tires CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2009 Owner's Guide

Tire Pressure Monitor System ........................ .6-64
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation .................... .6-65
Tire Inspection and Rotation .......................... .6-69
When It Is Time for New Tires ...................... .6-70
Buying New Tires ........................................ .6-71
Different Size Tires and Wheels ..................... .6-73
Uniform Tire Quality Grading ......................... .6-73
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ................. .6-75
Wheel Replacement ..................................... .6-75
Tire Chains ................................................. .6-76
If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... .6-77
Changing a Flat Tire .................................... .6-78
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............... .6-79
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire ............................................... .6-84
Secondary Latch System .............................. .6-89
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ........... .6-92
Spare Tire .................................................. .6-96
Appearance Care ........................................... .6-96
Interior Cleaning .......................................... .6-96
Fabric/Carpet .............................................. .6-98
Leather ...................................................... .6-98
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces ....................................... .6-99
Wood Panels ............................................. .6-100
Speaker Covers ......................................... .6-100 Care of Safety Belts ................................... .6-100
Weatherstrips ............................................ .6-100
Washing Your Vehicle ................................. .6-100
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses ................... .6-101
Finish Care ............................................... .6-101
Windshield, Backglass, and Wiper Blades ...... .6-102
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim ............................................... .6-102
Tires ........................................................ .6-103
Sheet Metal Damage .................................. .6-103
Finish
Damage .......................................... .6-103
Underbody Maintenance .............................. .6-104
Chemical Paint Spotting .............................. .6-104
Vehicle Identication .................................... .6-104
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN) ............... .6-104
Service Parts Identication Label .................. .6-105
Electrical System ......................................... .6-105
Add-On Electrical Equipment ........................ .6-105
Windshield Wiper Fuses .............................. .6-105
Power Windows and Other Power Options ..... .6-105
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ......................... .6-106
Instrument Panel Fuse Block ....................... .6-106
Center Instrument Panel Fuse Block ............. .6-108
Underhood Fuse Block ............................... .6-109
Capacities and Specications ....................... .6-113Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-2

Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated, inspect
brake pads for wear and evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to torque specications in
Capacities and Specifications on page 6-113 .
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel See your dealer/retailer 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 that brake service
might be required.
Brake Adjustment Every brake stop, the disc brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts The braking system on a 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. The vehicle
was designed and tested with top-quality brake parts. When parts of the braking system are replaced — for
example, when the brake linings wear down and new
ones are installed — be sure to get new approved
replacement parts. If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example, if someone puts in brake
linings that are wrong for the vehicle, the balance
between the front and rear brakes can change — for the
worse. The braking performance expected can change in
many other ways if the wrong replacement brake parts
are installed.
Battery If the vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the Two-mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
This vehicle has a maintenance free battery. When it is
time for a new battery, see your dealer/retailer for
one that has the replacement number shown on the
original battery’s label. See Engine Compartment
Overview on page 6-14 for battery location.
Warning: Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California to cause
cancer and reproductive harm. Wash hands after
handling.
6-39

What to Use Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of lubricant to use. See Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 7-13 .
Headlamp Aiming The vehicle has a visual optical headlamp aiming
system. The aim of the headlamps have been preset at
the factory and should need no further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged in a crash, the aim
of the headlamps may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their high beams at you, this
may mean the vertical aim of your headlamps needs
to be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your
dealer/retailer for service if the headlamps need to
be adjusted. It is possible however, to re-aim the
headlamps as described. The vehicle should:
Be placed so the headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from
a light colored wall or other at surface.
Have all four tires on a level surface which is level
all the way to the wall or other at surface.
Be placed so it is perpendicular to the wall or other
at surface.
Not have any snow, ice, or mud on it.
Be fully assembled and all other work stopped while
headlamp aiming is being performed.
Be normally loaded with a full tank of fuel and one
person or 160 lbs (75 kg) sitting on the driver seat.
Have the tires properly inated.
Have the spare tire is in its proper location in the
vehicle.
6-48

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 vehicle Warranty
booklet for details. For additional information refer
to the tire manufacturer.
{ CAUTION: Poorly maintained and improperly used
tires are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
exing. You could have an air-out and
a serious accident. See Loading the
Vehicle on page 5-33 .
Underinated 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. See
Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 6-62 .
CAUTION: (Continued) CAUTION: (Continued)
Overinated 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 High-Speed Operation on page 6-63 for
ination pressure adjustment for high speed
driving.
22-Inch Tires If your vehicle has the optional 22-inch
P285/45R22 size tires, they are classied as
touring tires and are designed for on-road use.
The low-prole, wide tread design is not
recommended for off-road driving. See Off-Road
Driving on page 5-13 , for additional information.
6-56

