Page 468 of 548

Black plate (66,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-66 Vehicle Care
Tire Chains
{ WARNINGDo 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
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) wheels. If you do find traction
devices that will fit, install them on
the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat It is unusual for a tire to blowout
while you are driving, especially if
you maintain your vehicle's tires
properly. If air goes out of a tire,
it is much more likely to leak out
slowly. But if you should ever have
a blowout, here are a few tips about
what to expect and what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire
creates a drag that pulls the vehicle
toward that side. Take your foot off
the accelerator pedal and grip the
steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then
gently brake to a stop, well off the
road, if possible. A rear blowout, particularly on a
curve, acts much like a skid and
may require the same correction
you would use in a skid. In any rear
blowout remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle
under control by steering the way
you want the vehicle to go. It may
be very bumpy and noisy, but you
can still steer. Gently brake to a
stop, well off the road, if possible.
{ WARNINGDriving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has
been driven on while severely
underinflated or flat may cause
a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.
Page 469 of 548

Black plate (67,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-67
{ WARNINGLifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance or
repairs is dangerous without the
appropriate safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided with
the vehicle, it is designed only for
changing a flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others could
be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. If a jack
is provided with the vehicle, only
use it for changing a flat tire.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place, well off the road,
if possible. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. See Hazard
Warning Flashers on page 6 ‑ 8 .{ WARNINGChanging a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can
slip off the jack and roll over or
fall on you or other people. You
and they could be badly injured or
even killed. Find a level place to
change your tire. To help prevent
the vehicle from moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put an automatic
transmission shift lever in
P (Park), or shift a manual
transmission to 1 (First) or
R (Reverse).
3. Turn off the engine and do
not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to
remain in the vehicle.
To be even more certain the
vehicle will not move, you should
put blocks at the front and rear of
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) the tire farthest away from the
one being changed. That would
be the tire on the other side, at
the opposite end of the vehicle.
When the vehicle has a flat tire (B),
use the following example as a
guide to assist you in the placement
of wheel blocks (A).
A. Wheel Block
B. Flat Tire
The following information explains
how to use the jack and change
a tire.
Page 473 of 548
Black plate (71,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-71
8. Tilt the tire toward the vehicle
with some slack in the cable to
access the tire/wheel retainer.
Separate the retainer from the
guide pin by sliding the retainer
up the pin while pressing down
on the latch. Once the retainer is separated
from the pin, tilt the retainer and
pull it through the center of the
wheel along with the cable and
latch.
9. Put the spare tire near the
flat tire. Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire 1. Do a safety check before
proceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10 ‑ 66 for more
information.
2. To remove the center cap, place
the chiseled end of the wheel
wrench in the slot on the wheel
and gently pry the cap out.
Page 475 of 548

Black plate (73,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-73
Front Position
Front Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a front tire of the vehicle,
you will need to use the jack
handle and only one jack handle
extension. Attach the wheel
wrench to the jack handle
extension. Attach the jack
handle to the jack (A). Position
the jack on the frame behind the
flat tire where the frame sections
overlap. Turn the wheel wrench
clockwise to raise the vehicle. Raise the vehicle far enough off
the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to clear
the ground.
Rear Position
Rear Tire Flat: If the flat tire is
on a rear tire of the vehicle,
you will need to use the jack
handle (B) and both jack handle extensions (C). Attach the wheel
wrench (D) to the jack handle
extensions (C). Attach the jack
handle (B) to the jack (A). Use
the jacking pad (E) provided on
the rear axle. Turn the wheel
wrench (D) clockwise to raise the
vehicle. Raise the vehicle far
enough off the ground so there
is enough room for the spare tire
to clear the ground.
Page 476 of 548

Black plate (74,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-74 Vehicle Care
5. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
6. Take off the flat tire.
{ WARNING
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
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) an emergency, 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. See If a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10 ‑ 66 .
7. Remove any rust or dirt from the
wheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel. { WARNINGNever use oil or grease on bolts
or nuts because the nuts might
come loose. The vehicle's wheel
could fall off, causing a crash.
8. Put the wheel nuts back on with
the rounded end of the nuts
toward the wheel after mounting
the spare tire.
9. Tighten each wheel nut by hand.
Then use the wheel wrench to
tighten the nuts until the wheel is
held against the hub.
10. Turn the wheel wrench
counterclockwise to lower
the vehicle. Lower the jack
completely.
Page 477 of 548

Black plate (75,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-75
{ WARNINGWheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. See Capacities and
Specifications on page 12 ‑ 2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
Notice: Improperly tightened
wheel nuts can lead to brake
pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs,
evenly tighten the wheel nuts in
the proper sequence and to the
proper torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12 ‑ 2 for the wheel nut
torque specification. 11. Tighten the nuts firmly in a
crisscross sequence as shown
by turning the wheel wrench
clockwise.
When you reinstall the regular
wheel and tire, you must also
reinstall the center cap. Line the tab
on the back of the cap with the slot
in the wheel. Place the cap on the
wheel and press until it snaps into
place. Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{ WARNINGStoring a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place.
Notice: Storing an aluminum
wheel with a flat tire under your
vehicle for an extended period
of time or with the valve stem
pointing up can damage the
wheel. Always stow the wheel
with the valve stem pointing
down and have the wheel/tire
repaired as soon as possible.
Store the tire under the rear of the
vehicle in the spare tire carrier.
Page 478 of 548
Black plate (76,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-76 Vehicle Care
A. Hoist Assembly
B. Hoist Shaft
C. Hoist Shaft Access Cover/Hole
D. Jack Handle Extensions
E. Wheel Wrench
F. Hoist Cable
G. Tire/Wheel Retainer
H. Spare Tire/Flat Tire (Valve Stem
Pointed Down)
I. Hoist Shaft Access Hole J. Hoist End of Extension Tool
K. Spare Tire Lock
1. Put the tire (H) on the ground at
the rear of the vehicle with the
valve stem pointed down and to
the rear.
2. Tilt the tire toward the vehicle.
Separate the tire/wheel
retainer (G) from the guide pin.
Pull the pin through the center of
the wheel. Tilt the retainer down
and through the center wheel
opening. 3. Assemble the two jack handle
extensions (D) and wheel
wrench (E) as shown.
Page 481 of 548

Black plate (79,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-79
Secondary Latch System This vehicle has an
underbody-mounted tire hoist
assembly equipped with a
secondary latch system. It is
designed to stop the spare tire from
suddenly falling off your vehicle.
For the secondary latch to work,
the spare must be installed with the
valve stem pointing down. See
“ Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and
Tools ” under Tire Changing on
page 10 ‑ 68 .
{ WARNING
Before beginning this procedure
read all the instructions. Failure to
read and follow the instructions
could damage the hoist assembly
and you and others could get
hurt. Read and follow the
instructions listed next. To release the spare tire from the
secondary latch:
1. Check under the vehicle to see if
the cable end is visible. If the
cable is not visible proceed to
Step 6.
2. If it is visible, first try to tighten
the cable by turning the wheel
wrench clockwise until you hear
two clicks or feel it skip twice.
You cannot overtighten the
cable. 3. Loosen the cable by turning
the wrench counterclockwise
three or four turns.
4. Repeat this procedure at least
two times. If the spare tire
lowers to the ground, continue
with Step 5 under “ Removing the
Spare Tire and Tools ” under Tire
Changing on page 10 ‑ 68 .
5. If the spare does not lower, turn
the wrench counterclockwise
until approximately 15 cm (6 in)
of cable is exposed.
6. Stand the wheel blocks on their
shortest ends, with the backs
facing each other.