
Black plate (61,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-61
{WARNING
Mixing tires of different sizes,
brands, or types may cause loss
of control of the vehicle, resulting
in a crash or other vehicle
damage. Use the correct size,
brand, and type of tires on all
wheels.
This vehicle may have a different
size spare than the road tires
originally installed on the vehicle.
When new, the vehicle included a
spare tire and wheel assembly
with a similar overall diameter as
the road tires and wheels, so it is
all right to drive on it. The spare
tire was developed for use on this
vehicle and will not affect vehicle
handling.
{WARNING
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel
rim flanges to develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If the vehicle tires must be replaced
with a tire that does not have a TPC
Spec number, make sure they are
the same size, load range, speed
rating, and construction (radial) as
the original tires. Vehicles that have a tire pressure
monitoring system could give an
inaccurate low‐pressure warning
if non‐TPC Spec rated tires are
installed. See
Tire Pressure Monitor
System on page 10‑54.
The Tire and Loading Information
label indicates the original
equipment tires on the vehicle.
See Vehicle Load Limits on
page 9‑15 for the label location
and more information about the Tire
and Loading Information label.

Black plate (62,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
10-62 Vehicle Care
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction
control, and electronic stability
control, the performance of these
systems can also be affected.
{WARNING
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety if
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires on
page 10‑60 andAccessories and
Modifications on page 10‑3 for
additional information.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which grades tires
by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter-type snow
tires, space-saver, or temporary
use spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.

Black plate (65,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-65
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 loss of
control and a crash. Use another
type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for
the vehicle's tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive
slowly and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the
vehicle. Do not spin the wheels.
If traction devices are used, install
them on the rear tires.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out,
especially if the tires are maintained
properly. SeeTires on page 10‑46.
If air goes out of a tire, it is much
more likely to leak out slowly. But if
there is ever 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 as
used in a skid. Stop pressing the
accelerator pedal and steer to
straighten the vehicle. It may be
very bumpy and noisy. 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
underinflated or flat may cause a
blowout and a serious crash.
Never attempt to re-inflate a tire
that has been driven on while
severely underinflated or flat.
Have your dealer or an authorized
tire service center repair or
replace the flat tire as soon as
possible.

Black plate (87,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-87
11. Continue raising the jack untilthe spare tire stops moving
upward and is held firmly in
place. The secondary latch has
released and the spare tire is
balancing on the jack.
12. Lower the jack by turning the wheel wrench
counterclockwise. Keep
lowering the jack until the
spare tire slides off the jack or
is hanging by the cable.
{WARNING
Someone standing too close
during the procedure could be
injured by the jack. If the spare
tire does not slide off the jack
completely, make sure no one is
behind you or on either side of
you as you pull the jack out from
under the spare. 13. Disconnect the jack handle
from the jack and carefully
remove the jack. Use one hand
to push against the spare while
firmly pulling the jack out from
under the spare tire with the
other hand.
If the spare tire is hanging
from the cable, insert the hoist
end of extension, and wheel
wrench into the hoist shaft hole
in the bumper and turn the
wheel wrench counterclockwise
to lower the spare the rest of
the way.
14. Turn the wheel wrench in the hoist shaft hole in the bumper
clockwise to raise the cable
back up if the cable is hanging
under the vehicle. Have the hoist assembly inspected
as soon as you can. You will not be
able to store a spare or flat tire
using the hoist assembly until it has
been inspected and/or replaced.
To continue changing the flat tire,
see
“Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire” underTire
Changing on page 10‑74.
Full-Size Spare Tire
If this vehicle came with a full-size
spare tire, it was fully inflated
when new, however, it can lose
air over time. Check the inflation
pressure regularly. See Tire
Pressure on page 10‑52 and
Vehicle Load Limits on page 9‑15
for information regarding proper tire
inflation and loading the vehicle. For
instructions on how to remove,
install, or store a spare tire, see Tire
Changing on page 10‑74.

Black plate (88,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
10-88 Vehicle Care
After installing the spare tire
on the vehicle, stop as soon as
possible and check that the spare is
correctly inflated. The spare tire is
made to perform well at speeds
up to 112 km/h (70 mph) at the
recommended inflation pressure, so
you can finish your trip.
Have the damaged or flat road tire
repaired or replaced and installed
back onto the vehicle as soon as
possible so the spare tire will be
available in case it is needed again.
Do not mix tires and wheels of
different sizes, because they will not
fit. Keep the spare tire and its wheel
together.Jump Starting
For more information about the
vehicle battery, seeBattery on
page 10‑26.
If the vehicle is a hybrid, see the
hybrid supplement for more
information.
If the vehicle's battery has run
down, you may want to use another
vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your vehicle. Be sure to use
the following steps to do it safely.
{WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can
be dangerous because:
.They contain acid that can
burn you.
.They contain gas that can
explode or ignite.
.They contain enough
electricity to burn you.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
If you do not follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these
things can hurt you.
Notice: Ignoring these steps
could result in costly damage to
the vehicle that would not be
covered by the warranty.
Trying to start the vehicle by
pushing or pulling it will not
work, and it could damage the
vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a
negative ground system.
Notice: Only use a vehicle that
has a 12-volt system with a
negative ground for jump
starting. If the other vehicle does
not have a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles
can be damaged.

Black plate (5,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-5
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
E85 (85% Ethanol) . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . 9-52
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-52
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Management, Active . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Requirements, California . . . . . 9-52
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
Fuel Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-22
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
Fuses
Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-38
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . 5-46Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-46
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Gauges Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-13
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
General Information
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 11-1
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Glass Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Global Positioning
System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-94
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-8
H
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 6-7
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-5
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Heated
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-53

Black plate (12,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
i-12 INDEX
Storing the Tire Sealantand Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-14
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Symbols, Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . 7-61
System Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2
Roof Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
System Needs Service, If . . . . . . 7-96
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . 13-6
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . 2-15
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Third-Row Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-14
Throttle, Adjustable . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21 Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Tires
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-48
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Full-Size Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-87
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Inflation Monitor System . . . . 10-55
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-36
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-21
Pressure Monitor System . . . 10-54
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58
Sealant andCompressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . 10-67
Sealant and Compressor Kit, Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74 Tires (cont'd)
Secondary Latch System . . . 10-85
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . 10-47
Terminology and
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-49
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-64
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Tow/Haul Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 9-57
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-64
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-93

Black plate (14,1)Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV Owner Manual - 2012
i-14 INDEX
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid Messages . . . . . . . 5-37
WheelsAlignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-64
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-59
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . 3-49
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19 Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 10-31
Wipers Rear Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5