tire type CADILLAC ELDORADO 1997 10.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable
care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”\

those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The
three types of skids correspond to your Cadillac’s
three control systems.
In the bralung skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering shd, too
much speed or steering in
a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And
in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps avoid
only the acceleration
skid.
If your traction control system is off, then an
acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your
foot
off the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot
off the
accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to
go. If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always
be ready for a
second skid
if it occurs. If you
have
the Eldorado ETC, you may see the
STABILITY
SYS ENGAGED message on the Driver
Information Center. See “Stability Engaged Message”
in
the Index.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on
the road. For safety, you’ll
want to slow down and adjust your driving
to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface
is slippery until
your vehicle
is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface” -- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system
(ABS) helps
avoid only the braking
skid.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are
proper.
If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving
some items around in the trailer. Be sure
your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires.
You’ll find these numbers on the
Tire-Loading Information label at the rear edge
of the
driver’s door or see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the
Index. Then be sure you don’t go over the GVW
limit for your vehicle, including the weight of the
trailer tongue.
It’s important
to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads
are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
The bumpers on your vehicle are
not intended for
hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them. Wse only a
frame-mounted hitch that does not attach to the
bumper.
Will
you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If YSU do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CQ) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index).
Dirt
and water can, too.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires
are properly inflated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be
sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tires should
be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate your tires
as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged tires
or
wheels. See “When It’s Time for New Tires” and
“Wheel Replacement’’ later in this section for
more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve
more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the most important. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Maintenance Schedule
booklet for scheduled rotation intervals.
I
When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation-
pattern shown here.
Don’t include the compact spare tire
in your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and
rear inflation pressures as shown on the Tire-Loading
Information label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” in
the Index.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire-Loading Information label.
The tires installed on
your vehicle when it was new had
a Tire Performance Criteria Specification
(TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
your vehicle will continue to have tires that are designed
to give proper endurance, handling, speed rating,
traction, ride and
other things during normal service on
your vehicle. If your tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC number will
be followed by an “MS”
(for mud and snow).
If you ever replace your tires with those not having a
TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same size,
load range, speed rating and construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
& Get ones with that same TPC Spec number. That way Mixing tires
could
cause you to lose control while
driving.
If you mix tires of different sizes or types
(radial and bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not
handle properly,
and you could have a crash.
damage to your vehicle. e sure
to use the same
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare,
though.
It was developed for use your vehicle.
~ Using tires of different sizes may dso cause
i size and type tires on all wheels.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The following information relates to the system developed
by the United States National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, which grades tires by treadwear, traction
and temperature performance.
(This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States.) The grades are molded
on
the sidewalls of most passenger car tires. The Uniform
Tire Quality Grading system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires, space-saver or temporary use spare
tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12 inches
(25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and
light trucks may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform
to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria
(TPC) standards.
eadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions
on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and a haIf
( 1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
b Oraded 100. The relative performance of tires depends in
driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
action -- A9
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, €3 and
C, and they 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 braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.
~~~~~~~~~~~ -ID A?
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades
A and B represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine The wrong wheel (can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance $8 the body and chassis.
See “Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index for
more information.
A CAUTI m e
Putting a used wheel on your vehiclle is
dangerous. You can9t know how it9$ been used or
how far it’s been driven. It could fail suddenly
and cause an accident. If you ave to repIace 8
wheel, use a new G original equipment wheel,
e 0
Use tire chains only where %e@ and only when
you must. Use only SAE Class “SS” type chains
that are the proper
size for pur tires. Install
them on the front tires and tighten them ips
ssible with the ends securely
ive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer9s instructions. If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle,
stop and retighten
them.
If the contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving
too fast or spinning the wheels
with chains on will damage your vehicle.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flames if you strike a
match or get them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some
are
dangerous if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When
you use anything from a container to clean your
Cadillac, be sure to follow
the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your doors or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
e Gasoline
Qb Benzene
0 Naphtha
Q) Carbon Tetrachloride
0 Acetone
Paint Thinner
Q) Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
Q Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too. Don’t
use any of these unless this manual
says you can.
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
* Laundry Soap
Q) Bleach
Q) Reducing Agents
F c
Use a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of dust and loose
dirt. Wipe vinyl or leather with a clean, damp cloth.
Your Cadillac dealer has two cleaners, a solvent-type
spot lifter and a foam-type powdered cleaner. They will
clean
normal spots and stains very well. Do not use
them on vinyl or leather.
Here
are some cleaning tips:
1. Always read the instructions on the cleaner label.
2. Clean up stains as soon as you can -- before they set.
3. Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change to a clean area
often.
A soft brush may be used if stains are stubborn.
4. Use solvent-type cleaners in a well-ventilated area
only.
If you use them, don’t saturate the stained area.
5. If a ring forms after spot cleaning, clean the entire
area immediately or it will set.