Tire chains, Tire changing, If a tire goes flat – Saturn 2009 ASTRA User Manual

Page 244

Advertising
background image

Tire Chains

{

CAUTION

Do not use tire chains. There is
not enough clearance. Tire chains
used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes,
suspension or other vehicle parts.
The area damaged by the tire
chains could cause you to lose
control of the vehicle and you or
others may be injured in a crash.

Use another type of traction
device only if its manufacturer
recommends it for use on the
vehicle and tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer’s instructions. To
help avoid damage to the vehicle,
drive slowly, readjust or remove
the device if it is contacting the
vehicle, and do not spin the
vehicle’s wheels. If you do find
traction devices that will fit,
install them on the front tires.

Tire Changing

If a Tire Goes Flat

It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your vehicle’s tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if you should ever have a
blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:

If a front tire fails, the flat tire creates
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 blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction you
would use in a skid. In any rear
blowout 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.

{

CAUTION

Lifting a vehicle and getting under
it to do maintenance or repairs is
dangerous without the appropriate
safety equipment and training. If a
jack is provided with the vehicle,
it is designed only for changing a
flat tire. If it is used for anything
else, you or others could be badly
injured or killed if the vehicle slips
off the jack. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, only use it for
changing a flat tire.

If a tire goes flat, the next part
shows how to use the jacking
equipment to change a flat tire
safely.

9-60

Vehicle Service and Care

Advertising