inflation pressure CADILLAC ESCALADE ESV 2012 Owners Manual

Black plate (6,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-6 Driving and Operating Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving All-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without all-wheel drive and vehicles
not equipped with All Terrain (AT) or
On-Off Road (OOR) tires must not
be driven off-road except on a level,
solid surface. To contact the tire
manufacturer for more information
about the original equipment tires,
see the Limited Warranty and
Owner Assistance Information
manual.
Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed. { WARNINGWhen driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road .
Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed. .
Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped. .
Read all the information about
all-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual. .
Make sure all underbody
shields, if equipped, are properly
attached. .
Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower
air dam.
Notice: Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the
front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Re ‐ attach the
front fascia air dam after off-road
driving.

Black plate (17,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-17loading information label shows
the number of occupant seating
positions (A), and the maximum
vehicle capacity weight (B) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading
Information label also shows the
size of the original equipment
tires (C) and the recommended
cold tire inflation pressures (D).
For more information on tires
and inflation see Tires on
page 10 ‑ 46 and Tire Pressure
on page 10 ‑ 52 .
There is also important loading
information on the vehicle
Certification/Tire label. It tells
you the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) and the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for
the front and rear axles. See
“ Certification/Tire Label ” later in
this section. Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit
1.
Locate the statement “ The
combined weight of
occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs ” on your vehicle's
placard. 2.
Determine the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle. 3.
Subtract the combined
weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kg or
XXX lbs. 4.
The resulting figure equals
the available amount of cargo
and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the “ XXX ”
amount equals 1400 lbs and
there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400 − 750 (5 x 150)
= 650 lbs). 5.
Determine the combined
weight of luggage and cargo
being loaded on the vehicle.
That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4. 6.
If your vehicle will be towing
a trailer, the load from your
trailer will be transferred to
your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo
and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle. See Trailer
Towing on page 9 ‑ 61 for
important information on
towing a trailer, towing safety
rules and trailering tips.

Black plate (19,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Driving and Operating 9-19weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed
your vehicle's capacity weight. Certification/Tire Label
A vehicle specific Certification/
Tire label is attached to the rear
edge of the driver door. The
label shows the size of your
vehicle's original tires and the
inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity
of your vehicle. This is called
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR
includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel, and
cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also
tells you the maximum weights
for the front and rear axles,
called Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). To find out the
actual loads on your front and
rear axles, you need to go to a
weigh station and weigh your
vehicle. Your dealer can help
you with this. Be sure to spread
out your load equally on both
sides of the center line.
Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle, or the GAWR for
either the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy
load, you should spread it out. { WARNING
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Your warranty does not cover
parts or components that fail
because of overloading.
The label will help you decide
how much cargo and installed
equipment your truck can carry.
Using heavier suspension
components to get added
durability might not change your

Black plate (64,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-64 Driving and Operating Trailer tongue weight (A) should be 10 percent to 15 percent and fifth wheel
or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 to 25 percent of the loaded trailer
weight (B) up to the maximums for vehicle series and hitch type.
Vehicle Series Hitch Type Maximum Tongue
Weight
1500 Weight Carrying 272 kg (600 lbs)
1500 Weight Distributing 499 kg (1,100 lbs)
Do not exceed the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch
extension that will position the hitch
ball closest to the vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of trailer
tongue weight on the rear axle.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue or kingpin weight
cannot cause the vehicle to exceed
the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating). See “ Total
Weight on the Vehicle's Tires ” later
in this section for more information. After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the inflation pressures
found on the Certification label on
the driver door or see Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 for more
information. Make sure not to
exceed the GVWR limit for the vehicle, or the RGAWR, with the tow
vehicle and trailer fully loaded for
the trip including the weight of the
trailer tongue. If using a weight
distributing hitch, make sure not to
exceed the RGAWR before applying
the weight distribution spring bars.
Weight of the Trailering
Combination It is important that the combination
of the tow vehicle and trailer does
not exceed any of its weight
ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Trailer Weight Rating or Tongue
Weight. The only way to be sure it is
not exceeding any of these ratings
is to weigh the tow vehicle and
trailer combination, fully loaded for
the trip, getting individual weights
for each of these items.

Black plate (47,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Vehicle Care 10-47WARNING (Continued) .
Improperly repaired tires can
cause a crash. Only the
dealer or an authorized tire
service center should repair,
replace, dismount, and mount
the tires. .
Do not spin the tires in
excess of 56 km/h (35 mph)
on slippery surfaces such as
snow, mud, ice, etc.
Excessive spinning may
cause the tires to explode.
See Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation on
page 10 ‑ 53 for inflation pressure
adjustment for high speed
driving.
22 ‐ Inch Tires
If the vehicle has 22 ‐ inch
P285/45R22 size tires, they are
classified as touring tires and
are designed for on ‐ road use. The low ‐ profile, wide tread
design is not recommended for
off ‐ road driving. See Off-Road
Driving on page 9 ‑ 6 , for
additional information.
Notice: Low ‐ profile tires are
more susceptible to damage
from road hazards or curb
impact than standard profile
tires. Tire and/or wheel
assembly damage can occur
when coming into contact
with road hazards like,
potholes, or sharp edged
objects, or when sliding into a
curb. The warranty does not
cover this type of damage.
Keep tires set to the correct
inflation pressure and, when
possible, avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other
road hazards. Tire Sidewall Labeling Useful information about a tire is
molded into the sidewall. The
example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire sidewall.
Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire
(A) Tire Size :
The tire size
code is a combination of letters
and numbers used to define 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.

