2021 VOLVO V90 CROSS COUNTRY Owners Manual

WHEELS AND TIRES
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535
Tires are perishable goods. After a few years, they will begin to harden and their frictionproperties will gradually deteriorate. Alwaysreplace tires with the freshest tires possible.This is particularly important for snow tires. Aseries of numbers is imprinted on the sidewallof the tire. The last four digits in the series isthe Department of Transportation (DOT)stamp and indicates the week and year thetire was manufactured. The tire in the illustra-tion has 0717 as the last four digits, whichmeans it was manufactured week 7 of 2017.
Tire ageTires degrade over time, even when they arenot being used. It is recommended that tiresgenerally be replaced after 6 years of normalservice. Heat caused by hot climates, frequenthigh loading conditions or Ultra Violet (U.V.)exposure can accelerate the aging process. The temporary spare
2
should also be replaced
at 6-year intervals, even if it has never been used. A tire with e.g., visible cracks or discol-oration should be replaced immediately.
Tire economy
Maintain correct tire pressure.
Avoid fast starts, hard braking and tirescreeching.
Tire wear increases with speed.
Correct front wheel alignment is veryimportant.
Unbalanced wheels impair tire economyand driving comfort.
Tires must maintain the same direction ofrotation throughout their lifetime.
When replacing tires, the tires with themost tread should be mounted on the rearwheels to reduce the chance of oversteerduring hard braking.
Hitting curbs or potholes can damage thetires and/or wheels permanently.
Tire rotationYour vehicle has no required tire rotation. Driv-ing style, tire pressure, climate and road con-ditions affect how quickly the tires age andexhibit signs of wear. Maintaining the correcttire pressure helps keep tread wear evenly dis-tributed. To help prevent differences in tread depth and wear patterns forming on the tires, the frontand rear wheels should be rotated, i.e. thefront tires moved to the rear and the rear tiresmoved to the front. Ideally, tire rotation shouldbe done the first time after approximately5000 km (ca 3100 miles) and thereafter at10,000 km (approx. 6200 miles) intervals. If you have any questions regarding tread depth, Volvo recommends consulting an authorized Volvo workshop. If significant dif-ferences in wear (> 1 mm difference in treaddepth) between the tires have already occur-red, the least worn tires should always bemounted on the rear wheels. A front-wheelskid (understeer) is usually easier to controlthan a rear-wheel skid (oversteer). If the frontwheels skid, the vehicle will continue in astraight line instead of the rear wheels skid-ding to the side, which could cause you tocompletely lose control of the vehicle. It istherefore important that the rear wheels neverlose grip before the front wheels.
Storing wheels and tiresWhen storing complete wheels (tires mountedon rims), they should be suspended off thefloor or placed on their sides on the floor. Tires not mounted on rims should be stored on their sides or standing upright, but should notbe suspended.
CAUTION
Tires should preferably be stored in a cool, dry, dark place, and should never be storedin close proximity to solvents, gasoline,oils, etc.
2
Not available on all models.

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WHEELS AND TIRES
* Option/accessory.
536
WARNING
The wheel and tire sizes for your Volvo are specified to meet stringent stabilityand handling requirements. Unap-proved wheel/tire size combinationscan negatively affect your vehicle's sta-bility and handling.
Any damage caused by installation ofunapproved wheel/tire size combina-tions will not be covered by your newvehicle warranty. Volvo assumes noresponsibility for death, injury, orexpenses that may result from suchinstallations.
Related information
Checking tire pressure (p. 541)
Tire direction of rotation (p. 536)
Tread wear indicator (p. 537)
Tire pressure monitoring system
*
(p. 543)
Tire sealing system (p. 556)
Uniform Tire Quality Grading (p. 540)
Tire terminology (p. 537)
Tire sidewall designations (p. 538)
Loading recommendations (p. 570)
Tire direction of rotation Tires with tread designed to roll in only one direction are marked with an arrow on thesidewall.
The arrow shows the tire's direction of rotation.
The tire should maintain the same direc- tion of rotation throughout its service life.
Tires should only be moved between thefront and back, never from right to left orvice versa.
Incorrectly mounted tires impair the vehi-cle's braking properties and ability to forceaside rain, snow and slush.
The tires with the most tread shouldalways be mounted on the rear wheels tohelp reduce the risk of skidding.
NOTE
Use tires of the same type, dimensions and make (manufacturer) on each axle.
Related information
Tires (p. 534)

