purification systems and cleaner fuels are bringing us closer to our goal.
After Volvo cars and parts have fulfilled their use, recycling is the next critical step in completing the life cycle. The
metal content is about 75% of the total weight of a car, which makes the car among the most recycled industrial
products. In order to have efficient and well controlled recycling, many Volvo variants have printed dismantling
manuals, indicating the weight and material of individual components. For Volvo, all homogeneous plastic parts
weighing more than 1.7 oz. (50 grams) are marked with international symbols that indicate how the component is to be
sorted for recycling.
In addition to continuous environmental refinement of conventional gasoline-powered internal combustion engines,
Volvo is actively looking at advanced technology alternative-fuel vehicles. When you drive a Volvo, you become our
partner in the work to lessen the car's impact on the environment.
To reduce your vehicle's environmental impact, you can:
Maintain proper air pressure in your tires. Tests have shown decreased fuel economy with improperly inflated tires
Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your Warranty and Service Records Information booklet.
Drive at a constant speed
See an authorized Volvo retailer as soon as possible for inspection if the check engine (malfunction indicator) lamp
illuminates, or stays on after the vehicle has started
Properly dispose of any vehicle related waste such as used motor oil, used batteries, brake pads, etc.
When cleaning your car, use Volvo's own car care products, all of which have systematically been adapted to the
environment
PremAir®
On the surface of the radiator in the engine compartment, there is a special coating called PremAir®. PremAir® works
as a catalytic converter, converting most of the ozone passing through the radiator into oxygen, thereby reducing
harmful ground-level ozone. PremAir is a registered trademark of Engelhard Corporation.
Top of Page
ProCarManuals.com
WARNING!
If your vehicle has been subjected to flood conditions (e.g. soaked carpeting/standing water on the floor of the
vehicle) or if your vehicle has become flood-damaged in any way, do not attempt to start the vehicle or put the key
in the ignition before disconnecting the battery (see below). This may cause airbag deployment which could result in
personal injury. Have the vehicle towed to a trained and qualified Volvo service technician for repairs.
Automatic transmission:
Before attempting to tow the vehicle, use the following procedure to override the shiftlock system to move the gear
selector to the neutral position:
Switch off the ignition for at least 10 minutes and disconnect the battery
Wait at least one minute.
Insert the key in the ignition and turn it to position II.
Press firmly on the brake pedal.
Move the gear selector from (P)ark to the (N)eutral position.
pg. 6 Front airbags
The front airbag system
The front airbags supplement the three-point seat belts. For these airbags to provide the protection intended, seat belts
must be worn at all times.
The front airbag system includes gas generators (1) surrounded by the airbags (2) and a deceleration sensor (3) that
activates the gas generators, causing the airbags to be inflated with nitrogen gas.
As the movement of the seats' occupants compresses the airbags, some of the gas is expelled at a controlled rate to
provide better cushioning. Both seat belt tensioners also deploy, minimizing seat belt slack. The entire process,
including inflation and deflation of the airbags, takes approximately one fifth of a second.
Passenger's side airbag - above glove compartment
The location of the front airbags is indicated by "SRS AIRBAG" embossed on the steering wheel pad and above the
glove compartment, and by decals on both sun visors and on the front and far right side of the dash.
ProCarManuals.com
Sport mode (R-models only)
R-models are equipped with a (S)port button that can be used to engage/disengage the Sport shifting mode. An
indicator light in the button will go on when Sport mode is engaged.
With Sport mode engaged, the transmission will shift up at higher rpm in first and second gears, and will also shift
down at higher rpm for more immediate engine response during acceleration and deceleration.
pg. 98 All Wheel Drive - option
All Wheel Drive (AWD) - general information
Your Volvo can be equipped with permanent All Wheel Drive, which means that power is distributed automatically
between the front and rear wheels. Under normal driving conditions, most of the engine's power is directed to the front
wheels. However, if there is any tendency for the front wheels to spin, an electronically controlled coupling distributes
power to the wheels that have the best traction.
Tire dimensions
Volvo recommends that you always drive on tires of the same brand, size, construction (radial), tread pattern, load-,
speed-, traction-, temperature-, and treadwear rating. Never drive on mixed tires, except for brief periods when the
temporary spare tire is in use.
