Tires: Description and Operation

General Description
The factory installed tires are designed in order to operate satisfactorily with loads up to and including the full rated load capacity when these tires are inflated to the recommended pressures.
The following factors have an important influence on tire life:
^ Correct tire pressures
^ Correct wheel alignment
^ Proper driving techniques
The following factors increase tire wear:
^ Heavy cornering
^ Excessively rapid acceleration
^ Heavy braking

All Seasons Tires Description





Most GM vehicles are equipped with steel belted all-season radial tires as standard equipment. These tires qualify as snow tires, with a higher than average rating for snow traction than the non-all season radial tires previously used. Other performance areas, such as wet traction, rolling resistance, tread life, and air retention, are also improved. This is done by improvements in both tread design and tread compounds. These tires are identified by an M + S molded in the tire side wall after the tire size. The suffix MS is also molded in the tire side wall after the TPC specification number.
The optional handling tires used on some vehicles now also have the MS marking after the tire size and the TPC specification number.

P-metric Sized Tires Description





Most P-metric tire sizes do not have exact corresponding alphanumeric tire sizes. Replacement tires should be of the same tire performance criteria (TPC) specification number including the same size, the same load range, and the same construction as those originally installed on the vehicle. Consult a tire dealer if you must replace the P-metric tire with other sizes. Tire companies can best recommend the closest match of alphanumeric to P-metric sizes within their own tire lines.