Get Wheels and tyres -> Tyres Guide for Volvo XC40 SUV 2020

WHEELS AND TYRES

tion can therefore be affected. This applies to

all tyres that are stored for future use. Exam-

ples of external signs which indicate that the

tyre is unsuitable for use are cracks or disco-

louration.

Tyres

New tyres

The function of the tyres is to carry load, pro-

vide grip on the road surface, dampen vibra-

tion and protect the wheel from wear.

The tyres greatly affect the car's driving cha-

racteristics. The type of tyre, dimensions, tyre

pressure and speed rating are important for

how the car performs.

Tyre economy

Maintain the correct tyre pressure.

•

Avoid fast starts, heavy braking and

squealing tyres.

•

The car is fitted with tyres according to the

tyre information sticker found on the driver's

side door pillar (between the front door and

the rear door).

Tyre wear increases with speed.

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Correct wheel alignment is very important.

Unbalanced wheels worsen tyre economy

and travelling comfort.

Tyres are perishable. After a few years they

begin to harden at the same time as the fric-

tion capacity/characteristics gradually deterio-

rate. For this reason, aim to get as fresh tyres

as possible when you replace them. This is

especially important with regard to winter

tyres. The last four digits in the sequence

mean the week and year of manufacture. This

is the tyre's DOT marking (Department of

Transportation), and this is stated with four

digits, for example 0717. The tyre is then man-

ufactured in week 07, year 2017.

WARNING

A damaged tyre may lead to loss of control

over the car.

The tyres must have the same direction of

rotation during their entire service life.

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When you change tyres, the tyres with the

best tread must be fitted on the rear

wheels to reduce the risk of oversteer dur-

ing heavy braking.

Recommended tyres

On delivery, the car is equipped with Volvo

original tyres that have the VOL¹marking on

the side of the tyres. These tyres are carefully

adapted to the car. In the event of changing

tyres, it is therefore important that the new

tyres also have this marking in order for the

car's driving characteristics, comfort and fuel

consumption to be maintained.

If you drive over kerbstones or deep holes

you can damage the tyres and/or wheel

rims permanently.

•

Tyre rotation

Tyre age

The car has no mandatory tyre rotation. Driv-

ing style, tyre pressure, climate and road con-

dition affect how quickly the tyres age and

All tyres older than 6 years old should be

checked by an expert even if they seem

undamaged. Tyres age and decompose, even

if they are hardly ever or never used. The func-

There may be deviations for certain tyre dimensions.

526

WHEELS AND TYRES

wear. Correct tyre pressure results in more

even wear.

Approved wheel and tyre sizes (p. 648)

Recommendations for loading (p. 558)

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IMPORTANT

Tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and

dark place, and should never be stored

close to solvents, petrol, oils, etc.

To avoid differences in tread depth and to pre-

vent wear patterns forming on the tyres, the

front and rear wheels should be switched with

each other. A suitable distance for the first

change is approx. 5000 km (approx.

WARNING

3100 miles) and then at 10000 km (approx.

6200 miles) intervals.

Wheel rim size and tyre size for your

Volvo are specified to meet stringent

requirements for stability and driving

characteristics. Unapproved combina-

tions of wheel rim size and tyre size

may have a negative effect on the car's

stability and driving characteristics.

•

Volvo recommends the an authorised Volvo

workshop is contacted for checking if you are

uncertain about tread depth. If significant dif-

ferences in wear (> 1 mm difference in tread

depth) between tyres have already occurred,

then the least worn tyres must always be fit-

ted on the rear. Understeer is normally easier

to correct than oversteer, and leads to the car

continuing forwards in a straight line rather

than having the rear end skidding to one side,

resulting in possible complete loss of control

over the car. This is why it is important for the

rear wheels never to lose grip before the front

wheels.

Any damage caused by the fitting of

unapproved combinations of wheel rim

size and tyre size is not covered by the

new car warranty. Volvo accepts no lia-

bility for death, personal injury or any

costs caused by such installations.

•

Related information

Checking tyre pressure (p. 530)

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Storing wheels and tyres

Tyres' rotation direction (p. 529)

When you store complete wheels (tyres fitted

on wheel rims) they should be hung up or

positioned lying on their sides on the floor.

Tread wear indicators on the tyres

(p. 530)

Tyre pressure monitoring system*

(p. 533)

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Tyres not fitted on rims must be stored lying

on their sides or standing upright, but not

hung up.

Emergency puncture repair kit (p. 544)

Dimension designation for tyre (p. 528)

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* Option/accessory. 527

WHEELS AND TYRES

Dimension designation for tyre

Designations for tyre dimension, load index

and speed rating.

The car has an approval for the complete vehi-

cle with certain combinations of wheel rims

and tyres.

Speed rating

270 km/h (168 mph)

300 km/h (186 mph)

Each tyre can withstand a certain maximum

speed. Tyre speed rating, SS (Speed Symbol),

must at least correspond with the car's top

speed. The table below shows the maximum

permitted speed for each speed rating (SS).

The only exception to these regulations is win-

ter tyres², where a lower speed rating may be

used. If such a tyre is selected, the car must

not be driven more quickly than the tyre is

rated for. For example, cars with Q rating tyres

must be driven at speeds not exceeding

160 km/h (100 mph). The road conditions and

applicable road traffic rules determine how

quickly the car can be driven, not the speed

rating of the tyres.

