wheel size CHEVROLET MALIBU 2023 User Guide

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
266 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Mixing tires of different sizes (other
than those originally installed on the
vehicle), brands, tread patterns,
or types may cause loss of vehicle
control, resulting in a crash or other
vehicle damage. Use the correct size,
brand, and type of tire on all wheels.
{Warning
Using bias-ply tires on the vehicle
may cause the wheel rim flanges to
develop cracks after many miles of
driving. A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on
the vehicle.
Winter tires with the same speed rating
as the original equipment tires may not
be available for H, V, W, Y and ZR
speed rated tires. Never exceed the
winter tires’ maximum speed capability
when using winter tires with a lower
speed rating. If the vehicle tires must be replaced
with a tire that does not have a TPC
Spec number, make sure they are the
same size, load range, speed rating, and
construction (radial) as the original
tires.
The Tire and Loading Information label
indicates the original equipment tires
on the vehicle. See
Vehicle Load Limits
0 172.Different Size Tires and Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that are a
different size than the original equipment
wheels and tires, vehicle performance,
including its braking, ride and handling
characteristics, stability, and resistance to
rollover may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock brakes,
rollover airbags, traction control, electronic
stability control, or All-Wheel Drive, the
performance of these systems can also be
affected.
{Warning
If different sized wheels are used, there
may not be an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are
selected. This increases the chance of a
crash and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems developed
for the vehicle, and have them properly
installed by a GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires 0265 and
Accessories and Modifications 0221.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
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 tires, compact spare tires,

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
268 Vehicle Care
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 are not
necessary on a regular basis. Consider an
alignment check if there is unusual tire wear
or the vehicle is significantly pulling to one
side or the other. Some slight pull to the
left or right, depending on the crown of the
road and/or other road surface variations
such as troughs or ruts, is normal. If the
vehicle is vibrating when driving on a
smooth road, the tires and wheels may
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, resulting in a
crash. Always use the correct wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for
replacement.
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used one is
dangerous. How it has been used or how
far it has been driven may be unknown.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
It could fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a new GM
original equipment wheel.
Caution
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.
Tire Chains
{Warning
If the vehicle has 245/45R18 or 245/40R19
size tires, do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire chains used on
a vehicle without the proper amount of
clearance can cause damage to the
brakes, suspension, or other vehicle parts.
The area damaged by the tire chains
could cause loss of control and a crash.
Use another type of traction device only(Continued)

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Vehicle Care 269
Warning (Continued)
if its manufacturer recommends it for the
vehicle's tire size combination and road
conditions. Follow that manufacturer's
instructions. To avoid vehicle damage,
drive slow and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the vehicle.
Do not spin the wheels. If traction
devices are used, install them on the
front tires.
Caution
If the vehicle is equipped with a tire size
other than 245/45R18 or 245/40R19, use
tire chains only where legal and only
when necessary. Use low profile chains
that add no more than 12 mm thickness
to the tire tread and inner sidewall. Use
chains that are the proper size for the
tires. Install them on the tires of the
front axle. Do not use chains on the tires
of the rear axle. Tighten them as tightly
as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the
chain manufacturer's instructions. If the
chains contact the vehicle, stop and
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
retighten them. If the contact continues,
slow down until it stops. Driving too fast
or spinning the wheels with chains on
will damage the vehicle.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while
driving, especially if the tires are maintained
properly. SeeTires0251. If air goes out of a
tire, it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if there is ever 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.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
274 Vehicle Care
17. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in acrisscross sequence, as shown.
18. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from under the vehicle.
19. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench.
When reinstalling the wheel cover or center
cap on the full-size tire, tighten all five
plastic caps hand snug, then tighten them
with the wheel wrench an additional
one-quarter turn.
Caution
Wheel covers will not fit on the vehicle's
compact spare. If you try to put a wheel
cover on the compact spare, the cover or
the spare could be damaged.
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.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools with a
Screw in Fastener 1. Remove the extension bolt from the foam holder.
2. Screw the extension bolt onto the end ofthe spare tire stow bolt by hand.
3. Replace the foam, jack, and tools in their original storage location.
4. Remove the insulator pad and place it over the foam holder to protect the
wheel of the flat tire from the jack.
5. Place the tire facing down over the extension bolt.
6. Turn the retainer nut clockwise to secure the tire.
7. Place the floor cover on the wheel.
The compact spare is for temporary use
only. Replace the compact spare tire with a
full-size tire as soon as you can.

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
Index 329
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75, 111
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240, 241
Storage Center Console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Umbrella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Struts
Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
System Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Driver Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Engine Air Filter Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Global Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 System (cont'd)
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Rear Cross Traffic Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Taillamps
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240, 241
Teen Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Low-Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257, 258
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 Tires (cont'd)
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . 266
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 268
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . 264
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrakLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . 186
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . 150
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . 305

Chevrolet Malibu Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16273584) - 2023 - CRC - 9/28/22
330 Index
Transportinga Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
TTY Users Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Turn Signal
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240, 241
U
Umbrella Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
UpdatesMap Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Using
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
VehicleAhead Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . 309 Vehicle (cont'd)
Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Speed Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Vehicle Care Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Voltage Devices and Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Voltmeter Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
W
Warning
Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . 80
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 Wheels (cont'd)
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Windshield
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Wiring, High Voltage Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . 242