2007 VOLVO C70 CONVERTIBLE Owner´s Manual

2007 Volvo C70
10. Maximum Load: Indicates the maximum load in pounds and kilograms that can be carried\
by the tire.
Refer to the vehicle's tire information placard or the safety certificat\
ion label, located on the B-Pillar or
the driver's door or on the inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian m\
odels, for the correct tire pressure
for your vehicle.
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature grades: See
page 163 for more information.
12. Maximum permissible inflation pressure: the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put
in the tire. This limit is set by the tire manufacturer.
159 07 Wheels and tires
Tire designations
The tire suppliers may have additional markings, notes or warnings such \
as standard load, radial tubeless,
etc.
160 07 Wheels and tires
Glossary of tire terminology
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 manufactur\
er.
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 beyond \
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 bey\
ond this pressure will not increase the
tires load carrying capability.
l kPa: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure.
l PSI: Pounds per square inch, a standard unit of air pressure.
l B-pillar: The structural member at the side of the vehicle behind the front door\
.
l Bead area of the tire: Area of the tire next to the rim.
l Sidewall of the tire: Area between the bead area and the tread.
l Tread area of the tire: Area of the perimeter of the tire that contacts the road when mounted \
on the
vehicle.
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2007 Volvo C70
l Rim: The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upo\
n which the tire beads are
seated.
l Maximum load rating: a figure indicating the maximum load in pounds and kilograms that can \
be
carried by the tire. This rating is established by the tire manufacturer\
.
l Maximum permissible inflation pressure: the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put
in the tire. This limit is set by the tire manufacturer.
l Recommended tire inflation pressure: inflation pressure, established by Volvo, which is based on the
type of tires that are mounted on a vehicle at the factory. This inflati\
on pressure is affected by the number
of occupants in the car, the amount of cargo, and the speed at which the\
vehicle will be driven for a
prolonged period.
This information can be found on the tire inflation placard(s) located\
on the driver's side B-pillar or on the
inside of the fuel filler door on Canadian models, and in the tire infla\
tion table in this chapter.
l Cold tires: The tires are considered to be cold when they have the same temperatur\
e as the surrounding
(ambient) air. This temperature is normally reached after the car has \
been parked for at least 3 hours.
161 07 Wheels and tires
Vehicle loading
Vehicle loading
Properly loading your vehicle will provide maximum return of vehicle des\
ign performance.
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize yourself with the following ter\
ms for determining your vehicle's
weight ratings, with or without a trailer, from the vehicle's Federal/Ca\
nadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards (FMVSS/ CMVSS) label, and the vehicle's tire information pla\
card:
Curb weight
The weight of the vehicle including a full tank of fuel and all standard\
equipment. It does not include
passengers, cargo, or optional equipment.
Capacity weight
All weight added to the curb weight, including cargo and optional equipm\
ent. When towing, trailer hitch
tongue load is also part of cargo weight.
NOTE
For trailer towing information, please refer to the section "Towing a tr\
ailer" on
page
146.
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2007 Volvo C70
Permissible axle weight
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 235.
l A table listing important weight limits for your vehicle can be found on\
page
237.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement ''the combined weight of occupants and cargo sho\
uld never exceed XXX pounds''
on your vehicle's placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will \
be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX ki\
lograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage\
load capacity. For example, if
the ''XXX'' amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passe\
ngers 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 th\
e vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated i\
n Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will\
be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual
1 to determine how this reduces the available
1See "Towing a trailer" on page 146.
162 07 Wheels and tires
Vehicle loading
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2007 Volvo C70
cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
WARNING
l Exceeding the permissible axle weight, gross vehicle weight, or any othe\
r weight rating limits can
cause tire overheating resulting in permanent deformation or catastrophi\
c failure.
l Do not use replacement tires with lower load carrying capacities than th\
e 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.
163 07 Wheels and tires
Uniform tire quality gradings
Uniform tire quality gradings
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) tim\
es as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of \
their use, however, and many
depart significantly from the norm due to variation in driving habits, m\
aintenance 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 ma\
rked C may have poor traction
performance.
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2007 Volvo C70
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-\
ahead) traction tests and is not a
measure of cornering (turning) traction.
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 a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the material of the tire to degener\
ate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a minimum level of performance that all passe\
nger vehicle tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represen\
t higher levels of performance
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 tire failure.
164 07 Wheels and tires
Snow chains, snow tires, studded tires
Snow chains
Snow chains can be used on your Volvo with the following restrictions:
l Snow chains should be installed on front wheels only. Use only Volvo app\
roved snow chains.
l If accessory, aftermarket or "custom" tires and wheels are installed and\
are of a size different than the
original tires and wheels, chains in some cases CANNOT be used. Sufficie\
nt clearances between chains
and brakes, suspension and body components must be maintained.
l Some strap-on type chains will interfere with brake components and there\
fore CANNOT be used.
Consult your Volvo retailer for additional snow chain information.
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2007 Volvo C70
CAUTION
l Check local regulations regarding the use of snow chains before installi\
ng.
l Always follow the chain manufacturer's installation instructions careful\
ly. Install chains as tightly as
possible and retighten periodically.
l Never exceed the chain manufacturer's specified maximum speed limit. (U\
nder no circumstances
should you exceed 31 mph (50 km/h).
l Avoid bumps, holes or sharp turns when driving with snow chains.
l The handling of the vehicle can be adversely affected when driving with \
chains. Avoid fast or sharp
turns as well as locked wheel braking.
Snow tires, studded tires
Tires for winter use:
l Owners who live in or regularly commute through areas with sustained per\
iods of snow or icy driving
conditions are strongly advised to fit suitable winter tires to help ret\
ain the highest degree of traction.
l It is important to install winter tires on all four wheels to help retai\
n traction during cornering, braking,
and accelerating. Failure to do so could reduce traction to an unsafe le\
vel or adversely affect handling.
l Do not mix tires of different design as this could also negatively affec\
t overall tire road grip.
l Winter tires wear more quickly on dry roads in warm weather. They should\
be removed when the
winter driving season has ended.
l Studded tires should be run-in 300-600 miles (500-1000 km) during whic\
h 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.
165 07 Wheels and tires
Wheel nuts
Wheel nuts
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2007 Volvo C70
There are two different types of wheel nut, depending on whether the whe\
els are steel or aluminum.
Steel rims - low nut
Steel rims are normally secured using the low type of nut, although stee\
l rims may also use the high type.
WARNING
Never use the short type of nut for aluminium wheels. This could cause t\
he wheel to come
loose.
Aluminum wheels - high nut
Only the high type of nut can be used for aluminum wheels. This is consi\
derably different from other
types of nut because it has a rotating conical thrust washer.
NOTE
This nut can also be used on steel
wheels.
Lockable wheel nut
If steel wheels with lockable wheel nuts are used in combination with wh\
eel covers, the lockable wheel
nut must be fitted to the stud nearest the air valve. The wheel cover ca\
nnot otherwise be installed on the
wheel.
166 07 Wheels and tires
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2007 Volvo C70
Tire rotation
Summer and winter tires
l When switching between summer and winter tires, mark the tires to indica\
te where they were mounted
on the car, e.g. LF = left front, RR = right rear
l Tires with tread designed to roll in only one direction are marked with \
an arrow on the sidewall.
l Incorrectly mounted tires impair the car's braking properties and abilit\
y to force aside rain, snow and
slush.
l The tires with the most tread should always be at the rear (to reduce t\
he risk of skidding).
Contact a Volvo workshop if you are unsure about the tread depth.
Tire rotation
Your vehicle has no recommended tire rotation. The following information\
is intended to help you
understand why.
Tread set
As a tire ages and the rubber cures, front and rear tires set at differe\
nt angles. Therefore, if tires are
rotated, the tread will eventually set at an angle that is a compromise.\
Even if ride, handling, and road
noise may still seem acceptable, they may not be optimal. Further, tires\
that are rotated, but not on a
regular basis, may actually cause more tire noise, faster tire wear, and\
unpleasant changes in steering feel
and vehicle handling.
A tire that can fully adapt to its position will provide better steering\
feel, lower tire noise, and better fuel
economy.
Braking stability performance
Your vehicle is driven mainly by the front tires, which will wear faster\
. This can be beneficial. Having
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