tires GMC SIERRA 2007 Owner's Guide

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed
limit restrictions, having to do with trailering.
Make sure your rig will be legal, not only where
you live but also where you’ll be driving. A
good source for this information can be state
or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. See “Hitches”
later in this section.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the rst
500 miles (800 km) your new vehicle is driven.
Your engine, axle or other parts could be
damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles (800 km) that
you tow a trailer, don’t drive over 50 mph
(80 km/h) and don’t make starts at full throttle.
This helps your engine and other parts of your
vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
You can tow in DRIVE (D). You may want to
shift the transmission to THIRD (3), or
FOURTH (4) with the Allison or Hydra-matic
6-speed transmissions, or if necessary, a lower
gear selection if the transmission shifts toooften, such as under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions. SeeTow/Haul Mode Light on
page 266.
Three important considerations have to do with
weight:
The weight of the trailer
The weight of the trailer tongue
The weight on your vehicle’s tires
Tow/Haul Mode
Press this button at the end of the shift lever to
enable/disable the tow/haul mode.
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But, you must still consider the effect on the rear
axle. Because your rear axle now weighs 3,100 lbs
(1 406 kg), you can only put 900 lbs (408 kg) on the
rear axle without exceeding RGAWR. The effect of
tongue weight is about 1.5 times the actual weight.
Dividing the 900 lbs (408 kg) by 1.5 leaves you with
being able to handle only 600 lbs (272 kg) of tongue
weight. Since tongue weight is usually at least
10 percent of total loaded trailer weight, you can
expect that the largest trailer your vehicle can
properly handle is 6,000 lbs (2 721 kg).
It is important that you make sure your vehicle
does not exceed any of its ratings — GCWR,
GVWR, RGAWR, Maximum Trailer Rating
or Tongue Weight. The only way to be sure you
are not exceeding any of these ratings is to weigh
your vehicle and trailer.Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inated to the
upper limit for cold tires. You’ll nd these numbers
on the Certication label at the rear edge of the
driver’s door or see Loading Your Vehicle for more
information. Then be sure you don’t go over the
GVW limit for your vehicle, or the GAWR, including
the weight of the trailer tongue. If you use a
weight distributing hitch, make sure you don’t go
over the rear axle limit before you apply the weight
distribution spring bars.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads
are a few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
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Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer
moving and then apply the trailer brake controller
by hand to be sure the brakes are working.
This lets you check your electrical connection at
the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
While towing a trailer or when exposed to long
periods of sunshine, the oor of the truck bed may
become very warm. Avoid putting items in the
truck bed that might be affected by high ambient
temperatures.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good
deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond
the passed vehicle before you can return to your
lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one
hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move
that hand to the left. To move the trailer to the right,
move your hand to the right. Always back up slowly
and, if possible, have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very sharp turns while
trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider
turns than normal. Do this so your trailer
won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs, road signs,
trees or other objects. Avoid jerky or sudden
maneuvers. Signal well in advance.
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Bulb Replacement....................................... 543
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 544
Headlamps................................................ 544
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)
and Cargo Lamp.................................... 545
Pickup Box Identication and Fender
Marker Lamps........................................ 546
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps...................................... 546
License Plate Lamp................................... 548
Replacement Bulbs................................... 549
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 549
Tires............................................................ 550
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 551
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 556
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 559
Dual Tire Operation................................... 560
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 561
Tire Inspection and Rotation...................... 565
When It Is Time for New Tires.................. 568Buying New Tires...................................... 568
Different Size Tires and Wheels................ 570
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..................... 571
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance............ 572
Wheel Replacement.................................. 573
Tire Chains............................................... 574
If a Tire Goes Flat.................................... 576
Changing a Flat Tire................................. 576
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools.......... 578
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire....................................... 582
Secondary Latch System........................... 589
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools...... 592
Spare Tire................................................. 596
Appearance Care........................................ 597
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 597
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 599
Leather...................................................... 600
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 600
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
484

Care of Safety Belts.................................. 601
Weatherstrips............................................ 601
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 601
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 602
Finish Care............................................... 602
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 603
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim................................................ 603
Tires......................................................... 604
Sheet Metal Damage................................. 604
Finish Damage.......................................... 605
Underbody Maintenance............................ 605
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 605
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 606Vehicle Identication.................................. 607
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 607
Service Parts Identication Label............... 607
Electrical System........................................ 608
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 608
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 608
Power Windows and Other
Power Options....................................... 608
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 608
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..................... 609
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block......... 611
Underhood Fuse Block.............................. 612
Capacities and Specications.................... 616
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
485

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and could have
rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when you
are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.Some driving conditions or climates can cause a
brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied
or lightly applied. This does not mean something
is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and Specications on
page 616.
If you have rear drum brakes, they do not have
wear indicators, but if you ever hear a rear brake
rubbing noise, have the rear brake linings
inspected immediately. Rear brake drums should
be removed and inspected each time the tires
are removed for rotation or changing. Drum brakes
have an inspection hole to inspect lining wear
during scheduled maintenance. When you have
the front brake pads replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
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3. Install the new blade onto the arm connector
and make sure the grooved areas are fully set
in the locked position.
For the proper type and size, seeNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 638.
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 GM Warranty booklet for
details. For additional information refer to the tire
manufacturer’s booklet included with your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used
tires are dangerous.
Overloading your vehicle’s tires can
cause overheating as a result of too
much friction. You could have an
air-out and a serious accident. See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 425.
Underinated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The
resulting accident could cause serious
injury. Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended pressure.
CAUTION: (Continued)
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CAUTION: (Continued)
Tire pressure should be checked when
your vehicle’s tires are cold. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 559.
Overinated 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.
20-Inch Tires
If your vehicle has the optional 20-inch
P275/55R20 size tires, they are classied as
touring tires and are designed for on road use. The
low-prole, wide tread design is not recommended
for “off-road” driving or commercial uses such
as snow plowing. SeeOff-Road Driving on
page 390andAdding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment on page 432for additional information.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into the
sidewall. The following illustrations are examples
of a typical P-Metric and a LT-Metric tire sidewall.
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(A) Tire Size:The tire size code is a combination
of letters and numbers used to dene 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
Specication):Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have
a TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications 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 Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following DOT code are the Tire
Identication 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.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
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(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, seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on
page 571.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
For information on recommended tire pressure see
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 559and
Loading Your Vehicle on page 425.
(A) Tire Size:The tire size code is a combination
of letters and numbers used to dene 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.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire
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