flat tire CHEVROLET TAHOE 2010 3.G User Guide

Example 3
Item DescriptionTotal
A Vehicle Capacity
Weight for
Example 3 = 1,000 lbs
(453 kg)
B Subtract Occupant
Weight @ 200 lbs
(91 kg) × 5 = 1,000 lbs
(453 kg)
C Available Cargo
Weight =
0 lbs (0 kg)Refer to your vehicle's tire and loading information
label for specific information about your vehicle's
capacity weight and seating positions. The
combined weight of the driver, passengers, and
cargo should never exceed your vehicle's capacity
weight.
Certification/Tire Label
A vehicle specific Certification/Tire label is
found on the rear edge of the driver's door.
The label shows the size of your vehicle's
original tires and the inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity of your vehicle.
5-33

Do not exceed the maximum allowable tongue weight
for the vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch extension that
will position the hitch ball closest to the vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of trailer tongue weight on the
rear axle.
Trailering may be limited by the vehicle's ability to carry
tongue weight. Tongue or kingpin weight cannot cause
the vehicle to exceed the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating). See“Total Weight on the Vehicle's Tires” later
in this section for more information.
After loading the trailer, weigh the trailer and then the
tongue, separately, to see if the weights are proper.
If they are not, adjustments might be made by moving
some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are inflated to the inflation
pressures found on the Certification label on the drivers
door or see Loading the Vehicle
on page 5‑29for more
information. Make sure not to exceed the GVWR limit
for the vehicle, or the RGAWR, with the tow vehicle and
trailer fully loaded for the trip including the weight of the
trailer tongue. If using a weight distributing hitch, make
sure not to exceed the RGAWR before applying the
weight distribution spring bars.
Weight of the Trailering Combination
It is important that the combination of the tow
vehicle and trailer does not exceed any of its weight
ratings —GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR, Trailer Weight
Rating or Tongue Weight. The only way to be sure it is
not exceeding any of these ratings is to weigh the tow
vehicle and trailer combination, fully loaded for the trip,
getting individual weights for each of these items.
Hitches
The correct hitch equipment helps maintain combination
control. Most small-to-medium trailers can be towed
with a weight carrying hitch which simply features a
coupler latched to the hitch ball. Larger trailers may
require a weight distributing hitch that uses spring
bars to distribute the trailer tongue weight among the
two vehicle and trailer axles. See “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” earlier in this section for rating limits with
various hitch types.
If a step-bumper hitch will be used, the bumper could
be damaged in sharp turns. Make sure there is ample
room when turning to avoid contact between the trailer
and the bumper.
Consider using sway controls with any trailer. Ask a
trailering professional about sway controls or refer
to the trailer manufacturer's recommendations and
instructions.
5-52

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Headlamp Aiming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-55
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-58
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-58
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-59
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-60
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-60
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 6-61
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-63
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-64
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-69
Inflation - Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-72
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-73
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-74
Tire Inspection and Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-78
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-79
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-80
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-82
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-82
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-84
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-84 Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-86
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-87
Changing a Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-88
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-89
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-94
Secondary Latch System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-101
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools . . . . . . . . 6-104
Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-107
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-108
Interior Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-108
Fabric/Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-109
Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-110
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-110
Care of Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-111
Weatherstrips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-111
Washing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-111
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-112
Finish Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-112
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades . . . . 6-113
6-2

The vehicle should:
.Be placed so the headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from
a light colored wall.
.Have all four tires on a level surface which is level
all the way to the wall.
.Be placed so it is perpendicular to the wall.
.Not have any snow, ice, or mud on it.
.Be fully assembled and all other work stopped
while headlamp aiming is being performed.
.Be normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and one
person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the driver seat.
.Have tires properly inflated.
.Have the spare tire is in its proper location in the
vehicle.
Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle's low-beam
headlamps. The high-beam headlamps will be correctly
aimed if the low-beam headlamps are aimed properly. To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. See Hood Release
on page 6‑14for more information.
2. Locate the aim dot on the lens of the low‐beam
headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the ground to the aim dot on the low‐beam headlamp.
6-56

