<![CDATA[GM-Volt: Chevy Volt Forum - Wheels & Tires -Chevy Volt]]> http://gm-volt.com/forum/ for discussions regarding wheels and tires for the Chevy Volt en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:53:39 GMT vBulletin 60 http://gm-volt.com/forum/images/misc/rss.png <![CDATA[GM-Volt: Chevy Volt Forum - Wheels & Tires -Chevy Volt]]> http://gm-volt.com/forum/ <![CDATA[American racing wheelswapped out OE Chevy for 17" s - recommended]]> http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?52241-American-racing-wheelswapped-out-OE-Chevy-for-17-quot-s-recommended&goto=newpost Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:48:19 GMT These are a bit heavier (22 lbs.) but I was growing tired of the bowtie center caps on conservative OE 5 spoke polished wheels. Balanced and mounted... These are a bit heavier (22 lbs.) but I was growing tired of the bowtie center caps on conservative OE 5 spoke polished wheels. Balanced and mounted on my original (3000 mile driven) Goodyear Assurance tires. Have not noticed any impact on range/mileage.

Anybody want my mint OE polished (not chrome) take offs?

sorry about the shadows - will try and get some better pics tomorrow

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]]> CarbonTax http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?52241-American-racing-wheelswapped-out-OE-Chevy-for-17-quot-s-recommended <![CDATA[It's a good idea to watch your TPMS regularly]]> http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?51513-It-s-a-good-idea-to-watch-your-TPMS-regularly&goto=newpost Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:06:43 GMT I've been reading about possible tire issues regularly on this forum for the past months, and that has prompted me to watch my tire pressures on a daily basis. Good thing too.

Yesterday, I noticed that the driver rear tire was 2 pounds lower than the other tires. Hmmm. I rolled the car forward on the driveway until I noticed something metal stuck in the tire.

So I promptly drove over to Libertyville Chevrolet and they promptly and efficiently patched the tire. It was a screw in the tread with the head broken off.

While I was there, I was uncertain if I could drive the Volt with a dead keyfob, and they showed me how to plug in the key on the keyfob into the Volt if the keyfob battery is dead.

So if I go driving in the Smokey Mountains where there no OnStar service, I'll be able to recover from a dead keyfob. But before I do that and after reading the posts on this forum, I think I'll also get a scissor jack, a folding 4 way lug wrench, and a Volt wheel to throw in the back of the car.

I think that is about as prepared for emergencies as I can be while driving out in the wilder parts of the country (no offroading for a Volt of course ). ]]> Ralph7 http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?51513-It-s-a-good-idea-to-watch-your-TPMS-regularly Anyone has Michelin Primacy MXM 4 on their volt http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?51369-Anyone-has-Michelin-Primacy-MXM-4-on-their-volt&goto=newpost Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:19:22 GMT I'm looking to improve the sound level, comfort and grip, I don't mind if I lose a couple of Miles to have more comfort.
I was wondering if anyone has those tires on their volt. ]]> swissness http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?51369-Anyone-has-Michelin-Primacy-MXM-4-on-their-volt My Flat Tire experience http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?51121-My-Flat-Tire-experience&goto=newpost Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:55:17 GMT Got a flat on the way home last night. I thought I heard something hit the undercarrige and about 5 seconds later, I got the low pressure warning. ... Got a flat on the way home last night. I thought I heard something hit the undercarrige and about 5 seconds later, I got the low pressure warning. As I watched it go from 28 psi to 27,25,23...I pulled off the main road I was on to a side road. As I got out, I could hear the air coming out and felt 2 holes in the tire. Soon it was totally flat.
So I got out the compressor and goo, and thought this will be an easy fix. Well, it didn't seal and the goo was spitting out of one of the holes. Assuming the hole was too big to be patched. I do have a patch kit in the car, but since I felt 2 holes, I thought there could be more and I wasn't sure if it would work. I ended up calling Onstar. About 1.5 hours later a tow truck finally arrived. The first one they called had something happen on the way and couldn't make it so they had to find another one.
The tow truck driver lowered the flat bed and drove the Volt on, strapped her up and ready to go. I had my wife pick me up and he was taking the car to the dealership. It was after hours, so I am waiting to here from them this morning.
Two things:
1) What should I expect from the dealer? Should this be totally covered under warranty? Will I have to buy a new tire?
2) After reading the forum here, it says that a special procedure needs to be used to load the Volt on a flat bed? Is that only if the car is disabled? Because he drove it right onto the flat bed with no problems. No scrapping the bottom or nothing. Did I get lucky? I was on a slight decline, so the tow truck was probably slightly lower than the Volt.

