Tires & Wheels Chevrolet Chevy Express H2500

Specifications

Fastener Tightening Specifications

Scheme 1

Inspection Procedure

1. Inspect the front tire wear.
2. Inspect the rear tire wear.
3. Rotate the tires if any of the following conditions exist: The amount of time or mileage since the last tire rotation matches the maintenance schedule. The outer tread blocks are worn more than the middle tread blocks (1). The outer tread blocks are worn more than the inner tread blocks (2). The middle tread blocks are worn more than the outer tread blocks (4).
4. Measure the wheel alignment if any of the following conditions exist: The tread blocks have feathered edges (3). The outer tread blocks are worn more than the inner tread blocks (2). The inner tread blocks are worn more than the outer tread blocks (2).
5. Inspect the struts or the shock absorbers if the tire tread exhibits a cupped appearance (3).

Scheme 2

Tire waddle is a side to side movement at the front of the vehicle and/or the rear of the vehicle. Tire waddle can be caused by the following conditions

1. A steel belt not being straight within the tire
2. Excessive lateral runout of the tire
3. Excessive lateral runout of the wheel The tire waddle is most noticeable at a low speed of about 8-48 km/h (5-30 mph). Tire waddle may appear as ride roughness at 80-113 km/h (50-70 mph). Tire waddle may appear as a vibration at 80-113 km/h (50-70 mph).

1. Raise and support the vehicle with safety stands. CAUTION: Wear gloves when inspecting the tires in order to prevent personal injury from steel belts sticking through the tire.
2. Perform the following preliminary inspection: Mark the tire with a crayon in order to note the start and the stop position. Rotate each tire and wheel by hand. Inspect the tire for bulges or bent wheels. Replace as necessary.
3. Use tire substitution in order to identify the faulty tire. Perform the following steps for a tire substitution check: Use a comparable tire in order to replace each tire, one at a time. Test drive the vehicle. If the problem is tire or wheel related, you will eliminate the problem when you remove the faulty tire from the vehicle.

Wheel Mounting Surface Check

Replace any wheels that are bent or dented, or have excessive lateral or radial runout. Wheels with runout greater than specified may cause objectionable vibrations.

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1. Use a straight edge 203-229 mm (8-9 in) long. Place the straight edge on the wheel inboard mounting surface. Try to rock the straight edge up and down within the mounting surface.
2. Repeat this procedure on at least 3-4 different positions on the inboard mounting surface. The outer ring of the mounting surface normally is raised above everything inside the mounting surface. The mounting surface will be raised above the outer ring if the wheel mounting surface has been bent on a tire changer. If you can rock the straight edge, the mounting surface is bent and you must replace the wheel.
3. Inspect the mounting wheel/nut holes for damage caused from over-torquing the wheel/nuts. Inspect for collapsed wheel/nut bosses. Inspect for cracked wheel bosses. NOTE: The use of non-GM original equipment wheels may cause: Damage to the wheel bearing, the wheel fasteners and the wheel Tire damage caused by the modified clearance to the adjacent vehicle components Adverse vehicle steering stability caused by the modified scrub radius Damage to the vehicle caused by the modified ground clearance Speedometer and odometer inaccuracy Important : Replacement wheels must be equivalent to the original equipment wheels in the following ways: The load capacity The wheel diameter The rim width The wheel offset The mounting configuration A wheel of the incorrect size or type may affect the following conditions: Wheel and hub-bearing life Brake cooling Speedometer/odometer calibration Vehicle ground clearance Tire clearance to the body and the chassis
4. Replace the wheel if the wheel is bent.
5. Replace the wheel if the wheel/nut boss area is cracked. Identify steel wheels with a 2 or 3-letter code stamped into the rim near the valve stem. Aluminum wheels have the code, the part number, and the manufacturer identification cast into the back side of the wheel.

