flat tire GMC SIERRA 2023 Owner's Manual

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
350 Vehicle Care
Use this rotation pattern when rotating
the tires if the vehicle has dual rear
wheels (except polished forged
aluminum wheels).
Vehicles with polished forged aluminum
dual wheels have three unique wheels;
a front, a rear outer and a rear inner.
These wheels cannot be rotated to
another position, however, they can be
rotated from left to right to the same
position.Use this rotation pattern when rotating
the tires if the vehicle has polished
forged aluminum dual rear wheels. The
spare wheel can be used in any position
in the event of a flat tire, and can be
rotated with the rear inner wheels.
After the flat tire is repaired, if the
spare is not on one of the inner rear
positions, it must be replaced by the
correct wheel in the front or rear outer
positions.
When installing dual wheels, check that
the vent holes in the inner and outer
wheels on each side are lined up.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 0342 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0215.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System.
See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
0 344.
Check that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque”
under Capacities and Specifications
0 393, and “Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire” underTire
Changing 0357.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
cause wheel nuts to become loose
over time. The wheel could come off
and cause a crash. When changing a
wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to
the vehicle. In an emergency, a cloth
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Vehicle Care 351
Warning (Continued)
or paper towel can be used; however,
use a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the inner diameter of the
wheel hub opening with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or tire
rotation to prevent corrosion or rust
build-up.
{Warning
Do not apply grease to the wheel
mounting surface, wheel conical
seats, or the wheel nuts or bolts.
Grease applied to these areas could
cause a wheel to become loose or
come off, resulting in a crash.
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 0348 and
Tire Rotation 0349.
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. To identify the age of a tire, use
the tire manufacture date, which is the last
four digits of the DOT Tire Identification
Number (TIN) molded into one side of the
tire sidewall. The last four digits of the TIN
indicate the tire manufactured date. The
first two digits represent the week and the
last two digits, the year. For example, the
third week of the year 2020 would have a
4-digit DOT date of 0320. Week 01 is the
first full week (Sunday through Saturday) of
each year.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 to slow
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.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
354 Vehicle Care
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 significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance. Warning:
The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking
traction tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteristics.Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of 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 are not
necessary on a regular basis. Consider an
alignment check if there is unusual tire wear
or the vehicle is significantly pulling to one
side or the other. Some slight pull to the
left or right, depending on the crown of the
road and/or other road surface variations
such as troughs or ruts, is normal. If the
vehicle is vibrating when driving on a
smooth road, the tires and wheels may
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.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
356 Vehicle Care
Caution (Continued)
down until it stops. Driving too fast or
spinning the wheels with chains on will
damage the vehicle.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out while
driving, especially if the tires are maintained
properly. 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.
{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
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 0142.
If your vehicle is loaded at or near
maximum cargo capacity, it may be difficult
to fit the jack under the vehicle due to the
environment (shoulder slope, road debris,
etc.). Removal of some weight may improve
the ability to fit the jack under the vehicle
at the correct jacking location.
{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:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Shift the vehicle to P (Park).
3. For vehicles with four-wheel drive with an N (Neutral) transfer case
position, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear —not in N (Neutral).
(Continued)

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Vehicle Care 357
Warning (Continued)
4. Turn off the engine and do notrestart while the vehicle is raised.
5. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
6. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides of the tire at the opposite
corner of the tire being changed.
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),
if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information explains how to
use the jack and change a tire.
Tire Changing
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
1. Jack
2. Jack Knob
3. Tool Kit
4. Wing Nut Retaining Tool Kit
5. Wheel Blocks
6. Wing Nut Retaining Wheel Blocks
The equipment is under the second row
seats, if equipped, or behind the front row
seats on regular cab models. 1. Turn the knob on the jack counterclockwise to lower the jack head
to release the jack from its holder. 2. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise to
remove the wheel blocks and the wheel
block retainer.
3. Turn the wing nut used to retain the storage bag and tools counterclockwise
to remove it.
Use the jack handle extensions and the
wheel wrench to remove the
underbody-mounted spare tire.1. Spare Tire (Valve Stem Pointed Down)
2. Tire/Wheel Retainer
3. Hoist Cable
4. Hoist Assembly
5. Hoist Shaft
6. Jack Handle Extensions

