WHEELS AND TIRES
438
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B-pillar: The structural member at the side
of the vehicle behind the front door.
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Bead area of the tire: Area of the tire next
to the rim.
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Sidewall of the tire: Area between the bead
area and the tread.
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Tread area of the tire: Area of the perime-
ter of the tire that contacts the road when
mounted on the vehicle.
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Rim: The metal support (wheel) for a tire or a
tire and tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Cold tires: The tires are considered to be
cold when they have the same temperature
as the surrounding (ambient) air. This tem-
perature is normally reached after the vehicle
has been parked for at least 3 hours.
Tire direction of rotation
Incorrectly mounted tires impair the car's braking
properties and ability to force aside rain, snow
and slush.
The arrows shows the direction of rotation of the tire
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The tires with the most tread should always
be on the rear axle (to help reduce the risk of
skidding).
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When switching between summer and winter
tires, mark the tires to indicate where they
were mounted on the car, e.g., LF = left front,
RR = right rear
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Tires with tread designed to roll in only one
direction are marked with an arrow on the
sidewall.
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Contact a trained and qualified Volvo service
technician if you are unsure about the tread
depth.
Related information
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Tires (p. 434)
