2007 BUICK LACROSSE tires

Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is different
from driving in at or rolling terrain.If you drive regularly in steep country, or if you are
planning to visit there, here are some tips that
can make your trips safer and more enjoyable.
Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all uid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transaxle. These parts
can work hard on mountain roads.
{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they would not work
well. You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let your engine assist
your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
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Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your vehicle in good shape for winter.
You may want to put winter emergency
supplies in your trunk.
Also seeTires on page 402.Include an ice scraper, a small brush or broom, a
supply of windshield washer uid, a rag, some
winter outer clothing, a small shovel, a ashlight, a
red cloth, and a couple of reective warning
triangles. And, if you will be driving under severe
conditions, include a small bag of sand, a
piece of old carpet, or a couple of burlap bags to
help provide traction. Be sure you properly
secure these items in your vehicle.
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Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where the tires
meet the road probably have good traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between the tires
and the road, you can have a very slippery
situation. You will have a lot less traction, or grip,
and will need to be very careful.What is the worst time for this? Wet ice. Very cold
snow or ice can be slick and hard to drive on.
But wet ice can be even more trouble because it
may offer the least traction of all. You can get
wet ice when it is about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and
freezing rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving
on wet ice until salt and sand crews can get there.
Whatever the condition — smooth ice, packed,
blowing, or loose snow — drive with caution.
If you have the Traction Control System (TCS), it
improves your ability to accelerate when driving
on a slippery road. Even though your vehicle has
TCS, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to the road conditions. Under certain
conditions, you may want to turn the TCS off,
such as when driving through deep snow
and loose gravel, to help maintain vehicle motion
at lower speeds. SeeTraction Control System
(TCS) on page 294.
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You will need a well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start
the engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long as
you can. To help keep warm, you can get out of
the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or so until help comes.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you
will need to spin the wheels, but you do not
want to spin your wheels too fast. The method
known as rocking can help you get out when you
are stuck, but you must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or
others could be injured. And, the
transaxle or other parts of the vehicle can
overheat. That could cause an engine
compartment re or other damage. When
you are stuck, spin the wheels as little as
possible. Do not spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.
Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you
spin the wheels too fast while shifting
the transaxle back and forth, you can destroy
the transaxle. SeeRocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out on page 319.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 424.
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Tire and Loading Information Label
A vehicle specic Tire and Loading Information
label is attached to the vehicle’s center pillar
(B-pillar). With the driver’s door open, you will nd
the label attached below the door lock post (striker).The Tire and Loading Information label lists the
number of occupant seating positions (A), and the
maximum vehicle capacity weight (B) in kilograms
and pounds. The vehicle capacity weight includes
the weight of all occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
The Tire and Loading Information label also lists the
tire size of the original equipment tires (C) and the
recommended cold tire ination pressures (D). For
more information on tires and ination, seeTires on
page 402andInation - Tire Pressure on page 409.
There is also important loading information on the
Certication label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axle, see
“Certication Label” later in this section.
Label Example
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Trailering means changes in handling,
acceleration, braking, durability, and fuel
economy. Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That is the reason for this part. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety
rules. Many of these are important for your safety
and that of your passengers. So please read
this section carefully before pulling a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine,
transaxle, wheel assembly, and tires are forced to
work harder against the drag of the added
weight. The engine is required to operate at
relatively higher speeds and under greater loads,
generating extra heat. What is more, the trailer
adds considerably to wind resistance, increasing
the pulling requirements.If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
Here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including
speed limit restrictions, having to do with
trailering. Make sure your rig will be legal, not
only where you live but also where you will
be driving. A good source for this information
can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. Ask a hitch
dealer about sway controls.
Do not tow a trailer at all during the rst
1,000 miles (1 600 km) the vehicle is driven.
The engine, axle or other parts could be
damaged.
Then, during the rst 500 miles (800 km) that
the vehicle tows a trailer, do not drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at full
throttle. This helps the engine and other parts
of the vehicle wear in at the heavier loads.
Obey speed limit restrictions when towing a
trailer. Do not drive faster than the maximum
posted speed for trailers, or no more than
55 mph (90 km/h), to save wear on the
vehicle’s parts.
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There are three important considerations have to
do with weight:
The weight of the trailer
The weight of the trailer tongue
The total weight on the vehicle’s tires
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs
(450 kg). But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much the vehicle is used to
pull a trailer are all important. It can also depend
on any special equipment that is on the vehicle,
and the amount of tongue weight the vehicle can
carry. See “Weight of the Trailer Tongue” later
in this section for more information.Maximum trailer weight is calculated assuming
only the driver is in the tow vehicle and it has all
the required trailering equipment. The weight
of additional optional equipment, passengers and
cargo must be subtracted from the maximum
trailer weight.
Ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at:
Buick Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 33136
Detroit, MI 48232-5136
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
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Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure the vehicle’s tires are inated to the upper
limit for cold tires. These numbers can be found
on the Tire-Loading Information label. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 319. Be sure not to go
over the GVW limit for the vehicle, or the GAWR,
including the weight of the trailer tongue. If a
weight distribution hitch is used, make sure not to
go over the rear axle limit before applying the
weight distribution spring bars.
Hitches
It is important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough
roads are a few reasons why the right hitch
is needed. Here are some rules to follow:
The rear bumper on the 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.
If holes need to be made in the body of the
vehicle to install a trailer hitch, then be sure
to seal the holes later when the hitch is
removed. If the holes are not sealed, deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) from the exhaust
can get into the vehicle. SeeEngine Exhaust
on page 122. Dirt and water can, too.
Safety Chains
Chains should always be attached between the
vehicle and the trailer. Cross the safety chains
under the tongue of the trailer so that the tongue
will not drop to the road if it becomes separated
from the hitch. Instructions about safety chains
may be provided by the hitch manufacturer or by
the trailer manufacturer. Follow the manufacturer’s
recommendation for attaching safety chains
and do not attach them to the bumper. Always
leave just enough slack so the rig can be turned.
And, never allow safety chains to drag on the
ground.
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