2009 CADILLAC XLR winter tires

Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow or ice between the
tires and the road, creating less traction or grip. Wet ice
can occur at about 32°F (0°C) when freezing rain
begins to fall, resulting in even less traction. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.
Drive with caution, whatever the condition. Accelerate
gently so traction is not lost. Accelerating too quickly
causes the wheels to spin and makes the surface under
the tires slick, so there is even less traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction. If you accelerate too
fast, the drive wheels will spin and polish the surface
under the tires even more.
TheTraction Control System (TCS) on page 5-8
improves the ability to accelerate on slippery roads, but
slow down and adjust your driving to the road conditions.
TheStabiliTrak
®System on page 5-6might also activate.
When driving through deep snow, turn off the traction
control system to help maintain vehicle motion at lower
speeds.TheAntilock Brake System (ABS) on page 5-5improves
vehicle stability during hard stops on a slippery roads,
but apply the brakes sooner than when on dry
pavement.
Allow greater following distance on any slippery road
and watch for slippery spots. Icy patches can occur on
otherwise clear roads in shaded areas. The surface
of a curve or an overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while on ice.
Turn off cruise control, if equipped, on slippery surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be in a serious situation.
Stay with the vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside Service on page 8-7.
To get help and keep everyone in the vehicle safe:
Turn on theHazard Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
5-18

Service............................................................6-3
Accessories and Modications..........................6-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................6-4
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements.....6-4
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................6-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of the
Vehicle......................................................6-5
Fuel................................................................6-5
Gasoline Octane............................................6-5
Gasoline Specications....................................6-6
California Fuel...............................................6-6
Additives.......................................................6-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................6-7
Filling the Tank..............................................6-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................6-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................6-10
Hood Release..............................................6-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................6-12
Engine Oil...................................................6-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................6-18
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................6-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................6-21
Cooling System............................................6-22
Engine Coolant.............................................6-23Engine Overheating.......................................6-27
Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode........................................6-29
Power Steering Fluid.....................................6-30
Windshield Washer Fluid................................6-31
Brakes........................................................6-32
Battery........................................................6-35
Jump Starting...............................................6-36
Rear Axle.......................................................6-41
Headlamp Aiming...........................................6-42
Headlamp Vertical Aiming..............................6-43
Bulb Replacement..........................................6-45
Windshield Replacement.................................6-45
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............6-45
Tires..............................................................6-46
Winter Tires (XLR-V).....................................6-47
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................6-48
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................6-50
Run-Flat Tires..............................................6-52
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................6-54
Tire Pressure Monitor System.........................6-55
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation.....................6-57
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................6-60
Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
6-1

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

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

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

StabiliTrak®/TCS Warning Light.........................3-48
Starting the Engine.........................................2-26
Steering........................................................5-10
Steering Wheel Controls, Audio.........................3-88
Steering Wheel Controls, Memory....................... 1-3
Steering Wheel, Heated..................................... 3-7
Steering Wheel, Power Tilt Wheel and
Telescopic Steering Column............................ 3-6
Storage Areas
Center Console Storage Area........................2-53
Convenience Net.........................................2-54
Cupholders.................................................2-53
Glove Box..................................................2-53
Rear Storage Area.......................................2-54
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow.....................5-20
Sun Visors.....................................................2-20
Symbols........................................................4-43
System Needs Service, If.................................4-51
System Overview
Overview, Navigation System.......................... 4-2
T
Tachometer....................................................3-43
Telescopic Steering Column, Power Tilt Wheel...... 3-6
Theft - Deterrent System..................................2-20
Theft-Deterrent, Radio.....................................3-88Theft-Deterrent Systems...................................2-20
Immobilizer.................................................2-22
Immobilizer Operation...................................2-23
Tire
Pressure Light.............................................3-50
Tires.............................................................6-46
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels,
Cleaning.................................................6-79
Buying New Tires........................................6-62
Chains.......................................................6-68
Cleaning....................................................6-80
Different Size..............................................6-63
If a Tire Goes Flat.......................................6-72
Ination - Tire Pressure................................6-54
Inspection and Rotation................................6-60
Lifting the Vehicle........................................6-68
Pressure Monitor Operation...........................6-57
Pressure Monitor System..............................6-55
Run-Flat.....................................................6-52
Tire Sidewall Labeling..................................6-48
Tire Terminology and Denitions....................6-50
Uniform Tire Quality Grading.........................6-64
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance.................6-65
Wheel Replacement.....................................6-66
When It Is Time for New Tires......................6-61
Winter Tires................................................6-47
12

Washer, Headlamps........................................3-11
Waypoint, Edit................................................4-23
Wheels
Alignment and Tire Balance..........................6-65
Different Size..............................................6-63
Replacement...............................................6-66
Windows.......................................................2-17
Power ........................................................2-18
Windshield
Rainsense™ Wipers...................................... 3-9
Replacement...............................................6-45
Washer......................................................3-10
Washer Fluid..............................................6-31
Wiper Blade Replacement.............................6-45Windshield (cont.)
Wiper Blades, Cleaning................................6-78
Wiper Fuses...............................................6-83
Wipers......................................................... 3-8
Winter Driving................................................5-18
Winter Tires...................................................6-47
Wiper Activated Headlamps..............................3-27
X
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System................3-91
Y
Your Vehicle and the Environment....................... 7-2
14