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Vehicle Care 359
Tilt the retainer and pull it through the
center of the wheel along with the cable
and spring.
8. Put the spare tire near the flat tire.
9. If equipped with a spare tire cable remove the cable from the spare tire by
passing the clip through the looped end
of the cable.
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire
Use the following pictures and instructions
to remove the flat tire and raise the vehicle.
1. Jack
2. Wheel Blocks
3. Jack Handle
4. Jack Handle Extensions
5. Wheel Wrench
The tools you will be using include the
jack (1), the wheel blocks (2), the jack
handle (3), the jack handle extensions (4),
and the wheel wrench (5).
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat 0356.
2. If the vehicle has wheel nut caps, loosen
them by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise.
If the vehicle has a center cap with
wheel nut caps, the wheel nut caps are
designed to stay with the center cap
after they are loosened. Remove the
entire center cap.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
360 Vehicle Care
If the wheel has a smooth center cap,
concealing access to the wheel nuts,
place the chisel end of the wheel wrench
in the slot on the wheel, and gently pry
it out.
If the wheel’s center cap does not
conceal the wheel nuts, the center cap
may remain during wheel removal. If the
removed wheel is to be stowed in the
hoist, the cap needs to be detached from
the wheel. Access the wheel from the
back side, and use a jack handle
extension to push out the center cap.
3. Use the wheel wrench and turn itcounterclockwise to loosen the wheel
nuts. Do not remove the wheel nuts yet.
{Warning
To avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, disable the power assist steps
before using a jack or placing an object
under the vehicle. See Power Assist Steps
0 33.
Front Position
4. If the flat tire is on the front of the vehicle, position the jack under the
bracket attached to the vehicle's frame,
behind the flat tire, as shown.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Vehicle Care 361
Rear Position
5. If the flat tire is on the rear of the vehicle, position the jack under the rear
axle between the spring anchor and the
shock absorber bracket.
If a snow plow has been added to the
front of the vehicle, lower the snow
plow fully before raising the vehicle.
Make sure that the jack head is
positioned so that the rear axle is resting
securely between the grooves that are
on the jack head.
{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.
{Warning
The jack has a feature to limit its travel
to prevent overextension. When the
height limit is reached, an increase in
resistance if felt when attempting to
raise the jack farther. Raising the jack
past the height limit can damage the jack
pin and cause the jack to lock into an
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
overextended position or not lower fully.
Do not attempt to force the jack higher
once the height limit is reached.
6. Turn the wheel wrench clockwise to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough
off the ground so there is enough room
for the spare tire to fit under the
wheel well.
7. Remove all the wheel nuts and take offthe flat tire.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Vehicle Care 363
Warning (Continued)
accessory locking wheel nuts. See
Capacities and Specifications0393 for
original equipment wheel nut torque
specifications.
Caution
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead
to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper
sequence and to the proper torque
specification. See Capacities and
Specifications 0393 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
13. Tighten the nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown, by turning the
wheel wrench clockwise.
For vehicles with dual wheels, have a
technician check the wheel nut tightness of
all wheels with a torque wrench after the
first 160, 1 600 and 10 000 km (100, 1,000
and 6,000 mi). Repeat this service whenever
you have a tire removed or serviced. See
Capacities and Specifications 0393.
When reinstalling the regular wheel and tire,
also reinstall either the center cap,
or bolt-on hub cap, depending on what the
vehicle is equipped with. For center caps,
place the cap on the wheel and tap it into
place until it seats flush with the wheel. The
cap only goes on one way. Be sure to line
up the tab on the center cap with the
indentation on the wheel. For bolt-on hub
caps, align the plastic nut caps with the
wheel nuts and then tighten by hand. Then
use the wheel wrench to tighten.Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools
{Warning
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment
in the passenger compartment of the
vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden
stop or collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in the
proper place.
{Warning
Failure to follow these tire storage
instructions carefully could result in
personal injury or property damage if the
hoist cable fails or if the tire comes loose.
Make sure the tire is stored securely
before driving.
Caution
Storing an aluminum wheel with a flat
tire under your vehicle for an extended
period of time or with the valve stem
pointing up can damage the wheel.
Always stow the wheel with the valve
stem pointing down and have the
wheel/tire repaired as soon as possible.

GMC Sierra/Sierra Denali 2500 HD/3500 HD Owner Manual (GMNA-
Localizing-U.S./Canada-16504257) - 2023 - CRC - 5/18/22
Vehicle Care 367
Full-Size Spare Tire
If this vehicle came with a full-size spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new,
however, it can lose air over time. Check the
inflation pressure regularly. SeeTire Pressure
0 342 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0215 for information
regarding proper tire inflation and loading
the vehicle. For instructions on how to
remove, install, or store a spare tire, see Tire
Changing 0357.
After installing the spare tire on the vehicle,
stop as soon as possible and check that the
spare is correctly inflated. The spare tire is
made to perform well at speeds up to
112 km/h (70 MPH) at the recommended
inflation pressure, so you can finish
your trip.
Have the damaged or flat road tire repaired
or replaced and installed back onto the
vehicle as soon as possible so the spare tire
will be available in case it is needed again.
Do not mix tires and wheels of different
sizes, because they will not fit. Keep the
spare tire and its wheel together.
Caution
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive and a
different size spare tire is installed, do
not drive in four-wheel drive until the flat
tire is repaired and/or replaced. The
vehicle could be damaged and the repairs
would not be covered by the warranty.
Never use four-wheel drive when a
different size spare tire is installed on the
vehicle.
The vehicle may have a different size spare
tire than the road tires originally installed
on the vehicle. This spare tire was developed
for use on this vehicle, so it is all right to
drive on it. If the vehicle has four-wheel
drive and a different size spare tire is
installed, drive only in two-wheel drive.
If the vehicle has a spare tire that does not
match the vehicle’s original road tires and
wheels, in size and type, do not include the
spare in the tire rotation.
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America
For more information about the vehicle
battery, see Battery - North America 0319. If the vehicle's battery (or batteries) has run
down, you may want to use another vehicle
and some jumper cables to start your
vehicle. Be sure to use the following steps
to do it safely.
{Warning
WARNING:
Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories can expose you to
chemicals including lead and lead
compounds, which are known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling. For more
information go to
www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
See California Proposition 65 Warning 01.
{Warning
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can burn you.
.They contain gas that can explode or
ignite.
.They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
(Continued)