Chevrolet Uplander Tires / Wheels
Has anyone purchased winter tires for the Uplander (2006). Tire size 225/60R17. I am researching and find that a lot of the local and large Canadian tire supply stores are totally ignorant on this subject even though they claim to be tire specialists. Surely I'm not the first Uplander owner who would like to purchase a set of winter tires. Even the Chevy dealer had to phone around half a day to find one supplier (Toyo). No comparison prices and a 5 day waiting period. :confuse:
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The new 6 bolt pattern may be difficult to find on the '06 and newer Uplnaders if you choose to go with steel wheels.
If you stay mainly in the city with your driving, MS tires should be fine. If you live in the UP, or rural Michigan, you will be amazed what tires with the "Winter" designation will do for traction in the winter.
A friend of mine works for GM and they had one set left, on factory rims too. They are a run-flat ice and snow tire. I paid under $1200CAD when I was being quoted over $1800 at retail outlets. I am complete satisfied with them.
I swear by winter ice tires given our climate. Late fall rain leaves the roads frozen over in the mornings, and the same can be experienced in the spring. Afternoon rain freezes on contact with the roads and then the rain turns to snow giving you thick snow on the icy roas. You wouldn't even know it with these tires.
Check out the reviews and strap a pair on. You won't be disappointed. Wow, this sounds like a plug.
I'm buying a 2005 Chevy Uplander soon and have been looking for wheels for it. Every website from The TireRack to Dicsount Tire Direct only have 2 to 3 three wheels for the '05 Uplander.
What's Up?
I know that the '05 Upalnder has 5 lug wheels, and that Uplanders after that had six lug wheels, but can there be SUCH as difference between the Uplander and other 5 lug equipped Chevy models that there aren't ANY wheels that will swap between an Uplander and another model?
I would think that the 2005 Venture and Uplander ave the same wheel bolt pattern, but I don't want to buy wheels and tires and then find out they don't fit.
Here are the Uplander stats:
5 Bolt/Lug wheel
5 X 115 pattern.
I'm interested in an 18 inch wheel.
HELP!
Henry
hkopacz@aol.com
http://www.arizoniantires.com/arizonianSilverEditionPlus.html
My 08 has 17" wheels/tires and six wheel bolt/nuts rather than five and I know the 07s ones are the same .
Were the earlier ones the same and if not could you please tell me what years they were changed and what the previous size tires and number of bolt/nuts were.
W.Y.
When I bought 4 extra wheels so I could switch back and forth from studded winter tires to summer tires myself I didn't buy the sensors for each new rim at $45.00 a pop like they wanted me to do . Either rotation or switching from summer to winter tires will louse up the calibration of the sensors.
So now , the yellow light on the dash flashes for about 20 seconds and then goes to steady on. I have got so used to it that I don't even notice it anymore and I sure won't pay them 50 bucks every 10,000 KM when I rotate my tires.
They warned me that I won't know what my tire pressure is . Well . . . DUH ! ! .
I have been maintainig tire pressure on vehicles all my life ( I'm 73 ) and it's a no brainer .
They are going way too far on some of these stupid electronic gizzmos in the newer vehicles . They charge more for it originally and then they expect to get everyone to come back and pay 50 bucks to program it after every rotation. It's all about money with them .
Now after that little rant I must say that I really like my Uplander. It is one of the nicest vehicles I have ever owned . Got 11,000KM on it now and has been virtually trouble free except for a couple very minor things the dealer took care of. Great gas mileage and handles beautifully .
There's no reason to pay anyone to program the tire pressure monitoring system - the procedure to do it is right in the owner's manual. Basically you turn the ignition on (don't start the engine) and press both buttons on the key fob. The horn will chirp. You then go to the front left tire and let air out of it for 5 seconds. The horn will chirp. Then you go to the front right and do the same. Then rear right and then rear left. The horn will chirp after each tire and will also chirp after the last one letting you know that you are done. You have 5 minutes to complete it or you have to start over.
The procedure is right in the owner's manual. I believe its in the section about the tire pressure monitoring system.
So that is what the dealers charge the 50 bucks for and don't want you to know :mad: . . . amazing.
I have my summer tires on now and they are on the new rims with no sensors but believe me when I put my winter ones back on in around October or November I will definitely try what you have explained because those rims have the original sensors in them .
If every car owner took the time to read the owners manual they would save a lot of money from having things needlessly done to their vehicles that they either didn't need to do or could have done themselves in minutes. A good dealer would show you how to do it while they do it so you know for next time. A good dealer also wouldn't charge you for it since it takes 2 minutes.
