08 Wheels and tires
Tire designations
08
}}
313
Information on the sidewall
310
11
12
4
56789
2
1
G010753
Federal law mandates that tire manufacturers place standardized information on the side-wall of all tires (see the illustration). The following information is listed on the tire sidewall: The tire designation:
NOTE
Please be aware that the following tire designation is an example only and that
this particular tire may not be available onyour vehicle.
1. 215: the width of the tire (in millimeters)
from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. The larger the number, the wider the tire.
2. 65: The ratio of the tire's height to its
width in percent.
3. R: Radial tire (the designation RF and the
symbol indicate that the vehicle is
equipped with optional self-supporting run flat tires 1
. See page 333 for more
information about these tires).
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 maximum load of 1521 lbs (690 kg).
6. H: The tire's speed rating, or the maxi-
mum speed at which the tire is designedto be driven for extended periods of time,carrying a permissible load for the vehi-cle, and with correct inflation pressure.For example, H indicates a speed ratingof 130 mph (210 km/h).
NOTE
The tire's load index and speed rating may not appear on the sidewall because theyare not required by 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 fed- eral standards. The next two numbers orletters are the plant code where it wasmanufactured, the next two are the tiresize code and the last four numbers rep-resent the week and year the tire wasbuilt. For example, 1510 means that thetire was manufactured during week 15 of2010. The numbers in between are mar-keting codes used at the manufacturer'sdiscretion. This information helps a tiremanufacturer identify a tire for safetyrecall purposes.
9. Tire Ply Composition and Material Used
: Indicates the number of plies indi-
cates or the number of layers of rubber- coated fabric in the tire tread and side-wall. Tire manufacturers also must indi-cate the ply materials in the tire and thesidewall, which include steel, nylon, poly-ester, and others.
1 Self-supporting run flat tires may not be available on all models
08 Wheels and tires
Tire designations
08
314
10.Maximum Load : Indicates the maximum
load in pounds and kilograms that can be carried by the tire. Refer to the vehicle'stire information placard located on the B-Pillar for the correct tire pressure for yourvehicle.
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature grades
: see page 318 for more informa-
tion.
12. Maximum permissible inflationpressure:
the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire. This limit is set by the tire manufac-turer.
08 Wheels and tires
Glossary of tire terminology
08
315
Terms
The tire suppliers may have additional mark- ings, notes or warnings such as standardload, radial tubeless, etc.
• Tire information placard
: A placard
showing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes, recommended inflation pressure,and the maximum weight the vehicle cancarry.
• Tire Identification Number (TIN)
: A
number on the sidewall of each tire pro-viding information about the tire brandand manufacturing plant, tire size anddate of manufacturer.
• Inflation pressure
: A measure of the
amount of air in a tire.
• Standard load
: A class of P-metric or
Metric tires designed to carry a maximumload at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metrictires]. Increasing the inflation pressurebeyond this pressure will not increase thetires load carrying capability.
• Extra load
: A class of P-metric or Metric
tires designed to carry a heavier maxi-mum load at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) forMetric tires]. Increasing the inflation pres-sure beyond this pressure will notincrease the tire's load carrying capabil-ity.
• kPa
: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pres-
sure. •
PSI
: Pounds per square inch, a standard
unit of air pressure.
• B-pillar
: The structural member at the
side of the vehicle behind the front door.
• Bead area of the tire
: Area of the tire
next to the rim.
• Sidewall of the tire
: Area between the
bead area and the tread.
• Tread area of the tire
: Area of the perim-
eter of the tire that contacts the roadwhen mounted on the vehicle.
• Rim
: The metal support (wheel) for a tire
or a tire and tube assembly upon whichthe tire beads are seated.
• Maximum load rating
: a figure indicating
the maximum load in pounds and kilo-grams that can be carried by the tire. Thisrating is established by the tire manufac-turer.
• 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 manufac-turer.
• Recommended tire inflation pressure
:
inflation pressure, established by Volvo,which is based on the type of tires thatare mounted on a vehicle at the factory.This information can be found on the tireinflation placard(s) located on the driver's side B-pillar and in the tire inflation tablein this chapter.
• Cold tires
: The tires are considered to be
cold when they have the same tempera-ture as the surrounding (ambient) air. Thistemperature is normally reached after thevehicle has been parked for at least3 hours.
