2004 CADILLAC CTS V Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Run-at tires are constructed differently than
other tires and could explode during improper
service. You or others could be injured or
killed if you attempt to repair, replace,
dismount, or mount a run-at tire. Let only an
authorized run-at service center repair,
replace, dismount and mount run-at tires.
The valve stems on your run-at tires have sensors that
are part of the Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
These sensors contain batteries which are designed
to last for 10 years under normal driving conditions.
See your dealer if you ever need to have a wheel
replaced, or if the sensors ever need replacement.
Notice:Using liquid sealants can damage the tire
valves and tire pressure monitor sensors in your
run-at tires. This damage would not be covered
by warranty. Don’t use liquid sealants in your
run-at tires.
Ination - Tire Pressure
Tires need the correct amount of air pressure to
operate effectively.
Notice:Do not let anyone tell you that
under-ination or over-ination is all right. It is not.
If your tires do not have enough air (under-ination),
you can get the following:
Too much exing
Too much heat
Tire overloading
Premature or irregular wear
Poor handling
Reduced fuel economy
If your tires have too much air (over-ination),
you can get the following:
Unusual wear
Poor handling
Rough ride
Needless damage from road hazards
5-67

A Tire and Loading Information label is attached to the
vehicle’s center pillar, below the driver’s door latch
or on the rear edge of the driver’s side, rear passenger
door. This label lists your vehicle’s original equipment
tires and their recommended cold tire ination pressures.
The recommended cold tire ination pressure, shown
on the label, is the minimum amount of air pressure
needed to support your vehicle’s maximum load
carrying capacity.
For additional information regarding how much weight
your vehicle can carry, and an example of the tire
and loading information label, seeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-34. How you load your vehicle affects
vehicle handling and ride comfort, never load your
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 compact spare tire. If your vehicle has one,
it should be at 60 psi (420 kPa). For additional
information regarding the compact spare tire,
seeCompact Spare Tire on page 5-91.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You can’t tell if your tires are properly inated
simply by looking at them. Radial tires may look
properly inated even when they’re underinated. Check
the tire’s ination pressure when the tires are cold.
Cold means your vehicle has been sitting for at least
three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve stem. Press
the tire gage rmly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire ination pressure matches
the recommended pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information label, no further adjustment is necessary.
If the ination pressure is low, add air until you reach the
recommended amount.
If you overll the tire, release air by pushing on the
metal stem in the center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gage.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the valve stems.
They help prevent leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
5-68

High Speed Operation (CTS-V)
{CAUTION:
Driving at high speeds, 100 mph (160 km/h) or
higher, puts an additional strain on tires.
Sustained high-speed driving, causes
excessive heat build up and can cause sudden
tire failure. You could have a crash and you or
others could be killed. Some high-speed rated
tires require ination pressure adjustment for
high speed operation. When speed limits and
road conditions are such, that a vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, make sure the tires are
rated for high speed operation, in excellent
condition and set to the correct cold tire
ination pressure for the vehicle load.
The CTS-Vperformance series has 245/45R18 96W size
tires. These high-performance tires require ination
pressure adjustment when driving your vehicle at speeds
of 130 mph (209 km/h) or higher with occupants and
cargo weighing 600 lbs. (272 kg) up to 882 lbs. (400 kg).Use the following chart to determine the cold tire
ination pressure when operating your vehicle under
these conditions.
Tire Size: 245/45R18 96W Recommended Cold Tire
Ination Pressure for High Speed Operation at
130 mph (209 km/h) or more:
Occupant and
Cargo Weight:
Less than
600 lbs (272 kg)Occupant and
Cargo Weight:
600 lbs (272 kg)
Up to 882 lbs (400 kg)
(Vehicle Capacity
Weight)
Front Tires Rear Tires Front Tires Rear Tires
30 psi
(210 kPa)30 psi
(210 kPa)32 psi
(220 kPa)34 psi
(235 kPa)
When you end high-speed driving, return the tires to the
cold ination pressures shown on the tire and loading
information label. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on
page 4-34.
5-69

Tire Pressure Monitor
System (CTS-V)
The Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM) System uses radio
and sensor technology to check tire pressure levels.
If your vehicle has this feature, sensors are mounted on
each run-at tire and wheel assembly. The TPM
sensors transmit tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle. Using the Message Center,
tire pressure levels can be viewed by the driver.
For additional information about the message center
operation and displays, seeMessage Center (CTS-V)
on page 3-53.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected, a low
tire warning light, on the instrument panel cluster,
comes on to warn the driver.When the tire pressure
monitoring system warning
light is lit, one or more
of your tires is signicantly
under-inated.
You should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inate them to the proper pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information placard.
Driving on a signicantly under-inated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-ination also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability. Each tire, should be checked monthly when
cold and set to the recommended ination pressure as
specied in the vehicle placard and owner’s manual.
5-70

The Tire and Loading Information label (tire information
placard) is attached, to either, the center pillar near the
driver’s door latch post or on the rear edge of the driver’s
side rear passenger door. The label shows the size of
your vehicle’s original tires and the correct ination
pressure for your vehicle’s tires when they are cold.
SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 5-67andLoading
Your Vehicle on page 4-34for additional information.
Your vehicle’s TPM system can alert you about a low tire
pressure condition but it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on
page 5-72andTires on page 5-58.
Each TPM sensor has a unique identication code that
is matched to one of the four tire positions on your
vehicle. Any time you rotate your vehicle’s tires
or replace one or more TPM sensors, the identication
codes will need to be matched to the new tire and
wheel position. The TPM matching process is performed
in a specic sequence and time limit. See your dealer
for service.Notice:Do not use a tire sealant if your vehicle
is equipped with Tire Pressure Monitors.
The liquid sealant can damage the tire pressure
monitor sensors.
The TPM system operates on a radio frequency subject
to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules
and with Industry and Science Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules
and with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
5-71

Tire Inspection and Rotation
Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles
(8 000 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. SeeWhen It Is Time
for New Tires on page 5-73andWheel Replacement
on page 5-77for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve more
uniform wear for all tires on the vehicle. The rst rotation
is the most important. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4, for scheduled rotation intervals.When rotating your tires, always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Do not include the compact spare tire, If your vehicle
has one, in the tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front and
rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label.
If your vehicle has run-at tires, the Tire Pressure
Monitor (TPM) system will need to have the sensors
reset after a tire rotation is performed. A special tool is
needed to reset the sensor identication codes.
See your dealer for service.
5-72

Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly tightened.
See “Wheel Nut Torque” underCapacities and
Specications on page 5-111.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make 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
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. SeeChanging a
Flat Tire on page 5-81.
When It Is 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 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of
tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
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.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can’t be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
5-73

Buying New Tires
To nd out what kind and size of tires your vehicle
needs, look at the tire and loading information label.
For more information about this label and its location on
your vehicle, seeLoading Your Vehicle on page 4-34.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a
Tire Performance Criteria Specication (TPC Spec)
number on each tire’s sidewall. When you get new tires,
GM recommends that you get tires 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, load range, traction, ride, tire
pressure monitoring system performance 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).Whenever you 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.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your original
equipment tires may not be available for H, V, W,
and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose snow tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire’s maximum
speed capability.
If you replace your vehicle’s tires with those not having
a TPC spec number, the tire pressure monitoring
system may give an inaccurate low pressure warning.
Non-TPC Spec tires may give a low pressure warning
that is higher or lower than the proper warning level you
would get with TPC Spec numbered tires.
5-74