flat tire CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 2012 2.G Owner's Manual

Black plate (68,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
10-68 Vehicle Care
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 tires and wheels were aligned
and balanced at the factory to
provide the longest tire life and best
overall performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire balancing
will not be necessary on a regular
basis. However, check the
alignment if there is unusual tire
wear or if the vehicle is pulling to
one side or the other. If the vehiclevibrates when driving on a smooth
road, the tires and wheels might
need to be rebalanced. See your
dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it.
Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if any of
these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel that is needed.
Each new wheel should have the
same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset, and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.
Replace wheels, wheel bolts, wheel
nuts, or Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS) sensors with new
GM original equipment parts.
{WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts can be dangerous. It could
affect the braking and handling of
the vehicle. Tires can lose air,
and cause loss of control, causing
a crash. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with bearing
life, brake cooling, speedometer
or odometer calibration,
headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire
or tire chain clearance to the
body and chassis.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑70 for more information.

Black plate (70,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
10-70 Vehicle Care
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. If air goes
out of a tire, it is much more likely to
leak out slowly. But if there ever is a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction as
used in a skid. Stop pressing the
accelerator pedal and steer to
straighten the vehicle. It may be
very bumpy and noisy. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road,
if possible.{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.
{WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑5.

Black plate (71,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-71
{WARNING
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can slip
off the jack and roll over or fall
causing injury or death. Find a
level place to change the tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from
moving:1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in P (Park).
3. For vehicles with four-wheel-drive with a
N (Neutral) transfer case
position, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive
gear —not in N (Neutral).
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
4. Turn off the engine and donot restart while the vehicle
is raised.
5. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
6. Place wheel blocks on both sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to use the jack and change
a tire.

Black plate (72,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
10-72 Vehicle Care
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools
The jack and the wheel blocks are
located under a cover near the
passenger side rear seat.
Rear Seat (Passenger Side) JackCover
1. Remove the jack cover by turning the two wing nuts
one-quarter turn
counterclockwise and
pulling the jack cover off.
A. Wheel Blocks
B. Jack Knob
C. Wing Nut
D. Retaining Hook
E. Jack
F. Mounting Bracket
2. Turn the jack knob (B) on the jack counterclockwise to release
the jack (E) from the mounting
bracket (F). 3. Turn the wing nut (C)
counterclockwise to remove the
wheel blocks (A) attached to the
jack (E). Place the wheel blocks
where needed as indicated in
previously in this section.
The tools for changing a flat tire are
located in the passenger side
top-box storage unit.

Black plate (75,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-75
6. Use the wheel wrench hook topull the hoist cable closer to
assist in reaching the spare tire.
7. Tilt the tire with slack in thecable to access the tire/wheel
retainer.Separate the retainer from the
guide pin by sliding the retainer
up the pin while pressing down
on the latch. When the retainer
is separated from the guide pin,
tilt the retainer and pull it through
the center of the wheel along
with the cable and guide pin.
8. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.

Black plate (76,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
10-76 Vehicle Care
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
A. Jack
B. Wheel Blocks
C. Jack Handle
D. Jack Handle Extensions
E. Wheel Wrench
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑70 for more
information.
2. To remove the center cap, place the chiseled end of the wheel
wrench in the slot on the wheel
and gently pry the cap out.3. Use the wheel wrench to loosenall the wheel nuts. Turn the
wheel wrench counterclockwise
to loosen the wheel nuts. Do not
remove the wheel nuts yet.

Black plate (78,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
10-78 Vehicle Care
Front Position
Front Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a front tire of the vehicle, use
the jack handle and only one
jack handle extension. Attach
the wheel wrench to the jack
handle extension. Attach the
jack handle to the jack (A).
Position the jack on the frame
behind the flat tire near the
front body mount, as shown.
Turn the wheel wrench
clockwise to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to clear
the ground.
Rear Position
Rear Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a rear tire of the vehicle, use
the jack handle (B) and both jack
handle extensions (C). Attach
the wheel wrench (D) to the
jack handle extensions (C). Attach the jack handle (B) to the
jack (A). Use the jacking pad (E)
provided on the rear axle. Turn
the wheel wrench (D) clockwise
to raise the vehicle. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough room
for the spare tire to clear the
ground.
5. Remove all the wheel nuts.
6. Take off the flat tire.

Black plate (80,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
10-80 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
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 specification. See
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
12. Tighten the nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence as shown
by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise.
When reinstalling the regular wheel
and tire, also reinstall the center
cap. Line the tab on the back of the
tab with the slot in the wheel. Place
the cap on the wheel and press until
it snaps into place.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{WARNING
Storing a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place.
Notice: Storing an aluminum
wheel with a flat tire under your
vehicle for an extended period of
time or with the valve stem
pointing up can damage the
wheel. Always stow the wheel
with the valve stem pointing
down and have the wheel/tire
repaired as soon as possible.
Store the tire under the rear of the
vehicle in the spare tire carrier.

Black plate (81,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-81
A. Spare Tire/Flat Tire (Valve StemPointed Down)
B. Hoist Assembly
C. Hoist Cable
D. Tire/Wheel Retainer
E. Hoist Shaft
F. Hoist End of Extension Tool
G. Hoist Shaft Access Hole
H. Wheel Wrench
I. Jack Handle Extension(s)
J. Spare Tire Lock 1. Put the tire on the ground at the
rear of the vehicle with the valve
stem pointed down, and to
the rear.
2. Tilt the tire. Separate the tire/
wheel retainer from the guide
pin. Pull the pin through the
center of the wheel.
Tilt the retainer down through
the center wheel opening.
3. Assemble the two jack handleextensions (I) and wheel
wrench (H), as shown.

Black plate (83,1)Chevrolet Avalanche Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-83
To store the tools:
1. Return the tools to the tool bagand place it back in the top‐box
storage unit.
2. Assemble the wheel blocks and jack together with the wing nut
by reversing Step 2 under
“Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools.”
3. Replace the jack cover and tighten the jack-cover wing nuts.Secondary Latch System
This vehicle has an
underbody-mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a
secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the spare tire from
suddenly falling off your vehicle. For
the secondary latch to work, the
spare must be installed with the
valve stem pointing down. See
“Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools” underTire Changing on
page 10‑72.
{WARNING
Before beginning this procedure
read all the instructions. Failure to
read and follow the instructions
could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get
hurt. Read and follow the
instructions listed next. To release the spare tire from the
secondary latch:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if
the cable end is visible. If the
cable is not visible proceed to
Step 6.
2. If it is visible, first try to tighten the cable by turning the wheel
wrench clockwise until you hear
two clicks or feel it skip twice.
You cannot overtighten the
cable.