2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE traction control

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

{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim anges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
If you must replace your vehicle’s tires with those that
do not have a TPC Spec number, make sure they
are the same size, load range, speed rating, and
construction type (radial and bias-belted tires) as your
vehicle’s original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire pressure monitoring system may
give an inaccurate low-pressure warning if non-TPC spec
rated tires are installed on your vehicle. Non-TPC Spec
rated tires may give a low-pressure warning that is higher
or lower than the proper warning level you would get with
TPC Spec rated tires. SeeTire Pressure Monitor System
on page 5-62.
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed on the
Tire and Loading Information Label. SeeLoading Your
Vehicle on page 4-35, for more information about the
Tire and Loading Information Label and its location on
your vehicle.
Different Size Tires and Wheels
If you add wheels or tires that are a different size than
your original equipment wheels and tires, this could
affect the way your vehicle performs, including its
braking, ride and handling characteristics, stability, and
resistance to rollover. Additionally, if your vehicle
has electronic systems such as anti-lock brakes, rollover
airbags, traction control, and electronic stability control,
the performance of these systems can be affected.
{CAUTION:
If you add different sized wheels, your vehicle
may not provide an acceptable level of
performance and safety if tires not
recommended for those wheels are selected.
You may increase the chance that you will
crash and suffer serious injury. Only use
GM specic wheel and tire systems developed
for your vehicle, and have them properly
installed by a GM certied technician.
SeeBuying New Tires on page 5-70andAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3for additional information.
5-71

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

Used Replacement Wheels
{CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on the vehicle is
dangerous. You cannot know how it has been
used or how far it has been driven. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash. If you have to
replace a wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{CAUTION:
Do not use tire chains. There is not enough
clearance. Tire chains used on a vehicle
without the proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes, suspension, or
other vehicle parts. The area damaged by the
tire chains could cause you to lose control of
your vehicle and you or others may be injured
in a crash. Use another type of traction device
only if its manufacturer recommends it for use
on your vehicle and tire size combination and
road conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to your
vehicle, drive slowly, re-adjust or remove the
device if it is contacting your vehicle, and do
not spin your wheels. If you do nd traction
devices that will t, install them on the rear
tires.
5-75

Tires (cont.)
Changing a Flat Tire....................................5-77
Cleaning...................................................5-103
Different Size..............................................5-71
High-Speed Operation..................................5-61
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................5-76
Ination - Tire Pressure................................5-60
Inspection and Rotation................................5-67
Installing the Spare Tire................................5-83
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................5-63
Pressure Monitor System..............................5-62
Removing the Flat Tire.................................5-83
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...............5-78
Secondary Latch System..............................5-88
Spare Tire..................................................5-95
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-91
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................5-55
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................5-57
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................5-72
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................5-73
Wheel Replacement.....................................5-74
When It Is Time for New Tires......................5-69
Tow/Haul Mode ...............................................2-34
Tow/Haul Mode Light.......................................3-47
Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................4-41
Towing a Trailer..........................................4-44
Your Vehicle...............................................4-41Traction
Locking Differential........................................ 4-5
Road Sensing Suspension.............................. 4-6
Stabilitrak
®System........................................ 4-6
Trailer
Recommendations.......................................4-56
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................5-20
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-30
Trip Odometer................................................3-35
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-8
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-8
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...............2-48
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................5-72
Universal Home Remote System.......................2-54
Operation...................................................2-54
Using this Manual............................................... iii
V
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 4-3
Damage Warnings........................................... iv
Loading......................................................4-35
Symbols......................................................... iv
13