When the batteries go dead my understanding is that they can be replaced. Since your tire guy is TPMS certified, he might have a recommendation as to the frequency of the batteries going dead. Maybe its worthwhile to replace the batteries every other time you replace the tires just to be safe? I don't know for sure?
When you go to a tire shop its smart to make a point of telling them that you have the sensors and that they work correctly. You may even have to demonstrate that they work. That way if they damage them during a tire change they are liable to replace them on their dime. And don't leave until you've verified that they are all working, even if you have to perform the "learn" procedure right in the parking lot.
I think you're right, its a good system and its definitely better than the old GM system which calculated that you have a low tire using the wheel speed sensors. GM isn't the 1st manufacturer to equip their vehicles with this system. It can be found on a bunch of vehicles from a bunch of manufacturers.
I enjoy it when I find mistakes in the owner's manual because there are plenty of them in there - not just for the Uplander but for all the cars I've ever owned. Some owner's manuals are better than others. Some are just downright bad...I think the manual for my VUE is one of the most incorrect I've ever seen, mistakes all over the place. The best is the procedure to change the cabin air filter. The manual says that you have to disassemble the glove box and take out a bunch of stuff to get to it. In actuality its under the hood underneath a cover that has 5 or 6 easily removed clips holding it in. I'm glad I didn't take the glove box apart before I figured that one out. Go figure......
I looked at the front three that are SO easy to get at but have never removed that big black plastic cover to check the back ones.
Hard to believe the motor would have to be tipped forward to replace the other three.
We did finally find a used Astro AWD which is far superior in terms of space, power and close on mpg, but it isn't quite road-worthy yet. I wish GM would make a utilitarian kids-and-gear hauler, affordable and in diesel.
In my ICE/SNOW winter area, I visited 3 different tire sellers and each provided their estimates. For them, 17" - 6 bolt rims and rubber is easily available. For us, we went with "winter rubber" on different NEW steel rims - for my wife's 09 Montana van. Each tire seller provided their cost estimate within 24 hours.
Details are:
A - My local GM dealer. A little more expensive (say $20.00 / tire "more") but being done by a GM dealer, its entire vehicle warranty was retained.
B - My local Canadian Tire store. Their prices for steel rims was slightly less expensive their GM dealer steel rims but I didn't like their recommended "lower rated" rubber. And, they didn't mention that special TPS valves stems would be needed.
C - My local Auto mechanic. His prices was the best and he recommended higher quality rubber (when compared to GM dealer). And, he even provided a good "work around" - to eliminate the need to buy special TPS wireless valve stems. But, his work could void future GM warranty. re: Using non-GM / Delco items on the GM vehicle is a lawyers dream. re: stuck in courts for years.
In the end, my wife & I decided to pick the "steel rims + rubber + TPS wireless valves stems" at our local GM dealer. And this spring, my local auto machanic will be hired to remove current winter rims/rubber and replace with original GM spring to fall months rims/rubber. And next late fall, my local auto mechanic can do the swap from GM summer to GM winter rims/rubber again. His rim re-mounting costs (even for TPS wireless valve stem hubs) are much less expensive then my local GM dealer.
Long post short... Do visit your local GM dealer and decide if their GM / Delco recommendations is "cost comparable" to your non-GM auto shops as well. For us, going to our local GM dealer "for initital purchase" is worth it. Especially since our vehcle's factory warranty will be retained (since our vehicle has GM winter parts) as well.
Hope this helps...
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Yes. I got price quotes from my local shop and from my local GM dealer. Do remember that "price quotes" do vary from region to region. Thus, do call a few auto shops in your specific. It only takes a 5 minute phone call - to chat with each auto shop....
Unknown to me (and not told during my initial "price quote" gathering tasks), I also discovered my local GM dealer also stores my old summer rubber/rims during the winter for "free". They let some air out of each tire, wrap each tire with UV protection plastic wrap, label it good and store all 4 tires in large steel bins. In the spring (around April 10), I simply re-visit my local GM dealer, they remove my current "in use" winter rubber/rims from my mini-van, and they re-mount my currently being stored summer rubber/rims back on. And, their tire "seaonal exchange" tasks only costs $5 (for all 4 tires) "more" then my local auto shop. And best of all, I don't have to store my opposite season tires/rims at my house (that has limited storage space). Talk about a great "turn key" service from my local GM dealer as well...
When chatting with your local auto shops &/or your local GM dealer, do ask if they provide opposite season tire storage services as well. For me, my local GM's "free service" is worth it... And being GM, their storage keeps my vehicle's & its tires warranty conditions non-arguementive as well.
Hope this helps as well...
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