load capacity PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Owners Manual

Loading Your Vehicle
TIRE- LOADING INFORMATION
OCCUPANTS VEHICLE CAf
yv 1, nDD 28KPA(4LBS)
'q s Manual for tire pressure needed at
l~lH(100 mph) or higher speeds, where legal, and for additional tire information
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly
carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the rear edge of driver's door tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation
pressures for the tires
on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number
of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you
can
carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight
and includes the weight
of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
MFD BY GENERAL MOTORS CORP
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The other label is the Certification label, found on the
rear edge
of the driver's door. It tells you the gross
weight capacity
of your vehicle, called GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes the weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never
exceed the
GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle
Weight Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or rear axle.
And,
if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don't carry more than
100 lbs. (45 kg) in your
rear area.

Towing a Trailer
A CAUTION:
F-
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose control when you
pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes may not work well
-- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
You may also damage your vehicle; the resulting
repairs would not be covered
by your warranty.
Pull a trailer
only if you have followed all the
steps in this section.
Ask your dealer for advice
and information about towing a trailer with
your vehicle.
Your vehicle can tow a trailer if it is equipped with the
proper trailer towing equipment. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity
is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later
in this section. But trailering is
different than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling, durability and
fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes correct
equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That’s the reason for
this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules.
Many
of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before
you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such
as the engine,
transmission, rear axle, wheel assemblies
and tires are
forced to work harder against the drag
of the added
weight.
The engine is required to operate at relatively
higher speeds and under greater loads, generating extra
heat. What’s more,
the trailer adds considerably to wind
resistance, increasing the pulling requirements.
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You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at:
Pontiac Division
Customer Assistance Center
One Pontiac Plaza
Pontiac, MI
48340-2952
In Canada, write to:
General Motors
of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre
1908 Colonel
Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H
8P7
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total or
gross
weight of your vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo you may carry in it,
and the people who will be
riding
in the vehicle. And if you tow a trailer, you must
add the tongue load to the
GVW because your vehicle
will
be carrying that weight, too. See “Loading Your
Vehicle” in the Index for more information about your
vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
A B
If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight
(B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are
proper.
If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around
in the trailer.
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Temperature -- A, B, C
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 Vehicle 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 wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance. Scheduled wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on
a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
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 (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your
dealer if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know
the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your
Pontiac model.
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