tire type CADILLAC ELDORADO 1998 10.G Owners Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trying to steer and
constantly seek
an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
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 vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling. In the steering or cornering skid, 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 Stabilitrak,
you may see the STABILITY
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.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
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.
Hitches
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 rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended for
hitches. Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches
to it. Use only a frame-mounted
hitch that does not attach to
the bumper.
0 If you’ll be pulling a trailer that, when loaded, will
weigh more than
2,000 lbs. (900 kg), be sure to use a
properly mounted, weight-distributing hitch and
sway control
of the proper size. This equipment is
very important for proper vehicle loading and good
handling when you’re driving.
Will you have to make any holes in the body of your
vehicle when
you install a trailer hitch? If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If
you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index).
Dirt
and water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your vehicle
and your trailer. Cross the safety chains under the tongue
of the trailer so that the tongue will not drop to the road
if it becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow the
manufacturer’s recommendation for attaching safety
chains and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave
just enough slack so you can turn with your rig.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the ground.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Windshield Wiper
Blade Replacement
It’s a good idea to clean or replace the wiper blade
assembly
on a regular basis or when worn. For proper
windshield wiper blade length and type, see “Normal
Maintenance Replacement
Parts” later in this section.
To replace the wiper blade assembly:
1. Turn the ignition key to ACCESSORY and turn the
wipers on. Position the wipers on the windshield
in
the “mid” wipe position. Then with the door open,
turn the key to
OFF.
2. Insert a screwdriver into the slot as shown and press
down to release the wiper blade assembly.
3. Align the wiper arm pin with the hole on the wiper
blade assembly and snap
it into place to install.
Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by
a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have questions
about your tire warranty and where
to obtain service, see
your Cadillac Warranty booklet for details.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine NOTICE:
Don’t let anyone tell you that underinflation or
overinflation
is all right. It’s not. If your tires
don’t have enough air (underinflation), you can
get
the following:
Too much flexing
Too much heat
0 Tire overloading
0 Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
0 Rough ride
0 Needless damage from road hazards. When
to Check
Check your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
60
psi (420 Wa).
How to Check
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.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
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.
a

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine When It’s Time for New Tires
~ One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any
of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber.
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because
of the size or location
of the damage.
Buying New Tires
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,
get ones with that same
TPC Spec number. That way
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 consiruction type (bias,
0 The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
enough to show cord or fabric.
6-42

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I A CAUTION:
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.
Using tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to
your vehicle. Be sure to use the same
size and type tires on
all wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact spare,
though. It
was developed for use on your vehicle.
A CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could
fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply
tires with the wheels
on your vehicle.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
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.
6-43

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Used Replacement Wheels Tire Chains
A CAUTION:
~ ~ ~~ ~~
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous. You can’t know how it’s been used or
how far it’s been driven.
It could fail suddenly
and cause an accident.
If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original equipment wheel.
NOTICE:
Use tire chains only where legal and only when
you
must. Use only SAE Class “S” type chains
that are the proper size for your tires. Install
them on the front tires and tighten them as tightly
as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow the chain
manufacturer’s 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.
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