WARNING

The lowest permitted tyre load index (LI)

and speed rating (SS) for the tyres for each

respective engine variant are shown in the

specifications, which can be found in the

printed owner's manual. If a tyre with too

low a load index or speed rating is used, it

may overheat and be damaged.

Designation of dimensions

All tyres have a dimension designation, for

example: 235/55 R18 100V.

235 Tyre width (mm)

55 Ratio between tyre wall height and

tyre width (%)

Related information

•

Tyres (p. 526)

Radial ply

Dimension designation for wheel rim

(p. 529)

•

18 Rim diameter in inches

NOTE

Approved wheel and tyre sizes (p. 648)

•

100 Codes for the maximum permitted

tyre load, tyre load index (LI)

The maximum permitted speed is specified

in the table.

Minimum permitted tyre load index and

speed rating for tyres (p. 650)

Speed rating for maximum permitted

speed, speed rating (SS). (In this

case 240 km/h (149 mph).)

160 km/h (100 mph) (used only on

winter tyres)

190 km/h (118 mph)

210 km/h (130 mph)

240 km/h (149 mph)

Load index

Each tyre has a certain capacity to carry a

load, a load index (LI). The car's weight deter-

mines the load capacity required of the tyres.

Both those with metal studs and those without.

528

WHEELS AND TYRES

Dimension designation for wheel

rim

Wheel and rim dimensions are designated in

accordance with the examples in the table

below.

Tyres' rotation direction

NOTE

Tyres with a tread pattern which are designed

to only turn in one direction have the direc-

tion of rotation marked with an arrow.

Make sure that both pairs of wheels have

the same type and dimension, and also the

same make.

The car has an approval for the complete vehi-

cle with certain combinations of wheel rims

and tyres.

Related information

Tyres (p. 526)

•

All wheel rims have a dimension designation,

for example: 7.5Jx18x50.5.

7.5

Rim width in inches

Rim flange profile

Rim diameter in inches

The arrow shows the tyre's direction of rotation.

50.5 Off-set in mm (distance from wheel

centre to wheel contact surface

against the hub)

The tyre must always rotate in the same

direction throughout its lifespan.

•

Tyres should only be switched between

front and rear positions, never between

left and right-hand sides, or vice versa.

•

Related information

Tyres (p. 526)

•

Dimension designation for tyre (p. 528)

Approved wheel and tyre sizes (p. 648)

If the tyres are fitted incorrectly, the car's

braking characteristics and capacity to

force rain and slush out of the way are

adversely affected.

•

Tyres with the greatest tread depth should

always be fitted to the rear of the car (to

decrease the risk of skidding).

529

WHEELS AND TYRES

Tread wear indicators on the tyres

Checking tyre pressure

Cold tyres

The tyre pressure must be checked when the

tyres are cold. Tyres are considered cold when

they have the same temperature as the sur-

rounding air. This temperature is normally

reached when the car has been parked for at

least three hours.

Tread wear indicators show the status of the

tyre's tread depth.

Correct tyre pressure helps to improve driv-

ing stability, save fuel and extend the service

life of the tyres.

Tyre pressure decreases over time, this is a

natural phenomenon. Tyre pressure also varies

depending on ambient temperature. Driving

on tyres with tyre pressure that is too low

could result in the tyres overheating and being

damaged. Tyre pressure affects travelling

comfort, road noise and driving characteris-

tics.

After having driven approximately 1.6 km

(1 mile) these tyres are considered as warm. If

you have to drive further than this to inflate the

tyres, first check and record the tyre pressure

and inflate to a suitable tyre pressure when

you arrive at the pump.

Check the tyre pressures monthly. Use the

recommended tyre pressure for cold tyres in

order to maintain good tyre performance. Tyre

pressure that is too low or too high may cause

uneven wear on the tyres.

When the outside temperature changes, the

tyre pressure also changes. A decrease in tem-

perature of 10 degrees causes the tyre pres-

sure to decrease 1 psi (7 kPa). Check the tyre

pressure regularly and adjust to the correct

pressure, which is specified on the car's tyre

information decal or certification label.

A tread wear indicator is a narrow elevation

across the longitudinal grooves of the tyre's

tread pattern. On the side of the tyre are the

letters TWI (Tread Wear Indicator). When the

tyre's tread depth is down to 1.6 mm (1/16

inch), the tread will be level in height with the

tread wear indicators. Change to new tyres as

soon as possible. Remember that tyres with

little tread depth provide very poor grip in rain

and snow.

WARNING

Tyre pressure that is too low is the

most common cause of tyre failure and

may result in serious cracks in the tyre,

the tread loosening or the tyre explod-

ing, with unexpected loss of control of

the car and increased risk of personal

injury.

•

If you check the tyre pressure when the tyres

are warm then you must never release any air.

The tyres are warm due to driving and it is nor-

mal for the pressure to increase above the rec-

ommended pressure for cold tyres. A warm

tyre with tyre pressure equal to or below the

recommendation for cold tyres may have a

pressure that is far too low.

Related information

Tyres with pressure that is too low

reduce the load capacity of the car.

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Tyres (p. 526)

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530

Wheels and tyres -> Tyres for Your Volvo XC40 SUV 2020

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