tire pressure PORSCHE BOXSTER 2006 2.G Owner's Manual

224
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Tire pressures
Warning!
Incorrect tire pressure causes increased tire
wear and adversely affects road handling.
fAlways use an accurate tire pressure gauge
when checking inflation pressures.
fDo not exceed the maximum tire pressure list-
ed on the tire sidewall.
Please observe the chapter “VEHICLE IDENTI-
FICATION NUMBER” on Page 278.
fCold tire inflation pressure means: all tires
must be cold, ambient temperature maximum
(68°F, (20°C)
, when adjusting the inflation pres-
sure.
Avoid sunlight striking the tires before measur-
ing cold pressures, since the pressures would
rise from temperature influence.
fValve caps protect the valve from dust and dirt,
and thus from leakage.
Always screw caps tightly down.
Replace missing caps immediately.
fUse only plastic valve caps.
fDo not use commercially available sealant or
tire inflating bottles. Only use Porsche approved tire sealant.Each tire, including the spare (if provided), should
be checked every 2 weeks when cold (68°F/20°C)
and inflated to the inflation pressure recommend-
ed in this Owner's Manual or on the tire-pressure
plate.
If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the
size indicated in this Owner's Manual or on the tire-
pressure plate, you should determine the proper
tire inflation pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a tire pressure monitoring (TPC)
that illuminates a low tire pressure message when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-in-
flated. Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
message illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly un-
der-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also reduc-
es fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPC is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver’s re-
sponsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even
if under-inflation has not reached the level to trig-
ger illumination of the TPC low tire pressure mes-
sage.
fOn vehicles with tire pressure monitoring:
Please observe the chapter “TPC TIRE
PRESSURE MONITORING” on Page 103.
When tires are warm, the tire pressure is increa-
sed.fNever let air out of hot tires.
This could cause the tire pressure to fall below
the prescribed value.
Insufficient tire filling pressure can cause tires to
overheat and thus be damaged – even invisibly.
Hidden tire damage is not eliminated by subse-
quently correcting the tire pressure.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
225
Overloading
Danger!
Risk of personal injury, loss of control and
damage to vehicle parts.
fDo not overload your vehicle. Be careful about
the roof load.
fIf loading the vehicle also correct the tire pres-
sure. Tire pressure for loaded vehicle can be
found on the tire pressure plate and in the
chapter technical data.
fNever exceed the specified axle load.
Overloading can shorten the service life of the
tires and car, as well as lead to dangerous ve-
hicle reactions and long braking distances.
Damage due to overloading is not covered by the vehicle warranty.
fPlease observe the chapter “LOADING INFOR-
MATION” on Page 235.
fPlease observe the chapter “TIRE PRESSURE
FOR COLD TIRES” on Page 284.

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Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Example of a tire pressure plate ATire pressure plateDepending on when your vehicle was manufac-
tured, the tire pressure plate in the left door aper-
ture will contain different data.
Information on the tire pressure plate A
A Seating capacity
Maximum number of vehicle occupants, includ-
ing the driver.B Vehicle load limit
Is the maximum total weight limit specified of
the load (passengers and cargo) for the vehi-
cle. This is the maximum weight of passengers
and cargo that can be loaded into the vehicle.
If a trailer is being towed, the trailer tongue
weight must be included as part of the cargo
load.
Please observe the chapter “LOADING INFOR-
MATION” on Page 235.
C Tire size for the front axle
Check with your authorized Porsche dealer
about the current release status.
D Recommended tire pressure for the front axle
These values are for cold tires (68°F/20 °C).
E Tire size for the rear axle
Check with your authorized Porsche dealer
about the current release status.
F Recommended tire pressure for the rear axle
These values are for cold tires (68°F/20 °C).
G In vehicles with collapsible spare wheel:
Size and tire pressure of the spare wheel.
Example of a tire pressure plate BInformation on the tire pressure plate B
A Information for tire sealant, seating capacity,
vehicle load limit
B Approved tire size for the front axle
C Permissible tire pressure for the front axle
D Tire pressure for fully loaded or partially
loaded vehicle
E Permissible tire pressure for the rear axle
F Approved tire size for the rear axle

