NHTSA Complaint #10047353 — 2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE

2003 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE WITH "Z66" PACKAGE SPARE TIRE IS A 16 INCH TIRE. THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH 17 INCH TIRES. SALES LITERATURE INDICATES THAT THE "Z66" PACKAGE UPGRADES ALL WHEELS 17 INCH WHEELS. DESPITE MANUFACTURE AND DEALERS CLAIMS THE VEHICLE HANDLING IS VERY ERRATIC WITH 16 INCH SPARE INSTALLED. DEALER STATED SPARE IS FOR TEMPORARY USE ONLY. THIS IS NO CONSOLATION WHEN THE NEXT EXIT ON THE HIGHWAY IS 40+ MILES AWAY. MANUFACTURE AND DEALER BOTH STATE THAT THE TSB RELEASED RESOLVES THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, CONSUMERS ARE NOT PROVIDED TSB'S IN THE SHOW ROOM. PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHEN PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. WHILE REPAIRING FLAT TIRE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRE WAS OUT OF ROUND AND COULD NOT BE BALANCED EVEN WITH OVER 5 OZ OF WEIGHT ON TIRE. REPLACED TIRE WITH BRAND NEW TIRE WHICH REQUIRED 3.5 OZ WEIGHT TO BALANCE INDICATING BAD RIM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH STATE THAT IS NORMAL AMOUNT OF WEIGHT FOR 17 INCH TIRES. THE 3 OTHER TIRES ON VEHICLE HAVE LESS THAN 3.5 OZ COMBINED WEIGHT TO BALANCE THOSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE BOTH STATE PROBLEM MUST HAVE BEEN CAUSED WHEN ORIGINAL TIRE WENT FLAT. ORIGINAL TIRE CAME FROM DEALER WITH NO WEIGHTS INSTALLED AND TRUCK HAD PULL TO RIGHT WHEN NEW. *LA