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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 numberon 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 theamount of air in a tire.
•Standard load: A class of P-metric or Metrictires 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 Metrictires 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 unitof air pressure.
•B-pillar: The structural member at the sideof the vehicle behind the front door.
•Bead area of the tire: Area of the tire nextto the rim.
•Sidewall of the tire: Area between the beadarea 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 atire and tube assembly upon which the tirebeads are seated.
•Maximum load rating: a figure indicatingthe 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 becold 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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Tire direction of rotation
Incorrectly mounted tires impair the car's brakingproperties 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 alwaysbe 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. 478)Tread wear indicator
The tires have wear indicator strips runningacross 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 recommendedthat 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. 483)
•Checking tire inflation pressure (p. 486)
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CAUTION
•Snow chains should not be used onwheels 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 commoncause 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 tires
Inflation pressure should be checked when thetires are cold.
The tires are considered to be cold whenthey have the same temperature as the sur-rounding (ambient) air.
This temperature is normally reached after thevehicle 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, tireinflation 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 thedriver'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
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of the factory-mounted tires on your vehicle, aswell as load limits and inflation pressure.
NOTE
•The placard shown indicates inflationpressure for the tires installed on thevehicle at the factory only.
•A certain amount of air seepage from thetires occurs naturally and tire pressurefluctuates with seasonal changes in tem-perature. Always check tire pressure reg-ularly.
•Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation
pressure, including the spare4, at least oncea month and before long trips. You arestrongly urged to buy a reliable tire pressuregauge, as automatic service station gaugesmay be inaccurate.
•Use the recommended cold inflation pres-sure for optimum tire performance and wear.
•Under-inflation or over-inflation may causeuneven treadwear patterns.
Checking tire pressure
1. Remove the cap from the valve on one tire,then firmly press the tire gauge onto thevalve.
2. Add air to reach the recommended air pres-sure.
3. Replace the valve cap.
CAUTION
•After inflating the tires, always reinstall thevalve cap to help avoid damage to thevalve from dirt, gravel, etc.
•Use plastic valve caps only. Metal capscould corrode and become difficult toremove.
4. Visually inspect the tires to make sure thereare no nails or other objects embedded thatcould puncture the tire and cause an air leak.
5.Check the sidewalls to make sure there areno gouges, cuts, bulges or other irregulari-ties.
6. Repeat this procedure for each tire, includingthe spare.
NOTE
If you overfill the tire, release air by pushingon the metal stem in the center of the valve.Then recheck the pressure with your tiregauge.
Changing tires
When changing wheels to another dimension,always follow Volvo's instructions.
When changing to tires of another
dimension
If you mount tires with a dimension other thanthe factory-installed tires, contact an authorizedVolvo retailer to update the vehicle's software.This may also be necessary when changing fromsummer to winter tires, or vice versa.
Related information
•Snow tires and chains (p. 485)
•Installing a wheel (p. 491)
•Removing a wheel (p. 489)
4Not available in all models.
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491
Installing a wheel
It is important to install wheels properly.
1. Clean the contact surfaces on the wheel andhub.
2.Lift the wheel and place it on the hub.
3. Install the wheel bolts and tighten hand-tight.Using the lug wrench, tighten crosswise untilall bolts are snug.
4.Lower the vehicle to the ground and alter-nately tighten the bolts crosswise to103 ft. lbs. (140 Nm).
5. Press the plastic covers onto the wheel bolts.
CAUTION
•After inflating the tires, always reinstallthe valve cap to help avoid damage to thevalve from dirt, gravel, etc.
•Use plastic valve caps only. Metal capscould corrode and become difficult toremove.
Related information
•Wheel bolts (p. 489)
•Jack (p. 488)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)
TPMS provides a warning if inflation pressure inone or more tires is too low. It also uses a sym-bol (called a telltale) that will flash for60 seconds and then glow steadily if there is asystem malfunction.
TPMS uses the rotational speed of the tires incombination with signal analysis of the ABS sen-sor signals to determine if they are properly infla-ted. When a tire is under-inflated, its diameter(and consequently also its rotational speed)changes. By comparing the individual tires witheach other it is possible to determine if one ormore tires are under inflated. If inflation pressureis too low, an indicator symbol will illuminate inthe instrument panel and a text message will bedisplayed.
SymbolExplanation
The symbol illuminates to indicatelow tire inflation pressure.
If a malfunction occurs in the sys-tem, the tire pressure warning sym-bol will flash for approximately1 minute and then remain illumi-nated.
Each tire, including the spare (if provided), shouldbe checked monthly when cold and inflated to
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the inflation pressure recommended by the vehi-cle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tireinflation pressure label. (If your vehicle has tiresof a different size than the size indicated on thevehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, youshould determine the proper tire inflation pres-sure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle hasbeen equipped with a tire pressure monitoringsystem (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pres-sure telltale when one or more of your tires issignificantly under-inflated. Accordingly, when thelow tire pressure telltale illuminates, you shouldstop and check your tires as soon as possible,and inflate them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire cau-ses the tire to overheat and can lead to tire fail-ure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiencyand tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle'shandling and stopping ability. Please note thatthe TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire main-tenance, and it is the driver's responsibility tomaintain correct tire pressure, even if under-infla-tion has not reached the level to trigger illumina-tion of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with aTPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when thesystem is not operating properly. The TPMS mal-function indicator is combined with the low tirepressure telltale.
