Page 166 of 235

164Driving and operatingTrailer hitch
General information
Entrust retrofitting of towing
equipment to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment. Only use
towing equipment that has been
approved for your vehicle.
Driving characteristics and towing tips
In the case of trailers with brakes,
attach the breakaway stopping cable.
Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the coupling ball. However, do not do so if a stabiliser, which acts on thecoupling ball, is being used to reduce
snaking movements. For trailers with
low driving stability the use of a
stabiliser is recommended.
A maximum speed of 80 km/h must
not be exceeded, even in countries
where higher speeds are permitted.If the trailer starts snaking, drive more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 216.
Trailer towing
Trailer loads The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In
general, they are valid for gradients
up to max. 12%.
The permitted trailer load applies up
to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 m above sea level.Since engine power decreases as
altitude increases due to the air
becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross
train weight also decreases by 10% for every 1000 m of additional
altitude. The gross train weight does
not have to be reduced when driving
on roads with slight inclines (less than 8%, e.g. motorways).
The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 210.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load is specified on the
towing equipment identification plate
and in the vehicle documents. Always aim for the maximum load, especially in the case of heavy trailers. The
vertical coupling load should never
fall below 25 kg.
Page 190 of 235

188Vehicle careWheels and tyres
Tyre condition, wheel condition Drive over edges slowly and at right
angles if possible. Driving over sharp
edges can cause tyre and wheel
damage. Do not trap tyres on the kerb when parking.
Regularly check the wheels for
damage. Seek the assistance of a
workshop in the event of damage or
unusual wear.
We recommend not swapping the
front wheels with the rear wheels and
vice versa, as this can affect vehicle
stability. Always use less worn tyres
on the rear axle.
Tyres
Factory-fitted tyres are matched to
the chassis and offer optimum driving comfort and safety.Winter tyres
Winter tyres improve driving safety at temperatures below 7 °C and should
therefore be fitted on all wheels.
In accordance with country-specific
regulations, a notice indicating the
maximum permissible speed for the
tyres must be affixed within the
driver's field of vision.
Tyre designations
E.g. 195/65 R 16 C 88 Q195:Tyre width, mm65:Cross-section ratio (tyre height
to tyre width), %R:Belt type: RadialRF:Type: RunFlat16:Wheel diameter, inchesC:Cargo or commercial use88:Load index e.g. 88 is
equivalent to 567 kgQ:Speed code letter
Speed code letter:
Q:up to 160 km/hS:up to 180 km/hT:up to 190 km/hH:up to 210 km/hV:up to 240 km/hW:up to 270 km/h
Choose a tyre appropriate for the
maximum speed of your vehicle.
The maximum speed is achievable at kerb weight with driver (75 kg) plus
125 kg payload. Optional equipment
could reduce the maximum speed of
the vehicle.
Directional tyres
Fit directional tyres such that they roll in the direction of travel. The rolling
direction is indicated by a symbol
(e.g. an arrow) on the sidewall.
Tyre pressure
Check the pressure of cold tyres at
least every 14 days and before any
long journey. Do not forget the spare
wheel. This also applies to vehicles
with tyre pressure monitoring system.
Page 200 of 235

198Vehicle careCaution
The use of a spare wheel that issmaller than the other wheels or in combination with winter tyres
could affect driveability. Have the defective tyre replaced as soon as
possible.
It may be necessary to jack the
vehicle up to gain access to the spare
wheel on a fully loaded vehicle with a
flat rear tyre.
Wheel changing 3 196.
The spare wheel is mounted under
the rear underbody and may be
secured using a security bolt that can
only be removed using the wheel bolt sleeve supplied.
Vehicle tools 3 187.9 Warning
Due to the weight of the tyre
assembly, exercise caution when
releasing the spare wheel carrier.
Do not fully remove bolt 1.
Support the spare wheel with a
suitable object to prevent the
wheel falling suddenly when
loosening the carrier bolts - risk of injury!
To release the spare wheel carrier,fully remove bolt 2 then loosen bolt 1,
ensuring it is not fully removed. Then
move the spare wheel carrier up and
down and from side to side, until it
clears bolt 1, and lower the carrier
assembly.
When installing the wheel ensure that
the spare wheel carrier is correctly
positioned before tightening the bolts.
Summer and winter tyres
If you use winter tyres, the spare
wheel may still be fitted with a
summer tyre.
If you use the spare wheel when it is
fitted with a summer tyre the vehicle's driveability may be affected,
especially on slippery road surfaces.
Directional tyres
Fit directional tyres such that they roll in the direction of travel. The rolling
direction is indicated by a symbol
(e.g. an arrow) on the sidewall.
The following applies to tyres fitted
opposing the rolling direction:
● Driveability may be affected. Have the defective tyre renewed
or repaired as soon as possible
and fit it instead of the spare
wheel.
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h.
● Drive particularly carefully on wet
and snow-covered road
surfaces.
Page 212 of 235

210Technical dataIdentification plate
The identification plate is located on
the right-hand door pillar.
Information on identification plate:1:Manufacturer2:Type approval number3:Vehicle Identification Number4:Permissible gross vehicle weight
rating in kg5:Permissible gross train weight
in kg6:Maximum permissible front axle
load in kg7:Maximum permissible rear axle
load in kg8:Engine coding9:Vehicle-specific or country
specific data
Note
The identification plate on your
vehicle may differ from the
illustration shown.
The combined total of front and rear
axle loads must not exceed the
permissible gross vehicle weight.
Vehicle's kerb weight depends on the
specification of the vehicle, e.g.
optional equipment and accessories.
Refer to the EEC Certificate of
Conformity provided with your vehicle
or other national registration
documents.
The technical data is determined in
accordance with European
Community standards. We reserve
the right to make modifications.
Specifications in the vehicle
documents always have priority over
those given in this manual.
Engine identification
Vivaro has diesel engines with four
cylinders and a piston displacement
of 1598 cm 3
. The engine identifier
code starts with R9M and identifies
the power and the emission category. It is part of the identification plate and
stamped on the engine cylinder block.
For further technical data, refer to the
EEC Certificate of Conformity
provided with your vehicle or other
national registration documents.
It is also possible, using the Vehicle
Identification Number (VIN), to
determine the engine type that is installed in your vehicle. For further
information consult a workshop.