If A Tire Goes Flat - GMC Chevrolet SSR 2003 Owner's Manual

If a Tire Goes Flat

Your vehicle has no spare tire, no tire changing
equipment and no place to store a tire.
It's unusual for a tire to "blow out" while you're driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. See
Tires on page 5-51. If air goes out of a tire, it's much
more likely to leak out slowly. But if you should
ever have a "blow out" here are a few tips about what to
expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blow out, particularly on a curve, acts much like
a skid and may require the same correction you'd
use in a skid. In any rear blow out, remove your foot
from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control
by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by
driving slowly to a level place and stopping. Then do this:
1. Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
2. Set the parking brake firmly.
3. Put the shift lever in PARK (P).
4. Turn off the engine.
5. Inspect the flat tire.
If the tire has been separated from the wheel or has
damaged sidewalls or large tears that allow rapid
air loss, call a tire repair facility. See Roadside
Assistance Program on page 7-5.
If the flat tire is due to a slow leak caused by a nail or
other similar road hazard, the tire inflator kit may be used
to repair the damaged tire temporarily. The kit uses a
liquid tire sealant to seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire. The flat tire is then inflated to at least
26 psi (179 kPa) and driven to evenly distribute the tire
sealant. The tire pressure is checked after driving for a
maximum of 10 minutes to see if the slow leak has been
stopped. If the tire pressure is 19 psi (131 kPa) or more,
inflate the tire up to the standard operating pressure as
shown on the tire and loading information label found on
center pillar near the door latch or on the rear edge of the
driver's door. See Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 5-56.
You should have the damaged tire repaired as soon as
possible. The tire sealant is a temporary repair only.
For more information regarding the tire inflator kit
see Tire Inflator Kit on page 5-66.
Notice: If the tire pressure has dropped below
19 psi (131 kPa), the vehicle should not be driven.
Damage to the tire may be severe and the sealant
will not be effective. Contact Roadside Assistance,
see Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-5.
5-65