2009 PORSCHE BOXSTER wheel alignment

226
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
B Vehicle load limit
Is the maximum total weight limit specified of
the load (passengers and cargo) for the vehi-
cle. This is the maximum weight of passengers
and cargo that can be loaded into the vehicle.
Please see the chapter “LOADING INFORMA-
TION” on Page 234.
C Tire size for the front axle Check with your authorized Porsche dealer
about the current release status.
D Recommended tire pre ssure for the front axle
These values are for cold tires (68 °F/20 °C).
E Tire size for the rear axle Check with your authorized Porsche dealer
about the current release status.
F Recommended tire pressure for the rear axle. These values are for cold tires (68 °F/20 °C).
G In vehicles with collapsible spare wheel: Size and tire pressure of the spare wheel.
Tire traction
Warning!
When driving on wet or slushy roads, a
wedge of water may build up between the
tires and the road. This phenomenon is
known as “hydroplane” and may cause par-
tial or complete loss of traction, vehicle
control or stopping ability.
f Reduce speed on wet surface to prevent this. Tire life Tire life depends on vari ous factors, i. e., road
surfaces, traffic and wea ther conditions, driving
habits, type of tires and tire care.
f Inspect your tires for wear and damage before
driving off. If you notice uneven or substantial
wear, wheels might need alignment or tires
should be balanced or replaced.
Tire wear The original equipment tires on your Porsche have
built-in tire wear indicato rs. They are molded into
the bottom of the tread grooves and will appear as
approximately 1/2 in. (12 mm) bands when the
tire tread depth is down to 1/16 of an in.
(1.6 mm).
When the indicators appear in two or more adja-
cent grooves, it is time to replace the tires. We
recommend, however, that you do not let the tires
wear down to this extent.
Worn tires cannot grip the road surface properly
and are even less effective on wet roads.
Snow tires lose their traction capability when their
tread depth falls below 5/32 in. (4 mm).
In the United States, state laws may govern the
minimum tread depth permissible. Follow all such
laws.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
227
Danger!
Driving on worn tires can result in loss of con-
trol of the vehicle an d could cause serious
personal injuries or death.
f Do not drive with worn tires or tires showing
cuts or bruises as they may lead to sudden
deflation and loss of control which could cause
severe personal injury.
f Specialized high performance tires on high
performance sports cars exhibit more wear
than those on a family sedan, or even a high
performance sedan.
Therefore, it is important to check your tire
pressure and condition at least every two weeks.
If you notice that tires are wearing unevenly, con-
sult your Porsche dealer.
Uneven wear may not always be due to improper
wheel alignment. It can be the result of individual
driving habits such as cornering at high speeds. If
the tire pressure is not checked and adjusted
regularly, abnormal tire wear can also occur.
Tire care f Avoid damaging tires and wheel rims.
f If you must drive over a curb or other obstacle,
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle.
f Check tires for uneven wear and damage
before driving off.
f Remove imbedded material.
f Replace worn or damaged tires immediately.
f Keep oil, fuel, brake fluid, etc. away from tires.
f Replace missing valve stem caps.
f Keep tires inflated correctly.
f Wash tires when washing the vehicle. Also
clean inner side of wheels.
f Do not use abrasive cleaners when washing
the wheels.
f Check wheel rims for corrosion.
f Remove road salt, if driving in winter.
Tire damage, puncture High-pressure cleaning units can damage the
tires.
f Please see the chapter “HIGH-PRESSURE
CLEANING UNITS, STEAM CLEANERS” on
Page 213.
f Check tires for imbedded material, cuts, punc-
tures, cracks and bulges (side wall) before driv-
ing off.
In case of tire damage, where it is uncertain wheth-
er there is a break in the ply with all its conse-
quences or tire damage caused by thermal or me-
chanical overloading due to loss of pressure or
any other prior damage, we recommend that the
tire be replaced for safety reasons.
If one faulty tire is replaced it should be noted that
the difference in tread depth on one axle must not
exceed 30%.
Handling inconsistencies may result.
f Perform a visual inspection if necessary.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
229
Parking at the curb
Warning!
Hard impacts against curbs (or traffic
islands) are dangerous and may cause hid-
den tire damage which is not noticeable until
later. Such damage can result in accidents at
high speeds causing serious personal injury
or death.
Depending on the force of impact, the edge
of the rim can also be damaged.
f If you are in doubt, have the wheel checked by
an expert, particularly if you suspect damage
on the inside.
f If you must drive over a curb or other obstacle,
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle. Exercise care when parking along curbs.
