2019 VOLVO XC90 TWIN ENGINE tires

STARTING AND DRIVING
472Preparing for a long trip
It is important to have the vehicle's systems and
equipment checked carefully before driving long
distances.
Check that:
the engine is running properly and that fuel
consumption is normal
there are no leaks (fuel, oil or other fluid)
the brake pedal is functioning optimally
all lights are working ‒ adjust the headlight
height if the vehicle is carrying a heavy load
tire tread depth and air pressure are at cor-
rect levels. Change to snow tires when driv-
ing in areas where there is a risk of snowy or
icy roads
the start battery is sufficiently charged
the wiper blades are in good condition
Related information
Checking tire pressure (p. 567)
Filling washer fluid (p. 662)
Winter driving (p. 472)
Economical driving (p. 467)
Vehicle modem settings (p. 545)
Loading recommendations (p. 598)
Driving with a trailer (p. 483)
Pilot Assist (p. 316)
Speed limiter (p. 283)
Tire sealing system (p. 582) Winter driving
It is important to check the vehicle before driving
in cold/snowy conditions to make sure it can be
driven safely.
Before the cold season arrives: Make sure the engine coolant contains 50%
antifreeze. This mixture helps protect the
engine from frost erosion down to
approx. -35 °C (-31 °F). Do not mix different
types of antifreeze as this could pose a
health risk.
Keep the fuel tank well filled to prevent con-
densation from forming.
Check the viscosity of the engine oil. Oil with
low viscosity (thinner oil) improves cold-
weather starting and reduces fuel consump-
tion when driving with a cold engine.
CAUTION Low-viscosity oil should not be used with hard
driving or in hot weather.

Check the condition and charge level of the
start battery. Cold weather places greater
demands on the start battery and reduces its
capacity.
Use washer fluid containing antifreeze to
help prevent ice from forming in the washer
fluid reservoir.

STARTING AND DRIVING
473
Slippery driving conditionsFor optimal traction and roadholding, Volvo rec-
ommends using snow tires on all wheels when-
ever there is a risk of snow or ice on the road.
NOTECertain countries require use of winter tires
by law. Not all countries permit the use of
studded tires.
Practice driving on slippery surfaces under con-
trolled conditions to learn how the vehicle reacts.
Related information

Snow tires (p. 581)
Snow chains (p. 581)
Braking on salted roads (p. 441)
Braking on wet roads (p. 441)
Filling washer fluid (p. 662)
Start battery (p. 627)
Replacing windshield wiper blades (p. 660)
Changing rear window wipers (p. 659)
Refilling coolant (p. 625) Driving through standing water
Driving the vehicle through a deep pool of stand-
ing water on a water-covered roadway is called
fording. This must be done with great caution.
To prevent damage to the vehicle when driving
through water (e.g. on flooded roads):
Do not drive in water higher than the floor of
the vehicle. If possible, check the depth of
the water at its deepest point before driving
through it. Be particularly careful when driv-
ing through flowing water.
Always select the
Off Road drive mode
before driving in water to ensure the gasoline
engine is running.
Do not drive faster than walking speed.
Do not stop the vehicle in the water. Drive
carefully forward or back the vehicle out of
the water.
Remember that waves created by passing
vehicles could cause the water level to rise
above the vehicle's floor level.
Avoid driving through salt water to help avoid
the risk of corrosion.
CAUTION Parts of the vehicle (e.g. engine, transmission,
driveline, electrical components, etc.) can be
damaged if the vehicle is driven through water
higher than its floor level. Damage to any
components caused by flooding, vapor lock or
insufficient oil is not covered under warranty.
If the engine stalls while the vehicle is in
water, do not attempt to restart it. Have the
vehicle towed on the bed of a tow truck to a
workshop - an authorized Volvo workshop is
recommended.
CAUTION
Because it can be difficult to determine the
water depth, avoid driving through standing or
running water.
When you have passed the water, press lightly on
the brake pedal and check that the brakes are
functioning properly. Water, mud, slush, etc. can
make the brake linings slippery, resulting in
delayed braking effect.
If the vehicle is equipped with a trailer coupling
contact, clean the contact after driving in water or
mud.
Related information

Recovery (p. 489)
Low Speed Control (p. 464)

