How To Check; Tire Inspection And Rotation - Chevrolet 2004 Malibu Owner's Manual

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. Check the tire's
inflation pressure when the tires are cold. Cold means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage firmly onto the valve to get a
pressure measurement. If the cold tire inflation pressure
matches the recommended pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label, no further adjustment is
necessary. If the inflation pressure is low, add air
until you reach the recommended amount.
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck
the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and
moisture.
5-58

Tire Inspection and Rotation

Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 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 Is Time for
New Tires on page 5-59 and Wheel Replacement on
page 5-62 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
on page 6-4, for scheduled rotation intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.