2012 CADILLAC CTS tires

Black plate (56,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-56 Driving and Operating
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing on
page 10‑108.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
{WARNING
The driver can lose control when
pulling a trailer if the correct
equipment is not used or the
vehicle is not driven properly. For
example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work
well—or even at all. The driver
and passengers could be
seriously injured. The vehicle may
also be damaged; the resulting
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Pull a trailer
only if all the steps in this section
have been followed. Ask your
dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with the
vehicle. The vehicle can tow a trailer if it is
equipped with the proper trailer
towing equipment. To identify the
trailering capacity of the vehicle, see
Trailer Towing (CTS-V and Coupe)
on page 9‑59
orTrailer Towing
(Except CTS-V and Coupe) on
page 9‑59. Trailering changes
handling, acceleration, braking,
durability, and fuel economy. With
the added weight, the engine,
transmission, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder
and under greater loads. The trailer
also adds wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
For safe trailering, correctly use the
proper trailering equipment.
The following information has
important trailering tips and rules for
your safety and that of your
passengers. Read this section
carefully before pulling a trailer.
Pulling a Trailer
Here are some important points:
.There are many laws, including
speed limit restrictions that apply
to trailering. Check for legal
requirements with state or
provincial police.
.Do not tow a trailer at all during
the first 1 600 km (1,000 mi) the
new vehicle is driven. The
engine or other parts could be
damaged.
.During the first 800 km (500 mi)
that a trailer is towed, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
This reduces wear on the
vehicle.
.Vehicles with automatic
transmissions can tow in
D (Drive) but M (Manual Mode)
is recommended. See Manual
Mode on page 9‑29 for more
information. Use a lower gear if
the transmission shifts too often.

Black plate (57,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-57
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is better not to
use the highest gear.
.Use the cruise control when
towing.
.Obey speed limit restrictions. Do
not drive faster than the
maximum posted speed for
trailers, or no more than 90 km/h
(55 mph), to reduce wear on the
vehicle.
Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires experience.
Get familiar with handling and
braking with the added trailer
weight. The vehicle is now longer
and not as responsive as the
vehicle is by itself.
Check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains,
electrical connectors, lamps, tires,
and mirror adjustments. If the trailer
has electric brakes, start the vehicleand trailer moving and then apply
the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes are working.
During the trip, check regularly to be
sure that the load is secure, and the
lamps and trailer brakes are working
properly.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the sound of the
stability control system might be
heard. The system is reacting to the
vehicle movement caused by the
trailer, which mainly occurs during
cornering. This is normal when
towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving the vehicle without a trailer.
This can help to avoid situations
that require heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. Because the
rig is longer, it is necessary to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before returning to the lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:
Making very sharp turns
while trailering could cause the
trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. The vehicle could be
damaged. Avoid making very
sharp turns while trailering.
When turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so
the trailer will not strike soft

Black plate (59,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-59
transmission. Turn the wheels
into the curb if facing downhill or
into traffic if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park) for vehicles with an
automatic transmission or into
gear for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal while you:
1.1. Start the engine.
1.2. Shift into a gear.
1.3. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal. 3. Drive slowly until the trailer is
clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things
that are especially important in
trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system, and
brake system. It is a good idea to
inspect these before and during
the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See Engine Overheating
on page 10‑23.
Trailer Towing (CTS-V and
Coupe)
The vehicle is neither designed nor
intended to tow a trailer.
Trailer Towing (Except
CTS-V and Coupe)
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
.The weight of the trailer.
.The weight of the trailer tongue.
.The total weight on the vehicle's
tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than
450 kg (1,000 lbs). But even that
can be too heavy.
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, special
equipment, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry

