When It Is Time For New Tires; Buying New Tires - Pontiac 2009 Vibe Owner's Manual

9-54 Vehicle Service and Care
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Various factors, such as
maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading,
and road conditions influence
when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it is time for
new tires is to check the treadwear
indicators, which will appear
when the tires have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread remaining.
You need new tires 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.
•
The tire has a puncture, cut, or
other damage that cannot be
repaired well because of the
size or location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over
time, even if they are not being used.
This is also true for the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one. Multiple
conditions affect how fast this aging
takes place, including temperatures,
loading conditions, and inflation
pressure maintenance. With proper
care and maintenance tires typically
wear out before they degrade due to
age. If you are unsure about the
need to replace the tires as they get
older, consult the tire manufacturer
for more information.

Buying New Tires

GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. If you
need replacement tires, GM strongly
recommends that you get tires that
are the same size, brand, load range,
speed rating, and construction type
(radial and bias-belted tires) as the
vehicle's original tires. This way, the
vehicle will continue to have tires
that are designed to give the same
performance and vehicle safety,
during normal use, as the original
tires. See Tire Sidewall Labeling on
page 9-42 for additional information.