Thanks ]]> ssvolt http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?51121-My-Flat-Tire-experience Another Flat http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?50857-Another-Flat&goto=newpost Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:09:15 GMT Well woke up this morning to find 8psi in the driver side rear tire. This will make the 3rd flat/puncture in 21 months. All of them have been on... Well woke up this morning to find 8psi in the driver side rear tire. This will make the 3rd flat/puncture in 21 months. All of them have been on the rear. After the first two, which were side wall failures/punctures, I was convinced that it was related to the Goodyear tires that came with it. Bit the bullet and replaced the two rear tires with low rolling resistance Yokohama tires about three months ago. I had been running my tire pressure at 42-45 for the extra mile or two. I decided to run at 38psi thinking the higher pressure might have made them more prone to failure. Well this morning's flat was in one of the Yokohama tires that had never seen pressures above 38psi. The tire holds pressure well enough to get me to work. I'll be pumping it up later today and heading out to get it repaired. I guess my issues aren't with the Goodyear tires and might just be related to the low rolling resistance, high mileage tires in general. I drove SUVs and an old Ford Taurus for the past 15 years and had one flat. This really gets frustrating. Especially after having the goop canister proving to be useless on the first to flats. Didn't even try it on this one. ]]> pKIO3 http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?50857-Another-Flat <![CDATA[BEST LOOKING VOLT EVER!! OMG MY VOLT LOOKED PLAIN>> TILL THIS]]> http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?48450-BEST-LOOKING-VOLT-EVER!!-OMG-MY-VOLT-LOOKED-PLAIN-gt-gt-TILL-THIS&goto=newpost Sun, 02 Jun 2013 00:39:15 GMT I tried for months to sell these 2k wheels off of a Turbo Sonata. Basically I was offered 375.00 for them no way. Spoke to several tech and they said... I tried for months to sell these 2k wheels off of a Turbo Sonata. Basically I was offered 375.00 for them no way. Spoke to several tech and they said they will fit....

So figured if people actually see them on the road I may be able to sell them for more that 375.

Lost 3 miles range...

Handles like on rails, no harsh ride.. Volt has low center of gravity the wider stance made huge difference.
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]]> VOLTRON13 http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?48450-BEST-LOOKING-VOLT-EVER!!-OMG-MY-VOLT-LOOKED-PLAIN-gt-gt-TILL-THIS Poll: Sidewall Blowout? http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?48290-Poll-Sidewall-Blowout&goto=newpost Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:41:19 GMT Any tire can can be damaged but the number of sidwall issues on Volt tires seems excessive. Want to make it more quantitative, so I started this... Any tire can can be damaged but the number of sidwall issues on Volt tires seems excessive. Want to make it more quantitative, so I started this poll.

