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This page is taken directly from our online manual 24067 for the 2007-2013 Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra 1500, 2500 & 3500, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC Yukon, Yukon Denali, and Yukon XL. It will guide you in the periodic check of your tire air pressure, and inspection for leaks and abnormal wear, which is recommended once a week or every 250 miles. Every 6,000 miles or 6 months you should also rotate your tires, which is easy to do when you have the truck off the ground to change the oil.
Tire and tire pressure checks (every 250 miles or weekly)
- Periodic inspection of the tires may spare you the inconvenience of being stranded with a flat tire. It can also provide you with vital information regarding possible problems in the steering and suspension systems before major damage occurs.
- The original tires on this vehicle are equipped with 1/2-inch wide wear bands that will appear when tread depth reaches 1/16-inch, at which point the tires can be considered worn out. Tread wear can be more accurately monitored with a simple, inexpensive device known as a tread depth indicator (see illustration).
Illustration 5.2 Use a tire tread depth indicator to monitor tire wear
- Note any abnormal tread wear (see illustration). Tread pattern irregularities such as cupping, flat spots and more wear on one side than the other are indications of front end alignment and/or balance problems. If any of these conditions are noted, take the vehicle to a tire shop or service station to correct the problem.
Illustration 5.3 This chart will help you determine the condition of the tires and the probable cause(s) of abnormal wear
- Look closely for cuts, punctures and embedded nails or tacks. Sometimes a tire will hold air pressure for a short time or leak down very slowly after a nail has embedded itself in the tread. If a slow leak persists, check the valve stem core to make sure it’s tight (see illustration) . Examine the tread for an object that may have embedded itself in the tire or for a plug that may have begun to leak (radial tire punctures are repaired with a plug that’s installed in a puncture). If a puncture is suspected, it can be easily verified by spraying a solution of soapy water onto the puncture area (see illustration) . The soapy solution will bubble if there’s a leak. Unless the puncture is unusually large, a tire shop or service station can usually repair the tire.
Illustration 5.4a If a tire loses air on a steady basis, check the valve stem core first to make sure it’s snug (valve core drivers are commonly available at auto parts stores)
Illustration 5.4b If the valve stem core is tight, raise the corner of the vehicle with the low tire and spray a soapy water solution onto the tread as the tire is turned slowly - leaks will cause small bubbles to appear
- Carefully inspect the inner sidewall of each tire for evidence of brake fluid leakage. If you see any, inspect the brakes immediately.
- Correct air pressure adds miles to the lifespan of the tires, improves mileage and enhances overall ride quality. Tire pressure cannot be accurately estimated by looking at a tire, especially if it’s a radial. A tire pressure gauge is essential. Keep an accurate gauge in the vehicle. The pressure gauges attached to the nozzles of air hoses at gas stations are often inaccurate.
- Always check tire pressure when the tires are cold. Cold, in this case, means the vehicle has not been driven over a mile in the three hours preceding a tire pressure check. A pressure rise of four to eight pounds is not uncommon once the tires are warm.
- Unscrew the valve cap protruding from the wheel or hubcap and push the gauge firmly onto the valve stem (see illustration) . Note the reading on the gauge and compare the figure to the recommended tire pressure shown on the placard on the driver’s side door pillar. Be sure to reinstall the valve cap to keep dirt and moisture out of the valve stem mechanism. Check all four tires and, if necessary, add enough air to bring them up to the recommended pressure.
Illustration 5.8 To extend the life of the tires, check the air pressure at least once a week with an accurate gauge (don’t forget the spare!)
- Don’t forget to keep the spare tire inflated to the specified pressure (see your owner’s manual or the tire sidewall).
Tire rotation (every 6000 miles or 6 months)
- The tires should be rotated at the specified intervals and whenever uneven wear is noticed.
- Tires must be rotated in the recommended pattern (see illustration).
Illustration 15.2 The recommended four-tire rotation pattern for non-directional radial tires
- Refer to the information under "Jacking and Towing" in the first section of your Haynes manual for the proper procedures to follow when raising the vehicle and changing a tire. If brake wear are to be checked, don’t apply the parking brake as stated. But make sure the tires are blocked to prevent the vehicle from rolling as it’s raised.
- Preferably, the entire vehicle should be raised at the same time. This can be done on a hoist or by jacking up each end, then lowering the vehicle onto jack stands placed under the frame rails. Always use four jack stands and make sure the vehicle is safely supported.
- After rotation, check and adjust the tire pressures as necessary. Tighten the lug nuts to the proper torque:
Wheel lug nuts 140 lb-ft