08 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System*
08
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.321
Location
IntroductionCertain models are equipped with a tire sealing system * that enables you to tempo-
rarily seal a hole in the tread surface and re- inflate a flat tire, or to adjust a tire’s inflationpressure. The system consists of an air compressor, a container for the sealing compound, wiring toconnect the system to the vehicle’s electricalsystem via one of the 12-volt sockets, and ahose used to connect the system to the tire’sinflation valve.
NOTE
The tire sealing system's compressor has been tested and approved by Volvo.
The 12-volt sockets are located in the front tunnel console, on the rear side of the centerconsole in the rear seat and in the cargoarea*, see page 234.
Accessing the tire sealing systemThe tire sealing system is stowed under thefloor of the cargo area. To access it:
1. Lift the floor hatch in the cargo area.
2. Lift out the tire sealing system.
NOTE
• The tire sealing system is only intended to seal holes on the tire’stread area, not the sidewall.
• Tires with large holes or tears cannotbe repaired with the tire sealing sys-tem.
• After use, stow the tire sealing systemproperly to help prevent rattling.
WARNING
• After using the tire sealing system, the vehicle should not be driven fartherthan approximately 120 miles (200km).
• Have the tire inspected by a trainedand qualified Volvo service technicianas soon as possible to determine if itcan be permanently repaired or mustbe replaced.
• The vehicle should not be driven fasterthan 50 mph (80 km/h) while using atire that has been temporarily repairedwith the tire sealing system.
• After using the tire sealing system,drive carefully and avoid abrupt steer-ing maneuvers and sudden stops.
08 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System*
08
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* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.323
Tire sealing system–temporarily repairing a flat tire
Temporarily repairing a flat tire is done in two stages:
• Stage 1:
The hole is sealed by pumping
sealing compound into the tire. The car is then driven a short distance to distributethe sealing compound in the tire.
NOTE
Do not remove any foreign objects (nails, etc.) from the tire before using the sealingsystem.
• Stage 2:
The tire’s inflation pressure is
checked and adjusted if necessary.
WARNING
• Never leave the tire sealing system unattended when it is operating.
• Keep the tire sealing system awayfrom children.
• Be sure the vehicle is parked safely offthe road and away from moving traffic.
• Apply the parking brake.
Stage 1: Sealing the hole1. Peel off the speed limit sticker and affix it
to the steering wheel hub where it will be clearly visible to the driver.
2. Ensure that the on/off switch is in posi- tion 0 (the 0 side of the switch should be
pressed down).
WARNING
Contact with the sealing compound may cause skin irritation. If contact occurs,wash the affected area immediately withsoap and water.
3. Unscrew the orange cover over the bottle holder and unscrew the cap on the bottle of sealing compound.
NOTE
Do not break the seal on the bottle. This occurs automatically when the bottle isscrewed into the holder.
4. Screw the bottle into the bottle holder.
WARNING
The bottle is equipped with a catch to keep it securely in place and help preventsealing compound leakage. Once in place,the bottle cannot be unscrewed. This mustbe done by a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician.
5. Remove the valve cap from the tire’sinflation valve and screw the tire sealing system’s hose connector onto the valveas tightly as possible by hand.
08 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System*
08
324* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
6. Connect the electrical wire to the nearest
12-volt socket in the vehicle.
NOTE
Be sure that none of the other 12-volt sockets is being used while the compres-sor is in operation.
7. Start the vehicle’s engine.
WARNING
The vehicle´s engine should be running when the tire sealing system is used toavoid battery drain. Therefore, be sure thevehicle is parked in a well ventilated place,or outdoors, before using the system.
8. Start the tire sealing system’s compres-sor by pressing the on/off switch to posi- tion I.
WARNING
• Never stand next to the tire being infla- ted when the compressor is in opera-tion.
• If cracks, bubbles, etc. form on the tire,switch off the compressor immediately.
• If there is visible damage to the sidewallor the rim, the tire cannot be repaired.The vehicle should not be driven if thisoccurs. Contact a towing service orVolvo On Call Roadside Assistance ifapplicable.
NOTE
The air pressure gauge will temporarily show an increase in pressure to approxi-mately 88 psi (6 bar) while the sealingcompound is being pumped into the tire.The pressure should return to a normallevel after approximately 30 seconds.
9. Within seven minutes, inflate the tire to
between 22—44 psi (1.8—3.0 bar). Switch off the compressor briefly to get aclear reading from the pressure gauge.
CAUTION
The compressor should not be used for more than 10 minutes at a time to avoidoverheating.