Always use properly inflated tires of correct dimensions. Tire size and inflation pressures are shown on the tire
inflation pressure placards, located on the driver's side B-pillar (the structural member at the side of the vehicle, at the
rear of the driver's door opening), or on the inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian models.
Temporary Spare
The temporary spare tire is for temporary, low-speed, short-distance use only. Replace it with a full-sized tire as soon
as possible. Do not drive on the temporary spare at speeds above 50 m.p.h. (80km/h) or for distances greater than 50
miles (80 km).
Never install snow chains on a temporary spare.
pg. 99 Four -C active chassis system (option)
Four-C
The FOUR-C (Continuously Controlled Chassis Concept) active chassis system, consisting of Comfort and Sport
modes, is available as an option.
NOTE: The V70 R has a standard FOUR-C system consisting of Comfort, Sport, and Advanced sport modes. The
buttons for controlling these driving modes are located in center instrument panel, above the ventilation system panel
vents, see the illustration in the right column. These buttons can be pressed at any time to change driving modes. An
indicator light in the selected button will come on to indicate the driving mode that is currently selected.
ProCarManuals.com
If a fault should occur in the system, the LED in the button will be switched off and a message will be displayed in the
text window.
Cleaning the sensors
For the system to function properly, the sensors in the front and/or rear bumpers should be kept clean. They can be
cleaned with car washing detergent and a sponge.
WARNING!
These systems are designed to be a supplementary aid when parking the vehicle. They are not, however, intended to
replace the driver's attention and judgement.
pg. 101 Driving economy, Handling
Economical driving conserves natural resources
Better driving economy may be obtained by thinking ahead, avoiding rapid starts and stops and adjusting the speed of
your vehicle to immediate traffic conditions. Observe the following rules:
Bring the engine to normal operating temperature as soon as possible by driving with a light foot on the accelerator
pedal for the first few minutes of operation. A cold engine uses more fuel and is subject to increased wear.
Whenever possible, avoid using the car for driving short distances. This does not allow the engine to reach normal
operating temperature.
Drive carefully and avoid rapid acceleration and hard braking.
Do not exceed posted speed limits.
Avoid carrying unnecessary items (extra load) in the car.
Maintain correct tire pressure. Check tire pressure regularly (when tires are cold).
Remove snow tires when threat of snow or ice has ended.
Note that roof racks, ski racks, etc., increase air resistance and fuel consumption.
Avoid using automatic transmission kickdown feature unless necessary.
Avoid using the air conditioning when it is not required. When engaged, the A/C compressor places an additional
load on the engine. However, at higher driving speeds, fuel consumption will be lower with the air conditioning on and
the windows closed than with the air conditioning off and the windows open.
Using the onboard trip computer's fuel consumption modes can help you learn how to drive more economically.
Other factors that decrease gas mileage are:
Dirty air cleaner
Dirty engine oil and clogged oil filter
Dragging brakes
Incorrect front end alignment
Some of the above mentioned items and others are checked at the standard Maintenance Service intervals.
NOTE: Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions should use (D)rive as often as possible and avoid using
"kick -down" to help improve fuel economy. Vehicles equipped with manual transmissions should use fifth gear at
highway speeds. At other times, choose the highest gear that still allows smooth acceleration.
Handling, roadholding
Vehicle load, tire design and inflation pressure all affect vehicle handling. Therefore, check that the tires are inflated to
the recommended pressure according to the vehicle load. See "Tire pressure" section. Loads should be distributed so
that capacity weight or maximum permissible axle loads are not exceeded.
Speed-sensitive power steering
(Option on certain models)
ProCarManuals.com
2 0 0 6
VOLVO V70
Chapter 7 - Wheels and tires
pg.117 Wheels and tires
General information118
Tire inflation120
Tire inflation pressure tables122
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)123
Self supporting run flat tires125
Tire designations126
Glossary of tire terminology127
Vehicle loading128
Uniform Tire Quality Grading129
Snow chains, snow tires, studded tires130
Temporary spare131
Changing a wheel132
pg. 118 Wheels and tires
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the vehicle's tire information placard on the B-pillar (the structural
member at the side of the vehicle, at the rear of the driver's door opening), or on the inside of the fuel filler door on
Canadian models.
