Tyres; Buying New Tyres - Chevrolet 2012 Malibu Owner's Manual

9-52 Vehicle Care
When It Is Time for
New Tyres
Factors such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road conditions
affect the wear rate of the tyres.
Tread wear indicators are one way
to tell when it is time for new tyres.
Tread wear indicators appear when
the tyres have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. See Tyre
Inspection on page 9‑50 and Tyre
Rotation on page 9‑50 for more
information.
The rubber in tyres ages over time.
This also applies for the spare tyre,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple conditions
including temperatures, load
conditions, and inflation pressure
maintenance affect how fast ageing
takes place. Tyres will typically need
to be replaced due to wear before
they may need to be replaced due
to age. Consult the tyre
manufacturer for more information
on when tyres should be replaced.
Vehicle Storage
Tyres age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow ageing. This area should be
free of grease, petrol, or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tyres that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tyres
or raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tyres.

Buying New Tyres

GM has developed and matched
specific tyres for the vehicle.
The original equipment tyres
installed were designed to meet
General Motors Tyre
Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec)
system rating. When
replacement tyres are needed,
GM strongly recommends
buying tyres with the same
TPC Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec
system considers over a dozen
critical specifications that impact
the overall performance of the
vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tyre
pressure monitoring