2007 CADILLAC DTS tires

(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 422.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load
Limit:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that
load. For information on recommended tire
pressure seeInation - Tire Pressure on page 411
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 333.
(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.
SeeSpare Tire on page 438andIf a Tire Goes
Flat on page 427.
Compact Spare Tire Example
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(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 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. SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 411
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 333.(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 411andSpare Tire on page 438.
(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.
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(A) Tire Size:The tire size code 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) Dual Tire Maximum Load:Maximum load
that can be carried and the maximum pressure
needed to support that load when used in a dual
conguration.
(D) 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.
(E) Tire Identication Number (TIN):The letters
and numbers following DOT code are 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.
Light Truck Tire Example
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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 419.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 422.
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 333.
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 333.
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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
A Tire and Loading Information label is attached to
the vehicle’s center pillar. This label lists your
vehicle’s original equipment tires and shows the
correct ination pressures for your tires when they
are cold. The recommended cold tire inationpressure, 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, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 333. How you load
your vehicle affects the 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 spare tire. If your vehicle has a
compact spare tire, it should be at 60 psi
(420 kPa). For additional information seeSpare
Tire on page 438.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type gage to check tire
pressure. You cannot tell if your tires are
properly inated simply by looking at them. Radial
tires may look properly inated even when they
are under-inated. 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).
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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.
Re-check 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.
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) that sends tire pressure information to
the Driver Information Center (DIC). Using the DIC
control buttons, the driver is able to check tire
pressure levels in all four road tires. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System on page 414and
DIC Controls and Displays on page 240for
additional information.Professional Vehicle
The proper ination of the tires on your
professional vehicle depends on the type of
tires on it.
If your vehicle has P235/60R17 size tires, the
cold ination pressure is 41 psi (284 kPa).
If your vehicle has LT235/60R17E size tires,
the cold ination pressure depends on the
vehicle mass and should be determined by the
vehicle coach-builder. A tire and loading
information label provided by the nal stage
manufacturer should be attached to the B-pillar
on the driver’s side of the vehicle. If the nal
stage manufacturer’s label is not present,
the coach-builder should be consulted. Do not
use the tire pressures indicated on the
General Motors label. These tire pressures
are for the incomplete vehicle and are not the
correct tire pressures for the completed
professional vehicle.
Operation at ination pressures below this
recommendation may cause your tires to become
overloaded.
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High-Speed Operation
{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.If your vehicle has P235/55R17 or P245/50R18
size tires, and you will be driving at speeds of
100 mph (160 km/h) or higher, where it is legal,
set the cold ination pressure to the maximum
ination pressure shown on the tire sidewall, or
38 psi (265 kPa), whichever is lower. See the
example following.
Example:
You will nd the maximum load and ination
pressure molded on the tire’s sidewall, in small
letters, near the rim ange. It will read something
like this: Maximum load 690 kg (1521 lbs)
300 kPa (44 psi) Max. Press.
For this example, you would set the ination
pressure for high-speed driving at 38 psi (265 kPa).
When you end this high-speed driving, return the
tires to the cold ination pressure shown on
the Tire and Loading Information label. See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 333.
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Tire Pressure Monitor System
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses
radio and sensor technology to check tire pressure
levels. Sensors are mounted on each tire and
wheel assembly, except the spare tire. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure in your vehicle’s
tires and transmit tire pressure readings to a
receiver located in the vehicle.
When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS will illuminate the low tire pressure
warning symbol located on the instrument panel
cluster. A Driver Information Center (DIC) message
to check the pressure in a specic tire will also
appear on the DIC display. The low tire pressure
warning symbol on the instrument panel cluster
and the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message
on the DIC display will appear at each ignition
cycle until the tires are inated to the correct
ination pressure. For additional information and
details about the DIC operation and displays
seeDIC Controls and Displays on page 240and
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 246.
You may notice, during cooler weather conditions,
that the low tire pressure warning symbol and
the CHECK TIRE PRESSURE message willdisplay when the vehicle is rst started and then
turn off as you start to drive the vehicle. This could
be an early indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and need to be checked and inated to
the proper pressure.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked monthly when cold and inated to
the ination pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire
ination pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of
a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire ination pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire ination
pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety
feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that
illuminates a low tire
pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires
is signicantly
under-inated.
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