2006 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA traction control

16
Controls, Instruments
Break in hints for the first
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers The following tips will be helpful in obtaining opti-
mum performance from your new Porsche.
Despite the most modern, high-precision manufac-
turing methods, it cannot be completely avoided
that the moving parts have to wear in with each
other. This wearing-in occurs mainly in the first
2,000 miles/3,000 km. Therefore: fPreferably take longer trips.
fAvoid frequent cold starts with short-distance
driving whenever possible.
fAvoid full throttle starts and abrupt stops.
fDo not exceed maximum engine speed of
4,200 rpm (revolutions per minute).
fDo not run a cold engine at high rpm either in
Neutral or in gear.
fDo not let the engine labor, especially when
driving uphill. Shift to the next lower gear in
time (use the most favorable rpm range).
fNever lug the engine in high gear at low
speeds. This rule applies at all times, not just
during the break-in period.fDo not participate in motor racing events,
sports driving schools, etc. during the first
2,000 miles/3,000 kilometers.
There may be a slight stiffness in the steering,
gear-shifting or other controls during the break-in
period which will gradually disappear.
Break in brake pads and brake discsNew brake pads and discs have to be “broken in”,
and therefore only attain optimal friction when the
car has covered several hundred miles or km.
The slightly reduced braking ability must be com-
pensated for by pressing the brake pedal harder.
This also applies whenever the brake pads and
brake discs are replaced. New tires New tires do not have maximum traction. They
tend to be slippery.
fBreak in new tires by driving at moderate
speeds during the first 60 to 120 miles/100 to
200 km. Longer braking distances must be an-
ticipated.
Engine oil and fuel consumption During the break-in period oil and fuel consump-
tion may be higher than normal.
As always, the rate of oil consumption depends on
the quality and viscosity of oil, the speed at which
the engine is operated, the climate and road con-
ditions, as well as the amount of dilution and oxi-
dation of the lubricant.
fMake a habit of checking engine oil with every
fuel filling, add if necessary.

Controls, Instruments
61
Four-Wheel Drive With the four-wheel drive of the 911 Carrera 4 and
911 Carrera 4S, the engine power is variably dis-
tributed to the front and rear wheels.
Power distribution and wheel speed compensation
between the front and rear axles is realised with a
viscous multiple-disc clutch.
Distribution of the engine power is dependent
upon the wheel speed difference between the two
axles.
The viscous multiple-disc clutch always delivers
sufficient drive power to the front wheels (approx.
5% to 40%) to ensure optimum traction even on a
poor road surface.
In combination with the Porsche Stability Manage-
ment (PSM), four-wheel drive improves handling
and increases driving stability.
Warning!
The increased control that is provided should
not induce you to take greater risks with your
safety. The limits dictated by the laws of phy-
sics cannot be overcome, even with four-
wheel drive.
The risk of accidents due to inappropriate
speed cannot be reduced, even by four-
wheel drive.
The driver bears the responsibility for all dri-
ving maneuvers.
fAdapt your driving style to the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
fObey all traffic laws.
Dynamometer testing procedure Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces con-
duct emissions inspection/maintenance testing in-
volving the use of two-wheel dynamometer.
A two-wheeled dynamometer is a treadmill type
device upon which a single axle of the car, the dri-
ving axle of the vehicle, rotates to simulate vehicle
operation on the road while the vehicle remains
stationary.
Your 911 Carrera 4 or 911 Carrera 4S has a full-
time four-wheel drive system which cannot be
disabled. Severe damage to the powertrain can
result if tested on a two-wheel dynamometer.
Warning!
To avoid severe powertrain damage and a
possible unexpected movement of the vehic-
le.
fYour 911 Carrera 4 or 911 Carrera 4S vehicle
must never be tested on a two-wheel dynamo-
meter.
fAdvise the emission station of this warning be-fore testing the vehicle.
Power measurement
Power measurements on dynamometers are not
approved by Porsche.

