traction control BUICK PARK AVENUE 1996 User Guide

Mixing tires could cal ! 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,
though. It was developed for use on your vehicle.
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.) The
grades are molded on
the sidewalls of most passenger
car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does not
apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver
or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.
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 1/2) 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.
ProCarManuals.com

Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and 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 (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature -- A, By 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.
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.
ProCarManuals.com

Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-39
Key Reminder Warning
.......................... 2-21
Keyless Entry System. Remote
Instant Alarm
................................. 2-8
Personal Choice
............................... 2-8
Keys
.......................................... 2-1
Labels Certification
................................. 4-29
Certificationflire
............................. 4-28
Service Parts Identification
..................... 6-56
Tire-Loading Information
...................... 4-28
Vehicle Identification Number
................... 6-56
Lamps
........................................ 2-43
Courtesy
.................................... 2-47
Interior
..................................... 2-46
Monitor System
.............................. 2-45
OnReminder
................................ 2-44
Perimeter Lighting
............................ 2-48
TheaterDimming
............................. 2-47
Leaving
Your Vehicle ............................. 2-7
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-29
License Plate Holder
............................ 2-63
Light Sensor. Twilight Sentinel
.................... 2-46
Lights Lighter
....................................... 2-61 .
Air Bag Readiness ....................... 1 - 18. 2-70
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
............ 2-72.4-6
Battery Warning
.............................. 2-70 Brake System Warning
......................... 2-71
ChangeOilSoon
............................. 2-80
CheckEngine
................................ 2-75
DoorAjar
................................... 2-81
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning
............. 2-74
Engine Oil Pressure Light/Gage
................. 2-78
Interior
..................................... 2-46
Low Coolant Warning
......................... 2-75
LowFuel
................................... 2-82
OilLevelCheck
.............................. 2-79
Safety Belt Reminder
...................... 1-6, 2-69
Traction Control System Warning
............ 2-73, 4-8
TrunkAjar .................................. 2-81
Loading Your Vehicle
........................... 4-28
Locks Cylinders
................................... 7-39
Door
........................................ 2-3
FuelDoor
.................................... 6-6
Key Lock Cylinder Service
..................... 7-39
Lockout Protection
............................. 2-7
Memory Door
................................. 2-4
PowerDoor
.................................. 2-4
Rear Door Security
............................. 2-6
Steering Column Lock Check
................... 7-40
Trunk
...................................... 2-13
Window
.................................... 2-33
Low Coolant Warning Light
...................... 2-75
LowFuelLight
................................ 2-82
Lubricants and Fluids
............................ 7-43
Lubrication Service, Body
........................ 7-39
ProCarManuals.com

I t.
I 1
Chains ..................................... 6-46
Changing a Flat
.............................. 5-22
Cleaning
.................................... 6-53
. Compact Spare ............................... 5-34
Inflation
.................................... 6-40
. Inflation Check ............................... 7-38
Inspection and Rotation
........................ 6-41
Loading
.................................... 4-28
Pressure
...................................... 6-40
Temperature
................................. 6-44
Traction
.................................... 6-44
Treadwear
.................................... 6-43
Uniform Quality Grading
....................... 6-43
Wear Indicators
............................... 6-42
Wheel Replacement
........................... 6-45
When It's Time for New
....................... 6-42
TorqueLock
.................................... 2-30
Torque, Wheel
Nut ......................... 5-31, 6-64
Towing
8 Trailer ................................ 4-30
Towing Your Vehicle
.............................. 5-7
Traction
Control System
................................ 4-8
Control System Wasrning Light
.............. 2-73, 4-8
Brakes
.'.................................... 4-34
DrivingonGrades
............................ 4-36
Drivingwith
................................. 4-34
Maintenance When Towing
..................... 4-37
TopStrap
...................................... 1-34
Trailer Hitches
..................................... 4-33 Parking
on
Hills .............................. 4-36
Safety Chains
................................ 4-34
Tongueweight
............................... 4-32
Total Weight on Tires
.......................... 4-33
Turnsignals
................................. 4-36
Weight
...................................... 4-32
Transaxle Fluid .Automatic
.........?......................... 6-20
Transmitters, Remote Keyless Entry
................. 2-7
Transportation, Courtesy
........ .I ................. 8-5
Trip Odometer
................................. 2-68
TrUnk AjarLight
................................... 2-81
Automatic Pull-Down Feature
................... 2-15
Release, Remote
.............................. 2-13
Towing
..................................... 4-30
Lock
....................................... 2-13
SecurityOverride
.............................. 2-14
TrUnkLamp
................................... 2-50
TTYUsers
..................................... 8-3
Turn Signal and Lane Change Indicator
............. 2-35
Turn Signal On Chime
........................... 2-36
Turn SignalNultifunction Lever
................... 2-34
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
................ 4-36
Twilight Sentinel
............................... 2-46
. underbody Flushing Service ..................... 7-41
Underbody Maintenance
......................... 6-54
l Universal Theft-Deterrent System .................. 2-16
.. ~~ i %ll ..
ProCarManuals.com