274
Maintenance, Car Care
Storing your PorscheIf you intend to store your Porsche for a prolonged
period, please consult your authorized Porsche
dealer. The staff will be glad to advise you on the
most suitable and necessary methods.
fClean your vehicle thoroughly inside and out-
side. Clean the engine compartment. The un-
der carriage and chassis components should
be free of dirt and salt deposits.
fFill up the fuel tank.
fChange the oil and oil filter, and run the engine
for several minutes.
fIncrease the tire pressure to 58 psi (4 bar).It is
not recommended to lift the vehicle, due to the
possibility of corrosion on shock absorber pis-
ton shafts.The vehicle should be moved slight-
ly, approximately every four weeks, to prevent
flat spot on the tires.Climate control
The air conditioning system should be in good
working condition and fully charged.
Windshield/Headlight washer
fCheck and correct antifreeze/cleaning solution
level as necessary.
Electrical system
fRemove the battery from the vehicle and store
it in a cool dry place, not on a cement floor.
When the battery is disconnected, the alarm
system is deactivated.
fRecharge the battery every 3 months. If the
battery remains in the vehicle with the cables
connected, it is necessary to check, remove
and recharge the battery every 2-3 weeks.
Do not fast charge the battery.
fPlease observe the chapter “CHARGE STATE”
on Page 320.Vehicle interior
The interior must be dry, especially in the area of
the floor carpets. The use of drying agents (Silica-
Gel) is recommended in vehicles with leather inte-
rior and in areas with high humidity. The recom-
mended amount is 3 fabric bags of 1.1 lbs.
(500 grams) each placed on the floor carpets.
Windows, doors, lids and roof must be closed.
The air vents should be opened.
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Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and max-
imum section width.
ExampleAll passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements in addition to these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specific govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and a half (1-1/2) times as well on
the government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to varia-
tions in driving habits, service practices and differ-
ences in road characteristics and climate.
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279
Traction AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C and they represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured under con-
trolled conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning!
The traction grade assigned to this is based
on braking (straight-ahead) traction tests
and does not include cornering (turned) trac-
tion, acceleration, hydroplaning or peak
traction characteristics.Temperature A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B and
C, representing the tire's resistance to the gener-
ation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperatures can cause the mate-
rial of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life,
and excessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of perfor-
mance on the laboratory test wheel than the mini-
mum required by law.
Warning!
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading, either separately
or in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.
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Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Tire traction
Warning!
When driving on wet or slushy roads, a
wedge of water may build up between the
tires and the road. This phenomenon is
known as “hydroplane“ and may cause par-
tial or complete loss of traction, vehicle con-
trol or stopping ability.
fReduce speed on wet surfaces to prevent this.Tire lifeTire life depends on various factors, i.e., road sur-
faces, traffic and weather conditions, driving hab-
its, type of tires and tire care.
fInspect your tires for wear and damage before
driving off. If you notice uneven or substantial
wear, wheels might need alignment or tires
should be balanced or replaced.
Tire wearThe original equipment tires on your Porsche have
built-in tire wear indicators. They are molded into
the bottom of the tread grooves and will appear as
approximately 1/2 in. (12 mm) bands when the
tire tread depth is down to 1/16 of an in (1.6 mm).
When the indicators appear in two or more adja-
cent grooves, it is time to replace the tires. We
recommend, however, that you do not let the tires
wear down to this extent.
Worn tires cannot grip the road surface properly
and are even less effective on wet roads.
In the United States, state laws may govern the
minimum tread depth permissible. Follow all such
laws.
Danger!
Driving on worn tires can result in loss of con-
trol of the vehicle and could cause serious
personal injuries or death.
fDo not drive with worn tires or tires showing
cuts or bruises as they may lead to sudden
deflation and loss of control which could cause
severe personal injury.
fSpecialized high performance tires on high
performance sport utility vehicles exhibit more
wear than those on a family sedan, or even a
high performance sedan.
Therefore, it is important to check your tire
pressure and condition at least every two weeks.
fIf you notice that tires are wearing unevenly,
consult your Porsche dealer.
Uneven wear may not always be due to improper
wheel alignment. It can be the result of individual
driving habits such as cornering at high speeds. If
the tire pressure is not checked and adjusted reg-
ularly, abnormal tire wear can also occur.
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Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Tire replacementsfUse only tire makes and types tested by
Porsche.
Only tires with the same manufacturer and
with the same specification code (e.g. “N0“,
“N1“...) should be mounted on the vehicle.
Tires should be replaced no less than on one axle
at the time. Only tires of the same make and type
must be used. Mixed tires are not permissible and
will affect vehicle performance, safety, and can
affect vehicle warranty.
Porsche dealers can recommend the most current
replacement tire options for your vehicle.
Initially, new tires do not have their full traction.
You should therefore drive at moderate speeds
during the first 60 - 120 miles (100 - 200 km).If new tires are installed only on one axle, a notice-
able change in handling occurs due to the different
tread depth of the other tires. This happens espe-
cially if only rear tires are replaced. However, this
condition disappears as the new tires are broken
in.
fPlease adjust your driving style accordingly.
