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Example of a tire pressure plate ATire Pressure plateDepending on when your vehicle was manufac-
tured, the tire pressure plate on the driver's door
will contain different data.
Information on the tire pressure plate A
A Seating capacity
Maximum number of vehicle occupants, includ-
ing the driver.B Vehicle load limit
Is the maximum total weight limit specified of
the load (passengers and cargo) for the vehi-
cle. This is the maximum weight of passengers
and cargo that can be loaded into the vehicle.
If a trailer is being towed, the trailer tongue
weight must be included as part of the cargo
load. Please observe the chapter “LOADING
INFORMATION” on Page 207.
C Original tire size
Size of tires mounted at the factory.
D Recommended cold tire inflation pressure
These values are for cold tires (68°F/20 °C).
E Approved tire sizes
F Size and tire pressure for the collapsible spare
wheel
Example of a tire pressure plate BInformation on the tire pressure plate B
A Approved tire size
B Permissible tire pressure for the front axle
C Tire pressure for fully loaded or partially
loaded vehicle
D Permissible tire pressure for the rear axle
E Size and tire pressure for the collapsible spare
wheel
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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 de-
flation 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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Tire carefAvoid damaging tires and wheel rims.
fIf you must drive over a curb or other obstacle,
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle.
fCheck tires for uneven wear and damage be-
fore driving off.
fRemove imbedded material.
fReplace worn or damaged tires immediately.
fKeep oil, fuel, brake fluid, etc. away from tires.
fReplace missing valve stem caps.
fKeep tires inflated correctly.
fWash tires when washing the vehicle. Also
clean inner side of wheels.
fDo not use abrasive cleaners when washing
the wheels.
fCheck wheel rims for corrosion.
fRemove road salt, if driving in winter.
Tire damage, puncturefPlease observe the chapter “HIGH-PRESSURE
CLEANING UNITS” on Page 274.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death. Driv-
ing the vehicle with low tire pressure increas-
es risk of a tire failure and resulting loss of
control. Furthermore, low tire pressure in-
creases rate of wear of the affected tires.
fCheck tires – including sidewalls – regularly for
foreign bodies, nicks, cuts, cracks and bulges.
fAfter driving off road, examine tires for signs
of damage such as cuts, tears, bulges or for-
eign objects stuck in the tread. Replace a dam-
aged tire if necessary.
fCross curb edges slowly and at right angles if
possible.
Avoid driving over steep or sharp curbs.
fIn cases of doubt, have the wheel (particularly
the inner side) checked by an authorized Por-sche dealer.In case of tire damage, where it is uncertain wheth-
er there is a break in the ply with all its conse-
quences or tire damage caused by thermal or me-
chanical overloading due to loss of pressure or
any other prior damage, we recommend that the
tire be replaced for safety reasons.
If one faulty tire is replaced it should be noted that
the difference in tread depth on one axle must not
exceed 30%. Handling inconsistencies may result.
fPerform a visual inspection if necessary.
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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).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.
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.
fProtect the valve inserts against soiling with
valve caps.
Soiled valve inserts can cause a gradual loss
of air.
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Parking at the curb
Warning!
Hard impacts against curbs (or traffic is-
lands) are dangerous and may cause hidden
tire damage which is not noticeable until lat-
er. 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.
Wheel alignment, wheel balancingAs a precaution, have wheels with summer tires
balanced in the spring, and those with mud and
snow tires before winter. Unbalanced wheels may
affect car handling and tire life.
Only the specified weights may be used for wheel
balancing.
Self-adhesive weights must not come into contact
with cleaning agents, since they could drop off.
Uneven tread wear indicates wheel imbalance. In
this event, the vehicle should be checked at an au-
thorized Porsche dealer.
Danger!
If, during a journey, uneven running or vibra-
tions occur that could be caused by damage
to tires or the car, the speed must be re-
duced immediately, but without braking
sharply. If you continue your trip without hav-
ing the cause of the fault remedied, you
might lose control of your vehicle which
could cause severe personal injury.
fStop the vehicle and check the tires.
fIf no cause for the fault can be found, drive
carefully to the nearest authorized Porsche dealer.
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Removing and storing tiresfAfter changing, adjust tire pressure and torque
wheel bolts diagonally.
Please observe the chapter “CHANGING
WHEELS” on Page 303.
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 perform-
ance are not affected by storage and age is un-
founded.
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 1202, then the tire was produced in the
12th week of 2002.
fStore tires in a cool and dry place.
fRotate periodically to avoid flat spots.
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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.
Snow tires should have the same load capacity as
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.
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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Snow chains
Warning!
Risk of damage to body, axle or brake com-
ponents.
fUse only the fine-link snow chains recommend-
ed and authorized by Porsche so that sufficient
clearance between the wheel well and the
chain is assured.
fFollow instructions issued by the supplier of the chains.
The best possible handling characteristics are
achieved when snow chains are fitted on all four
wheels of the vehicle. However, it is also possible
to fit snow chains on only one axle (preferably the
rear axle).
fRemove spacers if 18 inch tires, snow chains
or a collapsible spare wheel are mounted.
Caution!
Risk of damage to wheel housings if the
spacers on the rear axle are not removed be-
fore fitting the snow chains.
f17 mm spacers must always be removed from the rear axle when snow chains are to be fitted.
fFor information on the spacers:
Please observe the chapter “SPACERS” on
Page 302.
For information about removing the spacers:
Please observe the chapter “CHANGING A
WHEEL WITH REMOVAL OF 17 MM SPACER”
on Page 311.
Different states and countries have varying statu-
tory requirements regarding maximum speed.
fCheck with local authorities for possible re-
strictions.
fRemove chains as soon as the roads are free
of ice and snow.