2004 CADILLAC CTS V spare tire

If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to “blowout” while you’re driving,
especially if you maintain your tires properly. See
Tires on page 5-58. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much
more likely to leak out slowly. But if you should ever
have a “blowout”, here are a few tips about what
to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the at tire will create a drag that
pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel rmly.
Steer to maintain lane position, and then gently brake to
a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a
skid and may require the same correction you’d use
in a skid. In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by
steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be
very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently
brake to a stop — well off the road if possible.If a tire goes at, and your vehicle has a spare tire,
seeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-81. This information
shows you how to use your vehicle’s tire changing
equipment and how to change a at tire safely.
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it to do
maintenance or repairs is dangerous without
the appropriate safety equipment and training.
The jack provided with your vehicle is
designed only for changing a at tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others could be
badly injured or killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. Use the jack provided with your
vehicle only for changing a at tire.
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Run-Flat Tires (CTS-V)
If your vehicle has run-at tires, there is no spare tire
and no tire changing equipment. Run-at tires can
operate effectively with no air pressure for a limited
distance and speed. These tires perform so well without
any air pressure that a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
is used to alert you when there is a low tire condition.
{CAUTION:
When the low tire warning light is displayed on
the instrument panel cluster, your vehicle’s
handling capabilities will be reduced during
severe maneuvers. If you drive too fast, you
could lose control of your vehicle. You or
others could be injured. Don’t drive over
55 mph (90 km/h) when the low tire warning
light is displayed. Drive cautiously and check
your tire pressures as soon as you can.SeeRun-Flat Tires (CTS-V) on page 5-66andTire
Pressure Monitor System (CTS-V) on page 5-70,
for additional information.
{CAUTION:
Special tools and procedures are required to
service a run-at tire. If these special tools and
procedures aren’t used you or others could be
injured and your vehicle could be damaged.
Always be sure the proper tools and
procedures, as described in the service
manual, are used.
To order a service manual seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-11.
5-80

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you’ll need is in the trunk.
To gain access to the spare tire and jacking equipment,
do the following:
1. Turn the center nut on
the compact spare tire
cover counterclockwise
to remove it. Then
remove the cover.
2. Turn the nut holding the jack counterclockwise and
remove it. Then remove the jack and wheel wrench.
5-82

3. Remove the compact spare tire. SeeCompact
Spare Tire on page 5-91for more information
about the compact spare tire.4. The tools you’ll be using include the jack (A) and
the wheel wrench (B).
5-83

Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire
1. Place the wheel wrench (A) securely over the wheel
nut (B). Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to
loosen all the wheel nuts. Don’t remove them yet.2. Find the jacking location using the diagram above
and corresponding hoisting notches located in the
plastic molding. The notches in the plastic molding
are marked with a triangle shape to help you
nd them.
The front location (A) is about 14 inches (35.6 cm)
from the rear edge of the front wheel well, and
the rear location (B) is about 7 inches (17.8 cm)
from the front edge of the rear wheel well.
5-85

{CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under
a vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
{CAUTION:
Raising your vehicle with the jack improperly
positioned can damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help avoid personal
injury and vehicle damage, be sure to t the
jack lift head into the proper location before
raising the vehicle.
3. Attach the wheel wrench to the jack.
4. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the
jack lift head until the jack ts under the vehicle.5. Raise the jack by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise until the slots in the jack head t into the
metal ange located behind the triangle on the
plastic molding as shown.
6. Put the compact spare tire near you.
7. Raise the vehicle by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough off the
ground for the compact spare tire to t under
the vehicle.
8. Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the at tire.
5-86

9. Remove any rust or dirt
from the wheel bolts,
mounting surfaces
and spare wheel.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make the wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
the 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 or wire brush later, if you need to,
to get all the rust or dirt off.
{CAUTION:
Never use oil or grease on studs or nuts. If you
do, the nuts might come loose. Your wheel
could fall off, causing a serious accident.
10. Place the compact
spare tire on the
wheel-mounting
surface.
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13. Tighten the wheel nuts
rmly in a crisscross
sequence as shown.
{CAUTION:
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly tightened
wheel nuts can cause the wheel to come loose
and even come off. This could lead to an
accident. Be sure to use the correct wheel
nuts. If you have to replace them, be sure to
get new GM original equipment wheel nuts.
Stop somewhere as soon as you can and have
the nuts tightened with a torque wrench to the
proper torque specication. SeeCapacities
and Specifications on page 5-111for wheel nut
torque specication.Notice:Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead
to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To avoid
expensive brake repairs, evenly tighten the wheel
nuts in the proper sequence and to the proper
torque specication. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-111for the wheel nut
torque specication.
Notice:Wheel covers will not t on your compact
spare. If you try to put a wheel cover on the compact
spare, you could damage the cover or the spare.
Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your compact spare
tire. It won’t t. Store the wheel cover in the trunk
until you have the at tire repaired or replaced.
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