2009 VOLVO V50 tire pressure

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.

G020918
172
General information............................................................................... 174
Tire inflation........................................................................................... 176
Inflation pressure—U.S. models .......................................................... 178
Inflation pressure—Canadian models .................................................. 179
Tire designations................................................................................... 180
Glossary of tire terminology.................................................................. 182
Vehicle loading...................................................................................... 183
Uniform tire quality gradings................................................................. 185
Snow chains, snow tires, studded tires................................................ 186
Temporary spare................................................................................... 187
Wheel nuts............................................................................................ 188
Tire rotation........................................................................................... 189
Changing a wheel................................................................................. 190
Tire Sealing System ............................................................................. 192
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).............................................197

07 Wheels and tiresGeneral information
07174
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according
to the vehicle's tire information 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.
CAUTION
Some Volvo models are equipped with an
Ultra High Performance tire and wheel com-
bination designed to provide maximum dry
pavement performance with consideration
for hydroplaning resistance. As such, they
may be more susceptible to road hazard
damage and, depending on driving condi-
tions, may achieve a tread life of less than
20,000 miles (30,000 km). Even if this vehi-
cle is equipped with Volvo’s advanced AWD
or DSTC system, these tires are not
designed for winter driving, and should be
replaced with winter tires when weather
conditions dictate.The tires have good road holding characteris-
tics and offer good handling on dry and wet
surfaces. It should be noted however that the
tires have been developed to give these fea-
tures on snow/ice-free surfaces.
Certain models are equipped with "all-season"
tires, which provide a somewhat higher degree
of road holding on slippery surfaces than tires
without the "all-season" rating. However, foroptimum 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 designation, type (radial) and
preferably from the same manufacturer, on all
four wheels. Otherwise there is a risk of altering
the car's roadholding and handling characte-
ristics.
Storing wheels and tiresWhen storing complete wheels (tires mounted
on rims), they should be suspended off the
floor or placed on their sides on the floor.
Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on
their sides or standing upright, 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
•
The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo
are specified to meet stringent stability
and handling requirements. Unap-
proved wheel/tire size combinations
can negatively affect your vehicle's sta-
bility and handling. Approved tire sizes
are shown in the Tire inflation pressure
tables, see page 178.
•
Any damage caused by installation of
unapproved wheel/tire size combina-
tions will not be covered by your new
vehicle warranty. Volvo assumes no
responsibility for death, injury, or
expenses that may result from such
installations.

07 Wheels and tires
General information
07
175 Tread wear indicator
G020323
The tires have wear indicator strips running
across or parallel to the tread. 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 trac-
tion.
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 prevent altera-
tion of the driving characteristics of the vehicle.
New Tires
Remember that tires are per-
ishable goods. As of 2000, the
manufacturing week and year
(Department of Transporta-
tion (DOT) stamp) will be indi-
cated with 4 digits (e.g. 1502
means that the tire illustrated
was manufactured during week 15 of 2002).
Tire ageTires degrade over time, even when they are
not being used. It is recommended that tires
generally be replaced after 6 years of normal
service. Heat caused by hot climates, frequent
high loading conditions or Ultra Violet (U.V)
exposure can accelerate the aging process.
You should replace the spare tire when you
replace the other road tires due to the aging of
the spare.
A tire's age can be determined by the DOT
stamp on the sidewall (see the illustration).
A tire with e.g., visible cracks or discoloration
should be replaced immediately.Improving tire economy•
Maintain correct tire pressure. For the tire
pressure tables, see page 178.
•
Drive smoothly: avoid fast starts, hard
braking and tire screeching.
•
Tire wear increases with speed.
•
Correct front wheel alignment is very
important.
•
Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy
and driving comfort.
•
Tires must maintain the same direction of
rotation throughout their lifetime.
•
When replacing tires, the tires with the
most tread should be mounted on the rear
wheels to reduce the chance of oversteer
during hard braking.
•
Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the
tires and/or wheels permanently.

