STARTING AND DRIVING
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capacity weight or maximum permissible axle loads are not exceeded.
• At the specified curb weight your vehicle hasa tendency to understeer, which means thatthe steering wheel has to be turned morethan might seem appropriate for the curva-ture of a bend. This ensures good stabilityand reduces the risk of rear wheel skid.Remember that these properties can alterwith the vehicle load. The heavier the load inthe cargo compartment, the less the ten-dency to understeer.
Related information
•ECO drive mode (p. 387)
• Tire inflation pressure table (p. 545)
• Volvo and the environment (p. 15)
Driving through standing water
The vehicle should be driven with extreme cau- tion if it is necessary to drive through standingwater.
The vehicle can be driven through water up to a depth of approximately 17.7 in. (45 cm) at walk-ing speed. Be particularly careful when drivingthrough flowing water. • Take particular care when driving through flowing water.
• After driving through water, apply the brakesand check that they are functioning correctly.
• Clean the electrical connections for trailerwiring after driving in mud or water.
• When driving through water, maintain lowspeed and do not stop in the water.
• Avoid driving through salt water if at all pos-sible to help avoid the risk of corrosion.
CAUTION
• Engine damage will occur if water is drawn into the air cleaner.
• Damage to any components, the engine,transmission, turbo-charger, differential orits internal components caused by flood-ing, vapor lock or insufficient oil is notcovered under warranty.
• Do not allow the vehicle to stand in waterup to the door sills longer than absolutelynecessary. This could result in electricalmalfunctions.
• If the engine has been stopped while thevehicle is in water, do not attempt torestart it. Have the vehicle towed out ofthe water.
WARNING
•
Avoid driving through standing or rushing water. Doing so can be dangerous and itmay also be difficult to determine theactual depth of the water.
• If water cannot be avoided, after drivingthrough the water, press lightly on thebrake pedal to ensure that the brakes arefunctioning normally. Water or mud canmake the brake linings slippery, resultingin delayed braking effect.
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Driving with a trailer
When towing a trailer, always observe the legal requirements of the state/province.
• All Volvo models are equipped with energy- absorbing shock-mounted bumpers. Trailerhitch installation should not interfere with theproper operation of this bumper system.
Trailer towing does not normally present any par-ticular problems, but take into consideration:
• Increase tire pressure to recommended fullpressure.
• When your vehicle is new, avoid towing heavytrailers during the first 620 miles (1,000 km).
• Maximum speed when towing a trailer:50 mph (80 km/h).
• Engine and transmission are subject toincreased loads. Therefore, engine coolanttemperature should be closely watched whendriving in hot climates or hilly terrain. Use alower gear and turn off the air conditioner ifthe temperature gauge needle enters the redrange.
• If the automatic transmission begins to over-heat, a message will be displayed in the textwindow.
• Avoid overload and other abusive operation.
• Hauling a trailer affects handling, durability,and economy. •
It is necessary to balance trailer brakes withthe towing vehicle brakes to provide a safestop (check and observe state/local regula-tions).
• Do not connect the trailer's brake systemdirectly to the vehicle's brake system.
• More frequent vehicle maintenance isrequired.
• Remove the ball holder when the hitch is notbeing used.
NOTE
•
When parking the vehicle with a trailer on a hill, apply the parking brake before put- ting the gear selector in
P. Always follow
the trailer manufacturer's recommenda- tions for wheel chocking.
• When starting on a hill, put the gear selector in
D before releasing the parking
brake.
• If you use the manual (Geartronic) shift positions while towing a trailer, make surethe gear you select does not put toomuch strain on the engine (using toohigh a gear).
• The drawbar assembly/trailer hitch maybe rated for trailers heavier than the vehi-cle is designed to tow. Please adhere toVolvo's recommended trailer weights.
• Avoid driving with a trailer on inclines ofmore than 15%.
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453
sidewall (see the illustration). A tire with e.g., visi- ble cracks or discoloration should be replacedimmediately.
Tire economy
•
Maintain correct tire pressure.
• Avoid fast starts, hard braking and tirescreeching.
• Tire wear increases with speed.
• Correct front wheel alignment is very impor-tant.
• Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy anddriving comfort.
• Tires must maintain the same direction ofrotation throughout their lifetime.
• When replacing tires, the tires with the mosttread should be mounted on the rear wheelsto reduce the chance of oversteer duringhard braking.
• Hitting curbs or potholes can damage thetires and/or wheels permanently.
Tire rotationYour vehicle has no required tire rotation. Tirewear is affected by a number of factors such astire inflation, ambient temperature, driving style,etc.
