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Driving with the tailgate open: Driving with the tailgate open could mean that poisonous exhaust gases enter the
passenger compartment. If the tailgate must be kept open for any reason, proceed as follows:
- Close the windows.
- Set the ventilation system control to air flow to floor, windshield and side windows and blower control to its
highest setting.
Floor mats: An extra mat on the driver's floor can cause the accelerator pedal to catch. Check that the movement
of the accelerator pedal is not impeded. Not more than one protective floor covering may be used at one time.
Electrical system
When replacing the battery or when carrying out work involving the electrical system, the following should be
observed:
A battery connection to the wrong terminal will damage the electrical system. Be sure to connect the positive battery
cable to the positive battery terminal and the negative battery cable to the negative battery terminal.
If booster batteries are used for starting, they must be properly connected to minimize the risk of the electrical
system being damaged. For correct connection, see "Jump starting" section.
Never disconnect the battery circuit (for example, to replace the battery) while the engine is running, as this may
damage the generator. Always make sure that all the battery connections are properly cleaned and tightened.
If any electrical welding work is performed on the vehicle, the battery's ground lead (negative cable) and all the
connecting cables of the generator must be disconnected and the welder cables placed as near the welding points as
possible.
The radio must be turned off before the battery is disconnected.
Switch off the ignition for at least 10 minutes before disconnecting the battery.
pg. 91 Roof racks/Load carriers
Load carriers (accessory)
Load carriers are available as Volvo accessories. Observe the following points when in use:
To avoid damaging your car and to achieve maximum safety when driving, we recommend using the load carriers
that Volvo has developed especially for your car.
The maximum weight that may be loaded on the roof is 220 lbs (100 kg), including load carriers.
Avoid single-point loads. Distribute loads evenly.
Place heavier cargo at the bottom of the load.
Anchor the cargo correctly with appropriate tie-down equipment.
Check periodically that the load carriers and load are properly secured.
Remember that the car's center of gravity and handling change when you carry a load on the roof.
The car's wind resistance (and correspondingly, fuel consumption) will increase with the size of the load.
Drive smoothly. Avoid rapid starts, fast cornering and hard braking.
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Attaching load carriers (models without rails)
The attachment brackets for the load carriers are located under the roof molding.
1 Make sure that the load carriers are placed in the right direction. See the mark on the decal under the cover.
2 Press the guide lugs into the holes (1).
3 Carefully lower the opposite side of the load carrier to the roof.
4 Loosen the tightening wheel slightly. Slide the hook on the load carrier attachment into the attachment bracket under
the roof molding.
5 Turn the tightening wheel to secure the load carrier in the attachment bracket.
6 Repeat this procedure for the other load carrier attachments.
7 Check that the hooks on all four load carrier attachments are securely tightened in the respective attachment brackets
on the roof of the car.
8 Press down the covers.
Check periodically that the load carriers and load are properly secured.
pg. 92 Load carriers (models with rails)
Position of load carriers
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Make sure that the wing-shaped load carriers are installed on the roof rails with the rounded edge forward (see the
inset illustration above). The load carriers are identical and can be placed anywhere along the roof rails.
Fitting the load carriers (accessory)
Make sure that the load carrier is pressed firmly out against the roof rail. Screw the load carrier in place. Use the
supplied torque wrench and tighten to the mark on the wrench (corresponding to 6 Nm). See illustration.
Load carrier cover
The car's ignition key or the stud on the edge of the supplied torque wrench can be used to undo or tighten the cover.
Turn a quarter turn (90 degrees). See illustration.
Contents | Top of Page
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2 0 0 2
VOLVO V70
Chapter 7 - Wheels and tires
pg.103 Wheels and tires
General information, Wear indicator, Tire economy, Flat spots104
Wheels and tires - All Wheel Drive vehicles105
Snow chains, Snow tires/studded tires106
Inflation pressure, Vehicle loading, Spare tire107
Uniform tire quality grading108
Changing wheels109
pg. 104 Wheels and tires
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the tire information label on the inside of the fuel filler door.
The following is an example of a tire designation code: 225/55 R16
225 = tire width in mm.
