flat tire GMC ACADIA 2013 Owner's Guide

Black plate (51,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
Vehicle Care 10-51
Adjust the front and rear tires to
the recommended inflation
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label after
the tires have been rotated. See
Tire Pressure on page 10‑45
andVehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑9.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. See Tire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10‑47.
Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” underCapacities
and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or
tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on the
wheel nuts or bolts.
Check that the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, is stored
properly. Push, pull, and then try
to rotate or turn the tire. If it
moves, tighten the cable. See
Tire Changing on page 10‑59.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road conditions
affect the wear rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one way to
tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when
the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑50 andTire
Rotation on page 10‑50.

Black plate (52,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
10-52 Vehicle Care
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple factors
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. GM recommends that
tires, including the spare if
equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread wear. The
tire manufacturer date is the last
four digits of the DOT Tire
Identification Number (TIN) which is
molded into one side of the tire
sidewall. The first two digits
represent the week (01–52) and the
last two digits, the year. For
example, the third week of the year
2010 would have a four-digit DOT
date of 0310.
Vehicle Storage
Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight toslow aging. This area should be free
of grease, gasoline, or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires or
raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires.
Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec)
system rating. When
replacement tires are needed,
GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec
system considers over a dozen
critical specifications that impact
the overall performance of the
vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire
pressure monitoring
performance. GM's TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire's
sidewall near the tire size. If the
tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC Spec number
will be followed by MS for mud
and snow. See
Tire Sidewall
Labeling on page 10‑39.
GM recommends replacing worn
tires in complete sets of four.
Uniform tread depth on all tires
will help to maintain the
performance of the vehicle.
Braking and handling
performance may be adversely
affected if all the tires are not
replaced at the same time.
If proper rotation and

Black plate (56,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
10-56 Vehicle Care
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 vehicle
vibrates when driving on a smoothroad, 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.

Black plate (57,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
Vehicle Care 10-57
Used Replacement Wheels
{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. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Tire Chains
{WARNING
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(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause loss of
control and a crash.
Use another type of traction
device only 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.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. See Tires
on page 10‑37. 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.

Black plate (58,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
10-58 Vehicle Care
{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(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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 6‑3.
{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:
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatictransmission in P (Park) or a
manual transmission in
1 (First) or R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks on both sides of the tire at the
opposite corner of the tire
being changed.

Black plate (59,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
Vehicle Care 10-59
When the vehicle has a flat tire (2),
use the following example as a
guide to assist in the placement of
the wheel blocks (1).
1. Wheel Block
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to repair or change a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing Tools
The tools needed to remove the
spare tire are located in the storage
compartment on the driver side, at
the rear of the vehicle.
1. Tool Bag
2. Wing Bolt
3. Jack
1. Open the jack storagecompartment by pulling on the
latch tab, located toward the rear
of the vehicle, and pulling the
cover off.
2. Remove the wing bolt (2) by turning it counterclockwise.
3. Push the jack (3) up out of the holding bracket and remove the
tool bag (1). 4. Turn the jack on its side, with the
bottom facing toward you.
5. Pull the jack straight out, bottom first.
1. Jack
2. Wrench (Three-Piece Shown,One-Piece Similar)
The tools you will be using include
the jack (1) and wrench (2).

Black plate (60,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
10-60 Vehicle Care
Removing the Spare Tire
The compact spare tire is located
under the vehicle, in front of the rear
bumper. SeeCompact Spare Tire
on page 10‑67 for more information.
1. Rear Convenience Center
2. Wrench (Three-Piece Shown,
One-Piece Similar)
3. Carpet Cutout
4. Hoist Shaft
5. Compact Spare Tire
6. Retainer 1. Open the storage compartment
door of the convenience
center (1) that is nearest the
liftgate.
2. Open the carpet cutout (3) that is located through the hole of the
storage compartment.
3. Attach the wrench (2) into the hoist shaft (4).
4. Turn the wrench (2) counterclockwise to lower the
spare tire (5) to the ground.
Continue turning the wrench until
the spare tire can be pulled out
from under the vehicle.
5. Tilt the retainer and slip itthrough the wheel opening to
remove the spare tire from the
cable.
6. Turn the wrench clockwise to raise the cable back up after
removing the spare tire.
Do not store a full-size or a flat
road tire under the vehicle. See
“Storing the Spare Tire” and
“Storing the Flat Tire” later in this
section.
Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑57 for more
information.

Black plate (61,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
Vehicle Care 10-61
2. If the vehicle has a wheel cover,loosen the plastic nut caps with
the wheel wrench. They will not
come off. Then, using the flat
end of the wheel wrench, pry
along the edge of the cover until
it comes off. Be careful; the
edges may be sharp. Do not try
to remove the cover with your
bare hands.
Store the wheel cover securely
in the rear of the vehicle until
you have the flat tire repaired or
replaced.
If the vehicle has aluminum
wheels, remove the wheel nut
caps using the wheel wrench.
3. Loosen the wheel nuts —but do
not remove them —using the
wrench. For wheels with a wheel
lock key, use the wheel lock key
between the lock nut and
wrench. The key is supplied in
the front passenger door pocket.
Notice: If this vehicle has wheel
locks and an impact wrench is
used to remove the wheel nuts,
the lock nut or wheel lock key
could be damaged. Do not use an
impact wrench to remove the
wheel nuts if this vehicle has
wheel locks.
4. To identify the appropriate jacking location, find the triangle
or rectangular notch about
30.5 cm (12 in) from the front tire
or about 27 cm (10.5 in) from the
rear tire.

Black plate (62,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
10-62 Vehicle Care
Triangle Shown, Without SimilarThe triangle may be located
near each wheel on the vehicle's
exterior.
Notice: If a jack is used to raise
the vehicle without positioning it
correctly, the vehicle could be
damaged. When raising the
vehicle on a jack, avoid contact
with the rear axle control arms.
5. Attach the wrench to the jack, and turn the wrench clockwise to
raise the jack head 7.6 cm (3 in). 6. Do not raise the vehicle yet. Put
the compact spare tire near you.
{WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it is
lifted on a jack is dangerous.
If the vehicle slips off the jack,
you could be badly injured or
killed. Never get under a vehicle
when it is supported only by
a jack.
{WARNING
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help
avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift
head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle. 7. Raise the vehicle by turning the
wrench clockwise in the jack.
Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so that there is
enough room for the spare tire to
fit under the wheel well.
8. Remove all the wheel nuts and the flat tire.
9. Remove the plastic spare tireheat shield by pulling the rubber
latch. Store the plastic spare tire
heat shield. See “Storing the
Spare Tire” later in this section
for more information.

Black plate (65,1)Acadia/Acadia Denali Owner Manual - 2013 - crc2 - 12/11/12
Vehicle Care 10-65
4. When the compact spare tire isalmost in the stored position,
turn the tire so the valve is
toward the rear of the vehicle.
This position helps when
checking the air pressure in the
compact spare tire.
5. Raise the tire fully against the underside of the vehicle.
Continue turning the wrench until
you feel more than two clicks.
This indicates that the compact
spare tire is secure and the
cable is tight. The spare tire
hoist cannot be overtightened.
6. Make sure the tire is stored
securely. Push, pull, and then try
to turn the tire. If the tire moves,
use the wrench to tighten the
cable.
Storing the Flat Tire
1. Cable
2. Liftgate Hinges
3. Spare Tire Heat Shield
4. Center of the Wheel
5. Door Striker
1. Remove the cable package fromthe jack storage area.
2. Remove the small center cap by tapping the back of the cap with
the extension of the shaft, if the
vehicle has aluminum wheels.