Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
2020 - CRC - 2/14/20
152 DRIVING AND OPERATING
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the system
cools down.
See your dealer if there is a problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of the
curve before accelerating gently
into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may be
more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the steering
wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand. .
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
allows steering while braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop off
the edge of a road onto the shoulder
while driving. Follow these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the way,
steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement. 2. Turn the steering wheel about
one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —too
much speed or steering in a curve
causes tires to slip and lose
cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving wheels
to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids by
taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
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156 DRIVING AND OPERATING
decelerating at 0.4 g. This is a
medium brake application. Drive
for at least 1 km (0.6 mi) between
applying the brakes. This first
step may be skipped if there are
more than 320 km (200 mi) on
the brake pads.
2. Apply the brakes 25 times starting at 100 km/h (60 mph) to
25 km/h (15 mph) while
decelerating at 0.8 g. This is a
hard brake application, without
activating the Antilock Brake
System (ABS). Drive for at least
1 km (0.6 mi) between
applications.
3. Cool down: Drive at 100 km/h (60 mph) for approximately
15 km (10 mi) without using the
brakes.
4. Apply the brakes 25 times from 100 km/h (60 mph) to 50 km/h
(30 mph) while decelerating at
0.4 g. This is a medium brake
application. Drive for at least
1 km (0.6 mi) between
applications. As with all high performance brake
systems, some amount of brake squeal
is normal.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment suggested specs for
track use:
.
Front: -2.0 deg camber, 0.2 deg
total toe
. Rear: -1.7 deg camber, 0.2 deg
total toe
Vehicles Equipped with the
Original Equipment Tires
Follow the requirements and
recommendations for tire inflation
pressures while driving on various
types of tracks/courses. This helps to
achieve a well-balanced vehicle and
enhance tire traction performance.
Use good judgment to determine the
appropriate tire inflation pressure and
speeds for the track/course
configuration and environmental
conditions. Contact the tire
manufacturer if further assistance is
needed.
Tire Inflation Pressure
Guidelines
Tire inflation pressures affect vehicle
handling and tire life, and should be
adjusted for various types of tracks/
courses.
Inspect the tires prior to every track/
course session. Track/course driving
will reduce the tire tread life.
Driving and Operating
{Warning
Operating the vehicle at high speeds
can be dangerous. Improper tire
inflation pressure can put
additional strain on the tires and
can cause a sudden failure. Make
sure the tires are in excellent
condition, and use the correct cold
tire inflation pressure for the
vehicle load and track/course.
Driving on Wet Roads
Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle
traction and affect your ability to stop
and accelerate. Always drive slower in
Cadillac CT5 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13060105) -
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DRIVING AND OPERATING 157
these types of driving conditions and
avoid driving through large puddles
and deep-standing or flowing water.
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes. They
might not work as well in a quick
stop and could cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
After driving through a large puddle
of water or a car/vehicle wash,
lightly apply the brake pedal until
the brakes work normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be very
cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can
build up under the vehicle's tires so
they actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough
and you are going fast enough. When
the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has
little or no contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
. Pass with caution.
. Keep windshield wiping equipment
in good shape.
. Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
. Have good tires with proper tread
depth. See Tires0272.
. Turn off cruise control.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving on
flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
. Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
. Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{Warning
Using the brakes to slow the vehicle
on a long downhill slope can cause
brake overheating, can reduce brake
performance, and could result in a
loss of braking. Shift the
transmission to a lower gear to let
the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
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VEHICLE CARE 273
All-Season Tires
This vehicle may come with all-season
tires. These tires are designed to
provide good overall performance on
most road surfaces and weather
conditions. Original equipment tires
designed to GM's specific tire
performance criteria have a TPC
specification code molded onto the
sidewall. Original equipment
all-season tires can be identified by
the last two characters of this TPC
code, which will be“MS.”
Consider installing winter tires on the
vehicle if frequent driving on snow or
ice-covered roads is expected.
All-season tires provide adequate
performance for most winter driving
conditions, but they may not offer the
same level of traction or performance
as winter tires on snow or ice-covered
roads. See Winter Tires 0273.
Winter Tires
This vehicle was not originally
equipped with winter tires. Winter
tires are designed for increased
traction on snow and ice-covered roads. Consider installing winter tires
on the vehicle if frequent driving on
ice or snow covered roads is expected.
See your dealer for details regarding
winter tire availability and proper tire
selection. Also, see
Buying New Tires
0 287.
With winter tires, there may be
decreased dry road traction, increased
road noise, and shorter tread life.
After changing to winter tires, be alert
for changes in vehicle handling and
braking.
If using winter tires:
. Use tires of the same brand and
tread type on all four wheel
positions.
. Use only radial ply tires of the
same size, load range, and speed
rating as the original equipment
tires.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment tires
may not be available for H, V, W, Y,
and ZR speed rated tires. If winter
tires with a lower speed rating are
chosen, never exceed the tire's
maximum speed capability.
Run-Flat Tires
This vehicle, when new, may have had
run-flat tires. There is no spare tire,
no tire changing equipment, and no
place to store a tire in the vehicle.
The vehicle also has a Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS) that indicates
a loss of tire pressure in any of the
tires.
{Warning
If the low tire warning light displays
on the instrument cluster, the
handling capabilities will be
reduced during severe maneuvers.
Driving too fast could cause loss of
control and you or others could be
injured. Do not drive over 80 km/h
(50 mph) when the low tire warning
light is displayed. Drive cautiously
and check the tire pressures as
soon as possible.
