tires GMC SIERRA 2010 Owner's Guide

Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Appearance Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-110
Interior Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-110
Fabric/Carpet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-111
Leather . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-112
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-112
Care of Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-112
Weatherstrips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-113
Washing Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-113
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-113
Finish Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-114
Windshield and Wiper Blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-114
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels and Trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-115
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-116
Sheet Metal Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-116
Finish Damage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-116
Underbody Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-116
Chemical Paint Spotting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-116 Vehicle Identification
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-117
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . 6-117
Service Parts Identification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-117
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-117
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-117
Windshield Wiper Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-118
Power Windows and Other Power Options . . . 6-118
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-118
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-119
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 6-121
Underhood Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-122
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-126
6-3

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 specifications in
Capacities and Specifications on page 6‑126.
If the vehicle has rear drum brakes, they do not have
wear indicators, but if a rear brake rubbing noise is
heard, 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 the front brake pads are replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign that brake service
might be required.
Brake Adjustment
Every brake stop, the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex. Its many
parts have to be of top quality and work well together if
the vehicle is to have really good braking. The vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality brake parts.
When parts of the braking system are replaced—for
example, when the brake linings wear down and new
ones are installed —be sure to get new approved
replacement parts. If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for the vehicle, the balance
between the front and rear brakes can change —for the
worse. The braking performance expected can change
in many other ways if the wrong replacement brake
parts are installed.
6-42

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.
.Normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and one
person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the driver seat.
.Have the 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 6‑15
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.
6-55

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.
{CAUTION:
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 5‑30.
.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
(Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
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.
20‐Inch Tires
If your vehicle has the optional 20‐inch
P275/55R20 size tires, they are classified as
touring tires and are designed for on road use.
The low‐profile, wide tread design is not
recommended for “off‐road”driving or commercial
uses such as snow plowing. See Off-Road Driving
on page 5‑11andAdding a Snow Plow or Similar
Equipment
on page 5‑36for additional information.
6-64

Notice:If the vehicle has low‐profile tires, they
are more susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than standard profile
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 inflation pressure
and, when possible avoid contact with curbs,
potholes, and other road hazards.
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.
Passenger (P‐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.
6-65

(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 6‑85.
(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 5‑30.
6-66

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 5‑30.
(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.
6-67

Speed Rating:An alphanumeric code assigned
to a tire indicating the maximum speed at which a
tire can operate.
Traction
:The friction between the tire and the
road surface. The amount of grip provided.
Tread
:The portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators
:Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of a
tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
remains. See When It Is Time for New Tires
on
page 6‑82
.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards)
:A tire information system that
provides consumers with ratings for a tire's
traction, temperature, and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
Tire Quality Grading
on page 6‑85.
Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. See Loading the
Vehicle
on page 5‑30. Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire
:Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard
:A label permanently attached to
a vehicle showing the vehicle's capacity weight
and the original equipment tire size and
recommended inflation pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” underLoading the
Vehicle
on page 5‑30.
Inflation - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that under‐
inflation or over‐inflation is all right. It is not.
If your tires do not have enough air (under‐
inflation), you can get the following:
.Too much flexing
.Too much heat
.Tire overloading
.Premature or irregular wear
.Poor handling
.Reduced fuel economy
6-72

If your tires have too much air (over‐inflation),
you can get the following:
.Unusual wear
.Poor handling
.Rough ride
.Needless damage from road hazards
A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Information
label is attached to your vehicle. This label shows
your vehicle's original equipment tires and the
correct inflation pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire inflation
pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum
amount of air pressure needed to support your
vehicle's maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of
the Tire and Loading Information label, see
Loading the Vehicle
on page 5‑30. How you load
your vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load your vehicle with more weight
than it was designed to carry.
When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Do not forget to check the pressure of the spare
tire, if your vehicle has one. See Spare Tire
on
page 6‑109
for additional information.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly
inflated simply by looking at them. Radial tires
may look properly inflated even when they're
underinflated. Check the tire's inflation pressure
when the tires are cold. Cold means your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage firmly onto the valve to get a
pressure measurement. If the cold tire inflation
pressure matches the recommended pressure on
the tire and loading information label, no further
adjustment is necessary. If the pressure is low,
add air until you reach the recommended amount.
6-73

If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Recheck the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture.
High-Speed Operation
{WARNING:
Driving at high speeds, 160 km/h (100 mph) or
higher, puts an additional strain on tires.
Sustained high-speed driving causes excessive
heat build up and can cause sudden tire failure.
You could have a crash and you or others could
be killed. Some high-speed rated tires require
inflation pressure adjustment for high speed
operation. When speed limits and road conditions
are such that a vehicle can be driven at high
speeds, make sure the tires are rated for high
speed operation, in excellent condition, and set to
the correct cold tire inflation pressure for the
vehicle load.Vehicles with P265/70R17 or P275/55R20 size tires
require inflation pressure adjustment when driving the
vehicle at speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h) or higher.
Set the cold tire inflation pressure to 3 psi (20 kPa)
above the recommended cold tire pressure shown on
the Tire and Loading Information label.
When you end this high‐speed driving, return the tires
to the cold inflation pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Loading the Vehicle
on
page 5‑30and Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 6‑72.
Dual Tire Operation
When the vehicle is new, or whenever a wheel, wheel
bolt or wheel nut is replaced, check the wheel nut
torque after 100, 1,000 and 6,000 miles (160, 1 600 and
10 000 km) of driving. For proper torque and wheel nut
tightening information, see Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools on page 6‑92.
The outer tire on a dual wheel setup generally wears
faster than the inner tire. Your tires will wear more
evenly and last longer if you rotate the tires periodically,
see Tire Inspection and Rotation
on page 6‑80. Also
see Scheduled Maintenance on page 7‑3.
6-74