2005 VOLVO XC90
Improving tire economy:
l Maintain correct tire pressure. See the tire pressure table on page 115.
l Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire screeching.
l Tire wear increases with speed.
l Correct front wheel alignment is very important.
l Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and driving comfort.
l Tires must maintain the same direction of rotation throughout their life\
time.
l When replacing tires, the tires with the most tread should be mounted on\
the rear wheels to reduce the
chance of oversteer during hard braking. Hitting curbs or potholes can d\
amage the tires and/or wheels
permanently.
pg. 113 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation placards on U.S. models
Tire inflation
Check tire inflation pressure regularly. A table listing the recommended\
inflation pressure for your
vehicle can be found on
page 115. Tire inflation pressure placards are also located on the driver's side\
B-
pillar (the structural member at the side of the vehicle, at the rear o\
f the driver's door opening), or on the
inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian models. These placards indica\
te the designation of the factory-
mounted tires on your vehicle, as well as load limits and inflation pres\
sure.
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2005 VOLVO XC90
Tire inflation placard on Canadian models
NOTE: The placards shown indicate inflation pressure for the tires installed \
on the car at the factory
only.
l Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spa\
re, at least once a month and
before long trips. You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire pressur\
e gauge, as automatic service
station gauges may be inaccurate.
l Use the recommended cold inflation pressure for optimum tire performance\
and wear.
l Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause uneven treadwear patterns.
WARNING!
- Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failure and may resul\
t in severe tire cracking, tread
separation, or "blowout," with unexpected loss of vehicle control and in\
creased risk of injury.
- Under-inflated tires reduce the load carrying capacity of your vehicle\
.
When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also ch\
ange. A 10-degree temperature
drop causes a corresponding drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressur\
e. Check your tire pressures
frequently and adjust them to the proper pressure, which can be found on\
the vehicle's tire information
placard or certification label.
Checking tire pressure
Cold tires
Inflation pressure should be checked when the tires are cold.
The tires are considered to be cold when they have the same temperature \
as the surrounding
(ambient) air.
This temperature is normally reached after the car has been parked for a\
t least 3 hours.
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2005 VOLVO XC90
pg. 114 Wheels and tires
After driving a distance of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km), the tires a\
re considered to be hot. If you have
to drive farther than this distance to pump your tire(s), check and re\
cord the tire pressure first and add
the appropriate air pressure when you get to the pump.
If checking tire pressure when the tire is hot, never "bleed" or reduce \
air pressure. The tires are hot from
driving and it is normal for pressures to increase above recommended col\
d pressures. A hot tire at or
below recommended cold inflation pressure could be significantly under-i\
nflated.
To check inflation pressure:
1. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire, then firmly press the tire\
gauge onto the valve.
2. Add air to reach the recommended air pressure
3. Replace the valve cap.
4. Repeat this procedure for each tire, including the spare.
5. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there are no nails or other o\
bjects embedded that could
puncture the tire and cause an air leak.
6. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or\
other irregularities.
NOTE:
l If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in th\
e center of the valve. Then
recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
l Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure than the other tires.\
Consult the tire inflation table
on
page 115 or see the inflation pressure placard.
pg. 115 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure table
Tire pressures recommended by Volvo for your vehicle. Refer to the tire \
inflation placard for
information specific to the tires installed on your vehicle at the facto\
ry. Cold tire pressure for vehicle loads up to 1160 lbs (525 kg)a
Tire size Front, psi (kPa) Rear, psi (kPa)
XC90
225/70R16
235/65R17
235/60R18 39 (270)
39 (270)
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2005 VOLVO XC90
Temporary spare tire
T155/85R18 61 (420)
61 (420)
a. These weights include the weight of all occupants of the car plus car\
go.
WARNING!
- Never install wheel/tire combinations larger than 18" on your Volvo XC\
90. Doing so will adversely
affect your vehicle's handling and stability, and safety system performa\
nce.
