Cadillac CTS Spare Tire Guide: What You Should Know
Your Cadillac CTS doesn’t come with a spare tire. Instead, GM installed run-flat tires and provided a reinflation kit. Here’s what you need to know.
Written by Matt Terzi
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
General Motors didn’t provide the Cadillac CTS with a spare tire. Instead, the executive car shipped with run-flat tires, and there’s a reinflation kit located under the floor carpet in the trunk. This kit is helpful, but it won’t work with all flat tires.
In an effort to make cars lighter and help meet new fuel efficiency standards, many car manufacturers have stopped shipping cars with spare tires—even the smaller, lightweight donut spares. Cadillac joined the fray, and the CTS doesn’t include spare tires in either the sedan or coupe/ grand tourer body styles.
Jerry
, the car insurance
comparison app, gave the Cadillac CTS and its lack of a spare tire a long, hard look, and came up with this helpful guide, plus some tips for lowering your Cadillac insurance costs
. Hopefully, this prepares you for what all drivers try to avoid: getting a flat tire.Don't get ripped off!
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Does a Cadillac CTS have a spare tire?
Modern Cadillacs no longer have spare tires, and that includes the Cadillac CTS. The engineers at General Motors decided instead to install run-flat tires on the CTS and include a tire reinflation kit instead.
Your reinflation kit can be found in your Cadillac’s trunk, underneath the floor lid—ironically situated where a spare tire should be. It’s a simple kit consisting of just an air compressor with built-in hoses and power cables, and sealant.
While this kit is certainly no replacement for a spare tire, GM did put some care into the kit's design. It's highly functional and efficient. But it won't work for all flat tires, for example, a tire that only has 2/32 inch tread left. It’s strongly recommended you invest in
roadside assistance
just to be safe.Like donuts, the intention of run-flat tires isn't to keep you running indefinitely after a puncture. So if you use the Cadillac CTS reinflation kit, keep your speed below 50 MPH and get to a dealership or tire repair shop as soon as possible.
A punctured tire will unfortunately need to be replaced, and it’s not something you want to wait too long to get done. It’s generally recommended you replace run-flat tires rather than patching or plugging them.
Don't get ripped off!
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How to use the Cadillac CTS Reinflation Kit
Whether or not the reinflation kit will temporarily get your Cadillac CTS back on the road will depend on the size and the location of the damage. If the tire damage is any larger than about ¼" or located on the sidewall (the side of the tire), the kit may not be very effective.
For more minor punctures, here's how you use the reinflation kit:
- Pull your car over as soon as possible. Choose a safe outdoor location, preferably on a clean and flat surface
- Locate and remove the kit from the trunk. It should be underneath the cargo floor lid
- Attach the hose onto the tire valve stem and screw it on firmly
- Plug your compressor into an accessory power socket. (the cigarette lighter)
- Start the engine and leave it running throughout this process
- Set the switch to SEALANT/AIR
- Turn on the inflator. Please note that the tire pressure will appear higher than it really is until the unit finishes injecting sealant into the tire, after which it will drop down and continue to rise as you pump in the air without sealant mixed in
- Keep pumping until the tire pressure gauge shows 33 psi. You'll need to stop pumping to check the gauge occasionally
- Put everything away and put the cap back on the tire's valve stem
- Immediately drive your car for 10 minutes. Driving will help distribute the sealant through the tire
- Get to a repair shop or a dealership soon to get the tire replaced. The reinflation kit isn't a long-term patch, and your tire won't be safe to drive on
If the tire isn’t reaching 33 psi, or if it’s not staying inflated once it does, the tire is unfortunately beyond repair and needs to be replaced. If you have
towing and labor insurance coverage
it can help tremendously in situations like this. We highly recommend including it as part of your car insurance
.How to find affordable insurance for a Cadillac CTS
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towing and labor
options. We'd recommend this coverage for anyone who drives, but even more for vehicles that don't come with a reliable spare tire.Download the Jerry app today and see how much you can save on your
Cadillac CTS insurance costs
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FAQs
Why doesn’t my Cadillac CTS have a spare tire?
Cadillac and its parent company, General Motors, stopped including spare tires with most models some time ago in an effort to decrease the total weight of the car, which in turn helps improve fuel efficiency. It also lowers the cost of the car to buy.
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