2009 SAAB 9-3 winter tires

emergency towing open bonnet roof heater gas type open gas tank

Page 4 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual 4ExteriorMoonroof_______________ 128
Touching up paintwork ____ 270
Washing _______________ 267
Waxing and polishing _____ 270
Anti-corrosion treatment ___ 271
Service program _________ 278
Body _____

Page 183 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual 183 Starting and driving
Economical drivingFactors affecting fuel
consumptionThe fuel consumption of a car is greatly
affected by driving conditions, climate, road
conditions, speed, driving techni

183 Starting and driving
Economical drivingFactors affecting fuel
consumptionThe fuel consumption of a car is greatly
affected by driving conditions, climate, road
conditions, speed, driving technique, etc.Breaking-inFuel consumption may be somewhat
higher during the break-in period (the
first 3,000–4,000 miles (5,000–7,000 km)).Weather conditionsSummer temperatures give better fuel
economy than winter ones. The difference
can be as much as about 10%. Consump-
tion increases in cold weather because the
engine takes longer to reach its normal
operating temperature. The transmission
and wheel bearings also take longer to
warm up. Even distance affects consump-
tion: short journeys of 3–5 miles (5–8 km)
do not give the engine enough time to
reach its optimum temperature. Wind con-
ditions also have a marked effect on fuel
consumption.How to read the diagram:
If fuel consumption with the engine at
normal temperature is 28 mpg
(10 l/100 km), the actual fuel consumption
3 miles (5 km) after the engine has started
from cold will be:
– 23.5 mpg (12 l/100 km) at outside temp.
of 68 °F (+20 °C) (increase of 20 %).
– 17.7 mpg (16 l/100 km) at outside temp.
of 32 °F (0 °C) (increase of 60 %).
– 14 mpg (20 l/100 km) at outside temp. of
–4 °F (–20 °C) (increase of 100 %).
It is clear from the diagram that both dis-
tance driven and outside temperature have
a significant impact on fuel consumption,
after a cold start.
If the car is normally driven on short jour-
neys, 3–5 miles (5–8 km), for example to
and from work, the average consumption
will be 60–80% above the normal level.
Driving techniques To obtain the best running economy, with
regard to fuel consumption and general
wear, the car must be serviced regularly.
High speed, unnecessary acceleration,
frequent braking and much changing
down all give higher fuel consumption.
Frequent gear changing in traffic, starting
in cold weather, the use of studded tires
and roof racks, and towing a camper all
increase fuel consumption.
Do not warm up the engine while the car
is stationary.
If idling, the engine will take much longer Percentage increase in fuel consumption
of engine starting from cold compared to
engine at normal temperature.
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Page 185 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual 185 Starting and driving
Driving in cold weatherIn cold weather, special attention should be
paid to the following:
Before driving off, make sure that the
wiper blades have not frozen to the wind-

185 Starting and driving
Driving in cold weatherIn cold weather, special attention should be
paid to the following:
Before driving off, make sure that the
wiper blades have not frozen to the wind-
shield.
Remove any snow from the heating
system air intakes between the hood and
the windshield.
If necessary, inject oil into the locks to
prevent them from freezing. Use molyb-
denum-sulfide oil (MoS
2). If the locks
freeze, exercise care when unlocking the
car (manual unlocking) to avoid breaking
the key. Warm up the key or use a de-icer.
It is particularly important when the roads
are slippery that the brakes and tires are
in good condition.
For how to check the level of antifreeze in
the engine coolant, see page 210. Add gasoline anti-freeze when refueling
several times before the onset of winter.
This will prevent condensation water in
the fuel tank from freezing and causing
interruptions in the fuel supply. The likeli-
hood of condensation is lowest when the
fuel tank is full.
If the car is parked outside and the
temperature is below zero, gasoline anti-
freeze is of little use as it cannot remove
water that has already frozen. Park the
car in a warm place so that any ice that
may have built up melts, then add gaso-
line anti-freeze when refueling.
Condensation is caused by temperature
fluctuations, either in the outside temper-
ature alone or when the car is alternately
parked outdoors and in a garage.
Convertible: Avoid operating the soft top
at temperatures below 23 °F (–5 °C). The car is equipped with tires designed to
provide optimum grip on both wet and dry
roads, although this has been achieved at
the expense of somewhat reduced grip on
snow and ice. For regular driving on snow
and ice, we therefore recommend that
winter tires be fitted. However, winter tires
achieve this extra grip at the expense of
grip on bare road surfaces.
Winter tires, particularly studded tires, gen-
erally make driving safer on snow and ice.
Acquaint yourself with the legal provi-
sions governing the use of different
types of winter tires and snow chains.
Studded tires are not allowed in some
countries. If winter tires are fitted, the same
type must be fitted to all four wheels. Your
Saab dealer will be pleased to advise you on
the best tires for your car.
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Page 186 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual 186 Starting and drivingRemember that tires age: it may therefore
be necessary to change winter tires before
they reach the legal wear limit, as they grad-
ually lose their friction properties with

