GOODYEAR'S EXTENDED MOBILITY TIRE (INFORMATIONAL). Chevrolet Corvette 1995

REVISION: 05/13/97

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO ADD MODEL YEARS AND UPDATE INFORMATION. PLEASE DISCARD CORPORATE BULLETIN NUMBER 333502 (SECTION 3 - STEERING/SUSPENSION). ----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUBJECT: INFORMATION - GOODYEAR'S EXTENDED MOBILITY TIRE (SERVICING TECHNIQUES)

MODELS: 1994-97 CHEVROLET CORVETTE

FOR THE 1997 MODEL YEAR, ALL CORVETTES WILL BE EQUIPPED WITH NEW EXTENDED MOBILITY TIRES (EMT) AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT. SIMILAR EMT TIRES HAVE BEEN OPTIONAL ON CORVETTES SINCE THE 1994 MODEL YEAR. THESE 1997 EMT TIRES WILL HAVE A BRAND NAME OF GOODYEAR EAGLE F1-GS. THE FRONT TIRE SIZE IS P245/45ZR17, AND THE REAR SIZE IS P275/40ZR18.

THE EMT IS A "RUNFLAT" TIRE THAT CAN BE DRIVEN FOR UP TO 200 MILES, AT SPEEDS UP TO 55 MPH, WITH ZERO INFLATION PRESSURE. THE EAGLE EMT PERFORMS SO WELL WITHOUT ANY AIR, THAT A TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR IS STANDARD ON THE CORVETTE TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT A TIRE HAS LOST PRESSURE. EACH TIRE'S VALVE STEM HAS A SENSOR WHICH TRANSMITS INFLATION PRESSURES TO A RECEIVER ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.

IF AN EAGLE F1-GS EMT HAS BEEN OPERATED AT LOW OR ZERO INFLATION PRESSURE, OR IF ANY OTHER TIRE RELATED CONDITION IS NOTED, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE NEAREST GOODYEAR EMT SERVICING FACILITY. GOODYEAR HAS ESTABLISHED A SERVICE LOCATOR NUMBER, 1-800-789-9878. THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO LOCATED IN THE OWNER'S TIRE WARRANTY BOOKLET. GOODYEAR'S ASSISTANCE NUMBER IS 1-888-OE-SERVICE.

DUE TO THE TIRE'S UNIQUE REINFORCED SIDEWALL, SOME SPECIAL SERVICING TECHNIQUES ARE REQUIRED. THIS MAINLY PERTAINS TO MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING THE TIRE FROM THE WHEEL.

CAUTION:

INFLATION PRESSURE EXCEEDING 40 PSI MAY BE REQUIRED TO SEAT THE BEADS DURING MOUNTING. TO PREVENT POSSIBLE SERIOUS INJURY, ONLY SPECIALLY TRAINED TIRE TECHNICIANS SHOULD MOUNT OR DISMOUNT THESE TIRES. A TIRE INFLATION SAFETY CAGE, AND A CLIP ON AIR HOSE MUST BE USED. A RIM CLAMP/EUROPEAN TYPE TIRE CHANGER, SUCH AS THE "HUNTER TC 350"*, IS ALSO RECOMMENDED TO MOUNT OR DISMOUNT EAGLE EMT TIRES.

IF AN EAGLE EMT MUST BE DISMOUNTED FOR NON TIRE RELATED REASONS, SUCH AS WHEEL, VALVE, OR SENSOR REPLACEMENT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE SUBLET TO AN AUTHORIZED GOODYEAR EMT SERVICING FACILITY. IF, HOWEVER, YOUR DEALERSHIP HAS THE QUALIFIED PERSONNEL, AND THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, THE TIRE CAN BE DISMOUNTED. EXTREME CARE MUST BE TAKEN THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SENSOR AND O-RING INSIDE THE TIRE IS NOT DAMAGED. SOME TIRE CHANGER COMPANIES, SUCH AS "COATS" AND "HUNTER"*, HAVE PUT TOGETHER A PROCEDURE BOOKLET FOR THE EAGLE EMT.

WHEEL BALANCING PROCEDURES FOR THE EAGLE EMT ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF CONVENTIONAL TIRES.

GOODYEAR HAS PROVIDED 4 PLASTIC SHEETS INCLUDED WITH THIS BULLETIN TO ILLUSTRATE THE PROPER MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING PROCEDURES FOR THE 1994-96 MODELS AND THE 1997 MODEL. THESE SHEETS SHOULD BE KEPT WITH THE TIRE CHANGER SO THEY WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE.

*WE BELIEVE THESE SOURCES AND THEIR EQUIPMENT TO BE RELIABLE. THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURERS OF SUCH EQUIPMENT. GENERAL MOTORS DOES NOT ENDORSE, INDICATE ANY PREFERENCE FOR OR ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PRODUCTS OR EQUIPMENT FROM THESE FIRMS OR FOR ANY SUCH ITEMS WHICH MAY BE AVAILABLE FROM OTHER SOURCES.

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 04 (FOUR DOUBLE-SIDED PLASTIC COATED SHEETS WILL BE PROVIDED DIRECTLY TO VISPAC TO BE ENCLOSED WITH MAILING OF BULLETIN).

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.