- Any damage caused by installation of unapproved wheel/tire size combin\
ations will not be covered
by your new vehicle warranty. Volvo assumes no responsibility for death,\
injury, or expenses that
may result from such installations.
pg. 116 Wheels and tires
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - option on certain U.S. models\
only
The tire pressure monitoring system uses sensors mounted in the tire val\
ves to check inflation pressure
levels. When the vehicle is moving at a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) or f\
aster, these sensors transmit
inflation pressure data to a receiver located in the vehicle.
USA - FCC ID: MRXTG315AM04 This device complies with part 15 of the FCC \
rules. Operation is
subject to the following conditions: (1) This device may not cause har\
mful interference, and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including interference tha\
t may cause undesired operation.
When low inflation pressure is detected, TPMS will light up the tire pre\
ssure warning light ( ) in the
instrument panel, and will display a message in the text window. The wor\
ding of this message is
determined by the degree of inflation pressure loss.
When the tire pressure monitoring system warning light is on, one or mor\
e of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. You should stop and check your tires as soon as possible\
, and inflate them to the proper
pressure as indicated on the vehicle's tire information placard.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overhe\
at and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and ma\
y affect the vehicle's handling and
stopping ability. Each tire, including the spare, should be checked mont\
hly when cold and set to the
recommended inflation pressure as specified in the vehicle placard and o\
wner's manual.
NOTE: TPMS indicates low tire pressure but does not replace normal tire maint\
enance. For information
on correct tire pressure, please refer to the table on
page 115, or consult your Volvo retailer.
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2005 VOLVO XC90
Erasing warning messages
When a low tire pressure warning message has been displayed, and the tir\
e pressure warning light has
come on:
1. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the inflation pressure of all four\
tires.
2. Re-inflate the tire(s) to the correct pressure (consult the tire p\
ressure placard or the table on
page 115).
3. Drive the car for at least one minute at a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h)\
or faster. This will erase the
warning text and the warning light will go out.
WARNING!
Incorrect inflation pressure could lead to tire failure, resulting in a \
loss of control of the
vehicle.
Changing tires
Please note the following when changing or replacing the factory install\
ed TPMS wheels/tires on the
vehicle:
Only the factory-mounted wheels are equipped with TPMS sensors in the va\
lves.
If the vehicle is equipped with a temporary spare tire, this tire does n\
ot have a TPMS sensor.
If, for example, winter wheels/tires are used that are not equipped with\
TPMS sensors, the message
TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM SERVICE REQUIRED will be displayed after the car ha\
s been driven for
several minutes at approximately 35 mph (50 km/h) or faster.
This message will remain on until wheels with TPMS sensors are mounted o\
n the vehicle and it has been
driven for at least one minute at a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h) or faste\
r.
pg. 117 Wheels and tires
TPMS valves can be fitted on winter wheels or full-size spare wheels/tir\
es. Consult your Volvo retailer.
CAUTION:
When inflating tires with TPMS valves, press the pump's mouthpiece strai\
ght onto the valve to help
avoid bending or otherwise damaging the valve.
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2005 VOLVO XC90
pg. 118 Wheels and tires
Federal law mandates that tire manufacturers place standardized informat\
ion on the sidewall of all tires
(see the illustration).
The following information is listed on the tire sidewall:
The tire designation (the following figures are examples of a tire desi\
gnation):
1. 215: the width of the tire (in millimeters) from sidewall edge to s\
idewall edge. The larger the number,
the wider the tire.
2. 65: The ratio of the tire's height to its width.
3. R: Radial tire.
4. 15: The diameter of the wheel rim (in inches).
5. 95: The tire's load index. In this example, a load index of 95 equals\
a maximum load of 1521 lbs (690
kg).
6. H: The tire's speed rating, or the maximum speed at which the tire is\
designed to be driven for
extended periods of time, carrying a permissible load for the vehicle, a\
nd with correct inflation pressure.
For example, H indicates a speed rating of 130 mph (210 km/h).
NOTE: This information may not appear on the tire because it is not required b\
y law.