Scheme 6

Aluminum Wheel Porosity Repair

1. Remove the tire and wheel. Refer to «Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation»(/chevrolet/chevy-express-h2500/2003-2003/remont/wheel-tire-system/#tires-wheels__tire-and-wheel-removal-and-installation) .
2. Inflate the tire to the manufactures specified pressure as stated on the tire.
3. Submerge the tire/wheel into a water bath in order to locate the leak.
4. Inscribe a mark on the wheel in order to indicate the leak areas.
5. Inscribe a mark on the tire at the valve stem in order to Indicate the orientation of the tire to the wheel.
6. Remove the tire from the wheel. Refer to «Tire Mounting and Dismounting»(/chevrolet/chevy-express-h2500/2003-2003/remont/wheel-tire-system/#tires-wheels__tire-mounting-and-dismounting) . Important : Do not damage the exterior surface of the wheel.
7. Use number 80 grit sandpaper to scuff the inside of the rim surface at the leak area.
8. Use general purpose cleaner such as 3M®, P/N 08984 or equivalent, to clean the leak area.
9. Apply 3 mm (0.12 in) thick layer of adhesive/sealant, GM P/N 12378478 (Canadian P/N 88900041) or equivalent, to the leak area.
10. Allow for the adhesive/sealant to dry.
11. Align the inscribed mark on the tire with the valve stem on the wheel.
12. Install the tire to the wheel. Refer to «Tire Mounting and Dismounting»(/chevrolet/chevy-express-h2500/2003-2003/remont/wheel-tire-system/#tires-wheels__tire-mounting-and-dismounting) .
13. Inflate the tire to the manufactures specified pressure as stated on the tire.
14. Submerge the tire/wheel into a water bath in order ensure the leak is sealed.
15. Balance the tire and wheel.
16. Install the tire and wheel. Refer to «Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation»(/chevrolet/chevy-express-h2500/2003-2003/remont/wheel-tire-system/#tires-wheels__tire-and-wheel-removal-and-installation) .
17. Lower the vehicle.

Aluminum Wheel Refinishing

A protective clear coating covers the surface of original equipment cast aluminum wheels. A surface degradation may develop if frequent automatic car wash cleaning wears off the factory applied protective clear coating. This can happen at some automatic car wash facilities that use aggressive brushes to clean whitewalls and tires. Once you damage the protective clear coating, exposure to caustic cleaners and road salt can cause further surface deterioration. Damage to the protective clear coating is corrected by replacing the damaged wheel. Refinishing is no longer recommended.

Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation

Tools Required

J 39544-KIT Complete Torque Socket Set

Important : Removing wheels can be difficult because of foreign material or a tight fit between the wheel center hole and the hub or rotor. Excessive force, such as hammering on the wheel or tire, can cause damage. Slightly tapping the tire side wall with a rubber mallet is acceptable.

1. Tighten all wheel nuts on the affected wheel.
2. Loosen each wheel nut two turns.
3. Rock the vehicle from side to side in order to loosen the wheel. If this does not loosen the wheel, rock the vehicle front to back applying quick hard jabs to the brake pedal to loosen the wheel.
4. Repeat this procedure if the wheel does not break free.

Scheme 7

1. Raise the vehicle. Support the vehicle with suitable safety stands.
2. Remove the wheel nuts from the tire and wheel.
3. Mark the location of the tire and wheel to the hub assembly.
4. Remove the tire and wheel from the vehicle.
5. Clean the wheel nuts, studs and the wheel and rotor mounting surfaces.

Installation Procedure

Scheme 8

Scheme 9

1. Install the tire and wheel. Align the locating mark of the tire and wheel to the hub. NOTE: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems. Important : Tighten the nuts evenly and alternately in order to avoid excessive runout.
2. Install the wheel nuts. Tighten Tighten the wheel nuts as shown for single wheels to 190 N.m (140 lb ft). Tighten the wheel nuts as shown for dual wheels to 240 N.m (175 1b ft).
3. Remove the safety stands.
4. Lower the vehicle.

Tire Repair

Many different materials and techniques are available on the market in order to repair tires. Not all of the materials and techniques work on some types of tires. Tire manufacturers have published detailed instructions on how and when to repair tires. Obtain the instructions from the manufacturer. If the vehicle is equipped with a compact spare tire, do not repair the compact spare.

Tire Mounting and Dismounting

1. Deflate the tire completely. Important : Rim-clamp European-type tire changers are recommended.
2. Use the tire changer in order to remove the tire from the wheel.
3. Use a wire brush or coarse steel wool in order to remove any rubber, light rust or corrosion from the wheel bead seats. CAUTION: When mounting the tires, use an approved tire mounting lubricant. DO NOT use silicon or corrosive base compounds to lubricate the tire bead and the wheel rim. A silicon base compound can cause the tire to slip on the rim. A corrosive type compound can cause tire or rim deterioration.
4. Apply GM P/N 12345884 (Canadian P/N 5728223) or equivalent to the tire bead and the wheel rim.
5. Use the tire changer in order to install the tire to the wheel. WARNING: To avoid serious personal injury, do not stand over tire when inflating. The bead may break when the bead snaps over the safety hump. Do not exceed 275 kPa (40 psi) pressure when inflating any tire if beads are not seated. If 275 kPa (40 psi) pressure will not seat the beads, deflate, relubricate the beads and reinflate. Overinflating may cause the bead to break and cause serious personal injury.
6. Inflate the tire to the proper air pressure.
7. Ensure that the locating rings are visible on both sides of the tire in order to verify that the tire bead is fully seated on the wheel.

