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EnglishWheels and tyres -> Tyres for your Volvo XC40 2018-2026
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.
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Avoid fast starts, heavy braking and
squealing tyres.
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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 VOL1 marking 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.
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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-
1
There may be deviations for certain tyre dimensions.
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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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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.
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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.
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Related information
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Storing wheels and tyres
When you store complete wheels (tyres fitted
on wheel rims) they should be hung up or
positioned lying on their sides on the floor.
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)
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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
W
Y
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
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R
Radial ply
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18 Rim diameter in inches
Approved wheel and tyre sizes (p. 648)
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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)
V
Speed rating for maximum permitted
speed, speed rating (SS). (In this
case 240 km/h (149 mph).)
Q
160 km/h (100 mph) (used only on
winter tyres)
T
H
V
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.
2
Both those with metal studs and those without.
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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
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
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All wheel rims have a dimension designation,
for example: 7.5Jx18x50.5.
7.5
J
Rim width in inches
Rim flange profile
18
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.
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Tyres should only be switched between
front and rear positions, never between
left and right-hand sides, or vice versa.
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Related information
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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.
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Tyres with the greatest tread depth should
always be fitted to the rear of the car (to
decrease the risk of skidding).
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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.
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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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