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2005 VOLVO XC90
7. M+S or M/S = Mud and Snow, AT = All Terrain, AS = All Season
8. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN): This begins with the let\
ters "DOT" and indicates that the
tire meets all federal standards. The next two numbers or letters are th\
e plant code where it was
manufactured, the next two are the tire size code and the last four numb\
ers represent the week and year
the tire was built. For example, the numbers 317 mean the 31st week of 1\
997. After 2000 the numbers
go to four digits. For example, 2501 means the 25th week of 2001. The nu\
mbers in between are
marketing codes used at the manufacturer's discretion. This information \
helps a tire manufacturer
identify a tire for safety recall purposes.
9. Tire Ply Composition and Material Used: Indicates the number of plies\
indicates or the number of
layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manu\
facturers also must indicate the
ply materials in the tire and the sidewall, which include steel, nylon, \
polyester, and others.
10. Maximum Load: Indicates the maximum load in pounds and kilograms tha\
t can be carried by the
tire. Refer to the vehicle's tire information placard or the safety cert\
ification label, located on the B-Pillar
or the driver's door or on the inside of the fuel filler door on Canadia\
n models, for the correct tire
pressure for your vehicle.
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature grades: See
page 121 for more information.
12. Maximum permissible inflation pressure: the greatest amount of air p\
ressure that should ever be put
in the tire. This limit is set by the tire manufacturer.
pg. 119 Wheels and tires
Glossary of tire terminology
The tire suppliers may have additional markings, notes or warnings such \
as standard load, radial
tubeless, etc.
Glossary of tire terminology
l Tire information placard: A placard showing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes, recommende\
d
inflation pressure, and the maximum weight the vehicle can carry.
l Tire Identification Number (TIN): A number on the sidewall of each tire providing information
about the tire brand and manufacturing plant, tire size and date of manu\
facturer.
l Inflation pressure: A measure of the amount of air in a tire.
l Standard load: A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a maximum load a\
t 35 psi [37
psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the inflation pressure bey\
ond this pressure will not increase the
tires load carrying capability.
l Extra load: A class of P-metric or Metric tires designed to carry a heavier maximu\
m load at 41 psi
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2005 VOLVO XC90
[43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric tires]. Increasing the inflation pressure\
beyond this pressure will not increase
the tires load carrying capability.
l kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure.
l PSI: Pounds per square inch, a standard unit of air pressure.
l B-pillar: The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the front door\
.
l Bead area of the tire: Area of the tire next to the rim.
l Sidewall of the tire: Area between the bead area and the tread.
l Tread area of the tire: Area of the perimeter of the tire that contacts the road when mounted \
on the
vehicle.
l Rim: The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upo\
n which the tire beads are
seated.
l Maximum load rating: a figure indicating the maximum load in pounds and kilograms that can \
be
carried by the tire. This rating is established by the tire manufacturer\
.
l Maximum permissible inflation pressure: the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be
put in the tire. This limit is set by the tire manufacturer.
l Recommended tire inflation pressure: inflation pressure, established by Volvo, which is based on
the type of tires that are mounted on a vehicle at the factory. This inf\
lation pressure is affected by the
number of occupants in the car, the amount of cargo, and the speed at wh\
ich the vehicle will be driven
for a prolonged period. This information can be found on the tire inflat\
ion placard(s) located on the
driver's side B-pillar or on the inside of the fuel filler door on Canad\
ian models, and in the tire inflation
table in this chapter.
l Cold tires: The tires are considered to be cold when they have the same temperatur\
e as the
surrounding (ambient) air. This temperature is normally reached after \
the car has been parked for at least
3 hours.
pg. 120 Wheels and tires
Vehicle loading
Properly loading your vehicle will provide maximum return of vehicle des\
ign performance. Before
loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following terms for \
determining your vehicle's weight
ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle's Federal/Canadian \
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
(FMVSS/CMVSS) label, and the vehicle's tire information placard:
Curb weight
The weight of the vehicle including a full tank of fuel and all standard\
equipment. It does not include
passengers, cargo, or optional equipment.
Capacity weight
All weight added to the curb weight, including cargo and optional equipm\
ent. When towing, trailer hitch
tongue load is also part of cargo weight.
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