Installation of new tires should only be done by a
qualified tire technician.
Valves
fUse only plastic valve caps.
fThe rubber valves must be replaced whenever
the tires are changed.
fThe fitting and replacement specifications
must be observed for metal valves.
fOnly use Original Porsche metal valves.
Parking at the curb
Danger!
Hard impacts against curbs (or traffic
islands) are dangerous and may cause hid-
den tire damage which is not noticeable until
later. Such damage can result in accidents at
high speeds causing severe personal injury.
Depending on the force of impact, the edge
of the rim can also be damaged.
fIf you are in doubt, have the wheel checked by
an expert, particularly if you suspect damage
on the inside.
fIf you must drive over a curb or other obstacle,
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle. Exercise care when parking along curbs.
Maintenance note
Tire repairs are not permissible under any circum-
stances.
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Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
Removing and storing tiresfAfter changing, adjust tire pressure and torque
wheel bolts diagonally.
Please observe the chapter “CHANGING
WHEELS” on Page 294.
Tires must always remain on the same side of
the vehicle.
When wheels are removed, the direction of rota-
tion and position of each wheel should be marked.
Example
FR (front right), FL, RR and RL.
Wheels must always be fitted in accordance with
their marking.
The perception that tire durability and perfor-
mance are not affected by storage and age is
unfounded.
Chemical additives, which make the rubber elas-
tic, lose their effectiveness over the course of
time and the rubber becomes brittle and cracks.
Therefore, the tires, especially the spare tire,
should be inspected from time to time.Note
Under no circumstances should tires older than
6 years be used on your Porsche.
The age of the tire can be obtained from the “DOT“
code number. If, for example, the last three num-
bers read 1204, then the tire was produced in the
12th week of 2004.
fStore tires in a cool and dry place.
fRotate periodically to avoid flat spots.
Snow tiresThe installation of Porsche approved winter tires is
recommended.
Use Porsche approved winter tires for grip on
snow and ice. For optimum performance, stud-
ding can be considered.
Check with your local Motor Vehicle Bureau for
possible restrictions.
Danger!
Risk of loss of control and damage to the
vehicle as well as serious personal injury or
death.
The standard tires profile and rubber mixture
are optimized for wet and dry driving condi-
tions, and may not prove favorable for snow
conditions.
fInstall winter tires before driving in such condi-tions.
Before mounting winter tires, consult with your
Porsche dealer. He has the technical information
necessary to advise you on wheel and tire compat-
ibility.
S n o w t i re s s h o u l d h a v e t h e s a m e l o a d c a p a c i t y a s
original equipment tires and should be mounted on
all four wheels.
Winter tires with studs should be run at moderate
speeds when new in order to give the studs time
to settle.
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287
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death.
Driving the vehicle with low tire pressure
increases increases risk of a tire failure and
resulting loss of control. Furthermore, low
tire pressure increases rate of wear of the
affected tires and cause damage.
Tires with badly worn treads and studs are
very dangerous and could cause accidents
resulting in serious personal injuries or
death.
fMake sure they are replaced immediately.
fDo not exceed the winter tire speed rating.
Snow tires do not have the same degree of trac-
tion on dry, wet or snowfree roads as normal tires.
Furthermore, snow tires wear rapidly under these
conditions.
Winter tires do not fulfill their purpose if the tread
depth is less than 5/32 in. (4 mm).
Comply with all state and local laws govern-
ing snow tire and tread depth requirements.
Danger!
Risk of accident and serious personal injury
or death due to excessive speed.
fAlways check the maximum speed rating on
the tire sidewall on any tire on the vehicle.
fNever exceed the maximum speed rating of the tires.
Wheel change
fWhen wheels are removed, mark the direction
of rotation and position of each wheel.
Example: FR (front right), FL, RR and RL.
fAlways fit the wheels in accordance with the
markings.
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Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
B-Button for unlocking the spare wheel bracketOpening spare wheel bracket
Warning!
Danger of injury and risk of accident if the
spare wheel bracket is operated improperly.
fMake sure that no persons or animals are
within the range of movement of the spare
wheel bracket. Operate the spare wheel
bracket only using button B.
fIf the vehicle is inclined to the side, the addi-
tional lock C on the spare wheel bracket must be operated.Precondition
The central locking system must be unlocked.
fPress button B and swing the spare wheel
bracket open.
Notes on operation
– If the opening angle exceeds 30°, the spare
wheel bracket automatically moves to final
position.
The rear lid can be opened only when the spare
wheel bracket is in final position.
– If the opening angle is less than 30°, the
spare wheel bracket automatically moves back
to its initial position.
However, the spare wheel bracket is not
completely engaged yet and must be closed
by hand.
C- Additional lock Operating the additional lock of the spare
wheel bracket if the vehicle is tilted to the
side1. Open spare wheel bracket.
2. Slide additional lock C to the left.
The spare wheel bracket is mechanically
locked.
The warning light “rear lid” and a message on
the multi-purpose display of the instrument
panel warn the driver that the spare wheel
bracket is open.