08 Starting and driving
08
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Attaching the towing eyeletThe towing eyelet is located under the floor of the cargo area, with the spare tire.This eyelet must be screwed into thepositions provided on the right sides ofeither the front or rear bumper (see illus-tration).
There are two different types of covers over the openings for the towing eyeletand they have to be opened differently.
• If the cover has a notch, insert a coin, etc., into the notch and pry open theedge of the cover. Open the covercompletely and remove it.
• If the cover has a mark along one edgeor in a corner, press the mark whileprying out the opposite side/cornerusing a coin, etc. Open the cover andremove it.
Screw the towing eyelet in place, first by hand and then using the tire iron until it issecurely in place. After the vehicle has been towed, the eyelet should be removed and returned to its stor-age location. Press the cover for the attachment point back into position.
WARNING
• When the vehicle is being towed, the ignition should be in mode
II (in mode
I , all of the vehicle's airbags are deac-
tivated). For more information, seeIgnition modes (p. 79)
• Never remove the remote key from theignition slot when the vehicle is beingtowed. For vehicles with keyless drive,the remote key must remain inside thevehicle.
• The power brakes and power steeringwill not function when the engine is notrunning. Approximately 5 times morepressure will be required on the brakepedal and the steering wheel will beconsiderably harder to turn.
• The towing eyelets must not be usedfor pulling the vehicle out of a ditch orfor any similar purpose involvingsevere strain.
Related information
•
Towing the vehicle (p. 284)
• Towing by tow truck (p. 285)
Towing by tow truck
When necessary, call for professional help from an authorized towing company. Volvorecommends the use of flat bed equipment.
CAUTION
In certain conditions, the towing eyelet may be used to pull the vehicle onto aflatbed tow truck.
• The vehicle's position and ground clearance determine if it can be pulledup onto a flatbed tow truck using thetowing eyelet.
• If the angle of the tow truck’s ramp istoo steep or the ground clearanceunder the vehicle is insufficient, dam-age could occur by attempting to pullthe vehicle using the towing eyelet.
• If necessary, lift the vehicle using thetow truck’s lifting device.
WARNING
No person or object should be behind the tow truck while the vehicle is being pulledup onto the flatbed.
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Tires – storage and age
When storing complete wheels (tires mounted on rims), they should be suspended off thefloor or placed on their sides on the floor.
New Tires
Remember that tires are perishable goods. Asof 2000, the manufacturing week and year(Department of Transportation (DOT) stamp)will be indicated with 4 digits (e.g., 1513means that the tire illustrated was manufac-tured during week 15 of 2013).
Tire ageTires degrade over time, even when they are not being used. It is recommended that tiresgenerally be replaced after 6 years of normalservice. Heat caused by hot climates, fre-quent high loading conditions or Ultra Violet(U.V.) exposure can accelerate the agingprocess. The temporary spare
1
should also
be replaced at 6-year intervals, even if it hasnever been used. 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.
Storing wheels and tiresWhen storing completes wheels (tires moun-ted on rims), they should be suspended offthe floor or placed on their sides on the floor. Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on their sides or standing upright, but shouldnot be suspended.
CAUTION
Tires should preferably be stored in a cool, dry, dark place, and should never bestored in close proximity to solvents, gaso-line, oils, etc.
WARNING
• The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo are specified to meet stringent stabilityand handling requirements. Unap-proved wheel/tire size combinationscan negatively affect your vehicle'sstability and handling.
• Any damage caused by installation ofunapproved wheel/tire size combina-tions will not be covered by your newvehicle warranty. Volvo assumes noresponsibility for death, injury, orexpenses that may result from suchinstallations.
Related information
•
Tire inflation – pressure table (p. 300)
• Tire specifications (p. 298)
• Tire specifications (p. 298)
• Changing a wheel – direction of rotation (p. 291)
• Tires – tread wear indicator (p. 290)
1
Option or accessory on some models
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293
7. There are two jack attachment points on
each side of the vehicle. Position the jack under the attachment point to be used ona level, firm, non-slippery surface andcrank it up until it is correctly aligned andseated in the attachment point. Beforeraising the vehicle, check that the jack isstill correctly positioned in the attach-ment.
