2009 CADILLAC XLR traction control

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 6-61.
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 6-64.
Vehicle Capacity Weight
:The number of
designated seating positions multiplied by
150 lbs (68 kg) plus the rated cargo load.
SeeLoading the Vehicle on page 5-21.
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
the Vehicle on page 5-21.
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 System
(TPMS) is used to alert you if a tire has lost pressure.
{CAUTION:
When the low tire warning light is displayed on the
instrument panel cluster, your vehicle’s handling
capabilities will be reduced during severe
maneuvers. If you drive too fast, you could lose
control of your vehicle. You or others could be
injured. Do not drive over 55 mph (90 km/h) when
the low tire warning light is displayed. Drive
cautiously and check your tire pressures as soon
as you can.
6-52

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 6-48, for 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 thetires were new. Replacing less than a full set of tires
can affect the braking and handling performance of your
vehicle. SeeTire Inspection and Rotation on page 6-60.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your
original equipment tires may not be available for H, V,
W, Y and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose snow tires
with a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire’s
maximum speed capability.
{CAUTION:
Mixing tires could cause you to lose control while
driving. If you mix tires of different sizes (other
than those originally installed on your vehicle),
brands, or types (radial and bias-belted tires), the
vehicle may not handle properly, and you could
have a crash. Using tires of different sizes (other
than those originally installed on your vehicle),
brands or types, may also cause damage to your
vehicle. Be sure to use the correct size, brand,
and type tires on all four wheels.
6-62

{CAUTION:
If you use bias-ply tires on the 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 the 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
could give an inaccurate low-pressure warning if
non-TPC Spec rated tires are installed on it. 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 6-55.
Your vehicle’s original equipment tires are listed on the
Tire and Loading Information label. SeeLoading the
Vehicle on page 5-21, 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 may
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, antilock brakes, 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 6-62andAccessories
and Modifications on page 6-3for additional information.
6-63

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.
6-64

{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.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B,
and C, representing the tire’s resistance to
the generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions on a
specied indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and excessive
temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet under
the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
{WARNING:
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inated
and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underination, or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The tires and wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give you the
longest tire life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and tire balancing will
not be necessary on a regular basis. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your vehicle pulling to
one side or the other, the alignment might need to
be checked. If you notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, the tires and wheels
might need to be rebalanced. See your dealer/retailer
for proper diagnosis.
6-65

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 the 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 the vehicle and tire size combination and
road conditions. Follow that manufacturer’s
instructions. To help avoid damage to the vehicle,
drive slowly, re-adjust or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and do not spin the wheels.
If you do nd traction devices that will t, install
them on the rear tires.
Lifting the Vehicle
{CAUTION:
Lifting a vehicle can cause an injury. The vehicle
can slip off the jack and roll over you or others.
You and they could be badly injured. Find a level
place to lift the vehicle. To help prevent the
vehicle from moving:
1. Firmly set the parking brake.
2. Put an automatic transmission shift lever in
P (Park).
3. Turn the engine off.
4. Put blocks in front of and behind the wheels.
{CAUTION:
Getting under a vehicle when it is jacked up is
dangerous. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed. Never get under a
vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.
6-68

Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-30
Cluster.......................................................3-42
Overview..................................................... 3-4
J
Jump Starting.................................................6-36
K
Keyless Access System.............................2-4, 4-48
Keyless Access System, Operation...................... 2-5
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................6-48
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-50
Lamps
Courtesy....................................................3-30
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver......................3-30
Reading.....................................................3-30
Twilight Sentinel
®........................................3-29Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-20
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-33
Lifting the Vehicle, Tires...................................6-68
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-44
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning............3-48
Brake System Warning.................................3-47
Charging System.........................................3-46
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-55
Highbeam On.............................................3-55
Lights On Reminder.....................................3-55
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-45
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-44
Security.....................................................3-55
StabiliTrak
®/Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light..........................................3-48
Tire Pressure..............................................3-50
Lighting
Entry/Exit...................................................3-30
Lights
Exterior Lamps............................................3-26
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-27
Limited-Slip Rear Axle.....................................5-10
Loading Your Vehicle.......................................5-21
Lockout Protection..........................................2-13
7

Towing
Recreational Vehicle.....................................5-26
Towing a Trailer..........................................5-26
Your Vehicle...............................................5-26
Traction
Control System (TCS).................................... 5-8
Limited-Slip Rear Axle..................................5-10
Magnetic Ride Control..................................5-10
Stabilitrak
®System........................................ 5-6
Transmission
Fluid, Automatic...........................................6-21
Transmission Operation, Automatic....................2-28
Trip Computer
Oil Life Indicator..........................................3-76
Trip Odometer................................................3-43
Trunk............................................................2-14
Turn and Lane-Change Signals.......................... 3-7
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever........................... 3-7
Twilight Sentinel
®............................................3-29
U
Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (URPA)...............2-40
Uniform Tire Quality Grading............................6-64
Universal Home Remote System.......................2-45
Operation...................................................2-46
V
Valet Lockout Switch.......................................2-22
Vehicle
Control........................................................ 5-3
Loading......................................................5-21
Running While Parked..................................2-37
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy..................8-16
Vehicle Identication
Number (VIN).............................................6-81
Service Parts Identication Label...................6-82
Vehicle Personalization
DIC ...........................................................3-72
Vehicle Positioning..........................................4-50
Ventilation Adjustment......................................3-40
Visors...........................................................2-20
Voice Recognition...........................................4-74
Voltmeter Gage..............................................3-46
W
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators...............3-41
Warnings
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-60
Hazard Warning Flashers............................... 3-6
Safety and Symbols......................................... iv
13