
Black plate (75,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-75
Warning: The temperature grade
for this tire is established for a
tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation,
or excessive loading, either
separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance
The tires and wheels on the vehicle
were aligned and balanced carefully
at the factory to give the longest tire
life and best overall performance.
Adjustments to wheel alignment and
tire balancing will not be necessary
on a regular basis. However, if there
is unusual tire wear or the vehicle
pulls to one side or the other, the
alignment should be checked. If the
vehicle vibrates when driving on a
smooth road, the tires and wheels
might need to be rebalanced. See
your dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent,
cracked, or badly rusted or
corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and
wheel nuts should be replaced.
If the wheel leaks air, replace it,
except some aluminum wheels,
which can sometimes be repaired.
See your dealer if any of these
conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of
wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying capacity,
diameter, width, offset, and be
mounted the same way as the
one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of the
wheels, wheel bolts, wheel nuts,
or Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) sensors, replace them only
with new GM original equipment
parts. This way, you will be sure to
have the right wheel, wheel bolts,
wheel nuts, and TPMS sensors for
the vehicle.{WARNING
Using the wrong replacement
wheels, wheel bolts, or wheel
nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous. It could affect the
braking and handling of your
vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control.
You could have a collision in
which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct
wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for replacement.
Notice: The wrong wheel can
also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling,
speedometer or odometer
calibration, headlamp aim,
bumper height, vehicle ground
clearance, and tire or tire chain
clearance to the body and
chassis.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑77 for more information.

Black plate (76,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-76 Vehicle Care
Used Replacement Wheels
{WARNING
Putting a used wheel on the
vehicle is dangerous. You cannot
know how it has been used or
how far it has been driven.
It could fail suddenly and cause
a crash. If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original
equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
{WARNING
Do 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.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
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, readjust
or remove the device if it is
contacting the vehicle, and do not
spin the vehicle's wheels. If you
do find traction devices that will
fit, install them on the front tires.

Black plate (77,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-77
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 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 6‑5.

Black plate (78,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-78 Vehicle Care
{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).
3. Turn off the engine and do not restart while the vehicle
is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
To be certain the vehicle will not
move, 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.
This vehicle may come with a
jack and spare tire or a tire sealant
and compressor kit. To use the
jacking equipment to change
a spare tire safely, follow the
instructions below. Then see Tire
Changing on page 10‑86. To use
the tire sealant and compressor kit,
see Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit on page 10‑79. 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 repair or change a tire.

Black plate (79,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-79
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
{WARNING
Idling a vehicle in an enclosed
area with poor ventilation is
dangerous. Engine exhaust may
enter the vehicle. Engine exhaust
contains Carbon Monoxide (CO)
which cannot be seen or smelled.
It can cause unconsciousness
and even death. Never run the
engine in an enclosed area
that has no fresh air ventilation.
For more information, seeEngine
Exhaust on page 9‑24.
{WARNING
Over-inflating a tire could cause
the tire to rupture and you
or others could be injured.
Be sure to read and follow the
tire sealant and compressor kit
instructions and inflate the tire
to its recommended pressure.
Do not exceed the recommended
pressure.
{WARNING
Storing the tire sealant and
compressor kit 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 the tire
sealant and compressor kit in
its original location. If this vehicle has a tire sealant and
compressor kit, there may not be a
spare tire, tire changing equipment,
and on some vehicles there may not
be a place to store a tire.
The tire sealant and compressor
can be used to temporarily seal
punctures up to 6 mm (¼ in) in the
tread area of the tire. It can also be
used to inflate an under inflated tire.
If the tire has been separated from
the wheel, has damaged sidewalls,
or has a large puncture, the tire is
too severely damaged for the tire
sealant and compressor kit to be
effective. See
Roadside Service
(U.S. and Canada) on page 13‑8
or Roadside Service (Mexico) on
page 13‑10.
Read and follow all of the tire
sealant and compressor kit
instructions.

Black plate (81,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-81
When using the tire sealant
and compressor kit during cold
temperatures, warm the kit in a
heated environment for five minutes.
This will help to inflate the tire
faster.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑5.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑77 for other important
safety warnings.
Do not remove any objects that
have penetrated the tire.
1. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from its storage
location. See Storing the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑86.
2. Unwrap the sealant/air hose (F) and the power plug (H). 3. Place the kit on the ground.
Make sure the tire valve stem is
positioned close to the ground
so the hose will reach it.
4. Remove the valve stem cap from the flat tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
5. Attach the sealant/air hose (F) onto the tire valve stem. Turn it
clockwise until it is tight.
6. Plug the power plug (H) into the accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑9.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.

Black plate (84,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
10-84 Vehicle Care
If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire
and wheel damage by driving slowly
to a level place. Turn on the hazard
warning flashers. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 6‑5.
See If a Tire Goes Flat on
page 10‑77 for other important
safety warnings.
1. Remove the tire sealant and compressor kit from its storage
location. See Storing the Tire
Sealant and Compressor Kit on
page 10‑86.
2. Unwrap the air only hose (G) and the power plug (H).
3. Place the kit on the ground. Make sure the tire valve stem is
positioned close to the ground
so the hose will reach it.
4. Remove the tire valve stem cap from the flat tire by turning it
counterclockwise.
5. Attach the air only hose (G) onto the tire valve stem by turning it
clockwise until it is tight. 6. Plug the power plug (H) into the
accessory power outlet in the
vehicle. Unplug all items from
other accessory power outlets.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑9.
If the vehicle has an accessory
power outlet, do not use the
cigarette lighter.
If the vehicle only has a cigarette
lighter, use the cigarette lighter.
Do not pinch the power plug
cord in the door or window.
7. Start the vehicle. The vehicle must be running while using the
air compressor.
8. Turn the selector switch (A) clockwise to the Air Only
position.
9. Press the on/off (B) button to turn the compressor on.
The compressor will inflate the
tire with air only.

Black plate (89,1)Cadillac SRX Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-89
7. Insert the hooked end of theextension handle through the
jack and the flat end through the
wheel wrench.
{WARNING
Getting under a vehicle when it is
jacked up is dangerous. If the
vehicle slips off the jack, you
could be badly injured or killed.
Never get under a vehicle when it
is supported only by a jack.
{WARNING
Raising your vehicle with the
jack improperly positioned can
damage the vehicle and even
make the vehicle fall. To help
avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack
lift head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
{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.
8. Turn the extension with the wheel wrench clockwise to raise
the jack lift head until the jack
just fits under the vehicle.