Wheel alignment, wheel balancing As a precaution, have wheels with summer tires
balanced in the spring, and those with mud and
snow tires before winter.
Unbalanced wheels may affect car handling and
tire life.
Only the specified weight s may be used for wheel
balancing.
Self-adhesive weights must not come into contact
with cleaning agents, since they could drop off.
Uneven tread wear indicates wheel imbalance. In
this event, the vehicle should be checked at an au-
thorized Porsche dealer.
Warning!
If, during a trip, uneven running or vibrations
occur that could be caused by damage to
tires or the car, the speed must be reduced
immediately, but without braking sharply.
If you continue your trip without having the
cause of the fault reme died, you might lose
control of your vehicle which could cause se-
rious personal injury or death.
f Stop the vehicle and check the tires.
f If no cause for the fault can be found, drive
carefully to the nearest authorized Porsche dealer.
Wheels with Tire Pressure Monitoring
(TPM) sensorsBefore changing wheels, make sure that the
wheels are compatible with your vehicle's TPM.
f Check this with your authorized Porsche
dealer.Removing and storing tires fAfter changing, adjust tire pressure and torque
wheel bolts diagonally to 94 ftlb (130 Nm).
Tires must always remain on the same side of
the vehicle.
When wheels are removed, the direction of
rotation and position of each wheel should be
marked.
Example
FR (front right), FL, RR and RL.
Wheels must always be fitted in accordance with
their marking.
The perception that tire durability and perform-
ance are immune to the effects of storage and
age is unfounded.
Chemical additives, whic h make the rubber elas-
tic, lose their effectivene ss in the course of time
and the rubber becomes brittle and cracks.
Therefore, the tires should be inspected from
time to time.

Index
291
Pressure plate .................................... 275
Removing and storing.......................... 229
Sealant ...................... ................ 239, 240
Sidewall ..................... ........................ 232
Size ................................................... 232
Snow tires .............. ............................ 230
Tools ................ ........................................... 94
Towing ........................... .................... 269, 271
Towing hook............... ................................ 269
TPM Tire pressure moni toring ...................... 147
Track ............................. ............................ 278
Transmission Drive-Off Assistant... ............................ 172
Fluid........................... ................ 211, 281
Manual transmission ............................ 172
Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) .... 172, 174
Trip Odometer ............ ................................ 121
Trunk entrapment ....... .................................. 95
Turn signal Indicator light.......... ............................ 123
Turn signal light, front Changing bulb......... ............................ 263
Turn signals ......................................... 81, 123
UUndercoating ................ ......................208, 217VValves ........................................................228
Vanity mirror............. ....................................41
Vehicle Care......................... ..........................213
Engine number....................................275
Identification ......... ..............................274
Identification labe l ...............................274
Identification numbe r ...........................274
Lifting................... ..............................242
Load capacity ....... ..............................235
Putting into operat ion ..........................251
Safety compliance st icker ....................274
Washing ................... ..........................214
Vehicle identification number ........................274
Ventilation .................... ..............................109
Vents ................... ......................106, 109, 112
Viscosity, engine oil .....................................201
Voice control, button . ..................................130
Voice control, PCM ... ..................................130
WWarning lights and me ssages ...................... 162
Washer
Fluid ........................ .......................... 210
Fluid warning light. .............................. 210
Washer fluid ................................. .............. 281
Washer lever................................ ................ 82
Washing ...................... .............................. 214
Weights ........................................... .......... 282
Welcome Home Function ........................ 79, 80
Wheel ................. ................. 10, 223, 278, 279
Alignment ................ .......................... 229
Balancing........................................... 229
Bolts ....................... .......................... 236
Care ........................ .......................... 223
Changing ................. .......................... 239
Checking pressure ............................. 238
Inscription ............ .............................. 232
Loading information . ........................... 234
Securing bolts...... .............................. 236
Security wheel bolts ............................. 15
Sidewall ................... .......................... 232
Size .................................................. 232
Tire pressure ....... .............................. 224
Tire pressure plate ............... .............. 275
Tire sealant .............. .................. 239, 240
Wheels
Assembly aids for wheel changes ........ 237
Care ........................ .......................... 218
TPM sensors............ .......................... 229
Windows.......................... .................. 182, 216
Anti-crushing protection ........................ 28
Care ........................ .......................... 216
Opening/Closing ...................... ............ 27