tire pressure PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1998 Owners Manual

The anti-lock system can change the brake pressure
faster than any driver could. The computer is
programmed
to make the most of available tire and
road conditions.
You can steer around the obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving updates on
wheel speed and controls braking pressure accordingly. Remember: Anti-lock doesn’t change
the time you need to
get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance.
If you get too close to the vehicle in kont
of you, you won’t have time to apply you brakes if that
vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room
up ahead to stop, even though you have anti-lock brakes.
Using Anti-Lock
Don’t pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
finnly and let anti-lock work for you. You may feel a slight
brake
pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but this is normal.
LOW
TRAC
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking
skid,
this light will come on. See
“Low Traction Light” in
the Index.
naction Control System (Option: V8 Engine)
Your vehicle may have a traction control system that limits
wheel spin.
This is especially useful in slippery road
conditions. The system operates only
if it senses that one
or both
of the rear wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When
this happens, the system works the
rear brakes and reduces engine power (by closing the
throttle and managing engine spark) to limit wheel
spin.
4-8

Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much water can build up
under your tires that they can actually ride on the water.
This can happen if the road is wet enough and you’re
going fast enough. When your vehicle
is hydroplaning,
it has little or no contact with the road.
Hydroplaning doesn’t happen often. But it can if your
tires do not have much tread or if the pressure in one or
more
is low. It can happen if a lot of water is standing on
the road.
If you can see reflections from trees, telephone
poles or other vehicles, and raindrops “dimple” the water’s surface, there could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher speeds. There
just isn’t a hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The
best advice is to slow down when it is raining.
Driving Through Deep Standing Water
I NOTICE:
If you drive too quickly through deep puddles or
standing water, water can come in through your
engine’s air intake and badly damage your
engine. Never drive through water that is slightly
lower than the underbody
of your vehicle. If you
can’t avoid deep puddles
or standing water, drive
through them very slowly.
Some Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, allow some extra following distance. And be especially careful when you pass
another vehicle. Allow yourself more clear room
ahead, and be prepared to have your view restricted
by road spray.
(See “Tires” in
the Index.)
Have good tires with proper tread depth.
4-19

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When
you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed
is usually posted.
Reduce your speed according to your speedometer, not
to
your sense of motion. After driving for any distance
at higher speeds, you may tend to
think you are going
slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you’re ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you’re not fresh
-- such as after a day’s
work
-- don’t plan to make too many miles that fiist part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes you
can easily
drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long
trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it’s ready
to go. If it needs service, have
it done before starting out. Of course,
you’ll find experienced and able service experts
in
Pontiac dealerships all across North America. They’ll be
ready and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you
can check before a trip:
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps: Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free
trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires
all inflated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a short
time
to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22

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
DATE GWR GAM FRT
!a
THIS VEHICLE CONFORMS TO ALL
VEHICLE
SAFm BUMPER,QPT
EFFECT ON THE b~ WN ABOVE.
4% CAR
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.

Compact Spare Tire
Although the compact spare tire was fully inflated when
your vehicle was new, it can lose air after a time. Check
the inflation pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi
(420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on your vehicle, you
should stop
as soon as possible and make sure your spare
tire is correctly inflated. The compact spare is made to
perfom well at speeds up
to 65 mph (105 km/h) for
distances
up to 3,000 miles (5 OOO km), so you can finish
your trip and have your full-size tire repaired or replaced
where you want. (When the compact spare is used on the
rear axle, see Notice following.) Of course, it’s best to
replace
your spare with a full-size tire as soon as you can.
Your spare will last longer and be in good shape in case
you need it again.
NOTICE:
If the compact spare is used as a rear tire, do not
drive faster than
50 mph (80 M). Damage to
the rear axle may occur if the compact spare is
driven faster than
50 mph (80 km/h).
NOTICE:
When the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through
an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts of your vehicle.
5-40

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about
your tire wmanty and where to obtain service, see
your Pontiac Warranty booklet for details.
I A CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires
are dangerous.
Overloading your 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” in
the Index.
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 should be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION:
(Continued)
I
Overinflated tires are mo
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 your
tread is badly worn, or
if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
See “Inflation
-- Tire Pressure” in this section
for inflation pressure adjustment for higher
speed driving.
6-44

Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the
driver’s door, shows the correct inflation pressures
for
your tires when they’re cold. “Cold” means your vehicle\
has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no
more than
I mile (1.6 km).
If you’ll be driving at high speeds (e.g., speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h or higher), where it is legal, set
the cold inflation pressure to the maximum inflation
pressure shown on the tire sidewall, or to
38 psi
(265 Wa), whichever is lower. See the example below.
When you end this high-speed driving, return to the cold inflation pressures shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label.
Example: You’ll find maximum load and inflation pressure
molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small letters, near the
rim flange. It will read something like this: Maximum
load
690 kg (1521 lbs.) 0 300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the inflation pressure
for high-speed driving at
38 psi (265 Wa).
NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation is all right.
It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get the following:
0 Too much flexing
0 Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
0 Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
0 Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards.
6-45

When to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be
at
60 psi (420 Pa).
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell
if your tires are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure
to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out
dirt
and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
( 10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate
your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires or
wheels. See “When It’s Time for New Tires”
and
“Wheel Replacement” later in this section for
more information.
The purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle.
The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services’’
in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
6-46

After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that
all wheel nuts
are properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” in
the Index.
1 A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it
is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after
a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When you change a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to
the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use
a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or
dirt off. (See
“Changing
a Flat Tire” in the Index.) When
It’s Time for New Tires
One
way to tell when it’s
time for new
tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when
your tires have
only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less
of tread remaining.
You need a new tire
if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
enough
to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
0 The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because
of the size or location
of the damage.
6-48

Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your vehicle by
hand
may be necessary to remove residue from the paint
finish. You can get GM-approved cleaning products
from your dealer. (See “Appearance Care and Materials”
in the Index.)
Your vehicle has a “basecoatlclearcoat” paint finish.
The clearcoat gives more depth and gloss to the
colored basecoat. Always use waxes and polishes
that are non-abrasive and made for a basecoatlclearcoat
paint finish.
I NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive polishing on
a basecoatlclearcoat paint finish
may dull the
finish or leave swirl marks.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and other
salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, tree sap, bird
droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, etc., can
damage your vehicle’s finish if they remain on painted surfaces.
Wash the vehicle as soon as possible. If
necessary, use non-abrasive cleaners that
are marked
safe for painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces
are subject to aging, weather
and chemical fallout that can take their toll over a period
of years. You can help to keep the paint finish looking
new by keeping your vehicle garaged
or covered
whenever possible.
Cleaning Your Convertible Top
Your convertible top should be cleaned often. If you use
an automatic car wash, use one with water jets and
hanging cloths. High pressure car washes may cause
water
to enter your vehicle.
When you hand wash the top, do it in partial shade.
Use a mild soap, lukewarm water and
a soft sponge. A
chamois or cloth may leave lint
on the top, and a brush
can chafe the threads in the top fabric. Don’t use
detergents, harsh cleaners, solvents or bleaching agents.
Wet the entire vehicle and wash the top evenly to avoid
spots or rings. Let the soap remain on the fabric for a
few minutes. When the top is really
dirty, use a mild
foam-type cleaner. Thoroughly rinse the entire vehicle,
then let the top dry in direct sunlight.
6-58