When It Is Time For New Tires; Buying New Tires - Cadillac 2005 STS Owner's Manual

When It Is Time for New Tires

You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
•
You can see the indicators at three or more places
around the tire.
•
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
tire's rubber.
•
The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
deep enough to show cord or fabric.
•
The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
•
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
can't be repaired well because of the size or
location of the damage.
One way to tell when it's
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when your tires
have only 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) or less of tread
remaining.

Buying New Tires

To find out what kind and size of tires you need, look at
the Tire and Loading Information label. See Loading
Your Vehicle on page 4-31, for an example of the label
and where it can be found on your vehicle.
The tires installed on your vehicle when it was new had a
Tire Performance Criteria Specification (TPC Spec)
number on each tire's sidewall. When you get new tires,
GM recommends that you get tires with that same TPC
Spec number. That way your vehicle will continue to have
tires that are designed to give proper endurance,
handling, speed rating, load range, traction, ride, tire
pressure monitoring system performance and other
things during normal service on your vehicle. If your tires
have an all-season tread design, the TPC number will be
followed by an "MS" (for mud and snow).
Whenever you replace your tires with those not having
a TPC Spec number, make sure they are the same
size, load range, speed rating and construction
type (bias, bias-belted or radial) as your original tires.
Winter tires with the same speed rating as your original
equipment tires may not be available for H, V, W
and ZR speed rated tires. If you choose snow tires with
a lower speed rating, never exceed the tire's maximum
speed capability.
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