2007 GMC YUKON tires

All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
With this feature, engine power is sent to all
four wheels all the time.
This is like four-wheel drive, but there is no
separate lever or switch to engage or disengage
the front axle. It is fully automatic, and adjusts itself
as needed for road conditions.
Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the
engine stops or the system is not functioning, you
can steer but it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable
speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving
on curves. The traction of the tires against the
road surface makes it possible for the vehicle to
change its path when you turn the front wheels. If
there is no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you have ever
tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you will
understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of your tires and the road surface, the
angle at which the curve is banked, and your
speed. While you are in a curve, speed is the
one factor you can control.
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Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — have to
do their work where the tires meet the road.
Adding the sudden acceleration can demand too
much of those places. You can lose control.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease up
on the accelerator pedal, steer the vehicle the
way you want it to go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you
should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted
speeds are based on good weather and road
conditions. Under less favorable conditions you will
want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while
your front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive”
through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady
speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of
the curve, and then accelerate gently into
the straightaway.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 421.Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you come over
a hill and nd a truck stopped in your lane, or a car
suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts
out from between parked cars and stops right in
front of you. You can avoid these problems by
braking — if you can stop in time. But sometimes
you cannot; there is not room. That is the time for
evasive action — steering around the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes.
SeeBraking on page 346. It is better to remove as
much speed as you can from a possible collision.
Then steer around the problem, to the left or
right depending on the space available.
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If other vehicles are lined up to pass a slow
vehicle, wait your turn. But take care that
someone is not trying to pass you as you pull
out to pass the slow vehicle. Remember to
glance over your shoulder and check the
blind spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your shoulder
and start your left lane change signal before
moving out of the right lane to pass. When you
are far enough ahead of the passed vehicle to
see its front in your inside mirror, activate your
right lane change signal and move back into the
right lane. Remember that if your passenger
side outside mirror is convex, the vehicle you
just passed may seem to be farther away from
you than it really is.
Try not to pass more than one vehicle at a time
on two-lane roads. Reconsider before passing
the next vehicle.
Do not overtake a slowly moving vehicle too
rapidly. Even though the brake lamps are not
ashing, it may be slowing down or starting
to turn.
If you are being passed, make it easy for the
following driver to get ahead of you. Perhaps
you can ease a little to the right.
Loss of Control
Let us review what driving experts say about what
happens when the three control systems — brakes,
steering, and acceleration — do not have enough
friction where the tires meet the road to do what the
driver has asked.
In any emergency, do not give up. Keep trying to
steer and constantly seek an escape route or
area of less danger.
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Skidding
In a skid, a driver can lose control of the vehicle.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by taking
reasonable care suited to existing conditions, and
by not overdriving those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types of skids correspond to your
vehicle’s three control systems. In the braking skid,
your wheels are not rolling. In the steering or
cornering skid, too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too much throttle
causes the driving wheels to spin.
A cornering skid is best handled by easing your
foot off the accelerator pedal.
Remember: Any traction control system helps
avoid only the acceleration skid. If your traction
control system is off, then an acceleration
skid is also best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off
the accelerator pedal and quickly steer the
way you want the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, your vehicle may
straighten out. Always be ready for a second skid
if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other material is on the road.
For safety, you will want to slow down and adjust
your driving to these conditions. It is important
to slow down on slippery surfaces because
stopping distance will be longer and vehicle control
more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing vehicle speed by
shifting to a lower gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may not realize the
surface is slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues — such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow on the road to
make a mirrored surface — and slow down when
you have any doubt.
Remember: Any Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
helps avoid only the braking skid.
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Off-Road Driving
If your vehicle has 20-inch tire/wheel assemblies,
you should not drive off-road unless you are
on a level, solid surface. SeeTires on page 480.
Many of the same design features that help
make your vehicle responsive on paved roads
during poor weather conditions — features
like all-wheel drive — help make it much better
suited for off-road use than a conventional
passenger car. Its higher ground clearance also
helps your vehicle step over some off-road
obstacles. But your vehicle does not have features
like special underbody shielding and a transfer
case low gear range, things that are usually
thought necessary for extended or severe off-road
service. This guide is for operating your vehicle
off paved roads.
Also, seeBraking on page 346.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some denite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.“Off-roading” means you have left the great North
American road system behind. Traffic lanes
are not marked. Curves are not banked. There are
no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough,
uphill, or downhill. In short, you have gone
right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And
that is why it is very important that you read
this guide. You will nd many driving tips and
suggestions. These will help make your off-road
driving safer and more enjoyable.
If you think you will need some more ground
clearance at the front of your vehicle, you
can remove the front fascia lower air dam.
The front fascia lower air dam is held in place by
two bolts and 10 snap features. The bolts and
snap features are accessible from underneath the
front fascia.
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Loading Your Vehicle for Off-Road
Driving
{CAUTION:
Cargo on the load oor piled higher
than the seatbacks can be thrown
forward during a sudden stop. You or
your passengers could be injured.
Keep cargo below the top of the
seatbacks.
Unsecured cargo on the load oor can
be tossed about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your passengers
can be struck by ying objects.
Secure the cargo properly.
Heavy loads on the roof raise the
vehicle’s center of gravity, making it
more likely to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if the
vehicle rolls over. Put heavy loads
inside the cargo area, not on the roof.
Keep cargo in the cargo area as far
forward and low as possible.There are some important things to remember
about how to load your vehicle.
The heaviest things should be on the load
oor and forward of the rear axle. Put
heavier items as far forward as you can.
Be sure the load is secured properly, so
driving on the off-road terrain does not
toss things around.
You will nd other important information in this
manual. SeeLoading Your Vehicle on page 392
andTires on page 480.
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Q:Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A:It is much more likely to happen going
uphill. But if it happens going downhill, here is
what to do.
1. Stop your vehicle by applying the regular
brakes. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift to PARK (P) and, while still braking,
restart the engine.
3. Shift back to a low gear, release the parking
brake, and drive straight down.
4. If the engine will not start, get out and
get help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go
across the incline of a hill. If this happens,
you have to decide whether to try to drive across
the incline. Here are some things to consider:
A hill that can be driven straight up or
down may be too steep to drive across. When
you go straight up or down a hill, the length
of the wheel base — the distance from
the front wheels to the rear wheels — reduces
the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end
over end. But when you drive across
an incline, the much more narrow track
width — the distance between the left and
right wheels — may not prevent the vehicle
from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving
across an incline puts more weight on
the downhill wheels. This could cause a
downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when
you drive across a hill. Loose gravel, muddy
spots, or even wet grass can cause your tires
to slip sideways, downhill. If the vehicle
slips sideways, it can hit something that will
trip it — a rock, a rut, etc. — and roll over.
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When you drive on sand, you will sense a change
in wheel traction. But it will depend upon how
loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed
sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes, the tires
will tend to sink into the sand. This has an effect
on steering, accelerating, and braking. Drive
at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns
or abrupt maneuvers.
Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire
traction. On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose
control. On wet ice, for example, the traction is so
poor that you will have difficulty accelerating. And if
you do get moving, poor steering and difficult
braking can cause you to slide out of control.
{CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers
can be dangerous. Underwater springs,
currents under the ice, or sudden thaws
can weaken the ice. Your vehicle could
fall through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive your
vehicle on safe surfaces only.
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