Note if you have had blowouts please post the year (they changed from 93H to 94V at one point) ]]> tboult http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?48290-Poll-Sidewall-Blowout Volt Spare Tire Guide http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?48058-Volt-Spare-Tire-Guide&goto=newpost Fri, 31 May 2013 23:38:10 GMT Fewer and fewer EV's, hybrids, or even standard cars include a spare tire from the factory. For example, the Leaf, Prius, iMEV, Tesla do not have them. Weight, cost and space considerations have led to "no spare" by the manufactures, but the other side of that is the cost and inconvenience to the driver if and when they do get a flat. Having a spare can transform a bad situation into just an inconvenience.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Well, I compromised. I do not want to get into 1 or 2 hour towing ordeal when I can put on a spare doughnut tire in 15 minutes or so and take care of the tire later when it is convenient for me. While I don't carry a spare tire, jack, and lug wrench in the Volt, I do keep them in my garage instead. In case of an unfixable flat during local driving, either they can be driven out by a friend or spouse or a the car can be towed home where I can instal the spare.

For the "I'm going to be in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception" scenario I can throw the donut spare, jack and lug wrench in the back cargo area, lashing them down with two nylon compression straps around the tire and through the cargo compartment D-rings.

OPTIONS FOR A SPARE
Wheels for the Volt need to match some critical dimensions: a 5x115 bolt pattern with "high offset" and a 70.3 center bore. A Cruze wheel will NOT fit, as it has a 5x110 pattern. However, older Cadillacs are a match.

1. 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS STS Spacesaver Spare Tire.
It seems the generation 1 Cadillac CTS (MY 2003 - 2008) had the same 16" spare size. However, some of the spares are 5 spoke aluminum wheels while others are solid steel wheels. The 5 spoke aluminum wheel fits both front & rear of the Volt, while the steel wheel will only fit the rear (the steel rim will not clear the Volts front calipers).

The 5-spoke spare has an interchange number 560-08050. Interchange numbers are used by auto recyclers to categorize their parts and to indicate possible substitutions, e.g. any spare with the same interchange number should fit.

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If you search eBay or your local auto junkyard inventory with this interchange number, you may be able to find the spare. Just look through eBay until you see a CTS spare that looks just like it. They will likely be $50 or more. It also seems that the Eldorado 86-98 has a full sized 16"x7 spare (T125/70 R16 96m) that should fit the Volt, but they seem to be an extinct animal.

Though the 5 spoke aluminum wheel is nicer, the steel spare can work too, and at about $10 the price is hard to beat. The solid steel spare will only fit the Volt rear as mentioned, but it can be used for a front flat by simply mounting the spare on the Volt's rear and moving the good rear to the front. My like-new steel donut-spares is stamped RJF k498 17D B with a Firestone T125/70R16 tire. It came from a Cadillac Deville (1998 I think).

Attachment 22418
Donut spares are meant to get you somewhere in an emergency. They are not a full-sized replacement obviously. The donut is easier to handle if my wife needed to bring it out and it gets the job done.

2. Full Sized Volt OEM Wheel.
Re-manufactured or new, these can sometimes be found on Ebay or gm-volt and can be used as a full-size spare. This can then be used in a 5 wheel tire rotation schedule, adding extra life to your tires. It can also be a ready to use replacement for a flat, shredded or otherwise damaged tire (or wheel).

OTHER EQUIPMENT
1. Scissors Jack.
Make sure the jack lifting head has a "valley", slot or crease that allows the Volt body's welded flange to nestle in it. A 2012 Chevy Cruze or Impala scissors jack will work, as will other jacks that have a "saddle " or slot for the Volts vertical body flange to fit into. Any of the GM jacks that look similar to the pics should work. The jack (and 3/4"/19mm lug wrench) can be stored under the rear cover in spaces that fit them on the right side if you don't mind carrying the added weight.

Attachment 22426Attachment 22434

2. Lug Wrench.
The nuts require a 21 mm or 3/4" socket. I use the 3/4" end of my 4-way lug wrench, and a 3/4" socket on my torque wrench. 19mm seems a bit looser to me, but 19mm and 3/4 are so close it probably doesn't matter. Not that you are likely to be carrying around a torque wrench, but if you do the torque value on the nuts is 100lb-ft. You may already know the order in which the Volt lug nuts are tightened, but if not, tighten them in this sequence:

Attachment 22450

What if the wheel is stuck to the hub and won't come off? See http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread....l-stuck-on-hub

3. Tire Plug Kit.
l also keep a tire plug kit (T-handles; glue; rubber plugs) with gloves, a needle nose pliers and light in the cargo area just in case I can fix the flat without a spare or the goop. Walmart, Autozone and others carry these.

