winter tires CHEVROLET TRAIL BLAZER 2008 1.G Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with the
ignition off is dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down and they
could get so hot that they would not work well.
You would then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could crash.
Always have the engine running and your
vehicle in gear when you go downhill.
Stay in your own lane. Do not swing wide or cut
across the center of the road. Drive at speeds
that let you stay in your own lane.
Top of hills: Be alert — something could be in your
lane (stalled car, accident).
Pay attention to special road signs (falling rocks
area, winding roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take appropriate action.
SeeOff-Road Driving (Except SS) on page 4-14for
information about driving off-road.
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You might want to put winter emergency supplies in
your vehicle.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a supply
of windshield washer uid, a rag, some winter outer
clothing, a small shovel, a ashlight, a red cloth, and
reective warning triangles. And, if you will be driving
under severe conditions, include a small bag of sand, a
piece of old carpet, or a couple of burlap bags to help
provide traction. Be sure you properly secure these items
in your vehicle.
Also seeTires on page 5-58.
4-29

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 Your
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-17
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-22
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-24
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-25
Engine Coolant.............................................5-28
Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-30
Engine Overheating.......................................5-30
Cooling System............................................5-32Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-37
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-38
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-39
Brakes........................................................5-40
Battery........................................................5-43
Jump Starting...............................................5-44
All-Wheel Drive..............................................5-49
Rear Axle.......................................................5-49
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-50
Front Axle......................................................5-51
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-52
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-52
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-52
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps...................5-53
License Plate Lamp......................................5-54
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-54
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-55
Tires..............................................................5-58
Winter Tires.................................................5-59
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-60
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-62
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-65
High-Speed Operation...................................5-66
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................5-67
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Low-Prole Performance Tire
If your vehicle has P255/50R20 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
For cold weather driving conditions you may prefer to
get tires designed for snow or ice, if your vehicle has
P255/50R20 size tires. See your dealer for details
regarding winter tire availability and proper tire selection.
Also, seeBuying New Tires on page 5-75.
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 your 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.
5-59

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.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specied government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1.5) 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 signicantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
5-78

Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel................................. 3-6
Storage Areas
Center Console Storage Area........................2-55
Convenience Net.........................................2-57
Glove Box..................................................2-55
Luggage Carrier..........................................2-56
Overhead Console.......................................2-55
Rear Floor Storage Lid.................................2-57
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow.....................4-33
Sun Visors.....................................................2-14
Sunroof.........................................................2-58
T
Tachometer....................................................3-32
Taillamps
Turn Signal Lamps......................................5-53
Theft-Deterrent, Radio....................................3-104
Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent................................2-15
PASS-Key
®III+ Electronic Immobilizer............2-17
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation................................................2-17
Passlock
®...................................................2-16
Tilt Wheel........................................................ 3-6
Time, Setting..................................................3-66
Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-41Tires.............................................................5-58
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........................5-106
Buying New Tires........................................5-75
Chains.......................................................5-82
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-85
Cleaning...................................................5-106
Different Size..............................................5-77
High-Speed Operation..................................5-66
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-84
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-65
Inator,- Accessory.......................................5-82
Inspection and Rotation................................5-72
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-89
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-69
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-67
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-89
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-86
Secondary Latch System..............................5-94
Spare Tire................................................5-100
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-97
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-60
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-62
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-78
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-80
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-80
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-74
Winter Tires................................................5-59
12

W
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators................3-30
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-53
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Other Warning Devices.................................. 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iii
Vehicle Damage.............................................. iv
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................5-80
Different Size..............................................5-77
Replacement...............................................5-80
Where to Put the Restraint...............................1-38
Windows.......................................................2-12
Power ........................................................2-13
Windshield
Backglass, and Wiper Blades, Cleaning........5-105
Washer........................................................ 3-9
Washer Fluid..............................................5-39
Wiper Blade Replacement.............................5-55
Wiper Fuses.............................................5-110
Wipers......................................................... 3-9
Windshield, Rear Washer/Wiper........................3-10
Winter Driving................................................4-29
Winter Tires...................................................5-59
X
XM Radio Messages.......................................3-87
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System..............3-107
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 6-2
14