2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE spare tire

When rotating your vehicle’s tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.
Do not include the spare tire in the tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust the front
and rear ination pressures as shown on the Tire
and Loading Information label. SeeInflation - Tire
Pressure on page 5-60andLoading Your Vehicle
on page 4-35.
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor System. SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on page 5-63.Make certain that all wheel nuts are properly
tightened. See “Wheel Nut Torque” under
Capacities and Specifications on page 5-113.
{CAUTION:
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or dirt
from places where the wheel attaches to
the vehicle. In an emergency, you can use a
cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later,
if needed, to get all the rust or dirt off.
SeeChanging a Flat Tire on page 5-77.
Make sure the spare tire is stored securely.
Push, pull, and then try to rotate or turn the tire.
If it moves, tighten the cable. SeeStoring a Flat
or Spare Tire and Tools on page 5-91.
5-68

When It Is Time for New Tires
Various factors, such as maintenance, temperatures,
driving speeds, vehicle loading, and road conditions,
inuence when you need new tires.
One way to tell when it is
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which appear
when your tires have
only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
Some commercial
truck tires may not have
treadwear indicators.
You need new tires if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber.
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
The tire has a bump, bulge, or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that
cannot be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
The rubber in tires degrades over time, even if they are
not being used. This is also true for the spare tire, if
your vehicle has one. Multiple conditions affect how fast
this aging takes place, including temperatures, loading
conditions, and ination pressure maintenance. With
proper care and maintenance tires will typically wear out
before they degrade due to age. If you are unsure
about the need to replace your tires as they get older,
consult the tire manufacturer for more information.
5-69

Buying New Tires
GM has developed and matched specic tires for your
vehicle. The original equipment tires installed on
your vehicle, when it was new, were designed to meet
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria Specication
(TPC spec) system rating. If you need replacement
tires, GM strongly recommends that you get tires with
the same TPC Spec rating. This way, your vehicle
will continue to have tires that are designed to give the
same performance and vehicle safety, during normal
use, as the original tires.
GM’s exclusive TPC Spec system considers over a
dozen critical specications that impact the overall
performance of your vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling, traction control, and tire
pressure monitoring performance. GM’s TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire’s sidewall near the tire
size. If the tires have an all-season tread design, the TPC
spec number will be followed by an MS for mud and
snow. SeeTire Sidewall Labeling on page 5-55for
additional information.
GM recommends replacing tires in sets of four. This is
because uniform tread depth on all tires will help keep
your vehicle performing most like it did when the tires
were new. Replacing less than a full set of tires canaffect the braking and handling performance of your
vehicle. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on page 5-67
for information on proper tire rotation.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control
while driving. If you mix tires of different sizes,
brands, or types (radial and bias-belted tires),
the vehicle might not handle properly, and you
could have a crash. Using tires of different
sizes, brands, or types could also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use the
same size, brand, and type tires on all wheels.
Your vehicle may have a different size spare
than the road tires (those originally installed on
your vehicle). When new, your vehicle included
a spare tire and wheel assembly with a similar
overall diameter as your vehicle’s road tires and
wheels, so it is all right to drive on it. Because
this spare was developed for use on your
vehicle, it will not affect vehicle handling.
5-70

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable
on the tire sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use
spare tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specied government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA,
A, B, and C. Those grades represent the tire’s
ability to stop on wet pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on specied government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning
:The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
5-72

Removing the Spare Tire and Tools
The equipment you will need is stored under the
storage tray, which is located on the driver’s side trim
panel (over the rear wheelhouse).
1. Remove the tray to access the tools by pulling up
on the nger depression under the jack symbol.2. Remove the wing nut (B) used to retain the tool bag
by turning it counterclockwise.
3. Turn the knob (A) on the jack counterclockwise to
release the jack and wheel blocks from the bracket.
4. Remove the wheel blocks and the wheel block
retainer by turning the wing nut (C)
counterclockwise.
The tools you will be using include the following: Regular Wheelbase shown, Extended Wheelbase
similar.
5-78

A. Jack
B. Wheel Blocks
C. Jack HandleD. Jack Handle
Extensions
E. Wheel WrenchTo access the spare tire:
A. Hoist Assembly
B. Hoist Shaft
C. Hoist Shaft Access
Cover/Hole
D. Jack Handle
Extensions
E. Wheel Wrench
F. Hoist CableG. Tire/Wheel Retainer
H. Spare Tire (Valve
Stem Pointed Down)
I. Hoist Shaft
Access Hole
J. Hoist End of
Extension Tool
K. Spare Tire Lock
1. To reach the hoist shaft access cover (C), you will
rst need to remove the hitch cover. Remove it by
turning the two fasteners located at the bottom
of the cover counterclockwise and then pull
the cover down and rotate towards you.
5-79

2. Open the hoist shaft access cover (C) on the
bumper to access the spare tire lock (K).
3. To remove the spare tire lock insert the ignition key,
turn it clockwise and then pull it.4. Assemble the two jack handle extensions (D) and
wheel wrench (E) as shown.
5-80

5. Insert the open end
of the extension (J)
through the hole
in the rear bumper (I)
(hoist shaft
access hole).
Be sure the hoist end (J) of the extension (D)
connects to the hoist shaft (B). The ribbed square
end of the extension is used to lower the spare tire.6. Turn the wheel wrench (E) counterclockwise to
lower the spare tire (H) to the ground. Continue
to turn the wheel wrench until the spare tire can be
pulled out from under the vehicle.
If the spare tire does not lower to the ground,
the secondary latch is engaged causing the tire
not to lower. SeeSecondary Latch System
on page 5-88for more information.
7. Use the wheel wrench
hook that allows you to
pull the hoist cable
towards you, to assist in
reaching the spare tire.
5-81