4. Tire Bag/Case.
If you plan to haul a spare in the rear and want to keep things clean, consider a $15 tire tote bag from Tirerack.com or Amazon http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_pg_1?...qid=1364605145. Of course, I don't expect to need this often, so a black plastic garbage bag would work just as well for me.

5. Air Compressor.
Get out that air compressor and get familiar with how it works. One setting blows air, the other blows goo. You don't want to make a mistake! I even marked mine with a silver sharpie so I clearly know where to set the knob for air. If you have not practiced using the Volt's air compressor, you should (and so should anyone who regularly drives the car). The first time can be surprisingly difficult. You must press down on the selector button while turning it. You don't want to try to figure this out during a real flat, it just adds frustration.

6. Emergency Triangle Reflectors.
There is a cubby under the cargo cover sized for one of these kits. The US car does not come with the kit, but they can be purchased.

MORE INFO ON FLAT TIRES:

How Many Flat Tires Occur Each Year?
US - 220 million flats per year; about one flat per passenger car per year.
US - 23,000 vehicles are damaged due to blow-outs, to the point they must be towed.
US - 1.2% of traffic fatalities are due to tire-related accidents.
US - tire blow-outs are most frequent on light trucks in southern states during hot months.
UK - One flat tire (tyre) per 20-25,000 miles traveled.
UK - 30-40% of drivers had a flat in the last year.
UK - flats comprise 10% of total vehicle breakdowns.
EU - flat tires account for 28% of breakdowns of 112,000 commercial vehicles in 2010.
On average, a driver will have 5 flat tires in their driving lifetime.

What Types of Flats Occur?
25% are blow-outs; sudden loss of pressure with dramatic damage to the tire.
25% slow leaks that happen when driving; often result in a ruined tire from driving on it.
50% discovered when the car is parked; inconvenient but not normally ruinous.

What Problems Are Related to Flat Tires?
  • It is dangerous to stop to change a tire on a freeway and/or at night. Pull as far off the raod as possible.
  • It can be difficult and dangerous to raise the car with a jack. Read the owners manual!
  • Wheel nuts can be too tight to remove. Keep a breaker bar (a pipe extension) with your lug wrench.
  • Alloy wheels can stick to steel hubs making it difficult to remove the wheel. See solution at http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread....l-stuck-on-hub
  • It can be hard to line up the wheel and the hub when replacing the wheel.
  • The dirty flat tire has to be lifted and stored in the trunk. Keep work gloves in the car.
  • If you get another flat before your tire is repaired you will be stranded.
  • They always happen at an inconvenient time. Practice changing a tire before you experience one.

http://excelmathmike.blogspot.com/20...ts-part-i.html

What are the Advantages/Disadvantages of Various Flat Tire Options?
http://excelmathmike.blogspot.com/20...s-part-ii.html

What's Pushing the Move to No Spares?
"Automakers save money by selling cars with four tires instead of five, and the weight savings helps them boost vehicle gas mileage.Adding even a 10th of a mile of efficiency to their federal fuel economy tests might allow automakers to reach a number such as 19.5 mpg on a vehicle, which they can then round up to 20 mpg on the window sticker."

"All manufacturers are looking at this," said Alan Batey, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet sales and service. "This is one opportunity to get weight out of vehicles and make them more fuel efficient.... It will take some time for people to understand this technology."

Chevrolet has been among the most aggressive of the major brands when it comes to scuttling the spare. The tire inflator kit in the Cruze sheds 26 pounds of spare tire and hardware and provides more trunk space."

