06 Starting and drivingTowing a trailer
06160
General information•
Volvo recommends the use of Volvo trailer
hitches that are specially designed for the
vehicle.CAUTION
Models equipped with the B5244S7 engine
(engine code 39 , which is the 6th and
7th digits from the left in your vehicle's VIN
number, see page 262 for the location of
the VIN plate), may not be used to tow trail-
ers or vehicles of any kind. This could cause
damage to the vehicle's emission control
systems.Maximum trailer weights recommended by
Volvo are:•
Trailers without brakes: 1,540 lbs
(700 kg).
•
Trailers with brakes: 2,000 lbs (900 kg)
Observe the legal requirements of the
state/province in which the vehicles are
registered.
•
The maximum recommended hitch
tongue load is 165 lbs (75 kg).
•
All Volvo models are equipped with
energy-absorbing shock-mounted bump-
ers. Trailer hitch installation should not
interfere with the proper operation of this
bumper system.Trailer towing does not normally present any
particular problems, but take into considera-
tion:
•
Increase tire pressure to recommended
full. See the chapter "Wheels and tires."
•
When your vehicle is new, avoid towing
heavy trailers during the first 620 miles
(1,000 km).
•
Maximum speed when towing a trailer:
50 mph (80 km/h).
•
Engine and transmission are subject to
increased loads. Therefore, engine coolant
temperature should be closely watched
when driving in hot climates or hilly terrain.
Use a lower gear and turn off the air con-
ditioner if the temperature gauge needle
enters the red range.
•
If the automatic transmission begins to
overheat, a message will be displayed in
the information display.
•
Avoid overload and other abusive opera-
tion.
•
Hauling a trailer affects handling, durabil-
ity, and economy.
•
It is necessary to balance trailer brakes
with the towing vehicle brakes to provide a
safe stop (check and observe state/local
regulations).
•
Do not connect the trailer's brake system
directly to the vehicle's brake system.
•
More frequent vehicle maintenance is
required.
•
Remove the ball and drawbar assembly
when the hitch is not being used.
•
Volvo recommends the use of synthetic
engine oil when towing a trailer over long
distances or in mountainous areas.WARNING
•
Bumper-attached trailer hitches must
not be used on Volvos, nor should
safety chains be attached to the
bumper.
•
Trailer hitches attaching to the vehicle's
rear axle must not be used.
•
Never connect a trailer's hydraulic
brake system directly to the vehicle
brake system, nor a trailer's lighting
system directly to the vehicle lighting
system. Consult your nearest trained
and qualified Volvo service technician
for correct installation.
•
When towing a trailer, the trailer's safety
wire must be correctly fastened to the
hole or hook provided in the trailer hitch
on the vehicle. The safety wire should
never be fastened to or wound around
the drawbar ball.
07 Wheels and tiresUniform tire quality gradings
07
185 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 appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between the tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature ATREADWEARThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified gov-
ernment test course. For example, a tire gra-
ded 150 would wear one and one half (1 1/2)
times 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 signifi-
cantly from the norm due to variation in driving
habits, maintenance practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.TRACTIONThe traction grades, from highest to lowest, are
AA, A, B, and C, as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test sur-faces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance. The trac-
tion 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.TEMPERATUREThe temperature grades are AA (the highest),
A, B, and C, representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to dis-
sipate heat when tested under controlled con-
ditions on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corre-
sponds to a minimum level of performance that
all passenger vehicle tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of per-
formance on the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is estab-
lished for a tire that is properly inflated and
not overloaded. Excessive speed, under-
inflation, or excessive loading, either sepa-
rately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and tire failure.
07 Wheels and tires
Tire rotation
07
189
G020325
The arrows shows the direction of rotation of the
tireSummer and winter tires•
When switching between summer and
winter tires, mark the tires to indicate
where they were mounted on the car, e.g.,
LF = left front, RR = right rear
•
Tires with tread designed to roll in only one
direction are marked with an arrow on the
sidewall.
•
Incorrectly mounted tires impair the car's
braking properties and ability to force
aside rain, snow and slush.
•
The tires with the most tread should always
be at the rear (to reduce the risk of skid-
ding).
•
Contact a Volvo workshop if you are
unsure about the tread depth.
Tire rotationYour vehicle has no recommended tire rota-
tion. The following information is intended to
help you understand why.Tread setAs a tire ages and the rubber cures, front and
rear tires set at different 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 performanceYour vehicle is driven mainly by the front tires,
which will wear faster. This can be beneficial.
Having more tread on the rear tires will help
reduce oversteer. Oversteer is when a vehicle
wants to keep turning because of momentum
and dynamic forces on its suspension.Suspension wear diagnosticsEvery suspension needs periodic inspection
and maintenance. A tire's wear pattern can bean aid in detecting a suspension problem. Each
tire, if left in place, tells a story about the sus-
pension. Tire rotation, on the other hand, could
make suspension wear harder to detect. Early
detection is very important, because suspen-
sion problems can make tire wear worse.
If you do rotate your tires…Please follow the tire manufacturer's recom-
mendations, as outlined in the tire manufactur-
ers tire warranty pamphlet.
Your Volvo retailer can also provide guidance
based on your particular driving circumstan-
ces.