TEXT CHANGES IN 'UNIFORM' TIRE QUALITY GRADING. Pontiac Firebird 1998

SUBJECT: TEXT CHANGES IN "UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING" SECTION IN OWNER'S MANUAL

MODELS: 1998 PASSENGER CARS, MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS

A FEDERAL REGULATION (49 CFR 575.104) REQUIRES THAT PURCHASERS OF NEW PASSENGER CARS, MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES, AND LIGHT TRUCKS BE GIVEN CERTAIN GOVERNMENT- MANDATED INFORMATION ABOUT "THE RELATIVE PERFORMANCE OF PASSENGER CAR TIRES IN THE AREAS OF TREADWEAR, TRACTION, AND TEMPERATURE RESISTANCE." GENERAL MOTORS HAS PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION FOR YEARS IN A SECTION OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL CALLED "UNIFORM TIRE QUALITY GRADING." THE SECTION CONTAINS SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS.

A NEW AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATION, EFFECTIVE MARCH 9, 1998, MAKES SOME CHANGES IN THE TEXT OF ONE OF THESE PARAGRAPHS (THE PARAGRAPH ENTITLED "TRACTION"). ALL OF THE REQUIRED INFORMATION IS IN CURRENT OWNER'S MANUALS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THIS NEW LANGUAGE.

IN ORDER TO MAKE THIS NEWLY-AMENDED TRACTION PARAGRAPH AVAILABLE TO PURCHASERS OF NEW GM VEHICLES AFTER MARCH 9, 1998, WE ARE PROVIDING YOU WITH COPIES OF THE NEW TRACTION PARAGRAPH TEXT. BEGINNING ON MARCH 9, 1998, PLEASE PROVIDE EACH PURCHASER OF A NEW PASSENGER CAR, MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE OR LIGHT TRUCK WITH A COPY OF THIS UPDATED INFORMATION. CONTACT XPRESS1 AT 1-800-783-3034 FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES.

EFFECTIVE MARCH 9, 1998, THE NEW TEXT IS AS FOLLOWS:

TRACTION -- AA, A, B AND C THE TRACTION GRADES, FROM HIGHEST TO LOWEST, ARE AA, A, B, AND C. THOSE GRADES REPRESENT THE TIRE'S ABILITY TO STOP ON WET PAVEMENT AS MEASURED UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS ON SPECIFIED GOVERNMENT TEST SURFACES OF ASPHALT AND CONCRETE. A TIRE MARKED C MAY HAVE POOR TRACTION PERFORMANCE.

WARNING:

THE TRACTION GRADE ASSIGNED TO THIS TIRE IS BASED ON STRAIGHT-AHEAD BRAKING TRACTION TESTS, AND DOES NOT INCLUDE ACCELERATION, CORNERING, HYDROPLANING, OR PEAK TRACTION CHARACTERISTICS.

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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.