WHEELS AND TIRES
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537
Tread wear indicatorThe 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 longitudinaltread grooves. The letters TWI (Tread WearIndicator) are visible on the side of the tire.When approximately 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) is lefton the tread, the tread will be at the sameheight as the tread wear indicator. Replace thetire as soon as possible. Tires with low treadoffer very poor traction in rain or snow.
Related information
Tires (p. 534)
Tire terminology
The following is a glossary of tire-related terms.
The tire suppliers may have additional mark- ings, notes or warnings such as standard load,radial tubeless, etc.
Tire information placard
: A placard
showing the OE (Original Equipment) tiresizes, recommended inflation pressure,and the maximum weight the vehicle cancarry.
Tire Identification Number (TIN)
: A num-
ber on the sidewall of each tire providinginformation about the tire brand and man-ufacturing plant, tire size and date of man-ufacture.
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 maximumload at 35 psi [37 psi (2.5 bar) for Metrictires]. Increasing the inflation pressurebeyond this pressure will not increase thetires load carrying 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 pres-
sure.
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 whichthe tire beads are seated.
Maximum load rating
: A figure indicating
the maximum load in pounds and kilo-grams that can be carried by the tire. Thisrating is established by the tire manufac-turer.
Maximum permissible inflationpressure
: The greatest amount of air pres-
sure 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 aremounted on a vehicle at the factory. Thisinformation can be found on the tire infla-

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WHEELS AND TIRES
538tion placard(s) located on the driver's side B-pillar and in the tire inflation table.
Cold tires
: The tires are considered to be
cold when they have the same tempera-ture as the surrounding (ambient) air. Thistemperature is normally reached after thevehicle has been parked for at least 3hours.
Related information
Tires (p. 534)
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 sidewallof all tires (see the illustration). The vehicle has been certified with certain combinations of wheels and tires. The following information is listed on the tire sidewall: The tire designation:
NOTE
Please be aware that the following tire designation is an example only and that
this particular tire may not be available onyour vehicle.
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, carry-ing a permissible load for the vehicle, andwith correct inflation pressure. For exam-ple, H indicates a speed rating of210 km/h (130 mph).
3 Self-supporting run flat tires may not be available on all models.

WHEELS AND TIRES
539
NOTE
The tire's load index and speed rating may not appear on the sidewall because theyare not required by law.
7.M+S or M/S = Mud and Snow, AT = All
Terrain, 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 are thefactory code where the tire was manufac-tured, the next two are the tire size codeand the last four numbers represent theweek and year the tire was made. Forexample, 0717 means that the tire wasmanufactured during week 7 of 2017. Thenumbers in between are marketing codesused at the manufacturer's discretion. Thisinformation helps a tire manufactureridentify a tire for safety recall purposes.
9. Tire Ply Composition and Material Used :
Indicates the number of plies indicates orthe number of layers of rubber-coated fab-ric in the tire tread and sidewall. Tire man-ufacturers also must indicate the plymaterials in the tire and the sidewall,which include steel, nylon, polyester, andothers.
10. Maximum Load : Indicates the maximum
load in pounds and kilograms that can be carried by the tire. Refer to the vehicle'stire information placard located on the B-Pillar for the correct tire pressure for yourvehicle.
11. Treadwear, Traction, and Temperaturegrades .
12. Maximum permissible inflationpressure: The greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in thetire. This limit is set by the tire manufac-turer.
Speed SymbolA tire's Speed Symbol (SS) indicates the maxi-mum speed for which the tire has been certi-fied and should be at least equivalent to thevehicle's top speed. Winter tires, with or without studs, are excep- tions and may use a lower SS. When wintertires are installed, the vehicle may not bedriven faster than the tires' SS. The vehicle's speed should always be deter- mined by the posted speed limit and trafficand road conditions, not the tire's SS. The following table indicates the maximum permissible 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 stabilityand handling requirements. Unap-proved wheel/tire size combinationscan negatively affect your vehicle's sta-bility and handling.
Any damage caused by installation ofunapproved wheel/tire size combina-tions will not be covered by your newvehicle warranty. Volvo assumes noresponsibility for death, injury, orexpenses that may result from suchinstallations.
Related information
Tires (p. 534)

WHEELS AND TIRES
540
Uniform Tire Quality GradingALL PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES MUST CONFORM TO FEDERAL SAFETYREQUIREMENTS IN ADDITION TO THESEGRADES .
Quality grades can be found, where applica- ble, on the tire sidewall between the treadshoulder and maximum section width. Forexample: Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
TREADWEARThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when testedunder controlled conditions on a specifiedgovernment test course. For example, a tiregraded 150 would wear one and one half (1 ½)times as well on the government course as atire graded 100. The relative performance oftires depends upon the actual conditions oftheir use, however, and many depart signifi-cantly from the norm due to variation in drivinghabits, maintenance practices and differencesin road characteristics and climate.
TRACTIONThe traction grades, from highest to lowest,are AA, A, B, and C, as measured under con-trolled conditions on specified governmenttest surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tiremarked C may have poor traction perform-ance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on braking (straight-ahead) tractiontests and is not a measure of cornering(turning) traction.
TEMPERATUREThe temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the tire's resistance to thegeneration of heat and its ability to dissipateheat when tested under controlled conditionson a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.Sustained high temperature can cause thematerial of the tire to degenerate and reducetire life, and excessive temperature can lead tosudden tire failure. The grade C correspondsto a minimum level of performance that allpassenger vehicle tires must meet under theFederal Motor Safety Standard No. 109.Grades B and A represent higher levels of per-formance on the laboratory test wheel thanthe minimum required by law.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this tire is estab- lished for a tire that is properly inflated andnot overloaded. Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive loading, either sepa-rately or in combination, can cause heatbuildup and tire failure.
Related information
Tires (p. 534)
Tire sidewall designations (p. 538)