Controls, Instruments
63
Retractable Rear SpoilerThe rear spoiler improves driving stability,
especially at higher speeds.
Warning!
Risk of accident. If the rear spoiler cannot be
extended, driving stability will be adversely
affected by increased rear axle lift, which
could lead to loss of control.
fAdapt your driving style and speed to the
changed driving behaviour.
fHave the fault remedied at an authorized
Porsche dealer.
Risk of injury during manual retraction or
extension of the rear spoiler with the vehicle
stationary.
fMake sure that no persons or objects are
within the range of movement of the rear
spoiler.
Risk of damage from pushing the vehicle by
the spoiler.
fDo not push the vehicle at the spoiler.
Automatic modeThe limits for automatic extension and retraction
of the spoiler depend on various circumstances
(e.g. driving speed, engine compartment temper-
ature).
Engine compartment temperature
under 122°F/55°C
Spoiler extends at 75 mph/120 km/h and
retracts at 37 mph/60 km/h.
Engine compartment temperature
over 140°F/60°C
Spoiler extends at 50 mph/80 km/h and retracts
at 19 mph/30 km/h.
If automatic control fails, a warning message is
displayed by the on-board computer.

72
Controls, Instruments
Porsche Stability Management
(PSM)PSM is an active control system for stabilization of
the vehicle during extreme driving manoeuvres.
The most recent version of PSM (only on vehicles
with four-wheel drive) improves the brake system
functionality.
Warning!
The increased control that is provided should
not induce you to take greater risks with your
safety. The limits dictated by the laws of
physics cannot be overcome, even with PSM.
The risk of accidents due to inappropriate
speed cannot be reduced, even by PSM.
The driver bears the responsibility for all
driving maneuvers.
fAdapt your driving style to the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
fObey all traffic laws. Advantages of PSM – Superior traction and lane-holding ability in all
driving situations – even on road surfaces with
varying friction.
– PSM actively stabilizes the vehicle during dy-
namic driving maneuvers (e.g. rapid steering
movements, during lane changes or on alter-
nating curves). – Improved braking stability in curves and on dif-
ferent or varying road surfaces.
– It improves the braking functions and shortens
the stopping distance if emergency braking is
needed (only vehicles with four-wheel drive).
Readiness for operationPSM is switched on automatically every time you
start the engine.FunctionSensors at the wheels, brakes, steering system
and engine continuously measure:
– Speed
– Steering angle
– Lateral acceleration
– Rate of turn about the vertical axis
– Brake pressure
PSM uses these values to determine the direction
of travel desired by the driver.
PSM intervenes and corrects the course if the
actual direction of motion deviates from the
desired course (steering-wheel position):
It brakes individual wheels as needed. In addition,
the engine power may be manipulated in order to
stabilize the vehicle.The events below inform the driver of PSM control
operations and warn him to adapt his driving style
to the road conditions:
– The multi-functional information light on the
instrument panel lights up.
– Hydraulic noises can be heard.
– The vehicle decelerates and steering-wheel
forces are altered as the PSM controls the
brakes.
– Reduced engine power.
– The brake pedal pulsates and its position is
changed during braking.
In order to achieve full vehicle deceleration,
foot pressure must be increased after begin-
ning of the brake pedal pulsing.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
231
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 perform-
ance.
Warning!
The traction grade assigned to this is based on
braking (straight-ahead) traction tests and does
not include cornering (turned) traction, accelera-
tion, hydroplaning or peak traction characteris-
tics. 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 perform-
ance which all passenger car tires must meet un-
der the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.
109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of per-
formance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning!
The temperature grade for this tire is established
for a tire that is properly inflated and not overload-
ed.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.

234
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
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
control or stopping ability.
fReduce speed on wet surface to prevent this. Tire life Tire life depends on various factors, i. e., road
surfaces, traffic and weather conditions, driving
habits, 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 wear The 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 sports cars 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.
If you notice that tires are wearing unevenly, con-
sult 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
regularly, abnormal tire wear can also occur.

238
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Snow tires For a better grip on snow and ice, use radial M+S
tires with studs.
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.
fTherefore install M+S tires before driving in such conditions.
Before mounting snow tires, consult with
your Porsche dealer. He has the technical
information necessary to advise you on
wheel and tire compatibility.
Snow tires should have the same load capacity as
original equipment tires and should be mounted on
all four wheels.
Snow tires with studs should be run at moderate
speeds when new in order to give the studs time
to settle.
Danger!
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 drive a vehicle equipped with snow tires
at prolonged high speed.
Snow tires do not have the same degree of
traction on dry, wet or snowfree roads as a
normal tire.
Furthermore, snow tires wear rapidly under
these conditions. Comply with all state and local laws
governing snow tire and tread depth require-
ments.
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.
fFit winter tires to both axles well before the
cold season begins.
Your authorized Porsche dealer will be pleased
to advise you.
Maintenance note
We recommend fitting winter tires on the vehicle at
temperatures below 45°F (7°C ).
Winter tires lose their traction capability when their
tread depth falls below 5/32 in. (4 mm).