Tire Sidewall Labeling Useful information about a tire is molded into the
sidewall. The following illustration is an example
of a typical P-Metric tire sidewall.
(A) Tire Size :
The tire size code is a combination
of letters and numbers used to dene a particular
tire’s width, height, aspect ratio, construction
type, and service description. See the “Tire Size”
illustration later in this section for more detail. (B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specication) :
Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have
a TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of Transportation) :
The Department of Transportation (DOT) code
indicates that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identication Number (TIN) :
The letters
and numbers following DOT code are the Tire
Identication Number (TIN). The TIN shows
the manufacturer and plant code, tire size, and
date the tire was manufactured. The TIN is molded
onto both sides of the tire, although only one
side may have the date of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material :
The type of cord and number
of plies in the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) :
Tire manufacturers are required to grade
tires based on three performance factors:
treadwear, traction, and temperature resistance.
For more information, see Uniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 6-73 .Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
6-57

Radial Ply Tire :
A pneumatic tire in which the
ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at
90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.
Rim :
A metal support for a tire and upon which
the tire beads are seated.
Sidewall :
The portion of a tire between the tread
and the bead.
Speed Rating :
An alphanumeric code assigned to
a tire indicating the maximum speed at which a
tire can operate.
Traction :
The friction between the tire and the
road surface. The amount of grip provided.
Tread :
The portion of a tire that comes into
contact with the road.
Treadwear Indicators :
Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of
a tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
remains. See When It Is Time for New Tires on
page 6-70 . UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards) :
A tire information system that
provides consumers with ratings for a tire’s
traction, temperature, and treadwear. Ratings
are determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The ratings are
molded into the sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
Tire Quality Grading on page 6-73 .
Vehicle Capacity Weight :
The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. See Loading
the Vehicle on page 5-33 .
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire :
Load on
an individual tire due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard :
A label permanently attached to
a vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight
and the original equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” under Loading
the Vehicle on page 5-33 .
6-61

Ination - Tire Pressure If your vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the
Two-mode Hybrid manual for more information.
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure
to operate effectively.
Notice: Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right.
It is not. If your tires do not have enough air
(under-ination), you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards A vehicle specic Tire and Loading Information
label is attached to your vehicle. This label shows
your vehicle’s original equipment tires and the
correct ination pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire ination
pressure, shown on the label, is the minimum
amount of air pressure needed to support
your vehicle’s maximum load carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much
weight your vehicle can carry, and an example of
the Tire and Loading Information label, see Loading
the Vehicle on page 5-33 . How you load your
vehicle affects vehicle handling and ride comfort.
Never load your vehicle with more weight than it
was designed to carry.
When to Check Check your tires once a month or more.
Do not forget to check the pressure of the spare
tire. See Spare Tire on page 6-96 for additional
information.
6-62

How to Check Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are properly
inated simply by looking at them. Radial tires
may look properly inated even when they are
underinated. Check the tire’s ination pressure
when the tires are cold. Cold means your vehicle
has been sitting for at least three hours or driven
no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem.
Press the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a
pressure measurement. If the cold tire ination
pressure matches the recommended pressure on
the Tire and Loading Information label, no further
adjustment is necessary. If the pressure is low, add
air until you reach the recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on
the metal stem in the center of the tire valve.
Recheck the tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt
and moisture. High-Speed Operation
{ CAUTION: Driving at high speeds, 100 mph (160 km/h) or
higher, puts an additional strain on tires. Sustained
high-speed driving causes excessive heat build up
and can cause sudden tire failure. You could have
a crash and you or others could be killed. Some
high-speed rated tires require ination pressure
adjustment for high speed operation. When speed
limits and road conditions are such that a vehicle
can be driven at high speeds, make sure the tires
are rated for high speed operation, in excellent
condition, and set to the correct cold tire ination
pressure for the vehicle load.
If your vehicle has P265/65R18 or P285/45R22 size
tires and you will be driving at high speeds, speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h) or higher, set the cold ination
pressure to 3 psi (20 kPa) above the recommended tire
pressure shown on the Tire and Loading Information
Label. When you end this high-speed driving, return the
tires to the cold ination pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See Loading the Vehicle on
page 5-33 and Inflation - Tire Pressure on page 6-62 .
6-63

Tire Pressure Monitor System The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses radio
and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels. The
TPMS sensors monitor the air pressure in your vehicle’s
tires and transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and inated to the ination
pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on
the vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label. (If your
vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire ination pressure for
those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one
or more of your tires is signicantly under-inated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inate them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a signicantly under-inated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-ination
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-ination has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is
not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator
is combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When
the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will
ash for approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illuminated. This sequence will continue
upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the
malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS
malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.
See Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on page 6-65 for
additional information.
6-64

Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Industry and Science
Canada The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) operates on
a radio frequency and complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Vehicles with TPMS operate on a radio frequency and
comply with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment. Tire Pressure Monitor Operation If your vehicle is a Two-mode Hybrid, see the Two-mode
Hybrid manual for more information.
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). The TPMS is designed to warn the driver when
a low tire pressure condition exists. TPMS sensors are
mounted onto each tire and wheel assembly, excluding
the spare tire and wheel assembly. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in the vehicle’s tires and transmit
the tire pressure readings to a receiver located in the
vehicle.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the
low tire pressure warning
light located on the
instrument panel cluster.
At the same time a message to check the pressure in a
specic tire appears on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) display. The low tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message come on at each ignition cycle
until the tires are inated to the correct ination pressure.
6-65