the
tire/wheel position. To decrease the tire’s
air-pressure use the pointed end of the valve
cap, a pencil-style air pressure gage, or a key.
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6. Proceed to the passenger side front tire,
and repeat the procedure in Step 5.
7. Proceed to the passenger side rear tire,
and repeat the procedure in Step 5.
8. Proceed to the driver side rear tire, and
repeat the procedure in Step 5.
9. After hearing the conrming horn chirp for the
driver side rear tire, the horn chirps two more
times to signal the tire learning process
has ended. Turn the ignition switch to OFF.
10. Set all four tires to the recommended air
pressure level as indicated on the tire and
loading information label.
11. 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 and 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.
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)
operates on a radio frequency and 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.
415