07 Wheels and tiresTire inflation
07176
Inflation labels
G032513
Tire inflation placard on U.S. modelsCheck tire inflation pressure regularly.
Tables listing the recommended inflation pres-
sure for your vehicle can be found on page
178. A tire inflation pressure placard is also
located on the driver's side B-pillar (the struc-
tural member at the side of the vehicle, at the
rear of the driver's door opening). This placard
indicates the designation of the factory-moun-
ted tires on your vehicle, as well as load limits
and inflation pressure.
G032520
Tire inflation placard on Canadian models
NOTE
The placards shown indicate inflation pres-
sure for the tires installed on the car at the
factory only.Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pres-
sure, including the spare, at least once a month
and before long trips. You are strongly urged
to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as auto-
matic service station gauges may be inaccu-
rate.
Use the recommended cold inflation pressure
for optimum tire performance and wear.Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause
uneven treadwear patterns.
WARNING
•
Under-inflation is the most common
cause of tire failure and may result in
severe tire cracking, tread separation,
or "blowout," with unexpected loss of
vehicle control and increased risk of
injury.
•
Under-inflated tires reduce the load car-
rying capacity of your vehicle.
When weather temperature changes occur, tire
inflation pressures also change. A 10-degree
temperature drop causes a corresponding
drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check
your tire pressures frequently and adjust them
to the proper pressure, which can be found on
the vehicle's tire information placard or certifi-
cation label.

07 Wheels and tires
Tire inflation
07
177 Checking tire pressure
Cold tiresInflation pressure should be checked when the
tires are cold.
The tires are considered to be cold when
they have the same temperature as the sur-
rounding (ambient) air.
This temperature is normally reached after the
car has been parked for at least 3 hours.
After driving a distance of approximately 1 mile
(1.6 km), the tires are considered to be hot. If
you have to drive farther than this distance to
pump your tire(s), check and record the tire
pressure first and add the appropriate air pres-
sure when you get to the pump.
If checking tire pressure when the tire is hot,
never "bleed" or reduce air pressure. The tires
are hot from driving and it is normal for pres-
sures to increase above recommended cold
pressures. A hot tire at or below recommended
cold inflation pressure could be significantly
under-inflated.To check inflation pressure:1. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire,
then firmly press the tire gauge onto the
valve.2. Add air to reach the recommended air
pressure
3. Replace the valve cap.
4. Repeat this procedure for each tire, includ-
ing the spare.
5. Visually inspect the tires to make sure there
are no nails or other objects embedded
that could puncture the tire and cause an
air leak.
6. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are
no gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregular-
ities.
NOTE
•
If you overfill the tire, release air by
pushing on the metal stem in the center
of the valve. Then recheck the pressure
with your tire gauge.
•
Some spare tires require higher inflation
pressure than the other tires. Consult
the tire inflation tables, see page 178,
or see the inflation pressure placard.
Load ratingsThe load ratings in the tables above translate
as follows:
91 = 1365 lbs (615 kg), 93 = 1433 lbs (650 kg),
99 = 1709 lbs (755 kg)
Speed ratingsThe speed ratings in the tables translate as fol-
lows:
M = 81 mph (130 km/h), V= 149 mph (240 km/
h), W= 168 mph (270 km/h)
See also page 180 for an explanation of the
designations on the sidewall of the tire.

07 Wheels and tiresInflation pressure—U.S. models
07178
Tire inflation pressure tableThe following tire pressures are recommended
by Volvo for your vehicle. Refer to the tire infla-tion placard for information specific to the tires
installed on your vehicle at the factory.Tire size
Cold tire pressure up to five persons psi (kPa)Front
Rear
205/55R16 91V M+S
32 (220)
32 (220)
205/50R17 93V
Extra Load M+S
35 (240)
35 (240)
215/45R18
A 93W
Extra load
35 (240)
35 (240)
Temporary spare tire
T125/85R16 99M
61 (420)
61 (420)
ATires of this type may not be mounted on vehicles equipped with the optional self-leveling system.

07 Wheels and tires
Inflation pressure—Canadian models
07
179 Tire inflation pressure table
The following tire pressures are recommended
by Volvo for your vehicle. Refer to the tire infla-tion placard for information specific to the tires
installed on your vehicle at the factory.Tire size
Cold tire pressures
Up to five persons
psi (kPa)
Optional pressure
Up to three persons
A
psi (kPa)
Front
Rear
Front
Rear
205/55R16 91V M+S
36 (250)
36 (250)
30 (210)
30 (210)
205/50R17 93V Extra Load
M+S
36 (250)
36 (250)
35 (240)
32 (220)
215/45R18 93W Extra
load
B
36 (250)
36 (250)
35 (240)
32 (220)
Temporary spare tire
T125/85R16 99M
61 (420)
61 (420)
61 (420)
61 (420)
AOptional pressure may not be used for homologation of fuel consumption or emissions.BTires of this type may not be mounted on vehicles equipped with the optional self-leveling system.