Black plate (49,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Seats and Restraints 3-49WARNING (Continued)proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle Q: Is there anything I might add
to or change about the vehicle
that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that
change the vehicle's frame,
bumper system, height, front end
or side sheet metal, they may
keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or
moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument panel, roof-rail airbag modules,
ceiling headliner or pillar garnish
trim, overhead console, front
sensors, side impact sensors,
or airbag wiring can affect the
operation of the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle may
have a passenger sensing
system for the right front
passenger position, which
includes sensors that are part
of the passenger seat. The
passenger sensing system
may not operate properly if the
original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery
or trim, or with GM covers,
upholstery or trim designed for a
different vehicle. Any object,
such as an aftermarket seat
heater or a comfort enhancing
pad or device, installed under or
on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation
of the passenger sensing
system. This could either prevent proper deployment
of the passenger airbag(s) or
prevent the passenger sensing
system from properly turning off
the passenger airbag(s). See
Passenger Sensing System on
page 3 ‑ 44 .
If you have any questions,
call Customer Assistance. The
phone numbers and addresses
for Customer Assistance are
in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. See Customer
Satisfaction Procedure
(U.S. and Canada) on
page 13 ‑ 1 or Customer
Satisfaction Procedure (Mexico)
on page 13 ‑ 3 .
If the vehicle has rollover
roof-rail airbags, see Different
Size Tires and Wheels on
page 10 ‑ 62 for additional
important information.
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-2 Vehicle Care When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-61
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-66
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-79
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-81
Jump Starting Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Towing Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Appearance Care Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-90
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-94
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-98 General Information For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California
Proposition 65 Warning Most motor vehicles, including this
one, contain and/or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and systems,
many fluids, and some component
wear by-products contain and/or
emit these chemicals.
Black plate (47,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-47WARNING (Continued) .
Underinflated tires pose the
same danger as overloaded
tires. The resulting crash
could cause serious injury.
Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended
pressure. Tire pressure
should be checked when the
tires are cold. .
Overinflated tires are more
likely to be cut, punctured,
or broken by a sudden
impact — such as when
hitting a pothole. Keep tires at
the recommended pressure. .
Worn or old tires can cause
a crash. If the tread is badly
worn, replace them. .
Replace any tires that have
been damaged by impacts
with potholes, curbs, etc.
(Continued) WARNING (Continued) .
Improperly repaired tires
can cause a crash. Only the
dealer or an authorized tire
service center should repair,
replace, dismount, and mount
the tires. .
Do not spin the tires in
excess of 55 km/h (35 mph)
on slippery surfaces such
as snow, mud, ice, etc.
Excessive spinning may
cause the tires to explode.
See Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation on page 10 ‑ 54 for
inflation pressure adjustment for
high speed driving.
22 ‐ Inch Tires
If your vehicle has the optional
22 ‐ inch P285/45R22 size tires,
they are classified as touring
tires and are designed for
on ‐ road use. The low ‐ profile, wide tread design is not
recommended for off ‐ road
driving. See Off-Road Driving on
page 9 ‑ 7 , for additional
information.
Notice: If the vehicle has
low ‐ profile tires, they are
more susceptible to damage
from road hazards or curb
impact than standard profile
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 inflation pressure and,
when possible avoid contact
with curbs, potholes, and
other road hazards.
Black plate (49,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-49(G) Maximum Cold Inflation
Load Limit :
Maximum load
that can be carried and the
maximum pressure needed
to support that load. For
information on recommended
tire pressure see Tire Pressure
on page 10 ‑ 52 and Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 24 .
Tire Designations Tire Size
The following examples show
the different parts of a tire size.
Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire
(A) Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire :
The United States version of a
metric tire sizing system. The
letter P as the first 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 75, as shown
in item C of the light truck
(LT ‐ Metric) tire illustration, it
would mean that the tire's
sidewall is 75% 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
index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carrying capacity a tire
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions Air Pressure :
The amount
of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch
of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Black plate (56,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-56 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation If the vehicle is a hybrid, see
the hybrid supplement for more
information.
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, excluding the spare tire
and wheel assembly. The TPMS
sensors monitor the air pressure
in the tires and transmit 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 on the instrument cluster.
If the warning light comes on, stop
as soon as possible and inflate
the tires to the recommended
pressure shown on the tire loading
information label. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 24 .
A message to check the pressure in
a specific tire displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC). The low
tire pressure warning light and the
DIC warning message come on at
each ignition cycle until the tires
are inflated to the correct inflation
pressure. Using the DIC, tire
pressure levels can be viewed.
For additional information and
details about the DIC operation
and displays see Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5 ‑ 26 and Tire
Messages on page 5 ‑ 39 .
The low tire pressure warning light
may come on in cool weather when
the vehicle is first started, and then
turn off as the vehicle is driven. This
could be an early indicator that the air pressure is getting low and
needs to be inflated to the proper
pressure.
A Tire and Loading Information
label shows the size of the original
equipment tires and the correct
inflation pressure for the tires when
they are cold. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 24 , for an example
of the Tire and Loading Information
label and its location. Also see Tire
Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 .
The TPMS can warn about a
low tire pressure condition but
it does not replace normal tire
maintenance. See Tire Inspection
on page 10 ‑ 58 , Tire Rotation on
page 10 ‑ 59 and Tires on
page 10 ‑ 46 .
Notice: Tire sealant materials are
not all the same. A non-approved
tire sealant could damage the
TPMS sensors. TPMS sensor
damage caused by using an
incorrect tire sealant is not
Black plate (59,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-59Replace the tire if: .
The indicators at three or
more places around the tire
can be seen. .
There is cord or fabric
showing through the tire's
rubber. .
The tread or sidewall is
cracked, cut, or snagged
deep enough to show cord
or fabric. .
The tire has a bump, bulge,
or split. .
The tire has a puncture, cut,
or other damage that cannot
be repaired well because of
the size or location of the
damage. Tire Rotation Tires should be rotated every
12 000 km (7,500 miles). See
Scheduled Maintenance on
page 11 ‑ 2 .
The purpose of a regular tire
rotation is to achieve a uniform
wear for all tires on the vehicle.
This will ensure that the vehicle
continues to perform most like it
did when the tires were new.
Any time you notice unusual
wear, rotate the tires as soon
as possible and check wheel
alignment. Also check for
damaged tires or wheels. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10 ‑ 60 and Wheel
Replacement on page 10 ‑ 65 . When rotating the vehicle's tires,
always use the correct rotation
pattern shown here.
Do not include the spare tire in
the tire rotation.
After the tires have been
rotated, adjust the front and
rear inflation pressures as
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire
Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 24 .
Black plate (62,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-62 Vehicle Care
{ WARNINGMixing 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 the vehicle. Be sure
to use the same size, brand,
and type of tires on all wheels.
This vehicle may have a different
size spare than the road tires
(those originally installed on the
vehicle). When new, the vehicle
included a spare tire and wheel
assembly with a similar overall
diameter as the vehicle's road
tires and wheels, so it is all right
to drive on it. Because this spare
was developed for use on the
vehicle, it will not affect vehicle
handling. { WARNING
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel
rim flanges to develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If you must replace the 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 the
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 the 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. See Tire Pressure
Monitor System on page 10 ‑ 54 .
The vehicle's original equipment
tires are listed on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 24
for more information about the Tire
and Loading Information label and
its location on the vehicle.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, and electronic stability
control, the performance of these
systems can also be affected.
Black plate (63,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-63
{ WARNINGIf different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety
if tires not recommended for
those wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires on
page 10 ‑ 61 and Accessories and
Modifications on page 10 ‑ 3 for
additional information. 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.
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.