WARNING
If the pressure remains below 22 psi (1.8 bar) after approximately sevenminutes, turn off the compressor. In thiscase, the hole is too large to be sealed andthe vehicle should not be driven.
10. Switch off the compressor and discon- nect the electrical wire from the 12-volt socket.
11. Unscrew the hose from the tire’s inflation valve and reinstall the valve cap.
CAUTION
•After pumping the tires, always reinstall the valve cap to help avoid damage tothe valve from dirt, gravel, etc.
• Use plastic valve caps only. Metal capscould corrode and become difficult toremove.
08 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System*
08
}}
* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.325
12. Immediately drive the vehicle for approxi-
mately 2 miles (3 km) at a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km/h) to distributethe sealing compound in the tire.
CAUTION
If your vehicle is equipped with the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), theuse of the sealing compound may lead toincorrect tire pressure readings or in rarecases, damage to the tire pressure sensor.Use the tire sealing system to check andadjust the damaged tire's inflation pres-sure.
NOTE
•Safely stow the tire sealing system in a convenient place as it will soon beused again to check the tire’s inflationpressure.
• The empty bottle of sealing compoundcannot be removed from the bottleholder. Consult a trained and qualifiedVolvo service technician to have thebottle removed and properly disposedof.
WARNING
If heavy vibrations, unsteady steering behavior, or noises should occur whiledriving, reduce speed and park the vehiclein a safe place. Recheck the tire forbumps, cracks, or other visible damage,and recheck its inflation pressure. If thepressure is below 19 psi (1.3 bar), do notcontinue driving. Have the vehicle towedto a trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician.
Stage 2: Checking inflation pressure1. Connect the tire sealing system as
described in stage 1.
2. Refer to the inflation pressure table in this chapter for the correct inflation pressure. If the tire needs to be inflated, start thetire sealing system’s compressor. If nec-essary, release air from the tire by turningthe air release knob counterclockwise.
CAUTION
The compressor should not be used for more than 10 minutes at a time to avoidoverheating.
WARNING
If you interrupt your trip for more than 1 hour, check the inflation pressure in thedamaged tire again before continuing.
Replacing the sealing compound container
The sealing compound container must be replaced if:
• the tire sealing system has been used to repair a tire
• the container’s expiration date haspassed (see the date on decal).
NOTE
• After use, the sealing compound bot- tle, the hose, and certain other systemcomponents must be replaced. Pleaseconsult your Volvo retailer for replace-ment parts.
• If the sealing compound bottle’s expi-ration date has passed, please take itto a Volvo retailer or a recycling stationthat can properly dispose of harmfulsubstances.
08 Wheels and tires
Tire Sealing System*
08
326* Option/accessory, for more information, see Introduction.
Inflating tires
The tire sealing system can be used to inflate the tires. To do so:
1. Park the car in a safe place.
2. The compressor should be switched off.
Ensure that the on/off switch is in position0 (the 0 side of the switch should be
pressed down).
3. Take out the electrical wire and hose.
4. Remove the valve cap from the tire’s inflation valve and screw the hose con- nector onto the valve as tightly as possi-ble by hand.
5. Connect the electrical wire to the nearest 12-volt socket in the vehicle.
6. Start the vehicle’s engine.WARNING
• The vehicle’s engine should be running when the tire sealing system is used toavoid battery drain. Therefore, be surethe vehicle is parked in a well ventilatedplace, or outdoors, before using thesystem. The parking brake should besecurely applied and the gear selectorshould be in the
P (park) position.
• Children should never be left unatten-ded in the vehicle when the engine isrunning.
7. Check the tire’s inflation pressure on the
gauge. Switch off the compressor briefly to get a clear reading from the pressuregauge.
8. Refer to the tire inflation table in this chapter for the correct inflation pressure.If the tire needs to be inflated, start thetire sealing system’s compressor (pressthe on/off switch to position I). If neces-sary, release air from the tire by turningthe air release knob counterclockwise.
CAUTION
The compressor should not be used for more than 10 minutes at a time to avoidoverheating.
9. Turn off the compressor (press the on/off switch to position 0) when the correct
inflation pressure has been reached.
10. Unscrew the hose from the tire’s inflation valve and reinstall the valve cap.
CAUTION
•After pumping the tires, always reinstall the valve cap to help avoid damage tothe valve from dirt, gravel, etc.
• Use plastic valve caps only. Metal capscould corrode and become difficult toremove.
11. Disconnect the electrical wire from the
12-volt socket.