NOTE
•If the tires are rotated, they should only be moved from front to rear or vice versa.They should never be rotated left toright/right to left.
• Ideally, tire rotation should be done thefirst time after approximately 3,000 miles(5,000 km) and thereafter at 6,000-mile(10,000-km) intervals. Some customersfind that tire rotation may help to getextra mileage from tire life.
• Tire rotation should only be performed iffront/rear tire wear is fairly even andtread height is above 1/16" (1.6 mm).
Storing wheels and tiresWhen storing complete wheels (tires mounted on rims), they should be suspended off the floor orplaced on their sides on the floor. Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on their sides or standing upright, but should not besuspended.
CAUTION
Tires should preferably be stored in a cool, dry, dark place, and should never be stored inclose proximity to solvents, gasoline, oils, etc.
WARNING
• The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo are specified to meet stringent stabilityand handling requirements. Unapprovedwheel/tire size combinations can nega-tively affect your vehicle's stability andhandling.
• Any damage caused by installation ofunapproved wheel/tire size combinationswill not be covered by your new vehiclewarranty. Volvo assumes no responsibilityfor death, injury, or expenses that mayresult from such installations.
Related information
•Checking tire inflation pressure (p. 460)
• Tread wear indicator (p. 457)
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Tire sidewall designations
The following information can be found on a tire's sidewall.
Federal law mandates that tire manufacturers place standardized information on the sidewall ofall tires (see the illustration). The vehicle has been certified with certain combi- nations of wheels and tires. The following information is listed on the tire sidewall: The tire designation:
NOTE
Please be aware that the following tire desig- nation is an example only and that this par-
ticular tire may not be available on your vehi- cle.
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 3
.
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 maximum
speed at which the tire is designed to bedriven for extended periods of time, carryinga permissible load for the vehicle, and withcorrect inflation pressure. For example, Hindicates a speed rating of 130 mph(210 km/h).
NOTE
The tire's load index and speed rating may not appear on the sidewall because they arenot required by law.
7. M+S or M/S = Mud and Snow, AT = All Ter-
rain, AS = All Season
8. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN) : This begins with the letters "DOT" and
indicates that the tire meets all federalstandards. The next two numbers or lettersare the plant code where it was manufac-tured, the next two are the tire size code andthe last four numbers represent the weekand year the tire was built. For example,1510 means that the tire was manufacturedduring week 15 of 2010. The numbers inbetween are marketing codes used at themanufacturer's discretion. This informationhelps a tire manufacturer identify a tire forsafety recall purposes.
9. Tire Ply Composition and Material Used :
Indicates the number of plies indicates or thenumber of layers of rubber-coated fabric inthe tire tread and sidewall. Tire manufactur-ers also must indicate the ply materials in thetire and the sidewall, which include steel,nylon, polyester, and others.
3 Self-supporting run flat tires may not be available on all models
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10.
Maximum Load : Indicates the maximum
load in pounds and kilograms that can be carried by the tire. Refer to the vehicle's tireinformation placard located on the B-Pillarfor the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperaturegrades .
12. Maximum permissible inflation pressure: the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the tire. This limit is setby the tire manufacturer.
Speed SymbolA tire's Speed Symbol (SS) indicates the maxi-mum speed for which the tire has been certifiedand should be at least equivalent to the vehicle'stop speed. Winter tires, with our without studs, are excep- tions and may use a lower SS. When winter tiresare installed, the vehicle may not be driven fasterthan the tires' SS. The vehicle's speed should always be determined by the posted speed limit and traffic and roadconditions, not the tire's SS. The following table indicates the maximum per- missible speed for each SS.
Speed Symbol
M 81 mph (130 km/h)
Q 100 mph (160 km/h)
T 118 mph (190 km/h)
H 130 mph (210 km/h)
V 149 mph (240 km/h)
W 168 mph (270 km/h)
Y 186 mph (300 km/h)
WARNING
• The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo are specified to meet stringent stabilityand handling requirements. Unapprovedwheel/tire size combinations can nega-tively affect your vehicle's stability andhandling.
• Any damage caused by installation ofunapproved wheel/tire size combinationswill not be covered by your new vehiclewarranty. Volvo assumes no responsibilityfor death, injury, or expenses that mayresult from such installations.
Wheel (rim) designations Wheel and rim dimensions are shown in the fol- lowing table.
The vehicle has been certified with certain combi- nations of wheels and tires. The following table shows an
example of wheel
dimensions: 8Jx18x42.5. This particular wheel may not be available on your vehicle.