WHEELS AND TIRES
560Tires
The function of the tires is to carry loads, provide
traction on road surfaces, reduce vibrations and
protect the wheels from wear.
The tires significantly influence the vehicle's driv-
ing characteristics. The type, dimensions, tire
pressure and speed rating have a considerable
impact on how the vehicle performs.
Your vehicle is equipped with tires according to
the vehicle's tire information placard on the B-pil-
lar (the structural member at the side of the vehi-
cle, at the rear of the driver's door opening).
WARNING A damaged tire could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
CAUTION Some Volvo models are equipped with an
Ultra High Performance tire and wheel com-
bination designed to provide maximum dry
pavement performance with consideration for
hydroplaning resistance. They may be more
susceptible to road hazard damage and,
depending on driving conditions, may achieve
a tread life of less than 30,000 km (20,000
miles). Even if this vehicle is equipped with
Volvo's advanced AWD or stability system,
these tires are not designed for winter driving,
and should be replaced with winter tires when
weather conditions dictate.
The tires have good road holding characteristics
and offer good handling on dry and wet surfaces.
It should be noted however that the tires have
been developed to give these features on snow/
ice-free surfaces.
Most models are equipped with "all-season" tires,
which provide a somewhat higher degree of road-
holding on slippery road surfaces than tires with-
out the "all-season" rating. However, for optimal
roadholding on icy or snow-covered roads, Volvo
recommends snow tires on all four wheels.
When replacing tires, be sure that the new tires
are the same size designation, type (radial) and
preferably from the same manufacturer, on allfour wheels. Otherwise there is a risk of altering
the vehicle's roadholding and handling characte-
ristics.
Recommended tiresOn delivery, the car is equipped with Volvo origi-
nal tires that have the VOL
1
marking on the side
of the tires. These tires have been designed spe-
cifically for your vehicle. It is therefore important
when replacing tires that the new tires have this
same marking to help maintain the vehicle's driv-
ing characteristics, comfort and fuel consumption.
New tires Tires are perishable goods. After a few years,
they will begin to harden and their friction proper-
ties will gradually deteriorate. Always replace tires
with the freshest tires possible. This is particularly
important for snow tires. A series of numbers is
1
This may vary for certain tire dimensions.

WHEELS AND TIRES
}}
561
imprinted on the sidewall of the tire. The last four
digits in the series is the Department of
Transportation (DOT) stamp and indicates the
week and year the tire was manufactured. The
tire in the illustration has 0717 as the last four
digits, which means it was manufactured week 7
of 2017.
Tire ageTires degrade over time, even when they are not
being used. It is recommended that tires gener-
ally be replaced after 6 years of normal service.
Heat caused by hot climates, frequent high load-
ing conditions or Ultra Violet (U.V.) exposure can
accelerate the aging process. The temporary
spare
2
should also be replaced at 6-year inter-
vals, even if it has never been used. A tire with
e.g., visible cracks or discoloration should be
replaced immediately.
Tire economy
Maintain correct tire pressure.
Avoid fast starts, hard braking and tire
screeching.
Tire wear increases with speed.
Correct front wheel alignment is very impor-
tant.
Unbalanced wheels impair tire economy and
driving comfort.
Tires must maintain the same direction of
rotation throughout their lifetime.
When replacing tires, the tires with the most
tread should be mounted on the rear wheels
to reduce the chance of oversteer during
hard braking.
Hitting curbs or potholes can damage the
tires and/or wheels permanently.
Tire rotationYour vehicle has no required tire rotation. Driving
style, tire pressure, climate and road conditions
affect how quickly the tires age and exhibit signs
of wear. Maintaining the correct tire pressure
helps keep tread wear evenly distributed.
To help prevent differences in tread depth and
wear patterns forming on the tires, the front and
rear wheels should be rotated, i.e. the front tires
moved to the rear and the rear tires moved to the
front. Ideally, tire rotation should be done the first
time after approximately 5000 km (ca
3100 miles) and thereafter at 10,000 km
(approx. 6200 miles) intervals.
If you have any questions regarding tread depth,
Volvo recommends consulting an authorized
Volvo workshop. If significant differences in wear
(> 1 mm difference in tread depth) between the
tires have already occurred, the least worn tires
should always be mounted on the rear wheels. A
front-wheel skid (understeer) is usually easier to control than a rear-wheel skid (oversteer). If the
front wheels skid, the vehicle will continue in a
straight line instead of the rear wheels skidding
to the side, which could cause you to completely
lose control of the vehicle. It is therefore impor-
tant that the rear wheels never lose grip before
the front wheels.
Storing wheels and tiresWhen storing complete wheels (tires mounted on
rims), they should be suspended off the floor or
placed on their sides on the floor.
Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on
their sides or standing upright, but should not be
suspended.
CAUTION
Tires should preferably be stored in a cool,
dry, dark place, and should never be stored in
close proximity to solvents, gasoline, oils, etc.
2
Not available on all models.

