Tire Description

Tire Description

Caution: Do not mix different types of tires on the some vehicle such as radial, bias, and bias-belted tires except in emergencies because vehicle handling may be seriously affected and may result in loss of control and possible serious injury.







This vehicle is equipped with speed rated tires. Listed are the common speed rating symbols and the corresponding maximum speeds.

A Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) specification number is molded in the sidewall near the tire size of all original equipment tires. Usually, a specific TPC number is assigned to each tire size. The TPC specification number assures that the tire meets the following GM's performance standards.
- Meets the standards for traction.
- Meets the standards for endurance.
- Meets the standards for dimension.
- Meets the standards for noise.
- Meets the standards for handling.
- Meets the standards for rolling resistance, and others.

The following is required of replacement tires:
- Replacement tires must be of the same size as the original tires.
- Replacement tires must be of the same speed rating as the original tires.
- Replacement tires must be of the same load index as the original tires.
- Replacement tires must be of the same construction as the original tires.
- Replacement tires must have the same TPC specification number as the original tires.

The following may seriously be affected by the use of any other tire size, tire speed rating or tire type:
- May seriously affect the ride.
- May seriously affect the handling.
- May seriously affect the speedometer/odometer calibration.
- May seriously affect the antilock brake system.
- May seriously affect the vehicle ground clearance.
- May seriously affect the trailering capacity.
- May seriously affect the tire clearance to the body.
- May seriously affect the tire clearance to the chassis.





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.