8 Wheel width in inches
J Rim flange profile
18 Wheel diameter in inches
42.5 Offset in mm (distance from the center of the wheel to the wheel's contact sur- face on the hub)
Related information
•Tire sidewall designations (p. 454)
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456
Tire terminology The following is a glossary of tire-related terms.
The tire suppliers may have additional markings, notes or warnings such as standard load, radialtubeless, etc.• Tire information placard
: A placard show-
ing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes,recommended inflation pressure, and themaximum weight the vehicle can carry.
• Tire Identification Number (TIN)
: A number
on the sidewall of each tire providing infor-mation about the tire brand and manufactur-ing plant, tire size and date 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 maximum load at35 psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires].Increasing the inflation pressure beyond thispressure will not increase the tires load car-rying capability.
• Extra load
: A class of P-metric or Metric
tires designed to carry a heavier maximumload at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metrictires]. Increasing the inflation pressurebeyond this pressure will not increase thetire's load carrying capability.
• kPa
: Kilopascal, a metric unit of air pressure.
• 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 perime-
ter of the tire that contacts the road whenmounted on the vehicle.
• Rim
: The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a
tire and tube assembly upon which the tirebeads are seated.
• Maximum load rating
: a figure indicating
the maximum load in pounds and kilogramsthat can be carried by the tire. This rating isestablished by the tire manufacturer.
• Maximum permissible inflation pressure
:
the greatest amount of air pressure thatshould ever be put in the tire. This limit is setby the tire manufacturer.
• Recommended tire inflation pressure
:
inflation pressure, established by Volvo,which is based on the type of tires that aremounted on a vehicle at the factory. Thisinformation can be found on the tire inflationplacard(s) located on the driver's side B-pillarand in the tire inflation table in this chapter.
• Cold tires
: The tires are considered to be
cold when they have the same temperatureas the surrounding (ambient) air. This tem- perature is normally reached after the vehiclehas been parked for at least 3 hours.
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457
Tire direction of rotation
Incorrectly mounted tires impair the car's braking properties and ability to force aside rain, snowand slush.
The arrows shows the direction of rotation of the tire
• The tires with the most tread should always be on the rear axle (to help reduce the risk ofskidding).
• When switching between summer and wintertires, mark the tires to indicate where theywere mounted on the car, e.g., LF = left front,RR = right rear
• Tires with tread designed to roll in only onedirection are marked with an arrow on thesidewall.
• Contact a trained and qualified Volvo servicetechnician if you are unsure about the treaddepth.
Related information
•Tires (p. 452)
Tread wear indicator
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 onthe tread, these strips become visible and indi-cate that the tire should be replaced. Tires withless than 1/16" (1.6 mm) tread offer very poortraction. When replacing worn tires, it is recommended that the tire be identical in type (radial) and sizeas the one being replaced. Using a tire of thesame make (manufacturer) will help preventalteration of the driving characteristics of thevehicle.
Related information
• Tire direction of rotation (p. 457)
• Checking tire inflation pressure (p. 460)
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460
CAUTION
•Snow chains should not be used on wheels larger than 19".
• Always follow the chain manufacturer'sinstallation instructions carefully. Installchains as tightly as possible andretighten periodically.
• Check local regulations regarding the useof snow chains before installing.
• Use single-sided snow chains only.
• Never exceed the chain manufacturer'sspecified maximum speed limit. (Underno circumstances should you exceed31 mph (50 km/h).
• Avoid bumps, holes or sharp turns whendriving with snow chains.
• The handling of the vehicle can beadversely affected when driving withchains. Avoid fast or sharp turns as wellas locked wheel braking.
Checking tire inflation pressure
Correct tire inflation pressure helps improve driv- ing stability, save fuel and increase the servicelife of the tires.
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 of vehi-cle control and increased risk of injury.
• Under-inflated tires reduce the load car-rying capacity of your vehicle.
Cold tiresInflation pressure should be checked when thetires 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 vehicle 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 youhave to drive farther than this distance to pumpyour tire(s), check and record the tire pressurefirst and add the appropriate air pressure whenyou get to the pump. When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also change. A 10-degree temperature drop causes a corresponding dropof 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check yourtire pressures frequently and adjust them to theproper pressure, which can be found on the vehi-cle's tire information placard or certification label. If checking tire pressure when the tire is hot, never "bleed" or reduce air pressure. The tiresare hot from driving and it is normal for pressuresto increase above recommended cold pressures.A hot tire at or below recommended cold inflationpressure could be significantly under-inflated.
Recommended inflation pressures
Tire inflation placard
A tire inflation pressure placard is located on the driver's side B-pillar (the structural member at theside of the vehicle, at the rear of the driver's dooropening). This placard indicates the designation