GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers.

Caution: Changing a tire can be dangerous. The vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over or fall on you or other people. You and they could be badly injured or even killed. Find a level place to change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle from moving:

  1. Set the parking brake firmly.
  2. Put the shift lever in P (Park).
  3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle is raised.
  4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle will not move, you should put blocks at the front and rear of the tire farthest away from the one being changed. That would be the tire, on the other side, at the opposite end of the vehicle.


Object Number: 810330  Size: B4

The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire.

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools

The equipment you'll need is in the trunk.


    Object Number: 812646  Size: A2

    Turn the center retainer nut on the compact spare tire cover counterclockwise to remove it.

  1. Lift and remove the cover.
  2. You will find the jacking instructions label on the underside of the tire cover.


    Object Number: 809874  Size: A2
  3. Turn the wing nut counterclockwise and remove it. Then lift off the adapter and remove the compact spare tire. See Compact Spare Tire for more information about the compact spare tire.
  4. Remove the jack and wrench from the trunk. Your vehicle's jack and wrench are stored in a foam tray.

Object Number: 810243  Size: B3

The tools you'll be using include the jack (A) and the wrench (B).

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire

  1. If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap that has plastic wheel nut caps, loosen the plastic nut caps. You may need to use the wheel wrench to loosen them. Do not pry off wheel covers or center caps that have plastic wheel nut caps.

  2. Object Number: 812275  Size: B3
  3. Then remove the wheel cover or center cap from the wheel to find the wheel nuts.

  4. Object Number: 809850  Size: B3
  5. If your vehicle has a wheel cover or hubcap without plastic wheel nut caps, gently pry on the edge of the plastic wheel trim to remove it from the wheel to find the wheel nuts.

  6. Object Number: 809981  Size: B3
  7. Use the wrench to loosen all the wheel nuts. Don't remove them yet.

  8. Object Number: 810377  Size: B3
  9. Position the jack and raise the jack head until it fits firmly into the notch in the vehicle's frame nearest the flat tire. Put the compact spare tire near you.
  10. Caution: Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack you could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

    Caution: Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly positioned can damage the vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal injury and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising the vehicle.


    Object Number: 806361  Size: B3
  11. Raise the vehicle by turning the wrench clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the compact spare tire to fit.
  12. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
  13. Then take off the flat tire.

  14. Object Number: 811105  Size: A2
  15. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces and spare wheel.
  16. Caution: Rust or dirt on a wheel or other parts to which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts become loose and eventually the wheel could come off and cause a crash. Always remove all rust and dirt from wheels and other parts.

    Caution: Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts because the nuts might come loose. The vehicle's wheel could fall off, causing a crash.


    Object Number: 810375  Size: B3
  17. Install the compact spare tire. Put the wheel nuts back on with the cone end of the nuts toward the wheel. Tighten each nut by hand or with the wrench until the wheel is held against the hub.

  18. Object Number: 812488  Size: B3
  19. Lower the vehicle by turning the wrench counterclockwise. Lower the jack completely.

  20. Object Number: 808642  Size: A2
  21. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown.

Caution: Incorrect or improperly tightened wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose and even come off. This could lead to a crash. If you have to replace them, be sure to get new original equipment wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for wheel nut torque specification.

Notice: Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper torque specification. See Capacities and Specifications for the wheel nut torque specification.

Don't try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare tire. It won't fit. Store the wheel cover and wheel nut caps in the trunk until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.

Notice: Wheel covers will not fit on your vehicle's compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact spare, the cover or the spare could be damaged.

Storing the Flat Tire and Tools

Caution: Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place.

Store the flat tire in the compact spare tire compartment. Place the tire in the compartment, then secure the adapter and wing nut. Place the cover and the nut on top of the flat tire. Store the jack and the wrench in the tool tray.


Object Number: 838762  Size: B3
  1. Nut

  2. Cover

  3. Wing Bolt

  4. Adapter

  5. Wrench

  6. Jack

  7. Tool Tray

  8. Flat Tire

Storing the Spare Tire and Tools

Caution: Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle could cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place.

The compact spare tire is for temporary use only. Replace the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon as you can. See "Compact Spare Tire" following. Store the compact spare tire and tools as shown in the diagram.


Object Number: 838762  Size: B3
  1. Nut

  2. Cover

  3. Wing Bolt

  4. Adapter

  5. Wrench

  6. Jack

  7. Tool Tray

  8. Spare Tire