55 = tire profile. This is the relationship (in percent) between the section height and width of the tire.
R = radial tires.
16 = diameter in inches.
The tires have good road holding characteristics and offer good handling on dry and wet surfaces. It should be noted
however that the tires have been developed to give these features on snow/ice-free surfaces. Certain models are
equipped with "all-season" tires, which provide a somewhat higher degree of road holding on slippery surfaces
than tires without the "all-season" rating. However, for optimum road holding on icy or snow covered roads - we
recommend suitable winter tires on all four wheels . When replacing tires, be sure that the new tires are the same
dimensions, type (radial) and preferably from the same manufacturer, on all four wheels. Do not use bias ply tires.
Otherwise there is a risk of altering the car's roadholding and handling characteristics.
NOTE: When storing wheel/tire assemblies (e.g. snow 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
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The tires have wear indicator strips running across or parallel to the tread. When approx. 1/16" (1.6 mm) is left on the
tread, these strips become visible and indicate that the tire should be replaced.
Tires with less than 1/16" (1.6 mm) tread have very poor grip in rain or snow.
To improve tire economy:
Maintain correct tire pressure. See the tire pressure label on the inside of the fuel filler door.
Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire screeching.
Tire wear increases with speed.
Correct front wheel alignment is very important.
Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and driving comfort.
Volvo does not recommend rotating the tires. However, if tires are rotated, they must be kept on the same side of the
car so that they revolve in the same direction as before rotation.
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 parked, the tires have a tendency to distort
slightly, forming flat spots. These flat spots can cause vibrations similar to the vibrations caused by unbalanced wheels.
They do, however, disappear when the tire warms up. The degree to which flat spots form depends on the type of cord
used in the tire. Remember that, in cold weather, it takes longer for the tire to warm up and consequently longer for the
flat spot to disappear.
CAUTION: Cars equipped with All Wheel Drive
The car must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions/ specifications or with a spare tire other than the one
that came with the car. The use of different size wheels can seriously damage your car's transmission.
Driving with the temporary spare tire at speeds above 50 mph (80 km/h) can reduce the service life of transmission
components. Do not drive farther than 50 miles (80 km) on a temporary spare tire.
When one or more tires is replaced, the new tire(s) should be mounted on the front wheels. The tires with the least
amount of tread should be mounted on the rear wheels.
pg. 105 Wheels and tires - All Wheel Drive vehicles
Types of Tires
Always drive on tires of identical brand, size, construction (radial), tread pattern, load-, speed-, traction-, temperature-,
and treadwear rating. Never drive on mixed tires, except for brief periods when the temporary spare tire is in use.
Always use properly inflated tires of correct dimensions. Tire size and inflation pressures are shown on the tire
pressure label located inside the fuel filler door.
CAUTION:
Failure to always drive on properly inflated, identical tires of correct dimensions may result in a circumference
difference between tires on the front and rear axles. This will cause excessive tire wear and may damage the
transmission and all-wheel-drive system.
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Tire Replacement
When tire replacement is necessary, Volvo strongly recommends replacing all four tires at the same time with identical
tires as explained above. Failure to do so can result in a circumference difference that may damage the transmission
and all-wheel-drive system.
If only one or two tires are replaced, the new tire(s) must be identical to the tires with which the car was built, and
must be mounted on the FRONT AXLE ONLY! Failure to do this may damage the transmission and all-wheel-drive
system.
Tire Rotation
Volvo recommends rotating the tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km). Tires should be rotated front -to-back/back-to-
front only. Tires must maintain the same direction of rotation throughout their lifetime, and should never be rotated
from one side of the vehicle to the other.
CAUTION:
Failure to rotate tires at recommended intervals will cause uneven tire wear and may damage the transmission and all-
wheel-drive system.
Temporary Spare
The temporary spare tire is for temporary, low-speed, short-distance use only. Replace it with a full-sized tire as soon
as possible, in accordance with "Tire Rotation" above. Do not drive on the temporary spare at speeds above 50 mph
(80km/h) or for distances greater than 50 miles (80 km). Transmission and all-wheel-drive system damage may result.
Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.
pg. 106 Wheels and tires
Snow chains
Snow chains can be used on your Volvo with the following restrictions:
Snow chains should be installed on front wheels only. Use only Volvo approved snow chains.
Special snow chains must be mounted on 215/55 R16. Consult your Volvo retailer.
If accessory, aftermarket or "custom" tires and wheels are installed and are of a size different than the original tires
and wheels, chains in some cases CANNOT be used. Sufficient clearances between chains and brakes, suspension and
body components must be maintained. Snow chains cannot be used on 17" wheels.
Some strap -on type chains will interfere with brake components and therefore CANNOT be used. Consult your
Volvo retailer for additional snow chain information.
CAUTION:
Check local regulations regarding the use of snow chains before installing.
Always follow the chain manufacturer's installation instructions carefully. Install chains as tightly as possible and
retighten periodi-cally.
Never exceed the chain manufacturer's specified maximum speed limit. In no case should you exceed 31 mph (50
km/h).
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Avoid bumps, holes or sharp turns when driving with snow chains.
Vehicle handling can be adversely affected when driving with chains. Avoid fast maneuvering and hard braking.
Never allow the wheels to lock up during braking.
Snow tires, studded tires *
Tires for winter use:
Owners who live in or regularly travel through areas with sustained periods of snow or icy driving conditions
are strongly advised to fit suitable winter tires to help retain the highest degree of traction. It is important to
install winter tires on all four wheels to help retain traction during cornering, braking, and accelerating. Failure to do so
could reduce traction to an unsafe level or adversely affect handling. Volvo does not recommend tire rotation.
However, as with any other radial tires, if rotated, the tires must be kept on the same side of the car so that they
revolve in the same direction as before rotation.
Volvo recommends 195/65 R15 snow tires on non-turbo models. Turbo models should be equipped with 205/55
R16 snow tires on all four wheels (215/65 R16 tires should be used on the Cross Country).
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 which the car should be driven as smoothly as
possible to give the studs the opportunity to seat properly in the tires. The 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 of the car.
NOTE: Please consult state or provincial regulations restricting the use of studded winter tires before installing such
tires.
* Where permitted.
pg. 107 Wheels and tires
Checking and correcting tire pressure
Check the tire pressure regularly.
The tire pressure should be corrected only when the tires are cold.
With warm tires, correct only when the pressure is too low. The tire temperature rises after driving just a few miles.
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Vehicle loading
The tires on your Volvo should perform to specifications at all normal loads when inflated as recommended on the tire
informa-tion label. The label is located on the inside of the fuel filler door. The label lists both tire and vehicle design
limits. Do not load your car beyond the load limits indicated.WARNING!
Improperly inflated tires will reduce tire life, adversely affect vehicle handling and can possibly lead to failure
resulting in loss of vehicle control without prior warning.
Temporary Spare
The spare tire in your car is called a "Temporary Spare". It has the following designation: T125/80 R17 (T135/90 R17
on the Cross Country).
At the recommended tire pressure shown on the inside of the fuel filler door, the tire may be used as a temporary
replacement for a front or rear tire.
In the event of damage to this tire, a new one can be purchased from your Volvo retailer.WARNING!
Current legislation prohibits the use of the "Temporary Spare" tire other than as a temporary replacement for a
punctured tire. It must be replaced as soon as possible by a standard tire. Road holding and handling may be
affected with the "Temporary Spare" in use. Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h). Do not drive farther than 50 miles
(80 km) on a temporary spare tire.
All Wheel Drive models: Driving with the "Temporary Spare" at speeds above 50 mph (80 kph) can lead to
excessive wear on transmission components.
CAUTION:
The car must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions or with a spare tire other than the one that came with
the car. The use of different size wheels can seriously damage your car's transmission.
NOTE: Certain models may be equipped with a full-size spare tire. When used, it should be inflated to the same
pressure as the tire it is replacing.
pg. 108 Wheels and tires
Uniform tire quality grading
ALL PASSENGER CAR TIRES MUST CONFORM TO FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS IN
ADDITION TO THESE GRADES
Quality grades can be found, where applicable, on the tire sidewall between the tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
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