Black plate (64,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
9-64 Driving and Operating Trailer tongue weight (A) should be 10 percent to 15 percent and fifth wheel
or gooseneck kingpin weight should be 15 to 25 percent of the loaded trailer
weight (B) up to the maximums for vehicle series and hitch type.
Vehicle Series Hitch Type Maximum Tongue
Weight
1500 Weight Carrying 272 kg (600 lbs)
1500 Weight Distributing 499 kg (1,100 lbs)
Do not exceed the maximum
allowable tongue weight for the
vehicle. Choose the shortest hitch
extension that will position the hitch
ball closest to the vehicle. This will
help reduce the effect of trailer
tongue weight on the rear axle.
Trailering may be limited by the
vehicle's ability to carry tongue
weight. Tongue or kingpin weight
cannot cause the vehicle to exceed
the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) or the RGAWR (Rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating). See “ Total
Weight on the Vehicle's Tires ” later
in this section for more information. 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
Be sure the vehicle's tires are
inflated to the inflation pressures
found on the Certification label on
the driver door or see Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 for more
information. Make sure not to
exceed the GVWR limit for the vehicle, or the RGAWR, with the tow
vehicle and trailer fully loaded for
the trip including the weight of the
trailer tongue. If using a weight
distributing hitch, make sure not to
exceed the RGAWR before applying
the weight distribution spring bars.
Weight of the Trailering
Combination It is important that the combination
of the tow vehicle and trailer does
not exceed any of its weight
ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Trailer Weight Rating or Tongue
Weight. The only way to be sure it is
not exceeding any of these ratings
is to weigh the tow vehicle and
trailer combination, fully loaded for
the trip, getting individual weights
for each of these items.
Black plate (2,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-2 Vehicle Care Wheels and Tires Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-47
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Tire Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Tire Pressure for High-Speed
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-55
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Different Size Tires and
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64 Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-64
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Storing the Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-73
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-85
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . 10-87
Jump Starting Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-88
Towing Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Recreational Vehicle
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-93
Appearance Care Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-96
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-99
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-102 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:
Black plate (33,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Vehicle Care 10-33
4. Replace the wiper blade.
5. Return the wiper blade assembly
to the park rest position.
Glass Replacement If the windshield or front side glass
must be replaced, see your dealer
to determine the correct
replacement glass. Headlamp Aiming The vehicle has a visual optical
headlamp aiming system. The aim
of the headlamps have been preset
at the factory and should need no
further adjustment.
However, if the vehicle is damaged
in a crash, the aim of the headlamps
may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles flash their high
beams at you, this may mean the
vertical aim of the headlamps needs
to be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle
is taken to your dealer for service if
the headlamps need to be adjusted.
It is possible however, to re-aim the
headlamps as described. The vehicle should: .
Be placed so the headlamps are
7.6 m (25 ft.) from a light colored
wall or other flat surface. .
Have all four tires on a level
surface which is level all the way
to the wall or other flat surface. .
Be placed so it is perpendicular
to the wall or other flat surface. .
Not have any snow, ice, or mud
on it. .
Be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp
aiming is being performed. .
Be normally loaded with a full
tank of fuel and one person or
75 kg (160 lbs) sitting on the
driver seat. .
Have the tires properly inflated. .
Have the spare tire is in its
proper location in the vehicle.
Black plate (46,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-46 Vehicle Care Harness
Connector Usage
HEADLINER 2 Headliner
Harness
Connector 2
HEADLINER 1 Headliner
Harness
Connector 1
SEO/
UPFITTER Special
Equipment Option
Upfitter Harness
Connector
Circuit
Breaker Usage
CB1 Passenger Side
Power Window Circuit
Breaker
CB2 Passenger Seat
Circuit Breaker
CB3 Driver Seat Circuit
Breaker
CB4 Rear Sliding Window 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. See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 .
(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)
Black plate (47,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Vehicle Care 10-47WARNING (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 56 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 ‑ 53 for inflation pressure
adjustment for high speed
driving.
22 ‐ Inch Tires
If the vehicle has 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 ‑ 6 , for
additional information.
Notice: Low ‐ profile tires 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 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. Tire Sidewall Labeling Useful information about a tire is
molded into the sidewall. The
example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire sidewall.
