07 Wheels And Tires; General Information - Volvo S40 Owner's Manual

2007 Volvo S40
The tires have wear indicator strips running across or parallel to the tread. The letters TWI are printed on
the side of the tire. When approximately 1/16" (1.6 mm) is left on the tread, these strips become visible
and indicate that the tire should be replaced. Tires with less than 1/16" (1.6 mm) tread offer very poor
traction.
When replacing worn tires, it is recommended that the tire be identical in type (radial) and size as the one
being replaced. Using a tire of the same make (manufacturer) will prevent alteration of the driving
characteristics of the vehicle.
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07 Wheels and tires

General information

New Tires
Remember that tires are perishable goods. As of 2000, the manufacturing week and year (Department of
Transportation (DOT) stamp) will be indicated with 4 digits (e.g. 1502 means that the tire illustrated was
manufactured during week 15 of 2002).
Tire age
Tires degrade over time, even when they are not being used. It is recommended that tires generally be
replaced after 6 years of normal service. Heat caused by hot climates, frequent high loading conditions or
Ultra Violet (U.V) exposure can accelerate the aging process.
You should replace the spare tire when you replace the other road tires due to the aging of the spare.
A tire's age can be determined by the DOT stamp on the sidewall (see the illustration above).
A tire with e.g., visible cracks or discoloration should be replaced immediately.
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