Page 243 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual
243
Car care
Treadwear indicatorsThe tires incorporate wear indicators in the
form of smooth, treadless strips across the
width, which become visible when only
2/32" (1.6 mm) of tread remains. As

Page 244 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual
244 Car care
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applica-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread shoul-
der and maximum section width. For exam-
ple:
Treadwear 200 Traction

244 Car care
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applica-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread shoul-
der and maximum section width. For exam-
ple:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety Administra-
tion, which grades tires by treadwear, trac-
tion and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United
States.) The grades ar e molded on the side-
walls of most passenger car tires. The Uni-
form Tire Quality Grading system does not
apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12
inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-pro-
duction tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades, they must also
conform to federal safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire Perfor-
mance Criteria (TPC) standards.
NOTICEWide wheels and tires with side walls that
are too low can:
Be damaged in potholes, etc.
Cause springs, shock absorbers and
wheel bearings and body mountings
to be overloaded
Affect the function of the ESP
®.
The speed and load limits of the tires
must not be exceeded; see page 249.
Wheels larger than 18" must not be fitted
on the Saab 9-3 for reasons above. The
permissible offset is 1.61 inch (41 mm).
WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you to lose con-
trol while driving. If you mix tires of differ-
ent sizes or types (radial and bias-belted
tires), the vehicle may not handle prop-
erly, and you could have a crash. Using
tires of different sizes may also cause
damage to your vehicle. Be sure to use
the same size and type tires on all wheels.
It’s all right to drive with your compact
spare temporarily, it was developed for
use on your vehicle. See “Compact
spare” on page 256.
WARNING
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim flanges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
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Page 253 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual
253
Car care
Winter tiresWinter (snow) tires are recommended for
winter climates where the majority of your
driving will be done on snow and ice. Winter
tires should be fitted to all four wheels t

253
Car care
Winter tiresWinter (snow) tires are recommended for
winter climates where the majority of your
driving will be done on snow and ice. Winter
tires should be fitted to all four wheels to
maintain a proper balance. Your Saab
dealer can advise you of to the correct size
tire for your car (if different from the original
size) and also supply Saab approved winter
tires pre-mounted on steel or alloy rims.
Winter tires normally use a different speed
rating compared to summer/all season tires.
Make sure not to exce ed the stated speed
rating on the tires you use.
Make sure that wheels with sensors for tire
pressure monitoring are fitted during
replacement if the car has automatic tire
pressure monitoring.Tire date codeTires should be regarded as perishable
goods. As the tires age, the rubber becomes
progressively harder, and the road holding
ability of the tires diminishes. This is partic-
ularly true on winter tires.
Tires have a code that specifies their date of
manufacture. The first two digits denote the
week number and the last two digits the year
followed by a filled triangle.
Automatic tire pressure
monitoring systemThe system consists of a sensor in each
wheel and a common receiver. The sensors
are located inside the tire in direct connec-
tion with the air pressure valves.
Make sure that wheels with sensors for tire
pressure monitoring are fitted during
replacement if the car has automatic tire
pressure monitoring.
The system will trigger a warning/alarm if
the spare wheel is fitted because it has no
sensor. Tire pressure informa
tion is transmitted
wireless to the receiver.
The system checks the tire pressures when
speed exceeds 19 mph (30 km/h).
The system is self-programming which
means that the wheels can be shifted
around without any need for adjustment.
The sensor batteries last for 10 years or
around 160 000 km. The battery cannot be
replaced. The whole sensor must be
replaced.
WARNING
The system is an aid to the driver. The
driver always has the responsibility that
the tires have the correct air pressure.
For optimum safety, economy and com-
fort tire pressures should be checked reg-
ularly even if the automatic tire pressure
monitoring has not alarmed.
NOTICETire replacement must take place with
great care to avoid damaging the sensors
that are built together with the valves.
Remove the rear side first, see page 255.
Start to remove the tire opposite the valve.
During removal the tire machine must not come closer than ±10° from the
valve.
During fitting, start 20° after the valve and finish 20° before the valve.
Do not inflate the tire with pressure higher than 102 psi (700 kPa).
93_US_7carcare_MY09.fm Page 253 Tuesday, April 15, 2008 11:26 AM
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Page 288 of 304

SAAB 9-3 2009 Owners Manual 288 Technical dataWheels and tiresAll season tires
6.5x16" __________________________ 215/55 R16 93 H
7x17"____________________________ 225/50 R17 94 V
7.5x17" __________________________ 235/45 R17 94

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