Passenger (P ‐ Metric) Tire
(A) Tire Size :
The tire size
code is a combination of letters
and numbers used to define a
particular tire's width, height,
aspect ratio, construction type,
and service description. See the
“ Tire Size ” illustration later in this
section for more detail.
Black plate (48,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-48 Vehicle Care (B) TPC Spec (Tire
Performance Criteria
Specification) :
Original
equipment tires designed to
GM's specific tire performance
criteria have a TPC specification
code molded onto the sidewall.
GM's TPC specifications meet or
exceed all federal safety
guidelines.
(C) DOT (Department of
Transportation) :
The
Department of Transportation
(DOT) code indicates that the
tire is in compliance with the
U.S. Department of
Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards.
(D) Tire Identification Number
(TIN) :
The letters and numbers
following the DOT code are
the Tire Identification Number
(TIN). The TIN shows the
manufacturer and plant code,
tire size, and date the tire was manufactured. The TIN is
molded onto both sides of the
tire, although only one side may
have the date of manufacture.
(E) Tire Ply Material :
The type
of cord and number of plies in
the sidewall and under the tread.
(F) Uniform Tire Quality
Grading (UTQG) :
Tire
manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three
performance factors: treadwear,
traction, and temperature
resistance. For more
information, see Uniform Tire
Quality Grading on page 10 ‑ 62 .
(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 ‑ 16 . Tire Designations Tire Size
The example shows a typical
passenger vehicle 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.
Black plate (50,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-50 Vehicle Care maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings :
A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.
GVWR :
Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating. See Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9 ‑ 16 .
GAWR FRT :
Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the front axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 16 . GAWR RR :
Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the rear axle. See
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 16 .
Intended Outboard Sidewall :
The side of an asymmetrical tire,
that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa) :
The metric
unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT ‐ Metric) Tire :
A
tire used on light duty trucks and
some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index :
An assigned
number ranging from 1 to 279
that corresponds to the load
carrying capacity of a tire.
Maximum Inflation Pressure :
The maximum air pressure to
which a cold tire can be inflated.
The maximum air pressure is
molded onto the sidewall. Maximum Load Rating :
The
load rating for a tire at the
maximum permissible inflation
pressure for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle
Weight :
The sum of curb
weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight, and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight :
The
number of occupants a vehicle
is designed to seat multiplied by
68 kg (150 lbs). See Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 .
Occupant Distribution :
Designated seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall :
The
side of an asymmetrical tire that
has a particular side that faces
outward when mounted on a
vehicle. The side of the tire that
contains a whitewall, bears
white lettering, or bears
manufacturer, brand, and/or
Black plate (51,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
Vehicle Care 10-51model name molding that is
higher or deeper than the same
moldings on the other sidewall
of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire :
A
tire used on passenger cars and
some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Inflation
Pressure :
Vehicle
manufacturer's recommended
tire inflation pressure as shown
on the tire placard. See Tire
Pressure on page 10 ‑ 52 and
Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9 ‑ 16 .
Radial Ply Tire :
A pneumatic
tire in which the ply cords that
extend to the beads are laid at
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread.
Rim :
A metal support for a tire
and upon which the tire beads
are seated. Sidewall :
The portion of a tire
between the tread and the bead.
Speed Rating :
An
alphanumeric code assigned to
a tire indicating the maximum
speed at which a tire can
operate.
Traction :
The friction between
the tire and the road surface.
The amount of grip provided.
Tread :
The portion of a tire that
comes into contact with
the road.
Treadwear Indicators :
Narrow
bands, sometimes called wear
bars, that show across the tread
of a tire when only 1.6 mm
(1/16 in) of tread remains. See
When It Is Time for New Tires
on page 10 ‑ 59 .
UTQGS (Uniform Tire Quality
Grading Standards) :
A tire
information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire's traction, temperature, and
treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire
manufacturers using
government testing procedures.
The ratings are molded into the
sidewall of the tire. See Uniform
Tire Quality Grading on
page 10 ‑ 62 .
Vehicle Capacity Weight :
The
number of designated seating
positions multiplied by
68 kg (150 lbs) plus the rated
cargo load. See Vehicle Load
Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 .
Vehicle Maximum Load on the
Tire :
Load on an individual tire
due to curb weight, accessory
weight, occupant weight, and
cargo weight.
Vehicle Placard :
A label
permanently attached to a
vehicle showing the vehicle
capacity weight and the original
equipment tire size and