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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine How to Check Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. Simply looking at the tires will not tell you the pressure,
especially if you have radial tires
-- which may look properly inflated even
if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to put them back on. They help
prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have them inspected and rotated at the
mileages recommended in your Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled Maintenance Service” in the Index.
FRONT Use this rotation pattern.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and rear inflation
pressure as shown on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make certain
that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” in the
Index.
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine ’ A CAUTION
Rust or dirt on a wheeI, or on the parts to which it is hstened,
cam make wheel nuts become loose after a time. Tbe wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When y~n change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt fkom places where the wheel attaches to
the vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a cloth or a paper
towel to do this; but be sure to use a scraper of wire brush later,
if you need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See %hanging a
Flat Tire” in the T- ---*
I
When It’s Time for New Tires
One way to tell when
it’s time for
new tires is
to check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 2/32 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of
tread remaining.
You need a new tire if:
ire.
0 You can see the indicators at three places around the t
You can see 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.
309
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can’t be repaired
well because of the size or location of the damage.
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 a
“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.
I
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. Be sure to use the same size and type tires on all wheels.
It’s all right tlol drive with your compact spare, though. It was
developed for limited use on your vehicIe.
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.)
I 310
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 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
(1 112) 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 - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are: A, B, and C. They
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 braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning)
traction.
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.
Those grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger car tires.
311
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine While the tires available as standard or optional equipment on General
Motors vehicles may vary with respect to these grades, all such tires meet
General Motors performance standards and have been approved for use
on General Motors vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric) tires must
conform
to Federal safety requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory to give you the longest
tire life and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have your wheels aligned again.
However, if you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling one way
or the other, the alignment may need to be reset.
If you notice your
vehicle vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels may need
to be rebalanced.
Meel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or badly rusted. If wheel nuts
keep coming loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts should be
replaced. If the wheel leaks air out, replace it (except some aluminum
wheels, which can sometimes be repaired). See your Cadillac dealer
if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer
will know the kind of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have
the same load carrying capacity, diameter,
width, offset, and be mounted the same way as the one
it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts,
replace them only with new GM original equipment parts. This way, you
will be sure to have the riqht wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel nuts for your
Cadillac model.
312
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A CAUTION
I Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel nuts
on your vehicle can be dangerous. It could affect the brakirrg
and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires Iose air and make
you lose control. You could have a collision in which you or
others could be iqjured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts €or replacement.
A CAUTION:
I
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is dangerous. You can't
know how it's been used or how many miles it's been driven.
It
could fail suddenly and cause an accident. If you have to replace
a wheel "se anew
- GM original equipment wheel.
313
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Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Tire Chains
APERACE CARE
.. -.
c-
Page 328 of 406
Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine