Page 477 of 558

Black plate (73,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-73
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 theaccelerator 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.
{WARNING
Driving on a flat tire will cause
permanent damage to the tire.
Re-inflating a tire after it has
been driven on while severely
under-inflated or flat may cause
a blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely under-inflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon
as possible.
{WARNING
Lifting 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.
Page 478 of 558

Black plate (74,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-74 Vehicle Care
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. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑8.
{WARNING
Changing 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).
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
3. Turn off the engine and donot 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
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 482 of 558
Black plate (78,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-78 Vehicle Care
8. Tilt the tire toward thevehicle with some slack in
the cable to access the tire/
wheel retainer (G). 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 beforeproceeding. See If a Tire Goes
Flat on page 10‑73 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 484 of 558

Black plate (80,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-80 Vehicle Care
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.
5. Remove all of the wheel nuts.
6. Take off the flat tire.
Page 485 of 558

Black plate (81,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-81
{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 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. SeeIf a Tire Goes Flat
on page 10‑73.
7. Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces,
and spare wheel.
{WARNING
Never 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 486 of 558

Black plate (82,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-82 Vehicle Care
{WARNING
Wheel 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. SeeCapacities 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
{WARNING
Storing 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 487 of 558
Black plate (83,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-83
A. Hoist Assembly
B. Hoist Shaft
C. Hoist Shaft Access Cover/Hole
D. Jack Handle ExtensionsE. 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.
Page 490 of 558

Black plate (86,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2011
10-86 Vehicle Care
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” underTire Changing on
page 10‑75.
{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” underTire
Changing on page 10‑75.
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.