Run-flat tires can be driven on with
no air pressure. There is no need to
stop on the side of the road to change
the tire. Continue driving; however, do
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274 VEHICLE CARE
not drive too far or too fast. Driving
on the tire may not be possible if
there is permanent damage. To
prevent permanent damage, the tire
can be driven with no air pressure for
up to 80 km (50 mi) at speeds slower
than 80 km/h (50 mph) when carrying
a load of driver plus three passengers.
When carrying a heavier load, total
distance driven without air will be
reduced. As soon as possible, contact
the nearest authorized GM or run-flat
servicing facility for inspection and
repair or replacement.
When driving on a deflated run-flat
tire, avoid potholes and other road
hazards that could damage the tire
and/or wheel beyond repair. When a
tire has been damaged, or driven any
distance while deflated, check with an
authorized run-flat tire service center
to determine whether the tire can be
repaired or should be replaced. To
maintain the run-flat feature, all
replacement tires must be run-flat
tires.
To locate the nearest GM or run-flat
servicing facility, call Customer
Assistance.Self-Sealing Tires
This vehicle may have self-sealing
tires. These tires have a material
inside that can seal punctures up to
6 mm (0.25 in) in the tread area. The
tire may lose air pressure if the
sidewall is damaged or the tread
puncture is too large. If the Tire
Pressure Monitor System indicates the
tire pressure is low, inspect the tire for
damage and inflate it to the
recommended pressure. If the tire is
unable to maintain the recommended
pressure, contact the nearest
authorized GM servicing facility
immediately for inspection and repair
or replacement. To locate the nearest
GM servicing facility, call GM
Customer Assistance.
Caution
Do not drive on a deflated
self-sealing tire as this could
damage the tire. Make sure the tire
is inflated to the recommended
pressure or have it immediately
repaired or replaced.When tire replacement is needed
replace with a self-sealing tire,
because the vehicle does not come
with a spare tire or tire changing
equipment.
Low-Profile Tires
If the vehicle has 245/45R18 96V,
245/40R19 94V, 245/40ZR19 94Y,
or 255/35ZR20 97W size tires,
they are classified as low-profile
tires.
Caution
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 (Continued)
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VEHICLE CARE 275
Caution (Continued)
when possible, avoid contact with
curbs, potholes, and other road
hazards.
Summer Tires
High Performance Summer Tires
This vehicle may come with may
come with 245/40ZR19 94Y high
performance summer tires. These tires
have a special tread and compound
that are optimized for maximum dry
and wet road performance. This
special tread and compound will have
decreased performance in cold
climates, and on ice and snow. It is
recommended that winter tires be
installed on the vehicle if frequent
driving at temperatures below
approximately 5 °C (40 °F) or on ice or
snow covered roads is expected. See
Winter Tires0273.
Caution
High performance summer tires
have rubber compounds that lose
flexibility and may develop surface
cracks in the tread area at
temperatures below −7 °C (20 °F).
Always store high performance
summer tires indoors and at
temperatures above −7 °C (20 °F)
when not in use. If the tires have
been subjected to −7 °C (20 °F) or
less, let them warm up in a heated
space to at least 5 °C (40 °F) for
24 hours or more before being
installed or driving a vehicle on
which they are installed. Do not
apply heat or blow heated air
directly on the tires. Always inspect
tires before use. See Tire Inspection
0 285.
Tire Sidewall Labeling
Useful information about a tire is
molded into its sidewall. The
example shows a typical passenger
tire sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire Example
(1) Tire Size:The tire size 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.
(2) TPC Spec (Tire Performance
Criteria Specification)
:Original
equipment tires designed to GM's
specific tire performance criteria
have a TPC specification code
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276 VEHICLE CARE
molded onto the sidewall. GM's
TPC specifications meet or exceed
all federal safety guidelines.
(3) 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.
DOT Tire Date of Manufacture
:
The last four digits of the TIN
indicate the tire manufactured
date. The first two digits represent
the week (01-52) and the last two
digits, the year. For example, the
third week of the year 2010 would
have a four-digit DOT date
of 0310.
(4) 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.
(5) Tire Ply Material
:The type
of cord and number of plies in the
sidewall and under the tread.
(6) 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
0 289.
(7) Maximum Cold Inf lation
Load Limit
:Maximum load that
can be carried and the maximum
pressure needed to support
that load.
Tire Designations
Tire Size
The example shows a typical
passenger vehicle tire size.
(1) 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.
(2) Tire Width
:The three-digit
number indicates the tire section
width in millimeters from sidewall
to sidewall.
(3) Aspect Ratio
:A two-digit
number that indicates the tire
height-to-width measurements.
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For example, if the tire size aspect
ratio is 60, as shown in item (3) of
the illustration, it would mean
that the tire's sidewall is
60 percent as high as it is wide.
(4) Construction Code
:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire. The
letter “R”means radial ply
construction; the letter “D”means
diagonal or bias ply construction.
(5) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(6) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the tire.
The load index represents the load
carrying capacity a tire is certified
to carry. The speed rating is the
maximum speed a tire is certified
to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air
inside the tire pressing outward
on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in kPa
(kilopascal) or psi (pounds per
square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The combined
weight of optional accessories.
Some examples of optional
accessories are automatic
transmission, power windows,
power seats, and air conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship of
a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains steel
wires wrapped by steel cords that
hold the tire onto the rim. Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire in
which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of the
tread.
Cold Tire Pressure
:The amount
of air pressure in a tire, measured
in kPa (kilopascal) or psi (pounds
per square inch) before a tire has
built up heat from driving. See
Tire Pressure 0279.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
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