2006 VOLVO XC90 tires

2006 VOLVO XC90
are used more often. Moreover, the capacity of the battery decreases as \
the temperature drops. In very
cold weather, a poorly charged battery can freeze and be damaged. It is \
therefore advisable to check the
state of charge more frequently and spray an antirust oil on the battery\
posts.
l Volvo recommends the use of snow tires on all four wheels for winter driving - see section "Wheels
and tires."
l To prevent the washer fluid reservoir from freezing, add washer solvents containing antifreeze (see
page 147 for the location of the washer fluid reservoir).
This is important since dirt is often splashed on the windshield during \
winter driving, requiring the
frequent use of the washers and wipers. Volvo Washer Solvent should be d\
iluted as follows:
Down to 14° F (-10° C): 1 part washer solvent and 4 parts water \
Down to 5° F (-15° C): 1 part washer solvent and 3 parts water
Down to 0° F (-18° C): 1 part washer solvent and 2 parts water
Down to -18° F (-28° C): 1 part washer solvent and 1 part water \
l Use Volvo Teflon Lock Spray in the locks.
NOTE: Avoid the use of de-icing sprays as they can cause damage to the locks.
W Winter/Wet driving mode-enhanced vehicle traction
l Mode W will only function if the gear selector is in the (D)rive position.
l Press the button at the base of the gear selector to engage/disengage th\
is driving mode.
l An LED in the button will light up to indicate that W is engaged and thi\
s will also be displayed in the
instrument panel (see
page 22).
l This mode may be selected for starting/moving off on slippery roads.
* Synthetic oil is not used when the oil is changed at the normal mainte\
nance intervals except at owner request and at additional
charge. Please consult your Volvo retailer.

pg. 109 Starting and driving
Before a long distance trip
It is always worthwhile to have your vehicle checked at a Volvo retailer\
before driving long distances.
Your retailer will also be able to supply you with bulbs, fuses, spark p\
lugs and wiper blades for your use
in the event that problems occur.
As a minimum, the following items should be checked before any long trip\
:
l Check that engine runs smoothly and that fuel consumption is normal.
l Check for fuel, oil, and fluid leakage
l Check transmission oil level*.
l Check condition of drive belts.
l Check state of the battery's charge.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
l Examine tires carefully (the spare tire as well), and replace those th\
at are worn. Check tire pressures.
l The brakes, front wheel alignment, and steering gear should be checked b\
y your Volvo retailer only.
l Check all lights, including high beams.
l Reflective warning triangles are legally required in some states/provinc\
es.
l Have a word with your Volvo retailer if you intend to drive in countries\
where it may be difficult to
obtain the correct fuel.
l Consider your destination. If you will be driving through an area where \
snow or ice are likely to
occur, consider snow tires.
* To prevent injury from contact with hot surfaces, do not inspect your \
vehicle's transmission fluid
yourself. Have your vehicle's transmission fluid level inspected by a qu\
alified Volvo service technician.
pg. 110 Starting and driving




Contents | Top of Page
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2006 VOLVO XC90
2 0 0 6
VOLVO XC90
Wheels and tires

pg. 111 Wheels and tires
General information112
Tire inflation pressure tables116
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - option on certain U.S. models\
only117
Tire designations119
Glossary of tire terminology120
Vehicle loading121
Uniform Tire Quality Grading122
Snow chains, snow tire, studded tires123
Temporary Spare124
Changing wheels125
Tire sealing system (option on certain models)130
pg. 112 Wheels and tires
General information
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the vehicle's tire info\
rmation placard on the Bpillar (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.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
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 som\
ewhat 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 desig\
nation, type (radial) and
preferably from the same manufacturer, on all four wheels. Otherwise the\
re is a risk of altering the car's
roadholding and handling characteristics.
Storing wheels and tires
When storing complete wheels (tires mounted on rims), they should be s\
uspended off the floor or placed
on their sides on the floor.
Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on their sides or standing up\
right, but should not be
suspended.

Tread wear indicator
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.
Tread wear indicator
The tires have wear indicator strips running across or parallel to the t\
read. 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.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
WARNING!
- The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo are specified to meet stringen\
t stability and handling
requirements. Unapproved wheel/ tire size combinations can negatively af\
fect your vehicle's stability
and handling. Approved tire sizes are shown in the Tire inflation pressu\
re tables on
page 116.
- Any damage caused by installation of unapproved wheel/tire size combin\
ations 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. 113 Wheels and tires
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).
Tire age
Tires degrade over time, even when they are not being used, which can af\
fect their reliability and
roadholding characteristics. Therefore, all tires older than 6 years (i\
ncluding the spare tire and winter
tires) should be inspected by a qualified technician, regardless of app\
earance or mileage. Heat caused by
hot climates or frequent high loading conditions can accelerate the agin\
g process.
A tire's age can be determined by the DOT stamp on the sidewall (see th\
e illustration above).
A tire with e.g., visible cracks or discoloration should be replaced imm\
ediately.
Improving tire economy:
l Maintain correct tire pressure. See the tire pressure table on page 116.
l Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire screeching.
l Tire wear increases with speed.
l Correct front wheel alignment is very important.
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2006 VOLVO XC90
l Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and driving comfort.
l Tires must maintain the same direction of rotation throughout their life\
time.
l 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 d\
amage the tires and/or wheels
permanently.
pg. 114 Wheels and tires

Tire inflation placards on U.S. models
Tire inflation
Check tire inflation pressure regularly. A table listing the recommended\
inflation pressure for your
vehicle can be found on
page 116. 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 o\
f the driver's door opening), or on the
inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian models. These placards indica\
te the designation of the factory-
mounted tires on your vehicle, as well as load limits and inflation pres\
sure.
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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
pg. 115 Wheels and tires
After driving a distance of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km), the tires a\
re considered to be hot. If you have
to drive farther than this distance to pump your tire(s), check and re\
cord 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 col\
d pressures. A hot tire at or
below recommended cold inflation pressure could be significantly under-i\
nflated.
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 o\
bjects 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:
l If you overfill the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in th\
e center of the valve. Then
recheck the pressure with your tire gauge.
l Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure than the other tires.\
Consult the tire inflation table
on
page 116 or see the inflation pressure placard.
pg. 116 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure tables
Tire pressures recommended by Volvo for your vehicle. Refer to the tire \
inflation placard for
information specific to the tires installed on your vehicle at the facto\
ry. Cold tire pressure for vehicle loads up to 1160 lbs (525 kg)a
Tire size Front, psi (kPa) Rear, psi (kPa)
XC90
225/70R16
235/65R17
235/60R18
255/50R19 39 (270)
39 (270)
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