Tires: Tyre size incorrect, tire placard, tyre size

Question
Hi, I have a 2001 Pontiac grand am. Through this link, http://service.gm.com/dealerworld/vincards/ I realised mine is a SE1 model. The SE2's are fitted with 16" tires, and a V6 engine unlike mine which is a 2.4L engine. However, the tyre size is wrong. Mine has 16 inch tyres, and Sears and Pepboys said I'm probably driving a SE2. My VIN number cant be wrong and moreover, SE2's were not made in 2.4L engine models.

Do you think 16" tyres were fitted instead of 15"? Can that be done? My car tyres looks stock w/o and modifications. SO now i'm confused. I need a replacement and I am unsure what size tyres to buy. The staff at the counter inside Sears had to punch in SE2 since SE1 were not made to have 16" tyres.

Thank you for your help.
Oswald

Answer
Oswald,

On every vehicle sold in the US - and I understand this is a worldwide practice as well - there is a sticker – commonly called the tire placard - that lists the original tire size and the proper pressure for that size.  The placard is usually located on a doorpost or in the glove box – but sometimes it is located in the trunk or on the fuel filler door.

BTW, it doesn't matter who makes the tire or what pressure is listed on the tire's sidewall, if the tire size is the same as the placard, then the pressure listed on placard is also appropriate.

So what does the vehicle tire placard say?  THAT will be the definitive answer to your question as to what came originally.

But the real question is what is on there NOW!.  Be aware that 15" tire do NOT fit on 16" rims - and vice versa.  So which ever you have, unless you buy new rims, you're kind of stuck with it.