
Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
418 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel,
or on the parts to which it
is fastened, can cause
wheel nuts to become
loose over time. The
wheel could come off and
cause a crash. When
changing a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or
paper towel can be used;
however, use a scraper
or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the inner
diameter of the wheel hub
opening with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel
change or tire rotation to
prevent corrosion or rust
buildup.{Warning
Do not apply grease to
the wheel mounting
surface, wheel conical
seats, or the wheel nuts
or bolts. Grease applied
to these areas could
cause a wheel to become
loose or come off,
resulting in a crash.
When It Is Time for
New Tires
Factors, such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road
conditions affect the wear
rate of the tires.
Treadwear indicators are one
way to tell when it is time for
new tires. Treadwear
indicators appear when the
tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. See
Tire Inspection 0416 and
Tire Rotation 0417.
The rubber in tires ages over
time. This also applies to the
spare tire, if the vehicle has
one, even if it is never used.
Multiple factors including
temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation
pressure maintenance affect
how fast aging takes place.

Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 419
GM recommends that tires,
including the spare if
equipped, be replaced after six
years, regardless of tread
wear. To identify the age of a
tire, use the tire manufacture
date, which is the last four
digits of the DOT Tire
Identification Number (TIN)
molded into one side of the
tire sidewall. The last four
digits of the TIN indicate the
tire manufactured date. The
first two digits represent the
week and the last two digits,
the year. For example, the
third week of the year 2020
would have a 4-digit DOT date
of 0320. Week 01 is the first
full week (Sunday through
Saturday) of each year.
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 freeof 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
0402 for
additional information.
GM recommends replacing
worn tires in complete sets
of four. Uniform tread
depth on all tires will help
to maintain the
performance of the vehicle.
Braking and handling

Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 423
law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire
that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation,
or excessive loading, either
separately or in
combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible
tire failure.
Wheel Alignment and
Tire Balance
The tires and wheels were
aligned and balanced at the
factory to provide the longest
tire life and best overall
performance. Adjustments to
wheel alignment and tire
balancing are not necessary
on a regular basis. Consider an
alignment check if there is
unusual tire wear or the
vehicle is significantly pulling
to one side or the other. Some
slight pull to the left or right,
depending on the crown of theroad and/or other road
surface variations such as
troughs or ruts, is normal.
If the vehicle is vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, the
tires and wheels may need to
be rebalanced. See your
dealer for proper diagnosis.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is
bent, cracked, or badly rusted
or corroded. If wheel nuts
keep coming loose, the wheel,
wheel bolts, and wheel nuts
should be replaced. If the
wheel leaks air, replace it.
Some aluminum wheels can be
repaired. See your dealer if
any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind
of wheel that is needed.
Each new wheel should have
the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the
same way as the one it
replaces.
Replace wheels, wheel bolts,
wheel nuts, or Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS)
sensors with new GM original
equipment parts.
{Warning
Using the wrong
replacement wheels, wheel
bolts, or wheel nuts can be
dangerous. It could affect
the braking and handling of
the vehicle. Tires can lose air
and cause loss of control,
resulting in a crash. Always
use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts, and wheel nuts for
replacement.
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a
used one is dangerous. How
it has been used or how far
it has been driven may be
unknown. It could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
(Continued)

Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 425
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow
out while driving, especially if
the tires are maintained
properly. See Tires0400. 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.
{Warning
Lifting a vehicle and getting
under it to do maintenance
or repairs is dangerous
without the appropriate
safety equipment and
training. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, it is
designed only for changing a
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others
could be badly injured or
killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, only use it
for changing a flat tire.
If a tire goes flat, avoid further
tire and wheel damage by
driving slowly to a level place,
well off the road, if possible.
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers. See Hazard Warning
Flashers 0160.
If your vehicle is loaded at or
near maximum cargo capacity,
it may be difficult to fit the jack
under the vehicle due to the
environment (shoulder slope,
road debris, etc.). Removal of
some weight may improve the
ability to fit the jack under the
vehicle at the correct jacking
location.

Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
426 Vehicle Care
{Warning
Changing a tire can be
dangerous. The vehicle can
slip off the jack and roll over
or fall causing injury or
death. Find a level place to
change the tire. To help
prevent the vehicle from
moving:1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the vehicle in P (Park).
3. Turn the vehicle off and do not restart the vehicle
while it is raised.
4. Do not allow passengers to remain in the vehicle.
5. Place wheel blocks, if equipped, on both sides
of the tire at the
opposite corner of the
tire being changed. When the vehicle has a flat
tire (2), use the following
example as a guide to assist in
the placement of the wheel
blocks (1), if equipped.
1. Wheel Block (If Equipped)
2. Flat Tire
The following information
explains how to repair or
change a tire.
Tire Changing
Performance Brake
Package RPO J56
The original spare tire/wheel
will not fit onto the front axle if
equipped with the
performance brake package RPO J56. If there is a flat tire
on the front axle, a tire/wheel
from the rear axle must be
used to make the repair. The
spare tire will then replace the
tire/wheel that is removed
from the rear axle.
If equipped with the
performance brake package
RPO J56, and the flat tire is on
the front axle, stop after
performing all steps in
Removing the Spare Tire and
Tools and do the following.
Otherwise, continue with the
procedure:

Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 427
1. Remove the rear tire andreplace it with the spare
tire by performing all steps
in Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire.
2. Perform all steps in Removing the Flat Tire and
Installing the Spare Tire
again this time replacing
the flat front tire with the
rear tire.
3. Proceed to Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools.
Removing the Spare Tire
and Tools
To access the spare tire and
tools:
1. Open the liftgate. See Liftgate 025.
2. Lift the load floor.
3. Remove the cargo management system
tray (2) by pulling on the
handles (1). See Cargo
Management System 0113.4. Turn the wing nut (3)
counterclockwise to
remove the jack (1) and
wheel wrench (2). Place the
tool container near the tire
being changed.
5. Remove the spare tire and place it next to the tire
being changed.
Removing the Flat Tire
and Installing the
Spare Tire
1. Do a safety check beforeproceeding. See If a Tire
Goes Flat 0425.

Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 429
Warning (Continued)
designed only for changing a
flat tire. If it is used for
anything else, you or others
could be badly injured or
killed if the vehicle slips off
the jack. If a jack is provided
with the vehicle, only use it
for changing a flat tire.
Caution
Using a jack to raise the
vehicle without positioning it
correctly could damage your
vehicle. When raising your
vehicle on a jack, be sure to
position it correctly under
the frame and avoid contact
with the plastic molding.5. Turn the wheel wrenchclockwise to raise the jack
lift head until the slots in
the jack head fit into the
metal flange behind the cut
out on the plastic molding.
Do not raise the
vehicle yet.
6. Put the compact spare tire near you.
7. Raise the vehicle by turning the jack handle
clockwise. Raise the
vehicle far enough off the
ground so there is enough
room for the road tire to
clear the ground.8. Remove all of thewheel nuts.
9. Remove the tire.
{Warning
Rust or dirt on a wheel,
or on the parts to which it
is fastened, can cause
wheel nuts to become
loose over time. The
wheel could come off and
cause a crash. When
changing a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel
(Continued)

Cadillac XT6 Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-16405819) -
2023 - CRC - 3/22/22
Vehicle Care 431
14. Tighten the wheel nutsfirmly in a crisscross
sequence, as shown.
15. Lower the jack all the way and remove the jack from
under the vehicle.
16. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly with the wheel
wrench.
Caution
Wheel covers will not fit on
the vehicle's compact spare.
If you try to put a wheel
cover on the compact spare,
the cover or the spare could
be damaged.
{Warning
Storing a jack, a tire,
or other equipment in the
passenger compartment of
the vehicle could cause
injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment
could strike someone. Store
all these in the proper place.
Storing the Flat Tire
1. Liftgate Hinges
2. Cable
3. Center of the Wheel
4. Door Striker