2005 Alfa Romeo 156 wheel size

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR42
FRONT AND SIDE
AIR BAGS The car is fitted with front Air bags for the
driver (fig. 63), for the passenger
(fig. 64), side bags (fig. 65) and win-
dow bags (fig. 66).
FRONT AIR BAGSDescription and operation
The front air bag (driver’s and passenger’s)
is a safety device that comes into action in
the event of a head-on collision.It is formed of an instantly-inflating cush-
ion contained in a special recess:
– in the centre of the steering wheel for
the driver;
– in the dashboard and with a larger-sized
cushion for the passenger.
The front Air bag (driver’s and passenger’s)
is a device designed to protect the occupants
in the event of head-on collision of medium-
high severity by the interposition of the cush-
ion between the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
In the event of a crash, the electronic con-
trol unit processes the signals leading from
a deceleration sensor and when necessary,
triggers inflation of the cushion.
The cushion inflates instantly as a protec-
tive barrier between the occupants’ bodies
and the structures which could cause injury.
The cushion deflates immediately after-
wards.
The front air bag (driver’s and passenger’s)
does not replace but is complementary to
the use of belts, which should always be
worn, as specified by law in Europe and
most non-European countries.
fig. 63
A0B0568m
fig. 64
A0B0582m
fig. 65
A0B0278m
fig. 66
A0B0277m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
180
The heart of the VDC system is the VDC
control unit which with the data supplied by
the sensors installed on the car, calculates
the centrifugal forces generated when the
car is cornering. The yawing sensor detects
the rotations of the car around its own ver-
tical axis. The centrifugal forces generated
when the car is cornering are detected by
a highly sensitive lateral acceleration sensor.
The stabilising action of the VDC system is
based on calculations made by the
system’s electronic control unit which
processes the signals received from the
steering wheel rotation, lateral acceleration
and individual wheel rotation sensors. These
signals allow the control unit to recognise
the manoeuvre the driver intends to do
when turning the steering wheel.
The control unit processes the information
received from the sensors and is therefore
capable of detecting the position of the car
and comparing it with the trajectory the dri-
ver would like to follow instant by instant.
In the event of a discrepancy, the control
unit chooses and commands the most suit-
able action to bring the car back to the re-
quired course within a fraction of a second:
braking one or more wheels at a different
braking force and, if necessary it reduces the
power transmitted by the engine. The corrective actions are changed and con-
trolled continuously until the car returns to
the required course.
The action of the VDC system considerably
increases the active safety of the vehicle un-
der many critical situations and it is partic-
ularly useful also when the road surface grip
conditions change.
For the VDC, ASR and ABS
systems to work correctly,
the tyres must be of the same
brand and type on all wheels, in
perfect conditions and above all of
the specified type, brand and size.
WARNING
During use of the compact
spare wheel, the VDC sys-
tem continues working. It should be
borne in mind that the spare wheel
is smaller than a normal tyre,
therefore its grip is lower than that
of the other tyres of the car.
WARNING
VDC SYSTEM OPERATIONThe VDC system turns on automatically
when the car is started and cannot be
switched off. It is however possible to cut
off operation of the ASR system pressing the
corresponding button on the centre console.
The main components of the VDC system
are:
– an electronic control unit which
processes the signals received from the var-
ious sensors and brings about the most ap-
propriate strategy;
– a sensor that detects the position of the
steering wheel;
– four sensors that detect the rotation
speed of each wheel;
– a sensor that detects rotation of the car
around the vertical axis;
– a sensor that detects lateral acceleration
(centrifugal force).