Black plate (60,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
9-60 Driving and Operating
must be considered. See“Weight of
the Trailer Tongue” later in this
section for more information.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the
tow vehicle and it has all the
required trailering equipment. The
weight of additional optional
equipment, passengers, and cargo
in the tow vehicle must be
subtracted from the maximum trailer
weight.
Ask your dealer for our trailering
information or advice, or write us at
our Customer Assistance Offices.
See Roadside Service (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 orRoadside
Service (Mexico) on page 13‑9 for
more information.
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because it affects the total gross
weight of the vehicle. The Gross
Vehicle Weight (GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo carried in it, and the people who will be riding in the vehicle.
If there are a lot of options,
equipment, passengers or cargo in
the vehicle, it will reduce the tongue
weight the vehicle can carry, which
will also reduce the trailer weight the
vehicle can tow. If towing a trailer,
the tongue load must be added to
the GVW because the vehicle will
be carrying that weight, too. See
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑11
for more information about the
vehicle's maximum load capacity.
For a weight-carrying hitch, the
trailer tongue (A) should weigh 10 to
15 percent of the total loaded trailer
weight (B).
After loading the trailer, weigh the
trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they are not, adjustments
might be made by moving some
items around in the trailer.
Total Weight on the Vehicle's
Tires
Inflate the vehicle's tires to the
upper limit for cold tires. These
numbers can be found on the
Certification label or see
Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑11. Do not go
over the GVW limit for the vehicle,
or the GAWR, including the weight
of the trailer tongue.

Black plate (2,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
10-2 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment FuseBlock (CTS Wagon) . . . . . . . 10-47
Engine Compartment Fuse Block (CTS V Wagon) . . . . . 10-51
Rear Compartment Fuse
Block (CTS Coupe and
Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
Rear Compartment Fuse Block (CTS-V Coupe and
Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Rear Compartment Fuse Block (CTS Wagon) . . . . . . . 10-58
Rear Compartment Fuse Block (CTS-V Wagon) . . . . . 10-60
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Low-Profile Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68 Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-70
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-72
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-76
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-78
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-79
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-81
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-82
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-82
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-84
Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-86 Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
(Wagon) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
(Coupe) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-94
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
(Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-94
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-95
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . 10-103
Jump Starting
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-104
Towing
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-108
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-108
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-110
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-113
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-116

Black plate (27,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-27
Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in the
proper sequence to torque
specifications inCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a sign
that brake service might be
required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.
If this is not done, the brakes might
not work properly. For example,
installing disc brake pads that are
wrong for the vehicle, can change
the balance between the front and
rear brakes —for the worse. The
braking performance expected can
change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are
installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for the location of the
reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir
might go down:
.The brake fluid level goes down
because of normal brake lining
wear. When new linings are
installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake

Black plate (35,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-35
The vehicle should:
.Be placed so the headlamps
are 7.6 m (25 ft) from a light
colored wall.
.Have all four tires on a level
surface which is level all the
way to the wall.
.Be placed so it is perpendicular
to the wall.
.Not have any snow, ice, or mud
on it.
.Be fully assembled and have all
other work stopped while
headlamp aiming is being
performed.
.Be loaded with a full tank of fuel
and one person or 75 kg
(160 lbs) sitting on the
driver seat.
.Have all tires properly inflated.
.Have the spare tire (if equipped)
in its original location in the
vehicle.Headlamp aiming is done with the
vehicle's low-beam headlamps. The
high-beam headlamps will be
correctly aimed if the low-beam
headlamps are aimed properly.
To adjust the vertical aim:
1. Open the hood. See
Hood on
page 10‑5 for more information.
Halogen Headlamps
High Intensity Discharge
Headlamps
2. Locate the aim dot on the lens of the low‐beam headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the ground to the aim dot on the
low‐beam headlamp.

Black plate (63,1)Cadillac CTS/CTS-V Owner Manual (Include Mex) - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-63
Wheels and Tires
Tires
Every new GM vehicle has
high-quality tires made by a
leading tire manufacturer. See
the warranty manual for
information regarding the tire
warranty and where to get
service. For additional
information refer to the tire
manufacturer.
{WARNING
.Poorly maintained and
improperly used tires are
dangerous.
.Overloading the tires can
cause overheating as a result
of too much flexing. There
could be a blowout and a
serious crash. SeeVehicle
Load Limits on page 9‑11.
(Continued)
WARNING (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.
SeeTire Pressure for
High-Speed Operation on
page 10‑72 for inflation pressure
adjustment for high-speed
driving.