traction control PONTIAC VIBE 2005 User Guide

Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire and Loading Information label. For more
information about this label and where to nd it,
seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-32.
Make sure the replacements are the same size,
load capacity, speed rating and construction type
(bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes
or types (radial and bias-belted tires), the
vehicle may not handle properly, and you
could have a crash. Using tires of different
sizes may also cause damage to your vehicle.
Be sure to use the same size and type tires
on all wheels. It’s all right to drive with your
compact spare temporarily, it was developed
for use on your vehicle. SeeCompact Spare
Tire on page 5-86.
{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim anges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving. A tire and/or wheel
could fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only
radial-ply tires with the wheels on your vehicle.
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.
5-70

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 specied government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and
a half (1
12) 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 signicantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction — 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 specied 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 — 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 specied 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 inated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underination, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
5-71

Light (cont.)
Highbeam On.............................................3-40
Lights On Reminder.....................................3-39
Low Fuel Warning.......................................3-41
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light...................3-33
Low Washer Fluid Warning...........................3-40
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-35
Oil Pressure...............................................3-38
Overdrive Off..............................................3-40
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-30
Safety Belt Reminder...................................3-28
Stabilitrak
®Indicator.....................................3-34
Taillamp Indicator.........................................3-39
TCS Warning Light......................................3-34
Traction Control System (TCS) Warning..........3-34
Lighting
Entry.........................................................3-16
Locks
Door........................................................... 2-7
Power Door.................................................. 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks.............................2-10
Loss of Control...............................................4-16
Low Fuel Warning Light...................................3-41
Low Washer Fluid Warning Light.......................3-40
M
Maintenance, Normal Replacement Parts..........5-102
Maintenance Schedule
At Each Fuel Fill.........................................6-13
At Least Once a Month................................6-13
At Least Once a Year..................................6-14
At Least Twice a Year..................................6-14
Brake System Inspection..............................6-18
Engine Cooling System Inspection.................6-18
Exhaust System Inspection...........................6-17
Fuel System Inspection................................6-17
How This Section is Organized....................... 6-3
Introduction.................................................. 6-2
Maintenance Requirements............................. 6-2
Part A - Scheduled Maintenance Services......... 6-4
Part B - Owner Checks and Services.............6-13
Part C - Periodic Maintenance Inspections......6-17
Part D - Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants...............................................6-19
Part E - Maintenance Record........................6-21
Scheduled Maintenance................................. 6-4
Steering, Suspension and Front Drive Axle
Boot and Seal Inspection..........................6-17
Throttle System Inspection............................6-18
Using Your................................................... 6-4
Your Vehicle and the Environment................... 6-2
8

Tires.............................................................5-57
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning..........................5-92
Buying New Tires........................................5-70
Chains.......................................................5-73
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-75
Cleaning....................................................5-92
Compact Spare Tire.....................................5-86
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-74
Ination -- Tire Pressure...............................5-64
Inspection and Rotation................................5-68
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-78
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-65
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-78
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-76
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-84
Tire Sidewall Labelling..................................5-58
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-61
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-70
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-72
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-72
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-69
Top Strap......................................................1-35
Top Strap Anchor Location...............................1-37Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-37
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-40
Your Vehicle...............................................4-37
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 4-9
Control System Warning Light.......................3-34
Stabilitrak
®System......................................4-10
Transaxle
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-23
Fluid, Manual..............................................5-26
Transaxle Operation, Automatic.........................2-22
Transaxle Operation, Manual............................2-25
Trip Odometers..............................................3-27
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
U
Understanding Radio Reception........................3-64
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-70
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