||WHEELS AND TIRES
* Option/accessory.
562
WARNING
The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo
are specified to meet stringent stability
and handling requirements. Unapproved
wheel/tire size combinations can nega-
tively affect your vehicle's stability and
handling.
Any damage caused by installation of
unapproved wheel/tire size combinations
will not be covered by your new vehicle
warranty. Volvo assumes no responsibility
for death, injury, or expenses that may
result from such installations.
Related information
Checking tire pressure (p. 567)
Tire direction of rotation (p. 562)
Tread wear indicator (p. 563)
Tire pressure monitoring system* (p. 569)
Tire sealing system (p. 582)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (p. 566)
Tire terminology (p. 563)
Tire sidewall designations (p. 564)
Loading recommendations (p. 598) Tire direction of rotation
Tires with tread designed to roll in only one
direction are marked with an arrow on the side-
wall. The arrow shows the tire's direction of rotation.
The tire should maintain the same direction
of rotation throughout its service life.
Tires should only be moved between the
front and back, never from right to left or vice
versa.
Incorrectly mounted tires impair the vehicle's
braking properties and ability to force aside
rain, snow and slush.
The tires with the most tread should always
be mounted on the rear wheels to help
reduce the risk of skidding.
NOTE Use tires of the same type, dimensions and
make (manufacturer) on each axle.
Related information

Tires (p. 560)

WHEELS AND TIRES
}}
563
Tread wear indicator
The tread wear indicator shows the status of the
tire's tread. The tread wear indicator is a narrow elevated
strip running across the tire's longitudinal tread
grooves. The letters TWI (Tread Wear Indicator)
are visible on the side of the tire. When approxi-
mately 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) is left on the tread,
the tread will be at the same height as the tread
wear indicator. Replace the tire as soon as possi-
ble. Tires with low tread offer very poor traction in
rain or snow.
Related information

Tires (p. 560) 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, radial
tubeless, etc.
Tire information placard: A placard show-
ing the OE (Original Equipment) tire sizes,
recommended inflation pressure, and the
maximum 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 manufacture.
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 at 35
psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metric tires]. Increas-
ing the inflation pressure beyond this pres-
sure will not increase the tires load carrying
capability.
Extra load: A class of P-metric or Metric
tires designed to carry a heavier maximum
load at 41 psi [43 psi (2.9 bar) for Metric
tires]. Increasing the inflation pressure
beyond this pressure will not increase the
tire'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 when
mounted on the vehicle.
Rim: The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a
tire and tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Maximum load rating: a figure indicating
the maximum load in pounds and kilograms
that can be carried by the tire. This rating is
established by the tire manufacturer.
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 manufacturer.
Recommended tire inflation pressure:
inflation pressure, established by Volvo,
which is based on the type of tires that are
mounted on a vehicle at the factory. This
information can be found on the tire inflation
placard(s) located on the driver's 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 temperature
as the surrounding (ambient) air. This tem-

||WHEELS AND TIRES
564
perature is normally reached after the vehicle
has been parked for at least 3 hours.
Related information

Tires (p. 560) 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 of
all 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 be
driven for extended periods of time, carrying
a permissible load for the vehicle, and with
correct inflation pressure. For example, H
indicates a speed rating of 210 km/h
(130 mph). 3
Self-supporting run flat tires may not be available on all models.

WHEELS AND TIRES
565
NOTEThe tire's load index and speed rating may
not appear on the sidewall because they are
not 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 federal
standards. The next two numbers are the
factory code where the tire was manufac-
tured, the next two are the tire size code and
the last four numbers represent the week
and year the tire was made. For example,
0717 means that the tire was manufactured
during week 7 of 2017. The numbers in
between are marketing codes used at the
manufacturer's discretion. This information
helps a tire manufacturer identify a tire for
safety recall purposes.
9. Tire Ply Composition and Material Used:
Indicates the number of plies indicates or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in
the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manufactur-
ers also must indicate the ply materials in the
tire and the sidewall, which include steel,
nylon, polyester, and others.
10. Maximum Load: Indicates the maximum
load in pounds and kilograms that can be
carried by the tire. Refer to the vehicle's tire information placard located on the B-Pillar
for the correct tire pressure for your vehicle.
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature
grades.
12. 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 manufacturer.
Speed SymbolA tire's Speed Symbol (SS) indicates the maxi-
mum speed for which the tire has been certified
and should be at least equivalent to the vehicle's
top speed.
Winter tires, with or without studs, are exceptions
and may use a lower SS. When winter tires are
installed, the vehicle may not be driven faster
than the tires' SS.
The vehicle's speed should always be determined
by the posted speed limit and traffic and road
conditions, not the tire's SS.
The following table indicates the maximum per-
missible speed for each SS. M 130 km/h (81 mph)
Q

160 km/h (100 mph)
T 190 km/h (118 mph)
H 210 km/h (130 mph) V 240 km/h (149 mph)
W

270 km/h (168 mph)
Y 300 km/h (186 mph)
WARNING
The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo
are specified to meet stringent stability
and handling requirements. Unapproved
wheel/tire size combinations can nega-
tively affect your vehicle's stability and
handling.
Any damage caused by installation of
unapproved wheel/tire size combinations
will not be covered by your new vehicle
warranty. Volvo assumes no responsibility
for death, injury, or expenses that may
result from such installations.
Related information
Tires (p. 560)