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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
Page 421 of 538

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
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Black plate (52,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-52 Vehicle Care recommended inflation pressure.
See “ Tire and Loading
Information Label ” under Vehicle
Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 .
Tire Pressure If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
Tires need the correct amount of
air pressure to operate
effectively.
Notice: Neither tire
underinflation nor
overinflation is good.
Underinflated tires, or tires
that do not have enough air,
can result in: .
Tire overloading and
overheating which could
lead to a blowout. .
Premature or
irregular wear. .
Poor handling. .
Reduced fuel economy.
Overinflated tires, or tires that
have too much air, can
result in: .
Unusual wear. .
Poor handling. .
Rough ride. .
Needless damage from
road hazards.
The Tire and Loading
Information label on the vehicle
indicates the original equipment
tires and the correct cold tire
inflation pressures. The
recommended pressure is the
minimum air pressure needed to
support the vehicle's maximum
load carrying capacity.
For additional information
regarding how much weight the
vehicle can carry, and an
example of the Tire and Loading
Information label, see Vehicle Load Limits on page 9 ‑ 16 . How
the vehicle is loaded affects
vehicle handling and ride
comfort. Never load the vehicle
with more weight than it was
designed to carry.
When to Check
Check the tires once a month
or more.
Do not forget the spare tire.
See Full-Size Spare Tire on
page 10 ‑ 87 for additional
information.
How to Check
Use a good quality pocket-type
gauge to check tire pressure.
Proper tire inflation cannot be
determined by looking at the tire.
Check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are cold meaning
the vehicle has not been driven
for at least three hours or no
more than 1.6 km (1 mi).
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Black plate (60,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012 - 2nd CRC - 11/29/11
10-60 Vehicle Care maintenance affect how fast aging
takes place. Tires will typically need
to be replaced due to wear before
they may need to be replaced due
to age. Consult the tire
manufacturer for more information
on when tires should be replaced.
Vehicle Storage Tires age when stored normally
mounted on a parked vehicle. Park
a vehicle that will be stored for at
least a month in a cool, dry, clean
area away from direct sunlight to
slow aging. This area should be free
of grease, gasoline or other
substances that can deteriorate
rubber.
Parking for an extended period can
cause flat spots on the tires that
may result in vibrations while
driving. When storing a vehicle for
at least a month, remove the tires or
raise the vehicle to reduce the
weight from the tires. Buying New Tires GM has developed and matched
specific tires for the vehicle. The
original equipment tires installed
were designed to meet General
Motors Tire Performance Criteria
Specification (TPC Spec) system
rating. When replacement tires are
needed, GM strongly recommends
buying tires with the same TPC
Spec rating.
GM's exclusive TPC Spec system
considers over a dozen critical
specifications that impact the
overall performance of the
vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire pressure
monitoring performance. GM's TPC
Spec number is molded onto the
tire's sidewall near the tire size.
If the tires have an all ‐ season tread
design, the TPC Spec number will
be followed by MS for mud and
snow. See Tire Sidewall Labeling on
page 10 ‑ 47 for additional
information. GM recommends replacing all the
tires at the same time. Uniform tread
depth on all tires will help to
maintain the performance of the
vehicle. Braking and handling
performance may be adversely
affected if all the tires are not
replaced at the same time. See Tire
Inspection on page 10 ‑ 57 and Tire
Rotation on page 10 ‑ 58 for
information on proper tire rotation.
{ WARNING
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting
to mount or dismount a tire
could cause injury or death.
Only your dealer or authorized
tire service center should
mount or dismount the tires.