spare tire CADILLAC DTS 2008 1.G User Guide

GM recommends replacing tires in sets of four. This is
because uniform tread depth on all tires will help keep
your vehicle performing most like it did when the tires
were new. Replacing less than a full set of tires can affect
the braking and handling performance of your vehicle.
SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on page 5-68for
information on proper tire rotation.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle while driving. If you mix tires of
different sizes, brands, or types (radial and
bias-belted tires), the vehicle may not handle
properly, and you could have a crash. Using
tires of different sizes, brands, or types may
also cause damage to your vehicle. Be sure to
use the correct size, brand, and type of tires
on all wheels.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Your vehicle may have a compact spare tire
and wheel assembly. If the vehicle has a
compact spare tire and wheel, they have the
same overall diameter as your vehicle’s
full-size tires and wheels. Because they were
designed and developed for use on your
vehicle, it is all right to drive your vehicle with
the compact spare installed properly. Compact
spare tires are designed for temporary use
only. SeeSpare Tire on page 5-89.
5-72

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 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 (UTQG)
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 specied
government test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and a half (1.5) 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 signicantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits, service
practices, and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied 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 straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
5-74

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment needed is in the trunk. To access
the equipment:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-12for more
information.
2. Press the area at the
front of the handle
located on the cover
so that the back
edge raises.3. Grab the handle and
remove the cover.
4. Turn the wing nut to remove the retainer that holds
the wrench and jack.
5-80

5. Remove the wheel wrench, jack and spare tire from
the trunk. SeeSpare Tire on page 5-89for more
information.
The tools to be used are the jack (A) and the wheel
wrench (B).Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check before proceeding. SeeChanging
a Flat Tire on page 5-79for more information.
2. For models having aluminum wheels with a center
wheel cover, use the at end of the wheel wrench to
gently pry the wheel covers off. Store the wheel
cover and lug nut caps in the trunk until you have the
at tire repaired or replaced. Be careful not to scratch
the aluminum wheel edge and do not try to remove it
with your hands. Then loosen the wheel nuts with the
wheel wrench. Do not remove them yet.
5-81

{CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
{CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure to t the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising the vehicle.
Notice:If you position the jack under the rocker
molding and attempt to raise the vehicle, you could
break the molding and/or cause other damage to
your vehicle. Always position the jack so that when
the jack head is raised, it will t rmly in the
notch located inboard from the rocker molding.5. Turn the jack handle counterclockwise to lower the
jack lift head until the jack ts under the vehicle.
6. Raise the jack until the metal ange ts rmly into
the channel of the jack head.
7. Put the spare tire near you.
5-83

8. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the spare tire to t under the vehicle.9. Remove all wheel nuts and the at tire.
10. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces, and
spare wheel.
5-84

{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after 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 sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if needed, to get all
the rust or dirt off. SeeChanging a Flat Tire on
page 5-79.
11. Place the spare tire on the wheel-mounting surface.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on bolts or nuts.
Because the nuts might come loose. The
vehicle’s wheel could fall off, causing a crash.
12. Put the wheel nuts
back on with the
rounded end of the
nuts toward the wheel.
Tighten each nut by
hand until the wheel is
held against the hub.
5-85

14. Tighten the wheel nuts rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
If your vehicle is equipped with wheel nut covers,
screw the nut covers on with your ngers, then
tighten one-quarter turn with the wheel wrench.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your vehicle’s
compact spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the
compact spare, the cover or the spare could be
damaged.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools
{CAUTION:
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or collision,
loose equipment could strike someone. Store
all these in the proper place.
After you have put the spare tire on your vehicle, store
the at tire in your trunk.
Store the at tire as far forward in the trunk as possible.
Store the jack and wheel wrench in their compartment
in the trunk. For storage, the jack must be raised
until the screw end is ush with the edge of the jack.
The compact spare is for temporary use only. Replace
the compact spare tire with a full-size tire as soon
as you can. 5-Wheel Nuts
8-Wheel Nuts
5-87

A. Cover
B. Wing Nut
C. Retainer
D. Jack and Wheel Wrench
E. Jack Container
F. Spare Tire
G. Bolt1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-12.
2. Reinstall the spare tire (F) making sure to line up
the wheel center hole with the bolt (G) and place it
on the compartment oor.
3. Insert the jack container (E) into the spare tire (F).
Then insert the jack and wheel wrench (D) into the
center of the spare tire making sure to line up
the wheel nut hole with the bolt (G) on the
compartment oor.
4. Secure the spare tire and the jack container with
the retainer (C) and then the wing nut (B).
5. Reinstall the spare tire cover (A).
5-88

Spare Tire
Compact Spare Tire
Your vehicle may have a compact spare tire. Although
the compact spare tire was fully inated when the vehicle
was new, it can lose air after a time. Check the ination
pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi (420 kPa).
After installing the compact spare on the vehicle, stop as
soon as possible and make sure the spare tire is correctly
inated. The compact spare is made to perform well at
speeds up to 65 mph (105 km/h) for distances up to
3,000 miles (5 000 km), so you can nish your trip
and have the full-size tire repaired or replaced at your
convenience. Of course, it is best to replace the spare
with a full-size tire as soon as possible. The spare tire
will last longer and be in good shape in case it is needed
again.
Notice:When the compact spare is installed,
do not 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.
Do not use the compact spare on other vehicles.
And do not mix the compact spare tire or wheel with
other wheels or tires. They will not t. Keep the
spare tire and its wheel together.Notice:Tire chains will not t your compact
spare. Using them can damage your vehicle and can
damage the chains too. Do not use tire chains on
your compact spare.Spare Tire
Your vehicle may have a spare tire, which, when new,
was fully inated. A spare tire may lose air over time, so
check its ination pressure regularly. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-60andLoading the Vehicle on
page 4-20for information regarding proper tire ination
and loading your vehicle. For instructions on how to
remove, install or store a spare tire, seeRemoving the
Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire on page 5-81.
After installing the spare tire on your vehicle, you should
stop as soon as possible and make sure the spare is
correctly inated. Have the damaged or at road tire
repaired or replaced as soon as you can and installed
back onto your vehicle. This way, a spare tire will be
available in case you need it again.
Your vehicle may have a different size spare tire
than the road tire originally installed on your vehicle.
This spare tire was developed for use on your vehicle,
so it is all right to drive on it.
If your vehicle has a spare tire that does not match your
vehicle’s original road tires and wheels in size and
type, do not include the spare in the tire rotation.
5-89