tire type Oldsmobile Cutlass 1998 Owner's Manuals

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Loss of Control
Let’s review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems (brakes, steering
and acceleration) don’t have enough friction where the
tires meet the road to do what the driver has asked.
In any emergency, don’t give up. Keep trylng to steer and
constantly
seek an escape route or area of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and by not “overdriving”\

those conditions. But skids are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your vehicle’s
three control systems. In the braking skid, your wheels
aren’t rolling.
In the steering or cornering skid, too
much speed
or steering in a curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force. And
in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving wheels to
spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want the
vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready for a
second skid
if it occurs.
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t
A B
lr you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12 percent of
the total loaded trailer weight (B).
After you’ve loaded your trailer, weigh the trailer and
then the tongue, separately, to see if the weights are
proper.
If they aren’t, you may be able to get them right
simply by moving some items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to the upper
limit for cold tires. You’ll find these numbers on the
Certification label at the rear edge of the driver’s door or
see “Loading Your Vehicle” in the Index. Then be sure
you don’t
go over the GVW limit for your vehicle,
including the weight of the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough roads are a
few reasons why you’ll need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on your vehicle is not intended for
hitches.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to it. Use only a frame-mounted
hitch that does not attach to the bumper.
Will you have to maJse any holes in the body of your
vehicle when you install a trailer hitch?
If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later when you remove
the hitch. If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get into your
vehicle (see “Carbon Monoxide” in the Index).
Dirt
and water can, too.
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Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a retder or a professional towing service
tow your vehicle. They can provide the right equipment
and
know-how to tow your vehicle without damage.
(See ”Roadside Assistance”
in the Index.)
If your vehicle has been changed or modified since it
was factory-new by adding aftemarket items like
fog
lamps, aero skirting, or special tires and wheels, these
instructions and illustrations may not be correct.
Before you do anything,
turn on the hazard
warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the front or
rear with sling-type equipment, as described later
in
this section.
That your vehicle cannot be towed from the rear with
the front wheels on the ground.

Dome Lamp
To change, your dome lamp bulb, grasp the center front
and center rear portion
of the housing and squeeze
firmly but gently.. The housing should pop off.
If this doesn’t work, you may need to use a small
flat-head screwdriver pder the side
of the housing to
help pry it
.off.
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
Replacement blades come in different types and are
removed
in different ways. For the proper type and
length, see “Capacities and Specifications” in the Index.
Here’s how to remove the Sheppard’s
Hook type:
1. Pull the windshield wiper arrn away from the
2. Push the release lever and slide the wiper assembly
3. Install a new blade by reversing Steps 1 and 2.
windshield.
toward the driver’s side
of the vehicle.
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 Oldsmobile Warranty booklet for details.
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: ,-.. - L ’ . I. -. .. .. .. .;._ :
.>I NOTICE^: (Continued) ’
-1 if If your tires have too much air (overinflation),
.P :: you can get the following: ;$
Y Unusual wear
‘r Bad handling I$
!f 0 Rough ride
3 Needless damage from road hazards.
.:hen to Check
!Check your tires once a month or more.
h
i
I
. ’ !Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It should be at
’ 860 .LI ..I . psi (420 Pa).
How to Check
$.
.:Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
!pressure.
You can’t tell if your tires are properly inflated
lsimply by looking at them. Radial tires may look properly inflated even when they’re underinflated.
@e 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 rotated every 6,000 to. 8,000 miles
(10 000 to 13 000 km). Any time you notice unusual
wear, 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.
The purpose
of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The first
rotation is the myst important.
See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index for scheduled
rotation intervals.
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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. 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 wheels.
It's
all right to drive with your compact spare,
though.
It was developed for use on your vehicle.
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle, the
wheel rim flanges could develop cracks after
many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could
fail suddenly, causing a crash. Use only radial-ply
tires with the wheels
on your vehicle.
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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
Pedomance Criteria (PC) 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
I I
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire ~
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends 1
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the nom due to variations
in driving habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate. ! i
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Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, fkom highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement
as measured mder controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction perfomce.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to this tire is based
on braking (straight ahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction.

Tire Chains
NOTICE: L
Use tire chains only where legal and only when
you must. Use only
SAE Class “S” type chains
that are the proper size for your tires. Install
them on the front tires and tighten them as
tightly as possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowIy and foIlow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions.
If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle, stop and retighten
them,
If the contact continues, slow down until it
stops. Driving too fast
or spinning the wheels
with chains on will damage
your vehicle.
Appearance Care
Remember, cleaning products can be hazardous. Some
are toxic. Others can burst into flame if you strike a
match or get them on a hot
part of the vehicle. Some are
dangerous
if you breathe their fumes in a closed space.
When you use anything from a container to clean your
vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings and instructions. And always open your doors
or
windows when you’re cleaning the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
0 Gasoline
Benzene
Naphtha
0 Carbon Tetrachloride
Acetone
e Paint Thinner
Turpentine
Lacquer Thinner
0 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous
-- some more than
others
-- and they can all damage your vehicle, too.
Don’t use any
of these unless this manual says you can. !
In many uses, these will damage your vehicle:
Alcohol
Laundry Soap
Bleach
Reducing Agents
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Appearance Care Materials Chart
PART NUMBER SIZE DESCRIPTION USAGE
994954 23 in. x 25 in. Polishing Cloth - Wax Treated Exterior polishing cloth
1050172
16 oz. (0.473 L) Tar and Road Oil Remover Removes tat, road oil and asphalt
1050173
16 oz. (0.473 L) Chrome Cleaner and Polish Use on chrome, stainless steel, nickel, copper and brass
1050174 16
oz. (0.473 L) White Sidewall Tire Cleaner Removes soil and black marks from \
whitewalls
1050214 32
oz. (0.946 L)
Vinyl Cleaner
1050427 23
oz. (0.680 L)
Glass Cleaner
I 1052870 I 16 oz. (0.473 L) I Wash Wax Concentrate
I 1052918"" I 8 oz. (0.237 L) I Armor All" Protectant
1052925 16
oz. (0.473 L) Multi-Purpose Interior
Cleaner
1052929 16
oz. (0.473 L) Wheel Cleaner
1052930
8 oz. (0.237 L) Capture Dry Spot Remover
12345002 16
oz. (0.473 L)
Armor All" Cleaner
12345721 2.5
sq. ft. Synthetic Chamois
12345725 12
oz. (0.354 L)
Silicone Tire Shine
12377964 16
oz. (0.473 L)
Finish Enhancer
12377966 16
oz. (0.473 L) Cleaner Wax
12377984 16 oz. (0.473 L) Surface Cleaner
See your General Motors Parts Department for these products.
I See "Fluids and Lubricants" in the Index. Cleans vinyl tops, upholstery and convertible tops
Removes
dirt, grime, smoke and fingerprints
I Cleans and lightly waxes
~ ~~
Protects leather, wood, acrylics, Plexiglas " , plastic, -
rubber and vinyl I
Cleans carpets, seats, interior trim, door panels
and floor mats
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Spray on and rinse with water
Attracts, absorbs and removes
soils
Cleans and shines a variety of surface types
Shines vehicle without scratching Spray on tire shine
Removes dust, fingerprints and surface contaminants
Removes light scratches and oxidation and protects &ish
Removes contaminants, blemishes and swirl marks
'* Not recommended for use on instrument panel vinyl.
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