WHEELS AND TIRES
* Option/accessory.549
Checking tire pressure
Correct inflation pressure helps improve drivingstability, save fuel and increase the service life ofthe tires.
Tire pressure decreases over time, which is nor-mal. Tire pressure also varies depending on theambient temperature. Driving on under-inflatedtires could cause the vehicle to overheat and leadto damage. Tire pressure affects traveling com-fort, road noise and driving characteristics.
Check the pressure in the tires every month. Usethe recommended inflation pressure for cold tiresfor optimal tire performance and wear. Under-inflated or over-inflated tires could cause uneventread wear.
Use an air pressure gauge and check the infla-tion pressure on all the tires, including the spare
tire4, at least once a month and before long trips.Volvo strongly recommends buying a reliable airpressure gauge, as the automatic gauges provi-ded at service stations may be inaccurate.
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 when theyhave the same temperature as the surrounding(ambient) air.
This temperature is normally reached after thevehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours.
After driving for approximately 1.6 km (1 mile),the tires are considered to be warm. If you needto drive longer than that to inflate the tires, checkand record the inflation pressure of the tires firstand inflate accordingly when you arrive at thepump.
When the ambient temperature changes, so doesthe inflation pressure. A 10-degree temperaturedrop causes a corresponding drop in inflationpressure of 1 psi (7 kPa). Check the inflationpressure of the tires regularly and adjust to the
correct pressure, which can be found on the vehi-cle's tire information placard or certification label.
If you check inflation pressure when the tires arewarm, you should never release air. The tiresbecome warm after driving and it is normal forwarm tires to have an inflation pressure abovethe recommended pressure for cold tires. A warmtire with an inflation pressure equal to or underthe recommended pressure for cold tires couldbe significantly under-inflated.
Related information
Adjusting tire pressure (p. 550)
Recommended tire pressure (p. 551)
Tire pressure monitoring system* (p. 551)
Tires (p. 542)
4Not available in all models.
