Page 290 of 387

290
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 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.
Page 293 of 387

Practical Tips, Minor Repairs
293
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.
Page 387 of 387

Index
387
Voltmeter
Battery/generator warning ..................... 89WWarning triangle.......................................... 191
Warnings ...................................................... 98
Washer fluid
Level.................................................. 259
Topping up ......................................... 259
Washer system, windscreen
wipers............................................... 136
, 137
Washing ..................................................... 274
Water crossing ........................................... 240
Weights...................................................... 372
Wheel alignment ......................................... 293
Wheel bolts ................................................ 301
Removing .................................. 310, 319
Wheel change ............................................. 295
Wheels .............................................. 279, 285
Adjusting ............................................ 293
Change ..................................... 303, 310
Storing ............................................... 294
Tracks ............................................... 368
Wheel balancing ......................... 235, 293
Windows .................................................... 277
Windscreen wipers
Front .................................................. 136
Rear................................................... 137
Windshield ................................ 145
, 151
, 259
Windshield wiper/washer stalk ..................... 135
Windshield wipers .............................. 199, 262
Blades ............................................... 277
Switch................................................ 135
WinterDriving ...............................................333
Tires ..................................................368
Wiper blades .....................................262
, 277
Changing ...................................262, 264
Working on your vehicle ...............................250