"More expensive cars -- including nearly the entire BMW lineup -- are forsaking spare tires for run-flat tires, which can be driven at moderate speeds for 50 miles or so with a puncture. Petersen said there's less risk of being stranded by punctures in run-flat tires because they are built with reinforcement that can support the weight of a car. But run-flat tires are still not a perfect solution. "We hear a lot of complaints about noise, tread life and expense," he said."

"The improvements to tires has led to a decline in calls to the American Automobile Assn. for flat-tire roadside assistance in recent years, although some evidence shows that the trend could be reversing, if ever so slightly."

"Nationally, calls to AAA for flat-tire assistance fell from 4 million in 2006 to 3.6 million in 2010, accounting for about 12% of the organization's call volume."

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun...res-20110620/2
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]]> Steverino http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?48058-Volt-Spare-Tire-Guide Flat tire = stuck overnight Volt! http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?47817-Flat-tire-stuck-overnight-Volt!&goto=newpost Fri, 31 May 2013 02:16:37 GMT Hi all, Well I have been in love with the Volt experience until today! I was driving and heard a pop and a got low tire pressure warning. I... Hi all,

Well I have been in love with the Volt experience until today! I was driving and heard a pop and a got low tire pressure warning. I pulled off the road within a couple hundred feet. Despite the loudness and sudden loss of pressure I decided to try to put some air in the tire but it instantly leaked out. Time to call OnStar.

OnStar was pretty quick to get things rolling and had a tow truck on the way fairly quickly. They showed up in a flatbed about 30-40 minutes later but things quickly got a little ugly. In positioning the car for the truck the tire was partially off the rim, which reduced the ground clearance to the point that even with the wooden blocks and ramps they were unable to load the vehicle without risking damage to the underside of the car.

This situation seemed to throw OnStar for a loop. They suggested swapping a front and rear tire to allow it to have enough clearance, but the tow truck was not equipped with the equipment to do that, and of course the Volt doesn't have a jack. Compounding the situation, the tow truck driver had no familiarity with the Volt. He didn't know it was an electric vehicle and I had to literally show him in the trunk that there was no spare. He was very nice and professional, but obviously didn't have as much knowledge as he might have about the car he was towing.

We tried multiple times in multiple configurations to get the car loaded onto the flat bed, but it looked like it going to scrape underneath every time and neither of us wanted to risk damaging the undercarriage. Given the state of the tire we didn't want to move the vehicle too much for fear of more damage to the rim.

OnStar then suggested contacting the local dealer, but their service department was closed and they couldn't offer much in the way of help. I suggested a local tire service which can come change your tire on the spot but they left me to believe that service would not be covered by roadside assistance. They also said if I work directly with the dealer the costs would be out of my pocket potentially, also.

So my vehicle is sitting on the side of a state highway until tomorrow. I called it into the police but now I'm left worrying about the vehicle overnight for a simple flat tire. I'm starting to question the design decision to not include the spare, particularly with all the posts in this forum with people who have had the same time.

This has chewed up three hours of my day and I'm going to bet at least 2-3 hours tomorrow. I'll give you guys an update later on. Maybe things would have worked out better if it was a different time of day, but the dealer's service department as well as local tire places were already closed. Thank gosh I was fairly close to home when this all went down, I'd hate to have been out on the interstate or in the middle of nowhere in bad weather!

From reading some of the other posts it sounds like Roadside Assistance needs to figure out a better way to handle flat tires in these kinds of cases. A simple flat tire shouldn't turn into a multiday ordeal.

P.S. I only have 2000 miles on my 2013, so I don't know what the heck happened to the tire. I couldn't see or feel anything visibly in it or any holes, and definitely didn't hit any pothole or anything in the roadway.

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]]> jbrusnak http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?47817-Flat-tire-stuck-overnight-Volt!