winter tires CHEVROLET MALIBU 2009 7.G Owners Manual

Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain
begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.TheAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 4-5
improves vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery
roads, but apply the brakes sooner than when on dry
pavement.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
4-17

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....5-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-6
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-7
Fuel E85 (85% Ethanol)..................................5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................5-10
Filling the Tank............................................5-10
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-13
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-14
Hood Release..............................................5-14
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-16
Engine Oil...................................................5-21
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-24
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-26
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-28
Cooling System............................................5-28
Engine Coolant.............................................5-29
Pressure Cap...............................................5-33Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-33
Engine Overheating.......................................5-34
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................5-36
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-36
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-38
Brakes........................................................5-39
Battery........................................................5-42
Jump Starting...............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-47
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-47
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-47
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-48
License Plate Lamp......................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-50
Tires..............................................................5-51
Winter Tires.................................................5-52
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-53
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-56
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-59
High-Speed Operation...................................5-60
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-61
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................5-62
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-66
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Low-Prole Performance Tire
If your vehicle has P225/50R18 or P225/50R17
size tires, they are classied as low-prole
performance tires. These tires are designed for
very responsive driving on wet or dry pavement.
You may also notice more road noise with
low-prole performance tires and that they
tend to wear faster.
Notice:If the vehicle has low-prole tires,
they are more susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than standard prole
tires. Tire and/or wheel assembly damage can
occur when coming into contact with road
hazards like, potholes, or sharp edged objects,
or when sliding into a curb. The vehicle
warranty does not cover this type of damage.
Keep tires set to the correct ination pressure
and, when possible avoid contact with curbs,
potholes, and other road hazards.
Winter Tires
If you expect to drive on snow or ice covered roads
often, you may want to get winter tires for your vehicle.
All season tires provide good overall performance
on most surfaces but they may not offer the traction
you would like or the same level of performance
as winter tires on snow or ice covered roads.
Winter tires, in general, are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice covered roads. With winter tires,
there may be decreased dry road traction, increased road
noise, and shorter tread life. After switching to winter
tires, be alert for changes in vehicle handling and braking.
See your dealer/retailer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also, seeBuying
New Tires on page 5-68.
If you choose to use winter tires:
Use tires of the same brand and tread type on all
four wheel positions.
Use only radial ply tires of the same size, load
range, and speed rating as the original equipment
tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your original
equipment tires may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose winter tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire’s maximum
speed capability.
5-52

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, antilock brakes, traction control, and
electronic 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 GM
specic wheel and tire systems developed for your
vehicle, and have them properly installed by a GM
certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-68andAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
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 (UTQG)
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.
5-70

Audio System(s).............................................3-59
Audio Systems
Radio Reception..........................................3-91
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-89
Automatic Climate Control System.....................3-24
Automatic Headlamp System............................3-15
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-28
Operation...........................................2-26, 2-28
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-92
Battery..........................................................5-42
Electric Power Management..........................3-17
Run-Down Protection...................................3-18
Belt Routing, Engine.......................................6-14
Bluetooth
®.....................................................3-78
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brake Fluid....................................................5-39
Brakes..........................................................5-39
Antilock....................................................... 4-5
Parking......................................................2-32
System Warning Light..................................3-34
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-21
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-50
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-15
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-47
Headlamps.................................................5-47
License Plate Lamps....................................5-49
Taillamps, Turn Signal, and Stoplamps............5-48
Buying New Tires...........................................5-68
C
Calibration.....................................................2-38
California
Perchlorate Materials Requirements................. 5-4
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-108
Carbon Monoxide
Engine Exhaust...........................................2-35
Trunk.........................................................2-12
Winter Driving.............................................4-17
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-93
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-71
Center Console Storage...................................2-50
2

Tires (cont.)
Inspection and Rotation................................5-66
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-79
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-62
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-61
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-79
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-77
Sidewall Labeling.........................................5-53
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-85
Terminology and Denitions...........................5-56
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-72
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-67
Winter........................................................5-52
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-26
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-29
Your Vehicle...............................................4-26
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-8
Traction Control System...................................3-35
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-28
Transmission Operation, Automatic............2-26, 2-28
Transportation, Courtesy..................................7-10
Trip Odometer................................................3-30Trunk............................................................2-12
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-70
Universal Home Remote System.......................2-43
Operation...................................................2-44
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-4
Loading......................................................4-20
Running While Parked..................................2-36
Symbols......................................................... iii
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy..................7-17
Vehicle Data Recording, Radio
Frequency (RFID)........................................7-19
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................5-97
Service Parts Identication Label...................5-98
Vehicle Personalization
DIC ...........................................................3-50
Vehicle, Remote Start....................................... 2-7
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-27
Visors...........................................................2-17
13

W
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators...............3-28
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-46
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-72
Different Size..............................................5-70
Replacement...............................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires..........................5-67
Where to Put the Child Restraint.......................1-42
Windows.......................................................2-15
Power ........................................................2-16Windshield
Washer........................................................ 3-9
Washer Fluid..............................................5-38
Wiper Blade Replacement.............................5-50
Wiper Blades, Cleaning................................5-95
Wiper Fuses...............................................5-98
Wipers......................................................... 3-8
Winter Driving................................................4-17
Winter Tires...................................................5-52
X
XM Radio Messages.......................................3-77
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System................3-92
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
14