2000 SAAB 9-3 winter tires

152 Starting and drivingParking on a hillWhen parking on a steep hill, turn the front
wheels so that they will be blocked by the
curb if the car should move.
Long-term parkingIf the car is not going to be used for some
time, e.g. 3–4 months, the following steps
are recommended:
 Run the engine to normal temperature
before long-term parking.
 Drain the washer-fluid reservoir and
hoses.  Wash and wax the car. Clean the rubber
seals on the hood, trunk lid and doors,
and lubricate them with glycerol (glyc-
erin).
 After washing the car, dry the brake discs
by taking the car out on the road and
applying the brakes a few times.
 Fill the fuel tank with fuel to prevent con-
densation forming in it.
 Top up the coolant and check the anti-
freeze before the onset of winter.
 Park the car in a dry, covered and
well-ventilated building. Leave the park-
ing brake OFF!
 Disconnect the negative (-) battery lead.
If freezing temperatures are likely to occur
during the long-term parking, remove the
battery and store it away from freezing
temperatures.
 Ideally, the car should be put up on
blocks, with the wheels off the ground. If
this is not possible, inflate the tires to
about 43 psi (300 kPa).
 Leave all the windows open a crack and
cover the car with a fabric tarpaulin - not
one made of plastic which will not breath.
IB879
1Pointing downhill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels into the
curb and edge the car for-
ward until the wheels touch
the curb. 2Pointing uphill and
against the curb
– Turn the wheels away
from the curb and edge the
car back until the wheels
touch the curb. 3Pointing uphill or down-
hill – no curb
– Turn the wheels towards
the edge of the road. If the
car should start rolling, it
will not run into the road.
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153 Starting and driving
Economical motoringFactors affecting fuel consumption Fuel consumption is greatly affected by the
general driving conditions, the way in which
the car is driven and at what speeds, the
weather, the state of the road, the condition
of the car, etc. Breaking-in Fuel consumption may be somewhat higher
during the break-in period (the first 3,000–
4,000 miles (5,000–7,000 km) than stated
under ”Technical data”. Weather conditionsFuel consumption can be as much as 10 %
lower in summer than in winter. The higher
consumption in cold weather is explained by
the longer time it takes for the engine to
reach normal operating temperature, and
for the transmission and wheel bearings to
warm up. Fuel economy is also affected by
the distance driven: short journeys of
3-5 miles (5-8 km) do not give the engine
enough time to reach normal temperature.
Strong winds can also affect fuel consump-
tion. How to read the graph:
If fuel consumption with the engine at
normal temperature is 28 mpg
(10l/100 km), the actual fuel consumption 3
miles (5 km) after the engine has started
from cold will be:
– 23.5 mpg (12l/100 km) at outside temp.
of 68°F (20°C) (increase of 20%)
– 17.7 mpg (16l/100 km) at outside temp.
of 32°F (0°C) (increase of 60%)
– 14 mpg (20l/100 km)) at outside temp. of
–4°F (–20°C) (increase of 100%)
As can be seen, both the distance travelled
by the car and the outside temperature have
a major impact on fuel consumption after the engine has started from cold. Thus, if the
car is mainly used for short journeys of
3–5 miles (5–8 km), the fuel consumption
will be 60–80 % higher than normal.
Driving technique To obtain the best running economy, not
only regarding fuel consumption but gen-
eral wear also, regular service is required.
 High speed, unnecessary acceleration,
heavy braking and much low gear work all
gives rise to higher fuel consumption.
 Frequent gear changing in traffic, starting
in cold weather, the use of studded tires
and roof racks, and towing a trailer all
increase fuel consumption.
 Do not run the engine when the car is sta-
tionary.
If idling, it will take much longer before the
engine becomes hot. Engine wear is
greatest during this warming-up phase.
Therefore drive away as soon as possible
after the engine is started and avoid high
revving.
