Buying New Tires - GMC Sierra 2008 Owner's Manual

Buying New Tires

GM has developed and matched specific tires for
your vehicle. The original equipment tires installed
on your vehicle, when it was new, were designed
to meet General Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC spec) system rating. If you need
replacement tires, GM strongly recommends that
you get tires with the same TPC Spec rating. This
way, your vehicle will continue to have tires that are
designed to give the same performance and vehicle
safety, during normal use, as the original tires.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specifications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling, traction control, and
tire pressure monitoring performance. GM's TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire's sidewall near the
tire size. If the tires have an all-season tread design,
the TPC spec number will be followed by a MS,
for mud and snow. See Tire Sidewall Labeling
on page 5-70 for additional information.
5-86
GM recommends replacing tires in sets of four (or six
if your vehicle has dual rear wheels). This is because
uniform tread depth on all tires will help keep your
vehicle performing most like it did when the tires were
new. Replacing less than a full set of tires can affect
the braking and handling performance of your vehicle.
See Tire Inspection and Rotation on page 5-83 for
information on proper tire rotation.
CAUTION:
{
Mixing tires could cause you to lose
control while driving. If you mix tires
of different sizes, brands, or types
(radial and bias-belted tires) the vehicle
may not handle properly, and you could
have a crash. Using tires of different
sizes, brands, or types may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to
use the correct size, brand, and type
of tires on your vehicle's wheels.