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Caution (Continued)‌

which they are installed. Do not apply heat or blow heated air

directly on the tires. Always inspect tires before use. See Tire Inspection 0 361.

Tire Sidewall Labeling

Useful information about a tire is molded into its sidewall. The

examples show a typical passenger vehicle tire and a compact spare

tire sidewall.

Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example

(1) Tire Size : The tire size is a combination of letters and

numbers used to define a

particular tire's width, height,

aspect ratio, construction type, and service description. See the

“Tire Size” illustration later in this

section.

(2) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria Specification) : Original equipment tires designed to GM's specific tire performance criteria have a TPC specification code

VEHICLE CARE 351

molded onto the sidewall. GM's

TPC specifications meet or exceed all federal safety guidelines.

(3) DOT (Department of Transportation) : The

Department of Transportation

(DOT) code indicates that the tire is in compliance with the U.S.

Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

DOT Tire Date of Manufacture :

The last four digits of the TIN indicate the tire manufactured

date. The first two digits represent the week (01–52) and the last two

digits, the year. For example, the

third week of the year 2010 would have a four-digit DOT date

of 0310.

(4) Tire Identification Number (TIN) : The letters and numbers

following the DOT (Department of Transportation) code are the Tire

Identification Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and date the

tire was manufactured. The TIN is

352 VEHICLE CARE

molded onto both sides of the tire, although only one side may have

the date of manufacture.

(5) Tire Ply Material : The type

of cord and number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.

(6) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) : Tire

manufacturers are required to grade tires based on three

performance factors: treadwear, traction, and temperature

resistance. For more information see Uniform Tire Quality Grading 0 365.

(7) Maximum Cold Inflation

Load Limit : Maximum load that can be carried and the maximum pressure needed to support

that load.

Compact Spare Tire Example

(1) Tire Ply Material : The type

of cord and number of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.

(2) Temporary Use Only : The

compact spare tire or temporary use tire should not be driven at speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph).

The compact spare tire is for

emergency use when a regular

road tire has lost air and gone flat. If the vehicle has a compact spare tire, see Compact Spare Tire 0 381

and If a Tire Goes Flat 0 368.

(3) Tire Identification Number (TIN) : The letters and numbers

following the DOT (Department of Transportation) code are the Tire

Identification Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and date the

tire was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both sides of the tire, although only one side may have

the date of manufacture.

(4) Maximum Cold Inflation

Load Limit : Maximum load that can be carried and the maximum pressure needed to support

that load.

(5) Tire Inflation : The temporary use tire or compact spare tire

should be inflated to 420 kPa

(60 psi). For more information on tire pressure and inflation see Tire Pressure 0 356.

(6) Tire Size : A combination of

letters and numbers define a tire's width, height, aspect ratio,

construction type, and service description. The letter T as the

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