IB311
Percentage increase in fuel consumption
of engine starting from cold compared to
engine at normal temperature
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154 Starting and driving Driving in a low gear results in higher fuel
consumption than in a high gear because
of the lower engine speed for a given road
speed. Always change up to a higher gear
as soon as traffic conditions allow and use
the highest gear as much as possible.
 Check the air pressure in the tires once a
month. Incorrect pressures increase tire
wear. It is better to have slightly higher
pressure than lower.
 Check fuel consumption regularly.
Increased consumption can indicate that
something is wrong and that the car
needs to be checked by an authorized
Saab dealer.
Practical tests on the roads have demon-
strated that substantial savings in fuel con-
sumption can be made if the above advice
is heeded.Road conditions Wet roads increase fuel consumption, as do
unpaved roads and driving in hilly country
(the amount of fuel saved driving downhill is
less than the additional amount required to
climb the hill).
Engine block heater (standard
equipment in Canada, accessory in
U.S.)The following are just some of the benefits
to the car and the environment of using an
engine block heater:
 Lower fuel consumption.
 Reduced wear on the engine.
 Inside of car warms up faster.
 Exhaust emissions substantially reduced
over short runs.
The engine block heater is effective with
outside temperatures up to +60 – +70°F
(+15 – +20°C). The warmer it is outside, the
shorter the time the heater need be con-
nected. Longer than 1.5 hours is unneces-
sary.
If the car is equipped with a removable elec-
trical cabin heater that is not in use, this
should be stored in the luggage compart-
ment.
Driving in cold weatherBefore starting a journey in cold weather
you should check the following:
 That the wiper blades have not become
frozen to the windshield/glass.
 Brush any snow away from the air intake
for the heater system (opening between
hood and windshield).
 It may be advisable to lubricate the
door-lock cylinder (use molybdenum
disulphide, MoS
2) to prevent its freezing.
If the lock has frozen, take care not to
break the key (or use the remote control)
– heat it first or spray it with de-icer.
 Periodically during the winter, add gaso-
line anti-freeze to the fuel to dispel any
condensation in the fuel tank which could
freeze and cause problems in the system.
Keep the tank well filled to reduce the risk
of condensation forming.
If the car is parked outside in freezing
weather, fuel additives (gasoline
anti-freeze) will not do any good as it
cannot remove water that has already fro-
zen. Park the car in a warm place so that
any ice that may have built up melts, then
add gasoline anti-freeze when filling up
the tank. Condensation is caused by
changes in the outdoor temperature or by
the car being parked alternately in a
garage and outside.
 It is particularly important when the roads
are slippery that the brakes and tires be in
good condition.
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155 Starting and driving
 Check the anti-freeze in the engine cool-
ant, see page 174.
The car´s trip computer will warn you when
there is a risk of slippery conditions. For fur-
ther information on this function, see page
62.
The car is equipped with tires designed to
provide optimum grip on both wet and dry
roads, although this has been achieved at
the expense of somewhat reduced grip on
snow and ice. For regular driving on snow
and ice, we therefore recommend that
winter (snow) tires be fitted.
Winter (snow) tires, particularly studded
tires (where use is legally permitted), gener-
ally make driving safer on snow and ice. Acquaint yourself with the legal provi-
sions governing the use of different
types of winter tires and snow chains.
Studded tires are not allowed in some
countries.
If winter tires are installed, the same type
must be installed on all wheels. Your Saab
dealer will be pleased to advise you on the
best tires for your car.
Remember that tires age. It may therefore
be necessary to change them before they
reach the legal wear limit, as they gradually
lose their friction properties.
The best response if the car gets into a
front-wheel skid is to freewheel (manual
gearbox only), i.e. disengage the clutch (so
that the wheels are neither driven nor
braked by the engine) and carefully steer
the wheels in the direction you want to go.
If the car has an automatic transmission you
should lift off the accelerator somewhat and
carefully steer the wheels in the direction
you want to go.