Tire Rotation

In order to equalize wear, rotate the tires at the specified intervals. In addition to scheduled rotation, rotate the tire and wheel assembly whenever you notice uneven tire wear.

Radial tires tend to wear faster in the shoulder area, particularly in front positions, due to design. Radial tires in non-drive locations may develop an irregular wear pattern that can generate tire noise. This especially makes regular tire rotation necessary.

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1. For vehicles with single rear wheels (four tires), rotate the tires as shown.
2. For vehicles with single rear wheels (five tires), rotate the tires as shown.
3. For vehicles with dual rear wheels (same tire sizes and load ranges), rotate the tires as shown.
4. For vehicles with dual rear wheels (including the spare tire), rotate the tires as shown.

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Scheme 19

1. Remove the spare tire from the hoist.
2. Raise and support the vehicle.
3. If the secondary latch is engaged and the cable end is visible, perform the following procedure: Tighten the cable by turning the hoist shaft clockwise until you hear 2 clicks or feel it skip twice. You cannot overtighten the cable. Loosen the cable by turning the hoist shaft counterclockwise 3 or 4 turns. If the spare tire can be lowered, repeat steps 1 and 2 to see if the spare tire can be removed. If the spare tire cannot be lowered, turn the hoist shaft counterclockwise until approximately 15 cm (6 in) of cable is exposed. Raise and support the vehicle. Place a transmission jack, or equivalent, under the spare tire. Position the center of the transmission jack under the secondary latch release button at the center of the spare tire. Arrange the arms of the transmission jack so they will support the tire after it has been released. Raise the jack until the spare tire stops moving upward and is firmly held in place, releasing the secondary latch. Lower the tire. If the spare tire is hanging by the cable, turn the hoist shaft counterclockwise until the tire is low enough to remove.
4. If the secondary latch is engaged and the cable end is not visible, perform the following procedure: Raise and support the vehicle. Place a transmission jack, or equivalent, under the spare tire. Position the center of the transmission jack under the secondary latch release button at the center of the spare tire. Arrange the arms of the transmission jack so they will support the tire after it has been released. Raise the jack until the spare tire stops moving upward and is firmly held in place, releasing the secondary latch. Lower the tire and remove it from the jack.
5. Rotate the guide shaft to expose the retaining pin clip.
6. Remove the guide shaft retaining pin clip.
7. Remove the guide shaft retaining pin.
8. Separate the guide shaft from the hoist and remove it from the vehicle.
9. Remove the spare tire hoist retaining bolt.
10. Remove the spare tire hoist from the vehicle.

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1. Install the spare tire hoist into the slot in the rear crossmember. NOTE: Use the correct fastener in the correct location. Replacement fasteners must be the correct part number for that application. Fasteners requiring replacement or fasteners requiring the use of thread locking compound or sealant are identified in the service procedure. Do not use paints, lubricants, or corrosion inhibitors on fasteners or fastener joint surfaces unless specified. These coatings affect fastener torque and joint clamping force and may damage the fastener. Use the correct tightening sequence and specifications when installing fasteners in order to avoid damage to parts and systems.
2. Install the spare tire hoist retaining bolt. Tighten Tighten the bolt to 52 N.m (38 lb ft).
3. Install the guide shaft to the vehicle, then to the hoist. Ensure that the hole for the retaining pin in the guide shaft and the hoist are aligned.
4. Install the guide shaft retaining pin.
5. Install the guide shaft retaining pin clip.
6. Remove the safety stands and lower the vehicle.
7. Install the spare tire to the hoist and raise it into position.

General Description

The factory installed tires are designed in order to operate satisfactorily with loads up to and including the full rated load capacity when these tires are inflated to the recommended pressures.

The following factors have an important influence on tire life

1. Correct tire pressures
2. Correct wheel alignment
3. Proper driving techniques The following factors increase tire wear
4. Heavy cornering
5. Excessively rapid acceleration
6. Heavy braking

Scheme 25

The original equipment tires have tread wear indicators that show when you should replace the tires.

The location of these indicators are at 72 degree intervals around the outer diameter of the tire. The indicators appear as a 6 mm (0.25 in) wide band when the tire tread depth becomes 1.6 mm (2/32 in).

