2009 CADILLAC XLR wheel

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to free the
vehicle when stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 5-20.
If the vehicle has a traction system, it can often help
to free a stuck vehicle. Refer to the vehicle’s traction
system in the Index. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the traction system off
and use the rocking method.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others could be
injured. The vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment re or other damage. Spin the
wheels as little as possible and avoid going above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the speedometer.
For information about using tire chains on the vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 6-68.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to clear the area
around the front wheels. Turn off any traction or stability
system. Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a
forward gear, spinning the wheels as little as possible.
To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop
spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator
pedal when the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning
the wheels in the forward and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it might need to be
towed out. If the vehicle does need to be towed out,
seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 5-26.
5-20

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer/retailer or a professional towing
service if the disabled vehicle needs to be towed.
SeeRoadside Service on page 8-7.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Notice:Dolly towing or dinghy towing the vehicle
may cause damage because of reduced ground
clearance. Always put the vehicle on a atbed truck.The vehicle was neither designed nor intended to be
towed with any of its wheels on the ground. If the vehicle
must be towed, see “Towing Your Vehicle” earlier in
this section.
Towing a Trailer
The vehicle is neither designed nor intended to tow
a trailer.
5-26

When It Is Time for New Tires.......................6-61
Buying New Tires.........................................6-62
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................6-63
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................6-64
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................6-65
Wheel Replacement......................................6-66
Tire Chains..................................................6-68
Lifting the Vehicle.........................................6-68
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................6-72
Appearance Care............................................6-74
Interior Cleaning...........................................6-74
Fabric/Carpet...............................................6-75
Leather.......................................................6-75
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces..................................................6-76
Wood Panels...............................................6-76
Speaker Covers............................................6-76
Care of Safety Belts......................................6-76
Weatherstrips...............................................6-77
Washing Your Vehicle...................................6-77
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................6-77
Finish Care..................................................6-78Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................6-78
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels
and Trim..................................................6-79
Tires...........................................................6-80
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................6-80
Finish Damage.............................................6-80
Underbody Maintenance................................6-80
Fiberglass Springs (Composite Springs)...........6-81
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................6-81
Vehicle Identication......................................6-81
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................6-81
Service Parts Identication Label.....................6-82
Electrical System............................................6-82
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................6-82
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................6-83
Power Windows and Other Power Options.......6-83
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................6-83
Instrument Panel Fuse Block..........................6-83
Underhood Fuse Block..................................6-87
Capacities and Specications..........................6-90
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-2

Low-Prole Tires (XLR-V)
If your vehicle has P235/45R19 or P255/40R19
size tires, they are classied as low-prole tires.
These tires are designed for very responsive driving
on wet or dry pavement. You may also notice more
road noise with low-prole performance tires and
that they tend to wear faster.
Notice:If the vehicle has low-prole tires,
they are more susceptible to damage from road
hazards or curb impact than standard prole
tires. Tire and/or wheel assembly damage
can occur when coming into contact with road
hazards like, potholes, or sharp edged
objects, or when sliding into a curb. The
vehicle warranty does not cover this type of
damage. Keep tires set to the correct ination
pressure and, when possible avoid contact
with curbs, potholes, and other road hazards.
Winter Tires (XLR-V)
If you expect to drive on snow or ice covered roads
often, you may want to get winter tires for your vehicle.
All season tires provide good overall performance on
most surfaces but they may not offer the traction
you would like or the same level of performance as
winter tires on snow or ice covered roads.Winter tires, in general, are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice covered roads. With winter
tires, there may be decreased dry road traction,
increased road noise, and shorter tread life. After
switching to winter tires, be alert for changes in vehicle
handling and braking.
See your dealer for details regarding winter tire
availability and proper tire selection. Also, seeBuying
New Tires on page 6-62.
If you choose to use winter tires:
Use tires of the same brand and tread type on all
four wheel positions.
Use only radial ply tires of the same size, load
range, and speed rating as the original equipment
tires.
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 winter tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire’s maximum
speed capability.
6-47

(F) Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG):Tire manufacturers are required to grade tires
based on three performance factors: treadwear,
traction and temperature resistance. For more
information seeUniform Tire Quality Grading on
page 6-64.
(G) Maximum Cold Ination Load Limit
:Maximum load that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed to support that load.
Tire Size
The following illustration shows an example of a
typical passenger (p-metric) vehicle tire size.
(A) Passenger (P-Metric) Tire
:The United States
version of a metric tire sizing system. The letter P
as the rst character in the tire size means a
passenger vehicle tire engineered to standards set
by the U. S. Tire and Rim Association.(B) Tire Width
:The three-digit number indicates
the tire section width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.
(C) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit number that
indicates the tire height-to-width measurements.
For example, if the tire size aspect ratio is 60, as
shown in item C of the illustration, it would mean
that the tire’s sidewall is 60 percent as high as
it is wide.
(D) Construction Code
:A letter code is used to
indicate the type of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply construction;
the letter D means diagonal or bias ply
construction; and the letter B means belted-bias
ply construction.
(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.
6-49

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 25 miles (40 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.
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 orreplacement. To locate the nearest GM or run-at
servicing facility, call Roadside Assistance. For phone
numbers and Roadside Service details seeRoadside
Service on page 8-7.
{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 6-55. These
sensors contain batteries which are designed to last
for 10 years under normal driving conditions. See your
dealer/retailer if you ever need to have a wheel
replaced, or if the sensors ever need replacement.
6-53

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.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-ination has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator iscombined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will ash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS
malfunction telltale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor Operation on page 6-57for
additional information.
6-56

Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and Industry and Science Canada
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) operates
on a radio frequency and complies with Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
The TPMS operates on a radio frequency and complies
with RSS-210 of Industry and Science Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
This vehicle may have a Tire Pressure Monitor
System (TPMS). The TPMS is designed to warn the
driver when a low tire pressure condition exists. TPMS
sensors are mounted onto each tire and wheel
assembly on your vehicle. The TPMS sensors monitor
the air pressure in the vehicle’s tires and transmits
the tire pressure readings to a receiver located in the
vehicle.
When a low tire pressure
condition is detected, the
TPMS illuminates the low
tire pressure warning light,
located in the instrument
panel cluster.
6-57