Chevrolet Spark Owners Manual: If a Tire Goes Flat
This vehicle has a tire sealant and compressor kit. See Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit on page 10-56.
There is no spare tire, no tire changing equipment, and no place to store a tire.
It is unusual for a tire to blow out, especially if the tires are maintained properly. See Tires on page 10-36.
air goes out of a tire, it is much more likely to leak out slowly. But if there is ever a blowout, here are a few tips about what to expect and what to do.
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create 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 off the road, if possible.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may require the same correction as used in a skid. Stop pressing the accelerator pedal and steer to straighten the vehicle. It may be very bumpy and noisy. Gently brake to a stop, well off the road, if possible.
Warning
Driving on a flat tire will cause permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has been driven on while severely underinflated or flat may cause a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire that has been driven on while severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized tire service center repair or replace the flat tire as soon as possible.
Warning
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, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place, well off the road, if possible.
- Turn on the hazard warning flashers. See Hazard Warning Flashers on page 6-3.
- Park the vehicle. Set the parking brake firmly and put the shift lever in P (Park). See Shifting Into Park on page 9-18.
- Turn off the engine.
- Inspect the flat tire.
If the tire has been separated from the wheel, has damaged sidewalls, or has a puncture larger than a 6 mm (0.25 in), the tire is too severely damaged for the tire sealant and compressor kit to be effective.
If the tire has a puncture less than a 6 mm (0.25 in) in the tread area of the tire, see Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit on page 10-56.
Tire Chains
Warning
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 pa ...
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
Warning
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or smelled ...
Other materials:
What to Use
Warning
Adding only plain water or some other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water and other liquids, can boil before the proper coolant
mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine coul ...
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that correspond to the vehicle's three control
systems:
Braking Skid - wheels are not rolling.
Steering or Cornering Skid - too much speed or steering in a curve causes
tires to slip and lose cornering force.
Acceleration Skid - too much thro ...
If No Steam Is Coming from the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is displayed but no steam can be seen or heard,
the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot
when the vehicle:
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
Stops after high-speed driving.
Idles for long periods in traffic.
If the ...