When the system detects a malfunction, the tell-tale will flash for approximately one minute andthen remain continuously illuminated. Thissequence will continue upon subsequent vehiclestart-ups as long as the malfunction exists. Whenthe malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-tem may not be able to detect or signal low tirepressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety ofreasons, including the installation of replacementor alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle thatprevent the TPMS from functioning properly.Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale afterreplacing one or more tires or wheels on yourvehicle to ensure that the replacement or alter-nate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to con-tinue to function properly.
Messages in the instrument panel
When the TPMS symbol illuminates, the followingtext messages may also be displayed:
•Tire pressure low
•Tire pressure system Temporarilyunavailable
•Tire pressure system Service required
If TPMS cannot determine which tire(s) have lowinflation pressure:
•All four tires will be shown as affected in thecenter display
After changing wheels, always calibrate the sys-tem to avoid false warnings.
TPMS does not replace the need for regular tireinspection and maintenance.
NOTE
If you change to tires with a different dimen-sion than the factory-installed ones, theTPMS system must be calibrated for thesetires.
TPMS cannot be turned off.
WARNING
Incorrect inflation pressure could lead to tirefailure, resulting in a loss of control of thevehicle.
Related information
•Checking tire inflation pressure (p. 493)
•Reinflating tires equipped with the TirePressure Monitoring System (TPMS)(p. 494)
•Ignition modes (p. 400)
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Checking tire inflation pressure
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)makes it possible to view the current inflationpressure status of all four tires.
Checking inflation pressure
Open the Car status app inthe center display's Applicationview. Tap Status to see thecurrent inflation pressure sta-tus of all four tires.
The on-screen graphic displays the inflation pres-sure status.
Status view. The illustration is generic and may vary frommodel to model or after a software update
Color indications:
Green: tire pressure is above the threshold for alow inflation pressure warning.
Yellow: low tire pressure.
•One yellow wheel: the tire indicated is under-inflated.
•All wheels yellow: two or more tires areunder-inflated.
Stop safely and check/reinflate the tire(s) assoon as possible. Calibrate TPMS after reinflatingthe tire(s).
All wheels gray:
•Calibration is underway
•Inflation pressure status is not known
It might be necessary to drive at a speed of atleast 20 mph (30 km/h) for several minutes forthe system to become operational.
All wheels gray combined with the messageTire pressure system Temporarilyunavailable and the TPMS symbol in the
instrument panel () remains illuminatedafter flashing for 1 minute: the system is tem-porarily unavailable. It should become operationalagain shortly.
All wheels gray combined with the messageTire pressure system Service required andthe TPMS symbol in the instrument panel
() remains illuminated after flashing for1 minute: the system is not functioning correctly.Have it checked by a trained and qualified Volvoservice technician.
Related information
•Calibrating the Tire Pressure MonitoringSystem (TPMS) (p. 495)
•Reinflating tires equipped with the TirePressure Monitoring System (TPMS)(p. 494)
•Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)(p. 491)
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Reinflating tires equipped with theTire Pressure Monitoring System(TPMS)
When low tire pressure has been detected, amessage will be displayed in the instrumentpanel and the Tire Pressure Monitoring Systemsymbol will illuminate.
SymbolExplanation
When the TPMS symbol illuminatesand a message is displayed, check,reinflate the tire(s) and calibrateTPMS.
1. Use a tire pressure gauge to check the infla-tion pressure of all four tires.
2.Re-inflate the tire(s) to the correct pressure.Consult the tire pressure decal located onthe driver's side B-pillar (the structural mem-ber at the side of the vehicle, at the rear ofthe driver's door opening) or the inflationpressure table in your printed owner's man-ual supplement.
3. Calibrate the Tire Pressure MonitoringSystem, see the article "Calibrating the TirePressure Monitoring System".
4. In some cases, it may be necessary to drivethe vehicle for several minutes at a speed ofat least 20 mph (30 km/h) to erase theTPMS telltale warning and the text message.Please be aware that the TPMS telltalewarning will not go out until the low tire pres-sure has been corrected and calibration hasbeen carried out.
NOTE
To help avoid incorrect tire inflation pressure,if possible only inflate the tires when they arecold. The tires are considered to be coldwhen they have the same temperature as thesurrounding (ambient) air. This temperature isnormally reached after the vehicle has beenparked for at least 3 hours. After driving a dis-tance of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km), thetires are considered to be warm.
CAUTION
When inflating tires, press the pump's mouth-piece straight onto the valve to help avoidbending or otherwise damaging the valve.
CAUTION
•After inflating the tires, always reinstallthe valve cap to help avoid damage to thevalve from dirt, gravel, etc.
•Use plastic valve caps only. Metal capscould corrode and become difficult toremove.
WARNING
•Incorrect inflation pressure could lead totire failure, resulting in a loss of control ofthe vehicle.
•Tire monitoring systems cannot indicatesudden tire damage caused by externalfactors (e.g., a blowout) in advance.
Related information
•Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)(p. 491)
•Checking tire inflation pressure (p. 493)
•Calibrating the Tire Pressure MonitoringSystem (TPMS) (p. 495)