2007 CADILLAC XLR V Owners Manual

(E) Rim Diameter:Diameter of the wheel in
inches.
(F) Service Description:These characters
represent the load range and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents the load carry
capacity a tire is certied to carry. The load index
can range from 1 to 279. The speed rating is
the maximum speed a tire is certied to carry a
load. Speed ratings range from A to Z.
Tire Terminology and Denitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air inside the tire
pressing outward on each square inch of the
tire. Air pressure is expressed in pounds
per square inch (psi) or kilopascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the combined
weight of optional accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are, automatic
transmission/transaxle, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, and
air conditioning.Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a tire’s height
to its width.
Belt:A rubber coated layer of cords that is located
between the plies and the tread. Cords may be
made from steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead:The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped
by steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the plies
are laid at alternate angles less than 90 degrees
to the centerline of the tread.
Cold Tire Pressure:The amount of air pressure
in a tire, measured in pounds per square inch
(psi) or kilopascals (kPa) before a tire has built up
heat from driving. SeeInation - Tire Pressure
on page 422.
Curb Weight:This means the weight of a motor
vehicle with standard and optional equipment
including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and
coolant, but without passengers and cargo.
417

DOT Markings:A code molded into the sidewall
of a tire signifying that the tire is in compliance
with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
motor vehicle safety standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identication Number (TIN),
an alphanumeric designator which can also identify
the tire manufacturer, production plant, brand,
and date of production.
GVWR:Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. See
Loading Your Vehicle on page 354.
GAWR FRT:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the
front axle. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 354.
GAWR RR:Gross Axle Weight Rating for the
rear axle. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 354.
Intended Outboard Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire, that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa):The metric unit for air pressure.Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:A tire used on light
duty trucks and some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index:An assigned number ranging from 1
to 279 that corresponds to the load carrying
capacity of a tire.
Maximum Ination Pressure:The maximum air
pressure to which a cold tire may be inated.
The maximum air pressure is molded onto
the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating:The load rating for a tire
at the maximum permissible ination pressure
for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight:The sum of
curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle capacity
weight, and production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight:The number of
occupants a vehicle is designed to seat multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg). SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 354.
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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 422andLoading
Your Vehicle on page 354.
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 428.
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 431.
419

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 354.
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 354.
Run-Flat Tires
Your vehicle, when new, had run-at tires. There
is no spare tire, no tire changing equipment,
and no place to store a tire in the vehicle. Run-at
tires perform so well without any air that a Tire
Pressure Monitor (TPM) is used to alert you
if a tire has lost pressure.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 shorter the distance you
drive and the slower the speed, the greater the
chance that the tire will not have to be replaced. If
you drive on a deated run-at tire for 50 miles
(80 km) or less and at speeds of 55 mph (90 km/h)
or less, there is a good chance that the tire can
be repaired. The tire can operate effectively
with no air pressure for up to 100 miles (160 km)
at speeds up to 55 mph (90 km/h), but the tire
would then have to be replaced. When a tire
is lled with air, it provides a cushion between the
road and the wheel. Because you will not have
this cushion when driving on a deated tire, try to
avoid potholes that could damage your wheel
and require replacement of it.
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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 Assistance. For
phone numbers and Roadside Service details see
Roadside Service on page 487.
{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). SeeTire Pressure Monitor
System on page 423. 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.
421

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 hazardsA Tire and Loading Information label is attached to
the center pillar, below the driver’s door latch. This
label shows your vehicle’s original equipment tires
and the correct ination pressures for your tires
when they are cold. 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, see
Loading Your Vehicle on page 354. 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.
422

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 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.
Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor (TPM)
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. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor System on page 423and
DIC Controls and Displays on page 204for
additional information.
Tire Pressure Monitor System
Your vehicle has a Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS). This system uses radio and sensor
technology to check tire pressure levels. TPMS
sensors are mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly on your vehicle. The TPMS sensors
monitor the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires and
transmit the tire pressure readings to a receiver
located in the vehicle.
423

When a low tire pressure condition is detected,
the TPMS illuminates the low tire pressure warning
light, located in the instrument panel cluster,
and at the same time the LOW TIRE PRESSURE
warning message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) displays. The low tire pressure
warning light and the DIC warning message
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 204andDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 206.
You may notice, during cooler weather conditions,
that the low tire pressure warning light and the
LOW TIRE PRESSURE DIC warning message
may come on when the vehicle is rst started, and
then turn off as you start to drive. This may be
an early indicator that the air pressure in the tire(s)
is getting low and needs to be 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 ofa 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.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inate them to the
proper pressure. 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.
424