WHEELS AND TIRES
* Option/accessory.541
Checking tire pressure
Correct inflation pressure helps improve driv- ing stability, save fuel and increase the serv-ice life of the tires.
Tire pressure decreases over time, which is normal. Tire pressure also varies depending onthe ambient temperature. Driving on under-inflated tires could cause the vehicle to over-heat and lead to damage. Tire pressure affectstraveling comfort, road noise and driving cha-racteristics. Check the pressure in the tires every month. Use the recommended inflation pressure forcold tires to help maintain good tire perform-ance. Under-inflated or over-inflated tirescould cause uneven tread wear. Use an air pressure gauge and check the infla- tion pressure on all the tires, including the spare tire 4
, at least once a month and before
long trips. Volvo recommends buying a relia- ble air pressure gauge, as the automaticgauges provided at service stations may beinaccurate.
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 ofvehicle control and increased risk ofinjury.
Under-inflated tires reduce the loadcarrying capacity of your vehicle.
Cold tiresInflation pressure should be checked when thetires are cold. The tires are considered to becold when they have the same temperature asthe surrounding (ambient) air. This tempera-ture is normally reached after the vehicle hasbeen parked for at least 3 hours. After driving for approximately 1.6 km (1 mile), the tires are considered to be warm. If youneed to drive longer than that to inflate thetires, check and record the inflation pressureof the tires first and inflate accordingly whenyou arrive at the pump. When the ambient temperature changes, so does the inflation pressure. A 10-degree tem-perature drop causes a corresponding drop ininflation pressure of 1 psi (7 kPa). Check theinflation pressure of the tires regularly andadjust to the correct pressure, which can be found on the vehicle's tire information decal orcertification label. If you check inflation pressure when the tires are warm, you should never release air. Thetires become warm after driving and it is nor-mal for warm tires to have an inflation pres-sure above the recommended pressure forcold tires. A warm tire with an inflation pres-sure equal to or under the recommended pres-sure for cold tires could be significantly under-inflated.Related information

Adjusting tire pressure (p. 542)
Recommended tire pressure (p. 543)
Tire pressure monitoring system
*
(p. 543)
Tires (p. 534)
4
Not available in all models.

WHEELS AND TIRES
542
Adjusting tire pressureTire pressure decreases over time, which is normal. The tire pressure must therefore beadjusted to maintain the recommended tirepressure.
Use the recommended inflation pressure for cold tires to help maintain good tire perform-ance and even wear.
NOTE
To help prevent incorrect inflation pressure, pressure should be checked when the tiresare cold. The tires are considered to becold when they have reached the sametemperature as the ambient temperature(about 3 hours after the vehicle was lastdriven). After driving for a few kilometers,the tires will warm up and the pressure willincrease.
1. Remove the valve cap from the tire and press the air pressure gauge firmly onto the valve.
2. Inflate the tire to the correct inflation pres- sure; see the tire pressure placard on thedriver's side B pillar for recommendedpressures for factory-mounted tires. 3. Screw the valve cap back on.
NOTE

After inflating a tire, always replace the valve cap to help prevent valve damagecaused by gravel, dirt, etc.
Use plastic valve caps only. Metal capscould corrode and become difficult toremove.
4. Visually inspect the tire to make sure there
are no nails or other embedded objects that could puncture the tire and cause airleakage.
5. Check the sidewalls to make sure there are no gouges, cuts, bulges or other irreg-ularities.
6. Repeat this procedure for each tire, includ- ing the spare tire 5
.
NOTE
If you have overfilled the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center ofthe valve. Then recheck the pressure withyour tire gauge. Some spare tires require higher inflation pressure than the other tires. Consult thetire inflation pressure table or the inflationpressure decal.
Related information
Recommended tire pressure (p. 543)
Checking tire pressure (p. 541)
Inflate tires with the compressor included in the tire sealing system (p. 560)
Approved tire pressure (p. 661)
5
Not available on all models.