GMC Terrain: Wheels and Tires / Tire Changing

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools

1. Tow Eye (If Equipped)
2. Capless Funnel Adapter (If Equipped)
3. Wheel Wrench
4. Strap
5. Jack
6. Screwdriver (If Equipped)

To access the spare tire and tools:

1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate.
2. Fold the rear part of the load floor to the front, pull it rearward to disengage the clips, then pull upward to remove it.
3. Pull the spare tire cover forward and upward to remove it.
4. Turn the retainer nut counterclockwise to remove the spare tire. Place the spare tire next to the tire being changed.
5. The jack and tools are stored below the spare tire. Remove them from their container and place them near the tire being changed.

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire

1. Do a safety check before proceeding. See If a Tire Goes Flat for more information.
2. For vehicles with a wheel cover or center cap, pull the cover or center cap away from the wheel to remove it. Store the wheel cover in the cargo area until you have the flat tire repaired or replaced.

   

3. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to loosen all the wheel nuts, but do not remove them yet.

   Caution

   Make sure that the jack lift head is in the correct position or you may damage your vehicle. The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.

   

   Rear Shown, Front Similar

4. Position the jack lift head at the jack location nearest the flat tire.

   

   Locate the notch on the sheet metal weld flange. Place the center of the jack lift head on the center of the sheet metal notch.

   The jack must not be used in any other position.

   Warning

   Getting under a vehicle when it is lifted on a jack 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.

   Warning

   Raising the 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.

   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.

5. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack by fitting both ends over one another.

   

6. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the ground so there is enough room for the road tire to clear the ground.

   

7. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
8. Remove the flat tire.

   Warning

   Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose after time. The wheel could come off and cause a crash. When changing a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency, a cloth or a paper towel can be used; however, use a scraper or wire brush later to remove all rust or dirt.

   

9. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces, and spare wheel.
10. Place the compact spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.

    Warning

    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.

11. Reinstall the wheel nuts. Tighten each nut by hand until the wheel is held against the hub.
12. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counterclockwise.

    Warning

    Wheel nuts that are improperly or incorrectly tightened can cause the wheels to become loose or come off. The wheel nuts should be tightened with a torque wrench to the proper torque specification after replacing. Follow the torque specification supplied by the aftermarket manufacturer when using accessory locking wheel nuts. See Capacities and Specificationsfor original equipment wheel nut torque specifications.

    Caution

    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 Specificationsfor the wheel nut torque specification.

    

13. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown.
14. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from under the vehicle.
15. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel wrench.

When reinstalling the wheel cover or center cap on the full-size tire, tighten all five plastic caps hand snug with the aid of the wheel wrench and tighten them with the wheel wrench an additional one-quarter of a turn

Caution

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