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires
made by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever
have questions about your tire warranty and
where to obtain service, see your vehicle
Warranty booklet for details. For additional
information refer to the tire manufacturer.
{WARNING:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
.Overloading your vehicle's tires can
cause overheating as a result of too
much flexing. You could have an air-out
and a serious accident. SeeLoading the
Vehicle
on page 5‑29.
(Continued)
WARNING: (Continued)
.Underinflated tires pose the same danger
as overloaded tires. The resulting
accident could cause serious injury.
Check all tires frequently to maintain the
recommended pressure. Tire pressure
should be checked when your vehicle's
tires are cold. See Inflation - Tire
Pressure
on page 6‑72.
.Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured, or broken by a sudden
impact —such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires at the recommended pressure.
.Worn, old tires can cause accidents.
If the tire's tread is badly worn, or if your
vehicle's tires have been damaged,
replace them.
6-63

(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original equipment tires designed
to GM's specific tire performance criteria have a
TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of Transportation)
:
The Department of Transportation (DOT) code
indicates that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identification Number (TIN)
:The letters
and numbers following DOT code are the Tire
Identification 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. (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,
see Uniform Tire Quality Grading
on page 6‑82.
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation Load Limit
:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
For information on recommended tire pressure
see Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6‑72and
Loading the Vehicle
on page 5‑29.
6-65

Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
(A) Tire Size:The tire size code is a combination
of letters and numbers used to define a particular
tire's width, height, aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the “Tire Size”
illustration later in this section for more detail. (B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specification)
:Original equipment tires designed
to GM's specific tire performance criteria have a
TPC specification code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
(C) Dual Tire Maximum Load
:Maximum load
that can be carried and the maximum pressure
needed to support that load when used in a dual
configuration. For information on recommended
tire pressure see Inflation - Tire Pressure
on
page 6‑72
and Loading the Vehicleon page 5‑29.
(D) DOT (Department of Transportation)
:
The Department of Transportation (DOT) code
indicates that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(E) Tire Identification Number (TIN)
:The letters
and numbers following DOT code are the Tire
Identification 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.
6-66

(F) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the
tread.
(G) Single Tire Maximum Load
:Maximum load
that can be carried and the maximum pressure
needed to support that load when used as a
single. For information on recommended tire
pressure see Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6‑72
andLoading the Vehicleon page 5‑29.
Tire Size
The following examples show the different parts of
a tire size.
Passenger (P‐Metric) Tire
(A) Passenger (P‐Metric) Tire:The United
States version of a metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first 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.
(C) Aspect Ratio
:A two‐digit number that
indicates the tire height‐to‐width measurements.
For example, if the tire size aspect ratio is 75, as
shown in item C of the tire illustration, it would
mean that the tire's sidewall is 75 percent as high
as it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply construction; the
letter D means diagonal or bias ply construction;
and the letter B means belted‐bias ply
construction.
(E) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of the wheel in
inches.
(F) Service Description
:These characters
represent the load index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a tire is certified to
carry a load.
6-67

Tire Terminology and Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire
pressing outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per square
inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight
:This means the combined
weight of optional accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are, automatic transmission,
power steering, power brakes, power windows,
power seats, and air conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship of a tire's height to
its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of cords that is
located between the plies and the tread. Cords
may be made from steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire in which the plies
are laid at alternate angles less than 90 degrees
to the centerline of the tread. Cold Tire Pressure
:The amount of air pressure
in a tire, measured in pounds per square inch (psi)
or kilopascals (kPa) before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Inflation - Tire Pressure
on
page 6‑72
.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a motor vehicle with
standard and optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, but
without passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded into the sidewall
of a tire signifying that the tire is in compliance
with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
motor vehicle safety standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification Number (TIN), an
alphanumeric designator which can also identify
the tire manufacturer, production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR
:Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. See
Loading the Vehicle
on page 5‑29.
GAWR FRT
:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the
front axle. See Loading the Vehicle
on page 5‑29.
6-69

GAWR RR:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear
axle. See Loading the Vehicle
on page 5‑29.
Intended Outboard Sidewall
:The side of an
asymmetrical tire, that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa)
:The metric unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT‐Metric) Tire
:A tire used on light
duty trucks and some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index
:An assigned number ranging from
1 to 279 that corresponds to the load carrying
capacity of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure
:The maximum
air pressure to which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is molded onto the
sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating
:The load rating for a tire
at the maximum permissible inflation pressure for
that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight
:The sum of
curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle capacity
weight, and production options weight. Normal Occupant Weight
:The number of
occupants a vehicle is designed to seat multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg). See Loading the Vehicle
on
page 5‑29
.
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 Inflation Pressure
:Vehicle
manufacturer's recommended tire inflation
pressure as shown on the tire placard. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure
on page 6‑72and Loading
the Vehicle
on page 5‑29.
6-70