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
193
– Do not drive for long periods without a
break. During breaks get out of the vehicle
and move around a bit to shake off the
drowsiness.
– Make sure the air in the passenger com-
partment is changed constantly.
– Never coast the vehicle downhill with
the engine switched off as this eliminates
the engine braking and power steering ef-
fect thus requiring a greater effort on the
pedal and steering wheel.
NIGHT DRIVINGHere are some suggestions for night dri-
ving.
– Drive with particular care: night driving
involves a greater degree of concentration.
– Reduce speed, especially on unlit roads.
– At the first signs of drowsiness stop the
car: continuing the journey is dangerous for
yourself and others. Continue driving only
after sufficient rest.
– Maintain a greater distance from the ve-
hicle in front than in the day: it is more dif-
ficult to judge the speed of the vehicle when
only the lights can be seen.
– Ensure that the headlights are correctly
aligned: if they are too low, visibility is re-
duced and eyesight is tired. If they are too
high they may cause disturbance to other
road users.
– Use the main beams only outside built-
up areas and only when you are certain that
other drivers are not disturbed by their use.
– When meeting vehicles coming in the
opposite direction, switch off the main
beams and drive with the dipped-beam
headlights on.
– Keep headlights and lights clean.
– Outside built-up areas take care of ani-
mal crossings.
Always fasten the front
and rear seat belts includ-
ing those of any child’s seat. Trav-
elling without seat belts increases
the risks of serious injury or even
death in the event of an accident.
WARNING
Take care when fitting ad-
ditional spoilers, alloy
wheels and wheel caps: they might
reduce ventilation of the brakes,
thus their efficiency, during abrupt
and repeated braking, or long
downhill slopes.
WARNING
Never drive with objects
on the floor in front of the
driver’s seat: they might get stuck
under the pedals making it impos-
sible to accelerate or brake.
WARNING
Make sure any mats are
appropriate in size: even a
slight inconvenience to the braking
system may require a higher pedal
stroke than normal.
WARNING
Water, ice and salt on the
roads may deposit on the
brake discs, reducing the effec-
tiveness of the brakes the first
time they are used.
WARNING

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
202
It is therefore necessary to limit their use
to the purposes for which they are certified.
WARNINGWhen snow tyres are used
with a max. speed index below the one that
can be reached by the car (increased by
5%), place a notice in the passenger com-
partment, plainly in the driver’s view which
states the max. permissible speed of the
snow tyres (as per EC Directive).
All four tyres should be the same (brand
and track) to ensure greater safety when
driving and braking and better driveability.
Remember that it is inappropriate to
change the direction of rotation of tyres.
WINTER TYRESThese tyres are specially designed for dri-
ving on snow and ice, to be fitted in place
of the existing tyres.
Use snow tyres of the same size as the
normal tyres provided with the car.
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services will be
glad to provide advice concerning the most
suitable type of tyre for the customer’s re-
quirements.
For the type of tyre to be used, inflation
pressures and the specifications of snow
tyres, follow the instructions given in chap-
ter “Technical Specifications”.
The winter features of these tyres are re-
duced considerably when the tread depth
is below 4 mm. In this case, they should be
replaced. Due to the snow tyre features, un-
der normal conditions of use or on long mo-
torway journeys, the performance of these
tyres is lower than that of normal tyres.
SNOW CHAINSUse of snow chains should be in compli-
ance with local regulations.
Use snow chains with reduced size:
– for tyres 185/65 R15” e 205/60
R15” use snow chains with reduced size
with max. protrusion beyond the tyre pro-
file of 12 mm.
– for tyres 205/55 R16” use snow
chains with reduced size with max. protru-
sion beyond the tyre profile of 9 mm.
Tyres 215/45 R17” can-
not be fitted with snow
chains due to interference
with front suspension support. Snow chains should only be applied to the
driving wheels (front wheels).
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services should first
be contacted before purchasing or using
snow chains.
Check the tension of the chains after the
first few metres have been driven.
The max. speed for snow
tyres with “Q” marking is
160 km/h, 190 km/h for tyres
with “T” marking and 210 km/h
for tyres with “H” marking. The
Road Traffic Code speed limits must
however be always strictly ob-
served.
WARNING

IN AN EMERGENCY
208
The spare wheel (for ver-
sions/markets where re-
quired) is specific to your model of
car; do not use it on other models,
or use the spare wheel of other
models on your car.
Should the type of wheels used be
changed (alloy rims instead of
steel), it is also necessary to re-
place the complete kit of fastening
bolts with others of suitable size.
The compact spare wheel should
only be used in an emergency and
even then its use should be kept to
a minimum. Do not drive at speeds
of over 80 km/h.
WARNING
On the compact spare
wheel there a sticker with
the main warnings regarding the
compact spare wheel use and lim-
itations. The sticker shall never be
removed or covered. The sticker
bears the following instructions in
four languages:
ATTENTION! ONLY FOR TEMPO-
RARY USE! 80 km/h MAX! RE-
PLACE IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
WITH A STANDARD WHEEL. DO
NOT COVER THIS INDICATION.
No wheel cap shall be placed on
the compact spare wheel.
The car will handle differently
when the spare wheel is fitted.
Avoid sudden acceleration or brak-
ing, sharp corners and fast bends.
WARNING
The life of the spare wheel
is approx. 3,000 km. After
this distance it should be replaced
with another of the same type.
Never attempt to fit a tradition-
al tyre to a rim designed for use as
compact spare wheel. Have the
punctured wheel repaired and re-
placed as soon as possible.
Two or more compact spare
wheels should never be used to-
gether.
Do not grease the threads of the
bolts before installing them; they
might slip out.
The jack only serves for chang-
ing wheels on the car with which it
is provided or on cars of the same
model. It must not be used for oth-
er purposes such as for instance
raising cars of other models. In no
case should it be used for repairs
under the vehicle.
The vehicle may fall if the jack is
not positioned correctly.
Do not use the jack for higher ca-
pacities than stated on its label.
WARNING