The tires have good road holding characteristics and offer good handling on dry and wet surfaces. It should be noted
however that the tires have been developed to give these features on snow/ice-free surfaces.
Certain models are equipped with "all-season" tires, which provide a somewhat higher degree of road holding on
slippery surfaces than tires without the "all-season" rating. However, for optimum road holding on icy or snow-
covered roads, we recommend suitable winter tires on all four wheels.
When replacing tires, be sure that the new tires are the same size designation, type (radial) and preferably from the
same manufacturer, on all four wheels. Otherwise there is a risk of altering the car's roadholding and handling
characteristics.
ProCarManuals.com
Tread wear indicator
Tread wear indicator
The tires have wear indicator strips running across or parallel to the tread. The letters TWI are printed on the side of
the tire. When approximately 1/16" (1.6 mm) is left on the tread, these strips become visible and indicate that the tire
should be replaced. Tires with less than 1/16" (1.6 mm) tread offer very poor traction.
When replacing worn tires, it is recommended that the tire be identical in type (radial) and size as the one being
replaced. Using a tire of the same make (manufacturer) will prevent alteration of the driving characteristics of the
vehicle.
New tires
Remember that tires are perishable goods. As of 2000, the manufacturing week and year will be indicated with 4 digits
(e.g. 1502 means that the tire illustrated was manufactured during week 15 of 2002).
Storing wheels and tires
When storing complete wheels (tires mounted on rims), they should be suspended off the floor or placed on their sides
on the floor. Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on their sides or standing upright, but should not be
suspended.
CAUTION!
Tires should preferably be stored in a cool, dry, dark place, and should never be stored in close proximity to solvents,
gasoline, oils, etc.
WARNING!
The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo are specified to meet stringent stability and handling requirements.
Unapproved wheel/tire size combinations can negatively affect your vehicle's stability and handling. Approved tire
sizes are shown in the Tire inflation pressure tables on page 122
.
Any damage caused by installation of unapproved wheel/tire size combinations 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. 119 Wheels and tires
Tire age
ProCarManuals.com
Tires degrade over time, even when they are not being used, which can affect their reliability and roadholding
characteristics. Therefore, all tires older than 6 years (including the spare tire and winter tires) should be inspected by a
qualified technician, regardless of appearance or mileage. Heat caused by hot climates or frequent high loading
conditions can accelerate the aging process.
A tire's age can be determined by the DOT stamp on the sidewall (see the illustration above).
A tire with e.g., visible cracks or discoloration should be replaced immediately.
Improving tire economy:
• Maintain correct tire pressure. See the tire pressure table on page 122
.
• Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire screeching.
• Tire wear increases with speed.
• Correct front wheel alignment is very important.
• Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and driving comfort.
• Tires must maintain the same direction of rotation throughout their lifetime.
• 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 damage the tires and/or wheels permanently.
pg. 120 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation
Check tire inflation pressure regularly.
A table listing the recommended inflation pressure for your vehicle can be found on page 122
. 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 of the
driver's door opening), or on the inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian models. These placards indicate the
designation of the factory-mounted tires on your vehicle, as well as load limits and inflation pressure.
ProCarManuals.com
Tire inflation placard on Canadian models, 1. XC70, 2. V70
NOTE: The placards shown indicate inflation pressure for the tires installed on the car at the factory only.
• Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare, at least once a month and before long trips.
You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as automatic service station gauges may be inaccurate.
• Use the recommended cold inflation pressure for optimum tire performance and wear.
• Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause uneven treadwear patterns.
When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also change. A 10-degree temperature drop causes a
corresponding drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. 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 at least 3 hours.
pg. 121 Wheels and tires
After driving a distance of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km), the tires are considered to be hot. If you have to drive
farther than this distance to pump your tire(s), check and record 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 cold pressures. A hot tire at or below recommended cold
inflation pressure could be significantly under-inflated.
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 objects 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:
• If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve. Then recheck the pressure
ProCarManuals.com