tires CADILLAC DEVILLE 1996 7.G Owner's Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ~~~ ~
~~ ~ NOTICE:
When
the compact spare is installed, don’t take
your vehicle through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can get caught on
the rails. That can damage the tire and wheel,
and maybe other parts
of your vehicle.
Don’t use your compact spare on other vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels
or tires. They won’t fit. Keep your spare
tire and its wheel together.
NOTICE:
Tire chains won’t fit your compact spare. Using
them can damage
your vehicle and can damage
the chains too. Don’t use tire chains on
your
compact spare.
~ ~~ ~~~ ~
~~
If You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your vehicle is stuck
is to spin your wheels too fast. The method known as
“rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
A CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they can
explode, and you or others could be injured. And,
the transaxle or other parts
of the vehicle can
overheat. That could
cause an engine compartment
fire or other damage. When
you’re stuck, spin the
wheels
as little as possible. Don’t spin the wheels
above
35 mph (55 kdh) as shown on the
speedometer.
5-36 &
I
1
I

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine P
I NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of your
vehicle as well
as the tires. If you spin the wheels
too fast while shifting your transaxle back and
forth,
you can destroy your transaxle.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle, see “Tire Chains” in the Index.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will
clear the
area around your front wheels. You should
1 your traction control system off. (See “Traction Control
1 System” in the Index.) Then shift back and forth
between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the
1 wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
~ while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when fie transaxle
is in gear. If that doesn’t get
you out after a
few tries, you may need to be towed out.
If you do need to be towed out, see “Towing Your
Vehicle’’ in the Index.
5-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I NOTICE:
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result
in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied
or lightly
applied. This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes.
Free movement of brake calipers and proprely torqued
wheel nuts are necessary
to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers
for movement, brake pads for wear, and evenly torque wheel nuts in the proper sequence to
GM Specifications.
Brake linings should always
be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel Brake Adjustment
Every time you apply the brakes, with
or without the
vehicle moving,
your brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modem vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to
be of top quality and work well
together if the vehicle
is to have really good braking.
Vehicles
we design and test have top-quality GM brake
parts in them, as your Cadillac does when it is new.
When you replace
parts of your braking system -- for
example, when your brake linings wear down and you
have to have new ones put in
-- be sure you get new
genuine
GM replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For example, if
someone puts in brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front and rear brakes
can change -- for the worse. The braking performance
you’ve come to expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts in the wrong replacement brake
parts.
--
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel.
This could be a sign of brake trouble.
6-28

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tires
We don’t make tires. Your new Cadillac 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.
A CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are
dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating
as a result of too much friction.
You could have an air-out and a serious
accident. See “Loading Your Vehicle’’ in
the Index.
Underinflated tires pose the same danger as
overloaded tires. The resulting accident
could cause serious injury. Check all tires
frequently to maintain
the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure should
be checked
when your tires are cold.
CAUTION: (Continued)
Overinflated tires are more likely to be
cut, punctured or broken by
a sudden
impact
-- such as when you hit a pothole.
Keep tires
at the recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your
tread is badly worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
See “Inflation
-- Tire Pressure’’ in this section
for inflation pressure adjustment for higher
speed driving.
Inflation -- Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label which is located on
the rear edge of the driver’s door, shows the correct
inflation pressures for your tires when they’re cold.
“Cold” means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more
than a mile.
If you’ll be driving at speeds higher than
100 mph
(160 km/h) where it is legal, raise the cold inflation
pressure
of each tire to 35 psi (240 Wa). When you end
this very high-speed driving, reduce the cold inflation
6-36

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine f
f
r
I
r
r
r
?ressures to those listed on the Tire-Loading [nformation label.
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
Tire overloading
Bad wear
Bad handling
Bad fuel economy.
If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Bad handling
Needless damage from road hazards.
i Rough ride
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 inspected every 6,000 to 8,000 miles
(10 OOO to 13 000 km) for any signs of unusual wear.
If unusual wear is present, 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.
6-37

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine I I
I I
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.
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.
A CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened,
can make wheel nuts become loose
after
a time. The wheel could come off and cause
an accident. When
you change a wheel, remove
any rust
or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be I
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get
all the rust or dirt off. (See I
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.)
I
.. .
6-38

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine c
When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when it’s
1 A 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:
c
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged deep
tire’s rubber.
enough
to show cord or fabric.
0 The tire has a bump, bulge
or split.
0 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 construction type (bias,
bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
6-39

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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 four wheels.
It’s all right
to drive with your compact spare,
though. It
was developed for use 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.
Treadwear
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 half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded
100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
--.
6-40

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine e
r-
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B
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.
Temperature -- A, B, C
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. Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
is
established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully
at the factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels
aligned again. However, if you notice unusual tire wear
or your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to
be reset. If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving
on a smooth road, your
wheels may need
to be rebalanced.
6-41

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded.
If wheel nuts keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the
wheel leaks air, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes
be repaired). See your
Cadillac dealer if
any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind
of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the
same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts, replace them only with new GM original
equipment parts. This way, you will
be sure to have the
right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for your Cadillac
model.
A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts
or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be dangerous.
It could affect the braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you
lose control. You could have
a collision in which
you or others could be injured.
Always use
the correct wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts
for replacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlamp aim, bumper height, vehicle
ground clearance and tire
or tire chain clearance
to
the body and chassis.
See “Changing
a Flat Tire” in the Index for
more information.
-.
1