In a rear-wheel skid, steer into the skid, i.e.
in the same direction as that in which the
back is sliding.
Tire chainsIf you want to fit tire chains (where legally
permitted) they should only be installed to
the tires recommended under ”Technical
data” (see page 227).
Consult your Saab dealer for details about
approved tire chains.
WARNING
 Do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h)
when tire chains are fitted.
 Tire chains can reduce the directional
stability of the car.
 Tire chains must not be used on the
rear wheels.NOTE Check the links frequently for wear.
 Check that the chains do not contact
the wheel-arch liner at full lock.
 See section "Technical data", page
227, for information on allowable
wheel dimensions for the fitting of tire
chains.
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193 Car care
Changing the wheels round Because of front wheel drive, the front tires
tend to wear faster than the rear ones. New
tires should always be fitted in pairs, so that
tires on the same axle have the same
amount of tread.
If swapping the complete set, e.g. winter
tires for summer tires, mark the tires
removed to ensure that they go back in the
same position (e.g. FL for front left, RL rear
left, etc.).
Store wheels lying flat or hanging – never
standing upright.
Tire markingsAn example of the meaning of the different
markings in a tire size is given below for a
tire size of 195/60 R15 88V:
Winter tiresWinter (snow) tires are recommended for
winter climates where the majority of your
driving will be done on snow and ice. Winter
tires should be fitted to all four wheels to
maintain a proper balance. Your Saab
dealer can advise you of to the correct size
tire for your car (if different from the original
size) and also supply Saab approved winter
tires pre-mounted on steel or alloy rims.Tire quality grading (cars sold in
U.S.)New tires must be graded and labeled in
accordance with new Federal regulations.
Standard tests are conducted to measure
performance in the areas of traction and
temperature resistance. Refer to the tire
sidewall for the specific quality grades of the
tires provided on your new Saab. Compact
spare tires are exempt.
DOT QUALITY GRADES
 Treadwear.
 Traction AA, A, B, C.
 Temperature A, B, C.
All passenger car tires must conform to Fed-
eral safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
WARNING
When fitting just one new pair of tires,
these should be fitted to the rear wheels,
as these are more critical to the direc-
tional stability of the car (e.g. on braking
or in a skid). The existing rear tires should
therefore be moved to the front. Always
move left rear to left front and right rear to
right front, so that the direction of rotation
remains the same.
195 Tire section width, mm
60 Aspect ratio, i.e. the section height
is 60 % of the section width
R Radial ply
15 Wheel rim diameter 15 in. at bead
seats
88 Tire load code
V Speed marking
Speed ratingsS Tire approved for speeds up to
112 mph (180 km/h)
T Tire approved for speeds up to
118 mph (190 km/h)
H Tire approved for speeds up to
130 mph (210 km/h)
V Tire approved for speeds up to
150 mph (240 km/h)
W Tire approved for speeds up to
167 mph (270 km/h)
Y Tire approved for speeds up to
186 mph (300 km/h)
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195 Car care
Date codeTires should be regarded as perishable
goods. As the tires age, the rubber becomes
progressively harder, and the roadholding
ability of the tires diminishes. This is partic-
ularly true on winter tires.
Tires now have a date-code marking for the
year of manufacture. The first two digits
denote the week number and the last digit
the year. The ”<” symbol points to the year.
Accordingly, a date code of 157 signifies
that the tire was manufactured in week 15,
1997.
Wear indicatorsThe tires incorporate wear indicators in the
form of smooth, treadless strips across the
width, which become visible when only
2/32" (1.6 mm) of tread remains. As soon as
the indicators become visible, new tires
should be fitted without delay.
Make sure you are familiar with the legal
limit for minimum tread depth in your
country and also any regulations gov-
erning the use of winter tires.
Compact spare wheelThe compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the wheel. Its use is
only permitted when a standard wheel has
sustained a puncture. The maximum life of
the wheel is only 2000 miles (3,500 km).
