width PONTIAC VIBE 2004 Owners Manual

Q:What's wrong with this?
A:The belt is twisted across the body.
{CAUTION:
You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt.
In a crash, you wouldn't have the full width of
the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is
twisted, make it straight so it can work
properly, or ask your dealer to ®x it.
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A. Tire Size
B. Department of Transportation (DOT)
C. Tire Identi®cation Number (TIN)
D. Tire Ply Material
E. Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
F. Maximum Cold In¯ation Load Limit
Tire Size:The tire size is a combination of letters and
numbers used to de®ne a particular tire's width,
height, aspect ratio, construction type and service
description. See the ªTire Sizeº illustration later in this
section for more detail.
Department of Transportation (DOT):The
Department of Transportation (DOT) code indicates that
the tire is in compliance with the U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.Tire Identi®cation Number (TIN):The letters and
numbers following DOT code are the Tire Identi®cation
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.
Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and number of plies
in the sidewall and under the tread.
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 5-72.
Maximum Cold In¯ation Load Limit:Maximum load
that can be carried and the maximum pressure
needed to support that load. For information on
recommended tire pressure see
In¯ation Ð Tire
Pressure on page 5-67andLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-32.
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Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a typical
passenger car tire size.
A. Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
B. Tire Width
C. Aspect Ratio
D. Belt Rating
E. Rim Diameter
F. Load Range
G. Speed RatingPassenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United States version
of a metric tire sizing system. The letter ªPº as the
®rst character in the tire size means a passenger vehicle
tire engineered to standards set by the U. S. Tire and
Rim Association.
Tire Width:The three-digit number indicates the tire
section width in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio:A two-digit number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements. For example, if the
tire size aspect ratio is ª70,º as shown in item ªCº of the
illustration, it would mean that the tire's sidewall is
70% as high as it is wide.
Belt Rating:A letter code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire. The letter ªRº means
radial ply construction; the letter ªDº means diagonal or
bias ply construction; and the letter ªBº means
belted-bias ply construction.
Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in inches.
Load Range:The load range represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certi®ed to carry.
Speed Rating:The maximum speed that a tire
is certi®ed to carry a load. Speed ratings range
from ªAº to ªZº.
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Tire Terminology and De®nitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure
is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined weight
of optional accessories, for example, automatic
transmission, power steering, power brakes, power
windows, power seats, radio and air conditioning.
Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire's height to
its width.
Belt:A rubber coated layer of cords that is located
between the plies and the tread. Cords may be made
from steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead:The tire bead contains steel wires that hold the
tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the ply cords
that extend to the beads are laid at alternate angles
substantially less than 90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Cold In¯ation Pressure:The amount of air pressure in
a tire, measured in pounds per square inch (psi) or
kilopascal (kPa), before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See
In¯ation -- Tire Pressure on page 5-67.Curb Weight:This means the weight of a motor
vehicle with standard and optional equipment including
the maximum capacity of fuel, oil and coolant, without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings:A code molded into the sidewall of a
tire signifying that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation motor vehicle safety
standards. The DOT code includes the Tire Identi®cation
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric designator which can
also identify the tire manufacturer, production plant,
brand and date of production.
GVWR:Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, see
Loading
Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
GAWR FRT:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the front
axle, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
GAWR RR:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the rear axle,
see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
Intended Outboard Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire that must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa):The metric unit for air pressure.
There are 6.9 kPa's to one psi.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:A tire used on light duty
trucks and some multipurpose passenger vehicles.
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Tread Width:The width of the tire's tread.
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 5-72.
Vehicle Capacity Weight:Is the number of designated
seating positions multiplied by 150 pounds (68 kg)
plus the rated cargo load. See
Loading Your Vehicle
on page 4-32
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 original equipment tire size and
the recommended cold in¯ation pressure. See
Loading
Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
In¯ation Ð Tire Pressure
The tire and loading information label, shows the correct
in¯ation pressures for your tires when they're cold.
ªColdº means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
Notice:
Don't let anyone tell you that underin¯ation
or overin¯ation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underin¯ation), you can get
the following:
·Too much ¯exing
·Too much heat
·Tire overloading
·Bad wear
·Bad handling
·Bad fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (overin¯ation), you
can get the following:
·Unusual wear
·Bad handling
·Rough ride
·Needless damage from road hazards
5-67

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
selection width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the Unites States National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, which grades tires by treadwear,
traction and temperature performance. (This applies
only to vehicles sold in the United States.) The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading system does not
apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver
or temporary use spare tires, tires with nominal rim
diameters of 10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to federal safety
requirements.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a speci®ed government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1
1¤2) 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 signi®cantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction Ð AA, A, B, C
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 speci®ed 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.
5-72

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 vehicle.{CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control. You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
Notice:The wrong wheel can also cause problems
with bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and chassis.
See
Changing a Flat Tire on page 5-77for more
information.
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