How To Check; Inflation -- Tire Pressure; When To Check; Tire Inspection And Rotation - Pontiac Sunfire 2003 Owner's Manual

Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the rear
edge of the driver's door, shows the correct inflation
pressures for your tires when they're cold. "Cold" means
your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours
or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Notice: Don't let anyone tell you that underinflation
or overinflation is all right. It's not. If your tires
don't have enough air (underinflation), you can get
the following:
•
Too much flexing
•
Too much heat
•
Tire overloading
•
Bad wear
•
Bad handling
•
Bad fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you
can get the following:
•
Unusual wear
•
Bad handling
•
Rough ride
•
Needless damage from road hazards
5-50

When to Check

Check your tires once a month or more.
Don't forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60 psi (420 kPa).

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.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.

Tire Inspection and Rotation

Tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 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 5-52 and Wheel Replacement
on page 5-55 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 "Part A: Scheduled
Maintenance Services," in Section 6, for scheduled
rotation intervals.