8. Raise the vehicle until the wheel to be changed is lifted off the ground.
9. Unscrew the wheel nuts completely and remove the wheel.
WARNING
•The jack must correctly engage the jack attachment.
• Be sure the jack is on a firm, level,non-slippery surface.
• Never allow any part of your body tobe extended under a vehicle suppor-ted by a jack.
• Use the jack intended for the vehiclewhen changing a tire. For any otherjob, use stands to support the vehicle.
• Apply the parking brake and put thegear selector in the Park (
P) position.
• Block the wheels standing on theground, use rigid wooden blocks orlarge stones.
• The jack should be kept well-greasedand clean, and should not be dam-aged.
• No objects should be placed betweenthe base of jack and the ground, orbetween the jack and the attachmentbar on the vehicle.
NOTE
The jack provided with your vehicle is intended to be used only in temporary sit-uations such as changing wheels in theevent of a flat tire. Only the jack that camewith your particular model should be usedto lift the vehicle. If the vehicle needs to belifted more frequently or for a prolongedperiod, using a garage jack or hoist is rec-ommended. Always follow this device’sinstructions for use.
Related information
•
Changing a wheel – installing a wheel (p. 295)
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294
Changing a wheel – spare wheel
Wheel changes should always be carried out correctly.
Spare tire
The spare tire in your vehicle2
is called a
"Temporary Spare". Recommended tire pressure (see the placard on the B-pillar or on the fuel filler door) shouldbe maintained irrespective of which positionon the vehicle the temporary spare tire isused on. In the event of damage to this tire, a new one can be purchased from your Volvo retailer.
WARNING
Current legislation prohibits the use of the "Temporary Spare" tire other than as atemporary replacement for a puncturedtire. It must be replaced as soon as possi-ble by a standard tire. Road holding andhandling may be affected with the "Tem-porary Spare" in use. Do not exceed50 mph (80 km/h).
CAUTION
The vehicle must not be driven with wheels of different dimensions or with a spare tireother than the one that came with the vehi-cle. The use of different size wheels canseriously damage your car's transmission.
Spare wheelThe spare wheel is only intended for tempo- rary use. Replace it with a normal wheel assoon as possible. The car's handling may bealtered by the use of the spare wheel. Thecorrect tire pressure for the spare wheel isstated in the tire pressure table, see Tire infla-tion – pressure table (p. 300) and in the tireinflation placard on the driver's side doorjamb at the rear of the driver's door opening.
WARNING
Current legislation prohibits the use of the “Temporary Spare” tire other than as atemporary replacement for a puncturedtire. It must be replaced as soon as possi-ble by a standard tire. Road holding andhandling may be affected with the “Tem-porary Spare” in use.
CAUTION
The vehicle must never be driven with more than one temporary spare wheel.
The spare wheel is located in the spare wheel well with the rim side down. There are twofoam blocks, one under the spare wheel andone over/inside. The upper one contains alltools. The same bolt runs through to secure the spare wheel and the foam blocks.
Related information
• Changing a wheel – installing a wheel (p. 295)
• Changing a wheel – removing wheel(p. 291)
2
Not on models equipped with the Tire sealing system.
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Tire inflation – general information
Check tire inflation pressure regularly.
Inflation placard
G032521
Tire inflation placard
Tire inflationSee the tire inflation table in Tire inflation – pressure table (p. 300). A tire inflation pres-sure placard is also located on the driver'sside B-pillar (the structural member at theside of the vehicle, at the rear of the driver'sdoor opening). This placard indicates the des-ignation of the factory-mounted tires on yourvehicle, as well as load limits and inflationpressure.
NOTE
•The placards shown indicate inflation pressure for the tires installed on thevehicle at the factory only.
• A certain amount of air seepage fromthe tires occurs naturally and tire pres-sure fluctuates with seasonal changesin temperature. Always check tirepressure regularly.
•
Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare, at leastonce a month and before long trips. Youare strongly urged to buy a reliable tirepressure gauge, as automatic service sta-tion gauges may be inaccurate.
• Use the recommended cold inflationpressure for optimum tire performanceand wear.
• Under-inflation or over-inflation maycause uneven treadwear patterns.
