traction control Oldsmobile Cutlass 1999 Owner's Manuals

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CAUTION:

Cruise control can be dangerous where you
can't drive safely at a steady speed. So,
don't use your cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.

Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast changes
in tire traction can cause needless wheel
spinning, and you could lose control. Don't
use cruise control on slippery roads.
Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION:
If you leave your cruise control switch on when
you're not using cruise, you might hit a button
and go into cruise when you don't want to. You
could be startled and even lose control. Keep the
cruise control switch off until you want to use it.
The cruise control buttons are located on the steering
wheel for your convenience.
1. Press the cruise control OFF/ON button.
2. Get up to the speed you want.
3. Press the SET DECEL button and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.

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4-9
Remember: Anti-lock doesn't change the time you need
to get your foot up to the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you won't have time to apply your brakes
if that vehicle suddenly slows or stops. Always leave
enough room up ahead to stop, even though you have
anti
-lock brakes.
Using Anti
-Lock
Don't pump the brakes. Just hold the brake pedal down
firmly and let anti
-lock work for you. You may feel a
slight brake pedal pulsation or notice some noise, but
this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With anti-lock, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help you more
than even the very best braking.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It's important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the ªdriver lost controlº accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here's why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves. The
traction of the tires against the road surface makes it
possible for the vehicle to change its path when you turn
the front wheels. If there's no traction, inertia will keep
the vehicle going in the same direction. If you've ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you'll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While you're
in a curve, speed is the one factor you can control.
Suppose you're steering through a sharp curve. Then you
suddenly accelerate. Both control systems
-- steering and
acceleration
-- have to do their work where the tires meet
the road. Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.

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Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety, you'll
want to slow down and adjust your driving to these
conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration or
braking (including engine braking by shifting to a lower
gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires to
slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery until
your vehicle is skidding. Learn to recognize warning
clues
-- such as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a ªmirrored surfaceº
-- and slow
down when you have any doubt.
Remember: Any anti
-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving. One
reason is that some drivers are likely to be impaired
-- by
alcohol or drugs, with night vision problems, or by fatigue.

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CAUTION:
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.
CAUTION:
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.
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
Performance Criteria (TPC) standards.

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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 (1 1/2) 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 significantly 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 specified 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.Temperature
-- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of performance
on the laboratory test wheel than the minimum required
by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

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Tire Loading 4-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tire
-Loading Information Label 4-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tires 6
-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Alignment and Balance 6
-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Buying New 6
-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chains 6
-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing a Flat 5
-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cleaning 6
-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compact Spare 5
-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflation 6
-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inflation Check 7
-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inspection and Rotation 6
-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Loading 4
-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pressure 6
-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Temperature 6
-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Traction 6
-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Treadwear 6
-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Uniform Quality Grading 6
-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Used Replacement Wheel 6
-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wear Indicators 6
-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheel Replacement 6
-43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
When It's Time for New 6
-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Top Strap 1
-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torque Lock 2
-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Torque, Wheel Nut 5
-26, 6-59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing
From the Front 4
-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
From the Rear 4
-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recreational Vehicle 4
-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Towing a Trailer 4
-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing Your Vehicle 5
-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing Your Vehicle From the Front 4
-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing Your Vehicle From the Rear 4
-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trailer
Backing Up with 4
-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brakes 4
-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving on Grades 4
-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving with a 4
-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Following Distance with 4
-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hitches 4
-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Maintenance When Towing 4
-40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Making Turns 4
-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Parking on Hills 4
-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Passing with 4
-37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Safety Chains 4
-36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tongue Weight 4
-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total Weight on Tires 4
-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing 4
-32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Turn Signals 4
-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weight 4
-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transaxle
Automatic 6
-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ignition Lock Check 7
-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transmitters, Remote Lock Control 2
-6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transportation, Courtesy 8
-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trip Odometer 2
-51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .