2007 Volvo C70
General information
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to the vehicle's tire info\
rmation 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 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 there is a ris\
k 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.
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
l The wheel and tire sizes for your are specified to meet stringent stabil\
ity and handling requirements.
Unapproved wheel/ tire size combinations can negatively affect your vehi\
cle's stability and handling.
Approved tire sizes are shown in the Tire inflation pressure tables on
pages 156 and 157.
l Any damage caused by installation of unapproved wheel/tire size combinat\
ions will not be covered
by your new vehicle warranty. Volvo assumes no responsibility for death,\
injury, or expenses that may
result from such installations.
Tread wear indicator
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2007 Volvo C70
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 prev\
ent alteration of the driving
characteristics of the vehicle.
153 07 Wheels and tires
General information
New Tires
Remember that tires are perishable goods. As of 2000, the manufacturing \
week and year (Department of
Transportation (DOT) stamp) will be indicated with 4 digits (e.g. 15\
02 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. It is recomm\
ended that tires generally be
replaced after 6 years of normal service. Heat caused by hot climates, f\
requent high loading conditions or
Ultra Violet (U.V) exposure can accelerate the aging process.
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2007 Volvo C70
Federal law mandates that tire manufacturers place standardized informat\
ion on the sidewall of all tires
(see the illustration).
The following information is listed on the tire sidewall:
The tire designation (the following figures are examples of a tire desi\
gnation):
1. 215: the width of the tire (in millimeters) from sidewall edge to sidewal\
l edge. The larger the number,
the wider the tire.
2. 65: The ratio of the tire's height to its width.
3. R: Radial tire.
4. 15: The diameter of the wheel rim (in inches).
5. 95: The tire's load index. In this example, a load index of 95 equals a ma\
ximum load of 1521 lbs (690
kg).
6. H: The tire's speed rating, or the maximum speed at which the tire is des\
igned to be driven for extended
periods of time, carrying a permissible load for the vehicle, and with c\
orrect inflation pressure. For
example, H indicates a speed rating of 130 mph (210 km/h).
NOTE
This information may not appear on the tire because it is not required b\
y
law.
7. M+S or M/S = Mud and Snow, AT = All Terrain, AS = All Season
8. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN): This begins with the letters "DOT" and indicates that
the tire meets all federal standards. The next two numbers or letters ar\
e the 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 numbe\
rs in between are marketing
codes used at the manufacturer's discretion. This information helps a ti\
re 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, poly\
ester, and others.
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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
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
On cars with a spare wheel, the jack and lug wrench are secured in a foa\
m plastic block placed in the
center of the wheel.
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.
The retaining straps securing the spare wheel is attached to two eyelets\
in the floor of the spare wheel's
storage compartment.
WARNING
Current legislation prohibits the use of the "Temporary Spare" tire othe\
r 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 e\
xceed 50 mph (80 km/h). Do
not drive farther than 50 miles (80 km) on a temporary spare tire.
168 07 Wheels and tires
Changing a wheel
Changing a wheel
Accessing the spare wheel
1. Open the hatch in the floor of the trunk.
2. Release the retaining straps and lift out the spare wheel in its stor\
age bag.
3. Open the zipper on the storage bag and lift out the spare wheel.
The wheel that was replaced by the temporary spare tire can then be plac\
ed in the storage bag.
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