WARNING
•Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failure and may result insevere tire cracking, tread separation,or "blow-out," with unexpected loss ofvehicle control and increased risk ofinjury.
• Under-inflated tires reduce the loadcarrying capacity of your vehicle.
When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also change. A 10-degree temperature drop causes a corres-ponding drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pres-sure. Check your tire pressures frequentlyand adjust them to the proper pressure,which can be found on the vehicle's tire infor-mation placard or certification label.
Related information
•
Tire specifications (p. 298)
• Tires – storage and age (p. 289)
• Tires – tread wear indicator (p. 290)
• Tire inflation – pressure table (p. 300)
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6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, loadfrom your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle.
WARNING
•Exceeding the permissible axle weight, gross vehicle weight, or any otherweight rating limits can cause tireoverheating resulting in permanentdeformation or catastrophic failure.
• Do not use replacement tires withlower load carrying capacities than thetires that were original equipment onthe vehicle because this will lower thevehicle's GVW rating. Use only tireswith the correct load carrying capacity.Consult your Volvo retailer for informa-tion.
Tire specifications – terminology
The following is a glossary of tire-related 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
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303
side B-pillar and in the tire inflation table in 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.
Tire specifications – Uniform Tire Quality Grading
ALL PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES MUST CONFORM TO FEDERAL SAFETYREQUIREMENTS IN ADDITION TO THESEGRADES .
Quality grades can be found, where appli-cable, on the tire sidewall between thetread shoulder and maximum sectionwidth. For example: Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEARThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tes-ted under controlled conditions on a specifiedgovernment test course. For example, a tiregraded 150 would wear one and one half(1 ½) times as well on the government courseas a tire graded 100. The relative perform-ance of tires depends upon the actual condi-tions of their use, however, and many departsignificantly from the norm due to variation indriving habits, maintenance practices and dif-ferences in road characteristics and climate.
TRACTIONThe traction grades, from highest to lowest,are AA, A, B, and C, as measured under con-trolled conditions on specified governmenttest surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tiremarked C may have poor traction perform- ance. The traction grade assigned to this tireis based on braking (straight-ahead) tractiontests and is not a measure of cornering (turn-ing) traction.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-ahead) tractiontests and is not a measure of cornering(turning) traction.
TEMPERATUREThe temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire's resistance tothe generation of heat and its ability to dissi-pate heat when tested under controlled con-ditions on a specified indoor laboratory testwheel. Sustained high temperature can causethe material of the tire to degenerate andreduce tire life, and excessive temperaturecan lead to sudden tire failure. The grade Ccorresponds to a minimum level of perform-ance that all passenger vehicle tires mustmeet under the Federal Motor Safety Stand-ard No. 109. Grades B and A represent higherlevels of performance on the laboratory testwheel than the minimum required by law.
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WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is established for a tire that is properly infla-ted and not overloaded. Excessive speed,under-inflation, or excessive loading, eitherseparately or in combination, can causeheat buildup and tire failure.
Snow chains
Snow chains can be used on your Volvo with the following restrictions:
• Snow chains should be installed on front wheels only. Use only Volvo approvedsnow chains.
• If accessory, aftermarket or "custom"tires and wheels are installed and are of asize different than the original tires andwheels, chains in some cases CANNOTbe used. Sufficient clearances betweenchains and brakes, suspension and bodycomponents must be maintained.
• Some strap-on type chains will interferewith brake components and thereforeCANNOT be used.
• All Wheel Drive models
: Snow chains
should only be installed on the frontwheels.
• Certain size tires may not allow theassembly of snow chains/traction devi-ces.
Consult your Volvo retailer for additional snow chain information.CAUTION
• Check local regulations regarding the use of snow chains before installing.
• Use single-sided snow chains only.
• Always follow the chain manufactur-er's installation instructions carefully.Install chains as tightly as possible andretighten periodically.
• Never exceed the chain manufactur-er's specified maximum speed limit.(Under no circumstances should youexceed 31 mph (50 km/h).
• Avoid bumps, holes or sharp turnswhen driving with snow chains.
• The handling of the vehicle can beadversely affected when driving withchains. Avoid fast or sharp turns aswell as locked wheel braking.