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
306
WHEELS AND TYRES
1.8 T.SPARK
PROGRESSION
6J x 15”
185/65 R15” 88V
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17“ (*)1.8 T.SPARK
DISTINCTIVE
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17“ (*) 1.6 T.SPARK
PROGRESSION
6J x 15”
185/65 R15” 88H
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15” (❒)
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
6,5J x 16” (❒)
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17 ”
215/45 ZR17 (*)1.6 T.SPARK
DISTINCTIVE
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17“ (*)1.8 T.SPARK
IMPRESSION
6J x 15”
185/65 R15” 88V
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
1.6 T.SPARK
IMPRESSION
6J x 15”
185/65 R15” 88H
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
VersionsStandard fittingsSteel wheelTyres
Alloy wheelTyres
Spare – rimwheel: – tyreOptional fittingsAlloy wheelTyre
Alloy wheelTyres
Alloy wheelTyres(*) = Snow chains may not be used on this tyres
(●) = Tyres on which chains can be fitted: use snow chains with reduced size with max. protrusion beyond the tyre profile of 9 mm.
(▼) = Tyres on which chains can be fitted: use snow chains with reduced size with max. protrusion beyond the tyre profile of 12 mm.
(❒) = Excluding Sportwagon versions
Winter tyres: winter tyres with “Q” min. speed index can be used.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
307
2.5 V6 24V
PROGRESSION
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91W
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91W
(▼)
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91W
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17” (*) 2.0 JTS Selespeed
PROGRESSION
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17” (*) 2.0 JTS
DISTINCTIVE
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17“ (*) 2.0 JTS
PROGRESSION
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17“ (*) 2.0 JTS
IMPRESSION
6J x 15”
185/65 R15” 88V
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
2.0 JTS Selespeed
DISTINCTIVE
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17” (*)
VersionsStandard fittingsSteel wheelTyres
Alloy wheel
Tyres Spare – rimwheel: – tyreOptional fittingsAlloy wheel
TyreAlloy wheelTyre
Alloy wheelTyres(*) = Snow chains may not be used on this tyres
(●) = Tyres on which chains can be fitted: use snow chains with reduced size with max. protrusion beyond the tyre profile of 9 mm.
(▼) = Tyres on which chains can be fitted: use snow chains with reduced size with max. protrusion beyond the tyre profile of 12 mm.
Winter tyres: winter tyres with “Q” min. speed index can be used.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
308
(*) = Snow chains may not be used on this tyres
(●) = Tyres on which chains can be fitted: use snow chains with reduced size with max. protrusion beyond the tyre profile of 9 mm.
(▼) = Tyres on which chains can be fitted: use snow chains with reduced size with max. protrusion beyond the tyre profile of 12 mm.
Winter tyres: winter tyres with “Q” min. speed index can be used.
VersionsStandard fittings
Steel wheelTyres
Alloy wheelTyres
Spare wheel:
– rim
– tyre
Optional fittings
Alloy wheel
Tyre
Alloy wheelTyres
Alloy wheelTyres
JTD
PROGRESSION
6J x 15”
185/65 R15” 88V
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17“ (*)JTD
DISTINCTIVE
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91V
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17“ (*) JTD
IMPRESSION
6J x 15”
185/65 R15” 88V
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91V
(▼)
2.5 V6 24V
Q-System
DISTINCTIVE
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91W
(●)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91W
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17” (*)2.5 V6 24V
DISTINCTIVE
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91W
(●)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91W
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17” (*) 2.5 V6 24V
Q-System
PROGRESSION
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91W
(▼)
4J x 15”
T125/80 R15” 95M
6,5J x 15”
205/60 R15” 91W
(▼)
6,5J x 16”
205/55 R16” 91W
(●)
7J x 17”
215/45 ZR17” (*)