
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic  transmissions  should use (D)rive  as often as possible and  avoid using
"kick -down"  to help improve fuel economy. Vehicles equipped with manual  transmissions  should use fifth gear at
highway  speeds. At other times, choose the highest gear that still  allows smooth  acceleration.
Weight distribution affects handling
At the specified curb weight your car has a  tendency to understeer, which  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 properties can alter with the vehicle load. The heavier  the load on the rear of
the vehicle (e.g., heavily  loaded (max. 220 lbs, 100 kg) cargo area or when towing a  trailer, the less the tendency to
understeer.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and  inflation pressure all affect vehicle handling. 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 permissible axle loads are not exceeded. 
pg. 90 Points  to  remember
Cooling system
The risk for engine overheating is greatest, especially in hot weather, when:
Towing a  trailer up steep inclines for prolonged periods  at wide  open  throttle and  low engine rpm.
Stopping the engine suddenly after high speed driving (so-called "after-boiling" can occur).
To avoid overheating, the following rules  should be  followed: Do not drive for prolonged periods  at engine speeds
above 4500 rpm if you are towing a  trailer in hilly terrain. Reduce speed when towing a  trailer up long, steep inclines.
The risk of overheating can be  reduced by switching off the air conditioning system for a  short time. Do not let the
engine idle unnecessarily  for prolonged periods.  Do not mount auxiliary lamps in front  of the grill.
When the risk of overheating is imminent, or in the event of overheating (the temperature gauge goes repeatedly into,
or stays continually in, the red section), the following precautions should be  taken:
Switch off the air conditioning system.
Pull off the road, away from  traffic,  stop the car and  put the gear selector into neutral.
Switch the heater  to full (maximum) position. Increase the engine speed to approx. 2000 rpm (twice idling speed)
until the temperature begins to drop.
WARNING!
Do not remove coolant  expansion tank cap. The coolant  will be  extremely hot.
If necessary,  see page 127
 and  130 for information on checking and  topping-up the coolant  level.
CAUTION:  Drive slowly and  carefully if going through standing water (i.e. flooded roadways, etc.). Damage to the
engine could result if excess water is drawn in through the air intake  system. Never  drive the vehicle in water deeper
than 1 foot (300 mm). See  the flood warning on page 7
.
WARNING!
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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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