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) with the
compact spare fitted.
The compact spare should be inflated to
60 psi (420 kPa). Carry the punctured tire in
the spare-wheel well under the trunk floor.
Have the standard wheel repaired and refit-
ted as soon as possible
Driving considerations with compact spare
wheel/tire fitted, see page 165.
The spare wheel, the tools and the jack with
its crank are carried under a panel in the
trunk.
IB969
Date code
IB998
Wear indicators
IB921
Spare wheel (under the carpet in the
trunk)
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227 Technical data
Brake system Rims and tires Footbrake (ABS) ___________________ Hydraulic disc
brakes with vacuum
servo, diagonally
split circuits
Parking brake ______________________ Acts on rear wheels
Brake fluid ________________________ DOT 4
Do not use DOT 5
Disc diameter:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 11.4" (288 mm)
front, Viggen ______________________ 12.0” (306 mm)
rear ____________________________ 11.3" (286 mm)
Total friction area of brake pads:
front, Coupé/5-door/Convertible _______ 34.4 in² (224 cm²)
front, Viggen ______________________ 35.9 in² (234 cm²)
rear ____________________________ 14.2 in² (92 cm²)Rim size:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ 6.5 x 15 or 6.5 x 16
Viggen __________________________ 7.5 x 17
Viggen must use 6.5 x 16 or 7 x 17
Tire sizes (summer tires):
6.5 x 15 (not Viggen) _______________ 195/60 R15
6.5 x 16__________________________ 205/50 R16
7.5 x 17 Viggen only ________________ 215/45 R17
Tire sizes (winter tires):
6 x 15 (not Viggen) _________________ 185/65 R15 M+S
195/60 R15 M+S
6.5 x 16 _________________________ 205/50 R16 M+S
Recommended rims for snow chains:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ 6 x 15
Viggen __________________________ 6.5 x 16
Spare wheel:
Tire:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ T115/70 R15
Viggen __________________________ T115/70 R16
Rim:
Coupé/5-door/Convertible ___________ 4.0 x 15
Viggen __________________________ 4.0 x 16
Maximum life _____________________ 2000 miles
(3500 km)
Maximum speed __________________ 50 mph (80 km/h)
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236 IndexTemperature gauge
______________ 60
Textile carpeting, cleaning
________ 200
Through-load hatch
______________ 128
Tie-down eyes
_________________ 129
Tipping the rear seat
_____________ 125
Tire pressures
__________________ 192
Tires and wheels, sizes
__________ 227
Tools
_________________________ 130
Touching up paintwork
___________ 202
Towing a caravan or trailer ________ 156
Towing the car
_________________ 160
Trailer hitch load ________________ 158
Transmission, automatic
__________ 141
Transporting the car
_____________ 160
Traveling abroad
________________ 165
Trionic
________________________ 170
Trip computer, SID
_______________ 62
Trip meter
______________________ 59
Trunk
_________________________ 125
Trunk lid lock, Convertible
_________ 50
Trunk, Convertible
_______________ 50
Turbo gauge
____________________ 60
Turn signal
_____________________ 72
UUpholstery and trim
______________ 200
Upholstery and trim, care of
_______ 200
Useful tips on starting
____________ 136
Useful tips, ACC
_________________ 88
VVanity mirror
___________________ 124
WWarning labels
___________________ 7
Warning light, AIR BAG (SRS)
______ 24
Washer fluid
___________________ 179
Washer jets ____________________ 180
Washers
_______________________ 74
Washing ______________________ 201
Waxing and polishing
____________ 202
Wear indicators, brake pads
_______ 140
Wear indicators, tires
____________ 195
Wheels
_______________________ 192
Wheels and tires, sizes
___________ 227
Window glass sensor, car alarm
_____ 36
Windshield washers
______________ 74
Windshield wipers
________________ 74
Winter driving
__________________ 154
Wiper blades ___________________ 179
Wipers
_________________________ 74
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