2004 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 231

Car care 231 Tires Your new vehicle comes with high-quality tires made by a leading tire manufacturer. If you ever have qestions about your tire warranty and where to obtain service, see your Saab Warranty and Service Record Booklet for details. Inflation - Tire Pressure The Tire-Loading Information label, which is on the inside of the trunk lid, shows the correct inflation pressures for your tires when they're cold. "Cold" means your vehicle has been sitting for at least three hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km). Notice: Don't let anyone tell you that underinflation or overinflation is all right. It's not. If your tires don't have enough air (underinflation), you can get the following: • Too much flexing • Too much heat • Tire overloading • Bad wear • Bad handling • Bad fuel economy If your tires have too much air (overinflation), you can get the following Unusual wear Bad handling Rough ride Needless damage from road hazards WARNING Poor maintained and improperly uswed tires are dangerous. • Overloading your tires can cause overheating as a result of too much friction. You could have an air-out and a serious accident. See "Loading Your Vehicle" on page 240. • Underinflated tires pose the same danger as overloaded tires. The resulting accident could cause serious injury. Check all tires frequently to maintain the recommended pressure. Tire pressure should be checked when your tires are cold. • Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut, punctured or broken by a sudden impact - such as when you hit a pothole. Keep tires at the recommended pressure. • Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your tread is badly worn, or if your tires have been damaged, replace them. Adjust the tire pressure to match the current load and speed of the car (see page 277). The stated tire pressures apply to cold tires, i.e. tires that are the same temperature as the outside air temperature. Tire pressure increases as the tires become warm (e.g. during highway driving) by approximately 0.3 bar (4 psi). When the temperature of the tires changes by 50°F (10°C), the tire pressure will change 0.1 bar (2 psi). Never reduce the pressure of a hot tire. If the tires are hot when you check them, only increase the pressure, if necessary.