spare tire CADILLAC XTS 2014 Owner's Manual

Black plate (25,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
Driving and Operating 9-25
Manual Mode
Tap Shift
Tap Shift allows the driver to
manually control the automatic
transmission. To use Tap Shift, the
shift lever must be in M (Manual
Mode). Vehicles with this feature
have indicators on the steering
wheel. The controls are on the backof the steering wheel. Tap the left
control to downshift, and the right
control to upshift. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
indicates the gear the vehicle is in.
When accelerating the vehicle from
a stop in snowy and icy conditions,
you may want to shift into
2 (Second) gear. A higher gear ratio
allows you to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
If equipped, this feature transfers
torque to the rear wheels as
required. It is fully automatic, and
adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) performance
is automatically reduced when you
use the compact spare. To restore
full AWD performance, and prevent
excessive wear to the clutch in the
AWD system, replace the compact
spare tire with a full-size tire as
soon as possible. See
Compact
Spare Tire on page 10-75.

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
10-2 Vehicle Care
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Pressure for High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-59
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-69 Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-70
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-75
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-76
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-90
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to

Black plate (40,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
10-40 Vehicle Care
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into its sidewall. The
examples show a typical
passenger vehicle tire and a
compact spare tire sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example
(1) Tire Size:The tire size 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.
(2) 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.
(3) 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. DOT Tire Date of
Manufacture
:The last four
digits of the TIN indicate the
tire manufactured date. The first
two digits represent the week
(01–52) and the last two digits,
the year. For example, the third
week of the year 2010 would
have a four-digit DOT date
of 0310.
(4) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT (Department
of Transportation) 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.

Black plate (41,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
Vehicle Care 10-41
(5) Tire Ply Material:The type
of cord and number of plies in
the sidewall and under the tread.
(6) 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 10-57.
(7) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.
Compact Spare Tire Example
(1) Tire Ply Material:The type
of cord and number of plies
in the sidewall and under the
tread. (2) Temporary Use Only
:The
compact spare tire or temporary
use tire should not be driven at
speeds over 80 km/h (50 mph).
The compact spare tire is for
emergency use when a regular
road tire has lost air and gone
flat. If the vehicle has a compact
spare tire, see Compact Spare
Tire on page 10-75 andIf a Tire
Goes Flat on page 10-60.
(3) Tire Identification Number
(TIN)
:The letters and numbers
following the DOT (Department
of Transportation) 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.

Black plate (42,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
10-42 Vehicle Care
(4) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to
support that load.
(5) Tire Inflation
:The
temporary use tire or compact
spare tire should be inflated to
420 kPa (60 psi). For more
information on tire pressure and
inflation see Tire Pressure on
page 10-46.
(6) Tire Size
:A combination of
letters and numbers define a
tire's width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type, and service
description. The letter T as the
first character in the tire size
means the tire is for temporary
use only. (7) 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.
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The following is an example of a
typical passenger vehicle
tire size.
(1) 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.
(2) Tire Width
:The three-digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
(3) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size
aspect ratio is 60, as shown in
item 3 of the illustration, it would
mean that the tire's sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.

Black plate (46,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
10-46 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Placard:A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle
capacity weight and the original
equipment tire size and
recommended inflation pressure.
See “Tire and Loading
Information Label” underVehicle
Load Limits on page 9-10.
Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of
air pressure to operate
effectively.
{Caution
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. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9-10.
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 your tires once a month
or more. Do not forget to check
the spare tire. If the vehicle has
a compact spare tire, it should
be at 420 kPa (60 psi). See
Compact Spare Tire on
page 10-75
andFull-Size Spare
Tire on page 10-76.

Black plate (48,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
10-48 Vehicle Care
Vehicles with P245/45R19 98V 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 260 kPa (38 psi).
Vehicles with P245/40R20 95V 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 270 kPa (39 psi).
Professional vehicles with
235/55R18 104H 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
40 kPa (6 psi) above the
recommended cold tire pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label for the
235/55R18 104H size tires.Return the tires to the
recommended cold tire inflation
pressure when high-speed driving
has ended. See
Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9-10 andTire Pressure on
page 10-46.
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.
Each tire, including the spare (if
provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to
the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation 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 significantly
under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire
pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them
to the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-inflation
also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the
vehicle's handling and stopping
ability.

Black plate (49,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
Vehicle Care 10-49
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-inflation 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 flash 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 10-49.
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13-15.Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
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 tires and transmits the tire
pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.

Black plate (51,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
Vehicle Care 10-51
TPMS Malfunction Light and
Message
The TPMS will not function properly
if one or more of the TPMS sensors
are missing or inoperable. When the
system detects a malfunction, the
low tire warning light flashes for
about one minute and then stays on
for the remainder of the ignition
cycle. A DIC warning message also
displays. The malfunction light and
DIC warning message come on at
each ignition cycle until the problem
is corrected. Some of the conditions
that can cause these to come
on are:
.One of the road tires has been
replaced with the spare tire. The
spare tire does not have a
TPMS sensor. The malfunction
light and DIC message should
go off after the road tire is
replaced and the sensor
matching process is performed
successfully. See“TPMS Sensor
Matching Process” later in this
section.
.The TPMS sensor matching
process was not done or not
completed successfully after
rotating the tires. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off after
successfully completing the
sensor matching process. See
"TPMS Sensor Matching
Process" later in this section.
.One or more TPMS sensors are
missing or damaged. The
malfunction light and the DIC
message should go off when the
TPMS sensors are installed and
the sensor matching process is
performed successfully. See
your dealer for service.
.Replacement tires or wheels do
not match the original equipment
tires or wheels. Tires and wheels
other than those recommended
could prevent the TPMS from
functioning properly. See Buying
New Tires on page 10-55.
.Operating electronic devices or
being near facilities using radio
wave frequencies similar to the
TPMS could cause the TPMS
sensors to malfunction.
If the TPMS is not functioning
properly it cannot detect or signal a
low tire condition. See your dealer
for service if the TPMS malfunction
light and DIC message comes on
and stays on.
TPMS Sensor Matching
Process
Each TPMS sensor has a unique
identification code. The identification
code needs to be matched to a new
tire/wheel position after rotating the
vehicle’s tires or replacing one or
more of the TPMS sensors. The
TPMS sensor matching process
should also be performed after
replacing a spare tire with a road
tire containing the TPMS sensor.

Black plate (53,1)Cadillac XTS Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6006999) -
2014 - CRC - 9/11/13
Vehicle Care 10-53
12. Set all four tires to therecommended air pressure
level as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information label.
Tire Inspection
We recommend that the tires,
including the spare tire, if the
vehicle has one, be inspected
for signs of wear or damage at
least once a month.
Replace the tire if:
.The indicators at three or
more places around the tire
can be seen.
.There is cord or fabric
showing through the tire's
rubber.
.The tread or sidewall is
cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or
fabric.
.The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split.
.The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage.
Tire Rotation
Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 mi). See
Maintenance Schedule on
page 11-4.
Tires are rotated to achieve a
uniform wear for all tires. The
first rotation is the most
important. Anytime unusual wear is
noticed, rotate the tires as soon
as possible, check for proper tire
inflation pressure, and check for
damaged tires or wheels. If the
unusual wear continues after the
rotation, check the wheel
alignment. See
When It Is Time
for New Tires on page 10-54
and Wheel Replacement on
page 10-59.
Use this rotation pattern when
rotating the tires.