Metric Wheel Nuts and Bolts Description

Metric wheel/nuts and bolts are identified in the following way

1. The wheel/nut has the word Metric stamped on the face.
2. The letter M is stamped on the end of the wheel bolt. The thread sizes of metric wheel/nuts and the bolts are indicated by the following example: M12 x 1.5.
3. M = Metric
4. 12 = Diameter in millimeters
5. 1.5 = Millimeters gap per thread

Tire Inflation Description

When you inflate the tires to the recommended inflation pressures, the factory-installed wheels and tires are designed in order to handle loads to the tire's rated load capacity. Incorrect tire pressures, or under-inflated tires, can cause the following conditions

Scheme 26

1. Vehicle handling concerns
2. Poor fuel economy
3. Shortened tire life
4. Tire overloading Inspect the tire pressure when the following conditions apply
5. The vehicle has been sitting at least 3 hours.
6. The vehicle has not been driven for more than 1.6 km (1 mi).
7. The tires are cool. Inspect the tires monthly or before any extended trip. Adjust the tire pressure to the specifications on the tire label. Install the valve caps or the extensions on the valves. The caps or the extensions keep out dust and water. The kilopascal (kPa) is the metric term for pressure. The tire pressure may be printed in both kilopascal (kPa) and psi. One psi equals 6.9 kPa. Tires with a higher than recommended pressure can cause the following conditions
8. A hard ride
9. Tire bruising
10. Rapid tread wear at the center of the tire Tires with a lower than recommended pressure can cause the following conditions
11. A tire squeal on turns
12. Hard steering
13. Rapid wear and uneven wear on the edge of the tread
14. Tire rim bruises and tire rim rupture
15. Tire cord breakage
16. High tire temperatures
17. Reduced vehicle handling
18. High fuel consumption
19. Soft riding Unequal pressure on the same axle can cause the following conditions
20. Uneven braking
21. Steering lead
22. Reduced vehicle handling Refer to the Tire Placard for specific tire and wheel applications and tire pressures.

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Most GM vehicles are equipped with steel belted all-season radial tires as standard equipment. These tires qualify as snow tires, with a higher than average rating for snow traction than the non-all season radial tires previously used. Other performance areas, such as wet traction, rolling resistance, tread life, and air retention, are also improved. This is done by improvements in both tread design and tread compounds. These tires are identified by an M + S molded in the tire side wall after the tire size. The suffix MS is also molded in the tire side wall after the TPC specification number.

The optional handling tires used on some vehicles now also have the MS marking after the tire size and the TPC specification number.

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Most P-metric tire sizes do not have exact corresponding alphanumeric tire sizes. Replacement tires should be of the same tire performance criteria (TPC) specification number including the same size, the same load range, and the same construction as those originally installed on the vehicle. Consult a tire dealer if you must replace the P-metric tire with other sizes. Tire companies can best recommend the closest match of alphanumeric to P-metric sizes within their own tire lines.

Replacement Wheels Description

Replace the wheel if any of the following conditions exist

1. The wheel exhibits excessive runout.
2. The wheel is bent.
3. The wheel is cracked.
4. The wheel is severely rusted.
5. The wheel is severely corroded. Important : Air leaks caused by porosity on aluminum wheels are repairable.
6. The wheel leaks air. WARNING: If you are replacing the wheel(s), the wheel stud(s), the wheel nut(s) or the wheel bolt(s), install only new GM original equipment parts. Installation of used parts or non-GM original equipment parts may cause the wheel to loosen, loss of tire air pressure, poor vehicle handling and loss of vehicle control resulting in personal injury. CAUTION: The use of non-GM original equipment wheels may cause
7. Damage to the wheel bearing, the wheel fasteners and the wheel
8. Tire damage caused by the modified clearance to the adjacent vehicle components
9. Adverse vehicle steering stability caused by the modified scrub radius
10. Damage to the vehicle caused by the modified ground clearance
11. Speedometer and odometer inaccuracy Replace the wheel, the wheel studs and the wheel/nuts, or the wheel bolts if applicable, if any of the following conditions exist
12. The wheel has elongated bolt holes.
13. The wheel/nuts, or bolts if applicable, loosen repeatedly. Steel wheel identification is stamped into the wheel near the valve stem. Aluminum wheel identification is cast into the inboard side of the wheel.

Steel Wheel Repair Description

Note. Do not heat wheels in an attempt to soften them for straightening or repair damage from striking curbs, etc. Do not weld wheels. The alloy used in these wheels is heat-treated and uncontrolled heating from welding affects the properties of the material.

Note. The use of tubes in tubeless tires is not a recommended repair due to the fact that speed ratings are greatly reduced.

You can repair porosity in aluminum wheels. If leaks are found in a steel wheel, replace the wheel with a wheel of original equipment quality.

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See also:
• Tire and Wheel Removal and Installation
• Tire Mounting and Dismounting