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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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