2000 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 193

Car care Changing the wheels round WARNING When fitting just one new pair of tires, these should be fitted to the rear wheels, as these are more critical to the directional stability of the car (e.g. on braking or in a skid). The existing rear tires should therefore be moved to the front. Always move left rear to left front and right rear to right front, so that the direction of rotation remains the same. Because of front wheel drive, the front tires tend to wear faster than the rear ones. New tires should always be fitted in pairs, so that tires on the same axle have the same amount of tread. If swapping the complete set, e.g. winter tires for summer tires, mark the tires removed to ensure that they go back in the same position (e.g. FL for front left, RL rear left, etc.). Store wheels lying flat or hanging - never standing upright. 193 Tire markings An example of the meaning of the different markings in a tire size is given below for a tire size of 195/60 R15 88V: 195 Tire section width, mm 60 Aspect ratio, i.e. the section height is 60 % of the section width R Radial ply 15 Wheel rim diameter 15 in. at bead seats 88 Tire load code V Speed marking Speed ratings S Tire approved for speeds up to 112 mph (180 km/h) T Tire approved for speeds up to 118 mph (190 km/h) H Tire approved for speeds up to 130 mph (210 km/h) V Tire approved for speeds up to 150 mph (240 km/h) W Tire approved for speeds up to 167 mph (270 km/h) Y Tire approved for speeds up to 186 mph (300 km/h) Winter tires Winter (snow) tires are recommended for winter climates where the majority of your driving will be done on snow and ice. Winter tires should be fitted to all four wheels to maintain a proper balance. Your Saab dealer can advise you of to the correct size tire for your car (if different from the original size) and also supply Saab approved winter tires pre-mounted on steel or alloy rims. Tire quality grading (cars sold in U.S.) New tires must be graded and labeled in accordance with new Federal regulations. Standard tests are conducted to measure performance in the areas of traction and temperature resistance. Refer to the tire sidewall for the specific quality grades of the tires provided on your new Saab. Compact spare tires are exempt. DOT QUALITY GRADES • Treadwear. • Traction AA, A, B, C. • Temperature A, B, C. All passenger car tires must conform to Federal safety requirements in addition to these grades.