Tires

Content Source: 2019 GEM em1400 LSV Owner’s Manual (9929177 R02) > Maintenance Chapter

IMPORTANT

The Owner's Manual for this vehicle contains warnings, instructions and other information you must read and fully understand before safely riding or performing maintenance on this vehicle.Always follow the warnings and instructions in Owner's Manual.

Click the CONTENTS link above for the Table Of Contents, or download a full PDF of the Owner Manual in the Owner Support area of Polaris.com

Tires

WARNING

Operating your vehicle with worn tires, improperly inflated tires, non-standard tires or improperly installed tires will affect vehicle handling and could cause an accident resulting in serious injury or death. Always follow all tire maintenance procedures as outlined in this manual and on the labels on the vehicle. Always use original equipment size and type when replacing tires.

Tire Tread Depth

Any accelerated wear of tires may be an indicator of improper alignment or poor driving habits. Your authorized GEM dealer can assist.

Rotate wheels every 5,000 miles, or more frequently if needed.

Always replace tires when tread depth is worn to 1/8” (3 mm) or less.

Axle and Wheel Nut Torque Specifications

Inspect the following items occasionally for tightness, and if they've been loosened for maintenance service. Do not lubricate the stud or the lug nut.

Nut Type	Location	Nut Torque
Wheel Nut	Front and Rear	60 ft. lbs. (81.3 Nm)
Spindle Nut	Front	75 ft. lbs. (102 Nm)
Hub Retaining Nuts	Rear	110 ft. lbs. (150 Nm)

Wheel Installation

WARNING

Improperly installed wheels can adversely affect tire wear and vehicle handling, which can result in serious injury or death. Always ensure that all nuts are torqued to specification. Do not service axle nuts that have a cotter pin installed. Your authorized GEM dealer can provide service.

NOTICE

To ensure that the washers fully seat in the wheel taper, use other hand to position and center wheel, if necessary.

Set the park brake.
Place the wheel in the correct position on the wheel hub. Be sure the valve stem is toward the outside and rotation arrows on the tire point toward forward rotation.
Attach the wheel nuts and finger tighten. For vehicles with steel wheels, install cone washers then install new lug nuts. With hand tools, lightly tighten the nuts.
Carefully lower the vehicle to the ground.
Torque the wheel nuts to specification in the same criss-cross pattern as shown.

Wheel Removal

Apply the brakes. Set the park brake. Turn the key off.
Loosen the wheel nuts slightly.
Elevate the side of the vehicle by placing a suitable stand under the frame.
Remove the wheel nuts and washers. Remove the wheel.