2007 CADILLAC CTS tires

Tires
Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires
made by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever
have questions about your tire warranty and where
to obtain service, see your GM Warranty booklet for
details. For additional information refer to the tire
manufacturer’s booklet included with your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Poorly maintained and improperly
used tires are dangerous.
Overloading your tires can cause
overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and
a serious accident. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 321.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)

Underinated tires pose the same
danger as overloaded tires. The
resulting accident could cause serious
injury. Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended pressure.
Tire pressure should be checked when
your tires are cold. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 402.
Overinated tires are more likely
to be cut, punctured, or broken by a
sudden impact — such as when
you hit a pothole. Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If
your tread is badly worn, or if your tires
have been damaged, replace them.
SeeHigh-Speed Operation on page 404for
ination pressure adjustment for high
speed driving.
392

Notice:If your vehicle has 245/45R18,
P245/45ZR18 or P225/50R18 size tires, they are
classied as low-prole tires. Low-prole
tires are more susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than standard prole
tires. Tire and or wheel assembly damage
can occur when coming into contact with road
hazards like, potholes, or sharp edged
objects or when sliding into a curb. Your GM
warranty does not cover this type of damage.
Keep tires set to the correct ination
pressure and when possible avoid contact with
curbs, potholes and other road hazards.
Winter Tires
If you expect to drive on snow or ice covered
roads often, you may want to get winter tires for
your vehicle. All season tires provide good overall
performance on most surfaces but they may
not offer the traction you would like or the same
level of performance as winter tires on snow or ice
covered roads.Winter tires, in general, are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice covered roads. With
winter tires, there may be decreased dry
road traction, increased road noise, and shorter
tread life. After switching to winter tires, be alert for
changes in vehicle handling and braking.
See your dealer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also,
seeBuying New Tires on page 411.
If you choose to use winter tires:
Use tires of the same brand and tread type on
all four wheel positions.
Use only radial ply tires of the same size, load
range, and speed rating as the original
equipment tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your
original equipment tires may not be available for H,
V, W, Y, and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose
winter tires with a lower speed rating, never
exceed the tire’s maximum speed capability.
393

Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is molded into its
sidewall. The examples below show a typical
passenger vehicle tire and a compact spare tire
sidewall.(A) Tire Size:The tire size is a combination of
letters and numbers used to dene a particular
tire’s width, height, aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the “Tire Size”
illustration later in this section for more detail.
(B) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specication):Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have
a TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of Transportation):The
Department of Transportation (DOT) code
indicates that the tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire
was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only one side may have
the date of manufacture.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example
394

(E) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under
the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):Tire
manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature resistance. For more
information seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on
page 414.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(A) Temporary Use Only:The compact spare
tire or temporary use tire has a tread life of
approximately 3,000 miles (5 000 km) and should
not be driven at speeds over 65 mph (105 km/h).
The compact spare tire is for emergency use
when a regular road tire has lost air and gone at.
If your vehicle has a compact spare tire, see
Compact Spare Tire (CTS Only) on page 434and
If a Tire Goes Flat on page 422.
Compact Spare Tire Example
395

(B) Tire Ply Material:The type of cord and
number of plies in the sidewall and under the
tread.
(C) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following the DOT (Department of
Transportation) code is the Tire Identication
Number (TIN). The TIN shows the manufacturer
and plant code, tire size, and date the tire
was manufactured. The TIN is molded onto both
sides of the tire, although only one side may have
the date of manufacture.
(D) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit:
Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
(E) Tire Ination:The temporary use tire or
compact spare tire should be inated to 60 psi
(420 kPa). For more information on tire pressure
and ination seeInation - Tire Pressure on
page 402.
(F) Tire Size:A combination of letters and
numbers dene a tire’s width, height, aspect ratio,
construction type, and service description. The
letter T as the rst character in the tire size means
the tire is for temporary use only.(G) TPC Spec (Tire Performance Criteria
Specication):Original equipment tires designed
to GM’s specic tire performance criteria have
a TPC specication code molded onto the sidewall.
GM’s TPC specications meet or exceed all
federal safety guidelines.
Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a
typical passenger vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:The United
States version of a metric tire sizing system.
The letter P as the rst character in the tire size
means a passenger vehicle tire engineered
to standards set by the U.S. Tire and Rim
Association.
396

Normal Occupant Weight:The number of
occupants a vehicle is designed to seat multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg). SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 321.
Occupant Distribution:Designated seating
positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted on a vehicle.
The side of the tire that contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bears manufacturer, brand,
and/or model name molding that is higher
or deeper than the same moldings on the other
sidewall of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:A tire used on
passenger cars and some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Ination Pressure:Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended tire ination
pressure as shown on the tire placard. See
Ination - Tire Pressure on page 402andLoading
Your Vehicle on page 321.
Radial Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the ply
cords that extend to the beads are laid at 90
degrees to the centerline of the tread.Rim:A metal support for a tire and upon which
the tire beads are seated.
Sidewall:The portion of a tire between the tread
and the bead.
Speed Rating:An alphanumeric code assigned
to a tire indicating the maximum speed at
which a tire can operate.
Traction:The friction between the tire and the
road surface. The amount of grip provided.
Tread:The portion of a tire that comes into contact
with the road.
Treadwear Indicators:Narrow bands, sometimes
called wear bars, that show across the tread of a
tire when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread remains.
SeeWhen It Is Time for New Tires on page 411.
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards):A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction,
temperature, and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using government
testing procedures. The ratings are molded into the
sidewall of the tire. SeeUniform Tire Quality
Grading on page 414.
399

Vehicle Capacity Weight:The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by 150 lbs
(68 kg) plus the rated cargo load. SeeLoading
Your Vehicle on page 321.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire:Load on an
individual tire due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard:A label permanently attached to
a vehicle showing the vehicle’s capacity weight
and the original equipment tire size and
recommended ination pressure. See “Tire and
Loading Information Label” underLoading
Your Vehicle on page 321.
Run-Flat Tires (CTS-V)
If your vehicle has run-at tires, there is no spare
tire and no tire changing equipment. Your
vehicle also has a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
which will alert you if there is a loss of tire pressure
in any of the tires. SeeTire Pressure Monitor
System on page 405.
{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. Do not 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.
If a tire goes at, you will not need to stop on the
side of the road to change the tire. You can
just keep on driving. The tire can operate
effectively with no air pressure for up to 65 miles
(105 km) at speeds up to 55 mph (90 km/h).
The shorter the distance you drive and the slower
the speed, the greater the chance that the tire
will not have to be replaced. When a tire is lled
with air, it provides a cushion between the
road and the wheel.
400

Because you will not have this cushion when
driving on a deated run-at tire, try to avoid
potholes that could damage your wheel and
require replacement of it.
Some road hazards can damage a tire beyond
repair. This damage could occur even before you
have driven on the tire in a deated condition.
When a tire has been damaged, or if you
have driven any distance on a run-at tire, check
with an authorized run-at tire service center
to determine whether the tire can be repaired or
should be replaced. To maintain your vehicle’s
run-at feature, all replacement tires must
be self-supporting tires. As soon as possible,
contact the nearest authorized GM or run-at
servicing facility for inspection and repair or
replacement. To locate the nearest GM or run-at
servicing facility, call Roadside Service. See
Roadside Service on page 488for details.
{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 vehicle’s run-at tires. This damage would
not be covered by warranty. Do not use liquid
sealants in your vehicle’s run-at tires.
401