Page 175 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your car has a tendency to understeer, whic\
h means that the steering wheel
has to be turned more than might seem appropriate for the curvature of a\
bend. This ensures good
stability and reduces the risk of rear wheel skid. Remember that these p\
roperties can alter with the
vehicle load. The heavier the load in the trunk (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg)\
, the less the tendency to
understeer.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design, and inflation pressure, all affect vehicle ha\
ndling. Therefore, check that the
tires are inflated to the recommended pressure according to the vehicle \
load. See "Tire pressure" section.
Loads should be distributed so that capacity weight or maximum permissib\
le axle loads are not
exceeded.
WARNING! It is recommended that tire of the same make and dimensions be \
used on all four wheels
(including the use of snow tires). Do not use bias ply tires as this w\
ill adversely alter vehicle handling
characteristics.
Holes for roof rack
Roof racks
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Page 188 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
NOTE: When storing wheel/tire assemblies (e.g. winter tires and wheels)\
, either stand the assemblies
upright or suspend them off the ground. Laying wheel/tire assemblies on \
their sides for prolonged
periods can cause wheel and/or tire damage.
Wear indicator
The tires have a so-called "wear indicator" in the form of a number of n\
arrow strips running across or
parallel to the tread. When approx. 1/16" (1.6 mm) is left on the trea\
d, these strips show up and indicate
that the tire should be replaced.
Tires with less than 1/16" (1.6 mm) tread have a very poor grip in rai\
n or snow.
When replacing worn tires, it is recommended that the tire be identical \
in type (radial) and size as the
one being replaced. Using a tire of the same make (manufacturer) will \
prevent alteration of the driving
characteristics of the vehicle.
To improve tire economy:
l Maintain correct tire pressure.
l Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire screeching.
l Tire wear increases with speed.
l Do not change wheel location unless necessary.
l Correct front wheel alignment is very important.
l Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and driving comfort.
l If the wheels are rotated, they should be kept on the same side of the c\
ar so that they revolve in the
same direction as prior to rotation.
l Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the tires and/or wheels permanently\
.
Flat spots
All tires become warm during use. After cooling, when the vehicle is par\
ked, the tires have a tendency to
distort slightly, forming flat spots. These flat spots can cause vibrati\
ons similar to the vibrations caused
by imbalanced wheels. They do, however, disappear when the tire warms up\
. The degree to which the
flat spots form depends on the type of cord used in the tire. Remember t\
hat, in cold weather, it takes
longer for the tire to warm up and consequently longer for the flat spot\
to disappear.
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Page 190 of 265

1996 Volvo 850
16" or 17" wheels.
Winter tires wear more quickly on dry roads in warm weather. They should\
be removed when the winter
driving season has ended.
Studded tires should be run-in 300-600 miles (500-1000 km) during whic\
h the car should be driven as
smoothly as possible to give the studs the opportunity to seat properly \
in the tires. The car tires should
have the same rotational direction throughout their entire lifetime. In \
other words, if you wish to rotate
the wheels, make sure that the same wheels are always on the same side o\
f the car.
NOTE: Please consult state or local regulations restricting the use of s\
tudded winter tires before
installing such tires.
*Where permitted pg. 5:4 Wheels and tires
Checking and correcting tire pressure
l Check the tire pressure when refueling.
l The tire pressure should be corrected only when the tires are cold.
l With warm tires, correct only when the pressure is too low. The tire tem\
perature rises after driving
just a few miles.
Vehicle Loading
The tires on your Volvo will perform to specifications at all normal loa\
ds when inflated as
recommended on the tire information label* located on the inside of the \
fuel filler flap. This label lists
both the tire and vehicle design limits.
Do not load your car beyond the load limits indicated.
* Please note that the tire information label indicates pressures for bo\
th comfort and fuel economy.
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1996 Volvo 850
Loosen wheel bolts Insert flat end of lug wrench and turn
Pull straight out
Changing a wheel
The spare wheel is located under the carpet on the trunk floor. The jack\
and crank are secured in the
wheel recess.
l Engage the parking brake.
l Put the gear selector in (P)ark (automatic) or in Reverse (manual)\
.
l Remove the wheel cap (where applicable) using the lug wrench in the to\
ol kit.
l With the car still on the ground, use the lug wrench to loosen the wheel\
bolts 1/2 - 1 turn. Turn the
bolts counterclockwise to loosen.
l Fold out the crank handle on the jack by pressing the nob on the handle \
downward. To attach the jack,
refer to the illustration on the following page.
NOTE:
To avoid excessive wear and the necessity of rebalancing, mark and reins\
tall wheels in same location
and position as before removal. To lessen the chance of imbalance, each \
wheel hub is equipped with a
guide stud to ensure that a removed wheel can be reinstalled in its orig\
inal position (as when changing
over to winter tires/wheels).
*The guide stud in not visible from the outside of the wheel on turbo mo\
dels.
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