Black plate (48,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-48 Vehicle Care (B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification) :
Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications 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 Identification Number
(TIN) :
The letters and numbers
following the DOT code are
the Tire Identification 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 10 ‑ 62 .
(G) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit :
Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load. For
information on recommended
tire pressure see Tire Pressure
on page 10 ‑ 52 and Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 . Tire Designations Tire Size
The example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire
(A) Passenger (P ‐ Metric)
Tire :
The United States version
of a metric tire sizing system.
The letter P as the first
character in the tire size means
a passenger vehicle tire
engineered to standards set by
the U.S. Tire and Rim
Association.
(B) Tire Width :
The three ‐ digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.

Black plate (50,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-50 Vehicle Care maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings :
A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR :
Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9 ‑ 16 .
GAWR FRT :
Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 16 . GAWR RR :
Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 16 .
Intended Outboard Sidewall :
The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa) :
The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT ‐ Metric) Tire :
A
tire used on light duty trucks and
some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index :
An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure :
The maximum air pressure to
which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall. Maximum Load Rating :
The
load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight :
The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight :
The
number of occupants a vehicle
is designed to seat multiplied by
68 kg (150 lbs). See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 .
Occupant Distribution :
Designated seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall :
The
side of an asymmetrical tire that
has a particular side that faces
outward when mounted on a
vehicle. The side of the tire that
contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or

Black plate (51,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Vehicle Care 10-51model name molding that is
higher or deeper than the same
moldings on the other sidewall
of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire :
A
tire used on passenger cars and
some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Inflation
Pressure :
Vehicle
manufacturer's recommended
tire inflation pressure as shown
on the tire placard. See Tire
Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 16 .
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 1.6 mm
(1/16 in) of tread remains. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10 ‑ 59 .
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 10 ‑ 62 .
Vehicle Capacity Weight :
The
number of designated seating
positions multiplied by
68 kg (150 lbs) plus the rated
cargo load. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 .
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
capacity weight and the original
equipment tire size and

Black plate (52,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-52 Vehicle Care recommended inflation pressure.
See “ Tire and Loading
Information Label ” under Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 .
Tire Pressure If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Tires need the correct amount of
air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice: Neither tire
underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires
that do not have enough air,
can result in: .
Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout. .
Premature or
irregular wear. .
Poor handling. .
Reduced fuel economy.
Overinflated tires, or tires that
have too much air, can
result in: .
Unusual wear. .
Poor handling. .
Rough ride. .
Needless damage from
road hazards.
The Tire and Loading
Information label on the vehicle
indicates the original equipment
tires and the correct cold tire
inflation pressures. The
recommended pressure is the
minimum air pressure needed to
support the vehicle's maximum
load carrying capacity.
For additional information
regarding how much weight the
vehicle can carry, and an
example of the Tire and Loading
Information label, see Vehicle Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 . How
the vehicle is loaded affects
vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load the vehicle
with more weight than it was
designed to carry.
When to Check
Check the tires once a month
or more.
Do not forget the spare tire.
See Full-Size Spare Tire on
page 10 ‑ 87 for additional
information.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check tire pressure.
Proper tire inflation cannot be
determined by looking at the tire.
Check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are cold meaning
the vehicle has not been driven
for at least three hours or no
more than 1.6 km (1 mi).

Black plate (53,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Vehicle Care 10-53Remove the valve cap from the
tire valve stem. Press the tire
gauge firmly onto the valve to
get a pressure measurement.
If the cold tire inflation pressure
matches the recommended
pressure on the Tire and
Loading Information label, no
further adjustment is necessary.
If the inflation pressure is low,
add air until the recommended
pressure is reached. If the
inflation pressure is high, press
on the metal stem in the center
of the tire valve to release air.
Recheck the tire pressure with
the tire gauge
Return the valve caps on the
valve stems to prevent leaks
and keep out dirt and moisture. Tire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation
{ WARNINGDriving at high speeds, 160 km/h
(100 mph) or higher, puts an
additional strain on tires.
Sustained high-speed driving
causes excessive heat buildup
and can cause sudden tire failure.
You could have a crash and you
or others could be killed. Some
high-speed rated tires require
inflation 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
inflation pressure for the
vehicle load. Vehicles with P265/65R18 or
P285/45R22 size tires require
inflation pressure adjustment when
driving the vehicle at speeds of
160 km/h (100 mph) or higher. Set
the cold inflation pressure to 20 kPa
(3 psi) above the recommended tire
pressure shown on the Tire and
Loading Information Label. Return
the tires to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure when
high-speed driving has ended. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16
and Tire Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 .
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 tires and
transmit tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.