2011 Volvo S40 Owner's Manual - Page 179

07 Wheels and tires Tire inflation Inflation placard NOTE The placards shown indicate inflation pressure for the tires installed on the car at the factory only. your tire pressures frequently and adjust them to the proper pressure, which can be found on the vehicle's tire information placard or certification label. Use a tire gauge to check the tire inflation pressure, including the spare, at least once a month and before long trips. You are strongly urged to buy a reliable tire pressure gauge, as automatic service station gauges may be inaccurate. Use the recommended cold inflation pressure for optimum tire performance and wear. Under-inflation or over-inflation may cause uneven treadwear patterns. G032513 Checking tire pressure Cold tires Inflation pressure should be checked when the tires are cold. The tires are considered to be cold when they have the same temperature as the surrounding (ambient) air. This temperature is normally reached after the car has been parked for at least 3 hours. After driving a distance of approximately 1 mile (1.6 km), the tires are considered to be hot. If you have to drive farther than this distance to pump your tire(s), check and record the tire pressure first and add the appropriate air pressure when you get to the pump. If checking tire pressure when the tire is hot, never "bleed" or reduce air pressure. The tires are hot from driving and it is normal for pressures to increase above recommended cold pressures. A hot tire at or below recommended cold inflation pressure could be significantly under-inflated. 07 Tire inflation placard Check tire inflation pressure regularly. Tables listing the recommended inflation pressure for your vehicle can be found beginning on page 181. A tire inflation pressure placard is also located on the driver's side B-pillar (the structural member at the side of the vehicle, at the rear of the driver's door opening). This placard indicates the designation of the factorymounted tires on your vehicle, as well as load limits and inflation pressure. WARNING • Under-inflation is the most common cause of tire failure and may result in severe tire cracking, tread separation, or "blowout," with unexpected loss of vehicle control and increased risk of injury. Under-inflated tires reduce the load carrying capacity of your vehicle. • When weather temperature changes occur, tire inflation pressures also change. A 10-degree temperature drop causes a corresponding drop of 1 psi (7 kPa) in inflation pressure. Check `` 179