2006 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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2006 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
The TPMS system uses a radio frequency of 315 MHz. Accessory electrical \
equipment using the
same frequency could interfere with TPMS and should not be installed in \
the vehicle. Please consult
your Volvo retailer, a qualified Volvo service technician, or the access\
ory equipment's supplier for
further information.
When low inflation pressure is detected, TPMS will light up the tire pre\
ssure warning light (
) (also
referred to as a telltale) in the instrument panel, and will display a \
message in the text window. The
wording of this message is determined by the degree of inflation pressur\
e loss.
NOTE: If a fault occurs in TPMS, the tire pressure warning light will flash fo\
r approximately 1 minute
and TIRE PRESS SYST SERVICE REQUIRED will be displayed.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should be checked monthl\
y when cold and inflated to the
inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicl\
e placard or tire inflation
pressure label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the\
size indicated on the vehicle placard
or tire inflation pressure label, you should consult the appropriate sec\
tion of this owner's manual to
determine the proper tire inflation pressure.) When the low tire pressu\
re telltale is illuminated, one or
more of your tires is significantly underinflated. You should stop and c\
heck your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a signific\
antly underinflated tire causes the
tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also redu\
ces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle's handling and stopping ability. Your v\
ehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction telltale to indicate when the system is not oper\
ating properly. When the
malfunction telltale is illuminated, the system may not be able to detec\
t or signal low tire pressure as
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, includin\
g the installation of
incompatible replacement tires on the vehicle. Always check the TPMS mal\
function telltale after
replacing one or more tires on your vehicle to ensure that the replaceme\
nt tires are compatible with the
TPMS.
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 116, or consult your Volvo retailer.
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 116).
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.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
(contd. on following page)
pg. 118 Wheels and tires
Changing tires
Please note the following when changing or replacing the factory install\
ed TPMS wheels/tires on the
vehicle:
l Only the factory-mounted wheels are equipped with TPMS sensors in the va\
lves.
l If the vehicle is equipped with a temporary spare tire, this tire does n\
ot have a TPMS sensor.
l If winter wheels without TPMS sensors are mounted on the vehicle, TIRE P\
RESS SYST SERVICE
REQUIRED will be displayed each time the vehicle is driven above 25 mph \
(40 km/h) for 10 minutes or
more.
l Once TPMS sensors are properly installed, the warning message should not\
reappear.
l Volvo recommends that TPMS sensors be fitted on all wheels used on the v\
ehicle. Volvo does not
recommend moving sensors back and forth between sets of wheels.
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.
WARNING!
Incorrect inflation pressure could lead to tire failure, resulting in a \
loss of control of the
vehicle.
pg. 119 Wheels and tires
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2006 VOLVO XC90
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 122 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. 120 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
[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.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
The maximum allowable weight that can be carried by a single axle (fron\
t or rear). These numbers are
shown on the Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS/CMV\
SS) label. The total load
on each axle must never exceed its maximum permissible weight.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW)
The vehicle's curb weight + cargo + passengers.
NOTE:
l The location of the various labels in your vehicle can be found on page 172.
l A table listing important weight limits for your vehicle can be found on\
page 173.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
(1) Locate the statement "the combined weight of occupants and cargo s\
hould never exceed XXX
pounds" on your vehicle's placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that wi\
ll be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX\
kilograms or XXX pounds.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and lugg\
age load capacity. For example, if
the "XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passeng\
ers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 \
x 150) = 650 lbs.)
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on\
the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculat\
ed in Step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer w\
ill be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual
1 to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capa\
city of
your vehicle.
WARNING!
- Exceeding the permissible axle weight, gross vehicle weight, or any ot\
her weight rating limits can
cause tire overheating resulting in permanent deformation or catastrophi\
c failure.
- Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than \
the tires that were original
equipment on the vehicle because this will lower the vehicle's GVW ratin\
g. Replacement tires with a
higher limit than the originals do not increase the vehicle's GVW rating\
limitations.
1. See "Towing a trailer" on
page 104
pg. 122 Wheels and tires
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2006 VOLVO XC90
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
ALL PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES MUST CONFORM TO FEDERAL SAFETY
REQUIREMENTS IN ADDITION TO THESE GRADES
Quality grades can be found, where applicable, on the tire sidewall betw\
een the tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEAR
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of th\
e tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example\
, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one half (1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a t\
ire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, ho\
wever, and many depart
significantly from the norm due to variation in driving habits, maintena\
nce practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
TRACTION
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are AA, A, B, and C, as mea\
sured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete\
. A tire marked C may have
poor traction performance.
WARNING!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-\
ahead) traction tests and is not a
measure of cornering (turning) traction.
TEMPERATURE
The temperature grades are AA (the highest), A, B, and C, representing\
the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under c\
ontrolled conditions on specified
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the m\
aterial of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire \
failure. The grade C corresponds
to minimum level of performance that all passenger vehicle tires must me\
et under the Federal Motor
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher levels of perfo\
rmance 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 pr\
operly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive loading, either separatel\
y or in combination, can cause
heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
- Studded tires should be run-in 300-600 miles (500-1000 km) during wh\
ich the car should be driven as
smoothly as possible to give the studs the opportunity to seat properly \
in the tires. The tires should have
the same rotational direction throughout their entire lifetime.
NOTE: Please consult state or provincial regulations restricting the use of st\
udded winter tires before
installing such tires.
1. Where permitted
pg. 124 Wheels and tires
Temporary Spare
The spare tire in your car is called a "Temporary Spare".
Recommended tire pressure (see the placard on the B-pillar or on the fu\
el filler door) should be
maintained irrespective of which position on the car the temporary spare\
tire is used on. In the event of
damage to this tire, a new one can be purchased from your Volvo retailer\
.
WARNING!
! Current legislation prohibits the use of the "Temporary Spare" tire ot\
her than as a temporary
replacement for a punctured tire. It must be replaced as soon as possibl\
e by a standard tire. Road
holding and handling may be affected with the "Temporary Spare" in use. \
Do not exceed 50 mph (80
km/h). Do not drive farther than 50 miles (80 km) on a temporary spar\
e tire.
CAUTION:
The car must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions or with a\
spare tire other than the one
that came with the car. The use of different size wheels can seriously d\
amage your car's transmission.
pg. 125 Wheels and tires
Changing wheels
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2006 VOLVO XC90
NOTE: The rear section of the crank is enclosed in a protective sleeve that sh\
ould be slid off before the
crank is used. We recommend reinserting the crank into this sleeve befor\
e the crank is stowed.
If the vehicle is equipped with the optional grocery bag holder: Fold up\
the rear section of the cargo area
floor, disconnect the grocery bag holder's retaining cords and fold up t\
he lower section of the floor.
CAUTION: Seven-seat models: Do not store objects in the area for the rear seat c\
ushions (when the
backrests are to be folded down). This could damage the cushions.
1. This applies to models not equipped with the tire sealing system (se\
e page 130 for information).
pg. 126 Wheels and tires
Changing wheels (contd)
Changing wheels - lowering the spare wheel
The spare wheel is located under the floor of the rear cargo compartment\
. It can be lowered using the
crank (see previous page for location).
WARNING!
When raising or lowering the spare wheel, please keep in mind that compo\
nents in the exhaust system
may be very hot.
Lowering the spare wheel:
1. Fold down the lower section of the tailgate.
2. Fold up the rear section of the floor in the cargo compartment.
3. Connect the two sections of the jack's crank.
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