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
227
Tire traction
Warning!
When driving on wet or slushy roads, a
wedge of water may build up between the
tires and the road. This phenomenon is
known as “hydroplane” and may cause par-
tial or complete loss of traction, vehicle
control or stopping ability.
fReduce speed on wet surface to prevent this. Tire life Tire life depends on various factors, i. e., road
surfaces, traffic and weather conditions, driving
habits, type of tires and tire care.
fInspect your tires for wear and damage before
driving off. If you notice uneven or substantial
wear, wheels might need alignment or tires
should be balanced or replaced.
Tire wear The original equipment tires on your Porsche have
built-in tire wear indicators. They are molded into
the bottom of the tread grooves and will appear as
approximately 1/2 in. (12 mm) bands when the
tire tread depth is down to 1/16 of an in.
(1.6 mm).
When the indicators appear in two or more adja-
cent grooves, it is time to replace the tires. We
recommend, however, that you do not let the tires
wear down to this extent.
Worn tires cannot grip the road surface properly
and are even less effective on wet roads.
In the United States, state laws may govern the
minimum tread depth permissible. Follow all such
laws.
Danger!
Driving on worn tires can result in loss of con-
trol of the vehicle and could cause serious
personal injuries or death.
fDo not drive with worn tires or tires showing
cuts or bruises as they may lead to sudden
deflation and loss of control which could cause
severe personal injury.
fSpecialized high performance tires on high
performance sports cars exhibit more wear
than those on a family sedan, or even a high
performance sedan.
Therefore, it is important to check your tire
pressure and condition at least every two weeks.
If you notice that tires are wearing unevenly, con-
sult your Porsche dealer.
Uneven wear may not always be due to improper
wheel alignment. It can be the result of individual
driving habits such as cornering at high speeds. If
the tire pressure is not checked and adjusted
regularly, abnormal tire wear can also occur.

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Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Tire care fAvoid damaging tires and wheel rims.
fIf you must drive over a curb or other obstacle,
drive slowly and at an obtuse angle.
fCheck tires for uneven wear and damage
before driving off.
fRemove imbedded material.
fReplace worn or damaged tires immediately.
fKeep oil, fuel, brake fluid, etc. away from tires.
fReplace missing valve stem caps.
fKeep tires inflated correctly.
fWash tires when washing the vehicle.
Also clean inner side of wheels.
fDo not use abrasive cleaners when washing
the wheels.
fCheck wheel rims for corrosion.
fRemove road salt, if driving in winter.
Tire damage, puncture fCheck tires for imbedded material, cuts, punc-
tures, cracks and bulges (side wall) before driv-
ing off.
In case of tire damage, where it is uncertain wheth-
er there is a break in the ply with all its conse-
quences or tire damage caused by thermal or me-
chanical overloading due to loss of pressure or
any other prior damage, we recommend that the
tire be replaced for safety reasons.
I f o n e f a u l t y t i re i s re p l a c e d i t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t
the difference in tread depth on one axle must not
exceed 30 %.
Handling inconsistencies may result.
fPerform a visual inspection if necessary.
Danger!
Risk of serious personal injury or death.
Driving the vehicle with low tire pressure
increases risk of a tire failure and resulting
loss of control. Furthermore, low tire pres-
sure increases rate of wear of the affected
tires.
fCheck tires – including sidewalls – regularly for
foreign bodies, nicks, cuts, cracks and bulges.
fAfter driving off road, examine tires for signs
of damage such as cuts, tears, bulges or for-
eign objects stuck in the tread. Replace a dam-
aged tire if necessary.
fCross curb edges slowly and at right angles if
possible.
Avoid driving over steep or sharp curbs.
fIn cases of doubt, have the wheel (particularly
the inner side) checked by an authorized Porsche dealer.

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Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Wheel alignment, wheel balancing As a precaution, have wheels with summer tires
balanced in the spring, and those with mud and
snow tires before winter.
Unbalanced wheels may affect car handling and
tire life.
Only the specified weights may be used for wheel
balancing.
Self-adhesive weights must not come into contact
with cleaning agents, since they could drop off.
Uneven tread wear indicates wheel imbalance. In
this event, the vehicle should be checked at an au-
thorized Porsche dealer.
Warning!
If, during a journey, uneven running or vibra-
tions occur that could be caused by damage
to tires or the car, the speed must be re-
duced immediately, but without braking
sharply.
If you continue your trip without having the
cause of the fault remedied, you might lose
control of your vehicle which could cause se-
vere personal injury.
fStop the vehicle and check the tires.
fIf no cause for the fault can be found, drive
carefully to the nearest authorized Porsche dealer.
Removing and storing tires fAfter changing, adjust tire pressure and torque
wheel bolts diagonally to 94 ftlb (130 Nm).
Tires must always remain on the same side of
the vehicle.
When wheels are removed, the direction of
rotation and position of each wheel should be
marked.
Example
FR (front right), FL, RR and RL.
Wheels must always be fitted in accordance with
their marking.
The preception that tire durability and perform-
ance are immune to the effects of storage and
age is unfounded.
Chemical additives, which make the rubber elas-
tic, lose their effectiveness in the course of time
and the rubber becomes brittle and cracks.
Therefore, the tires should be inspected from
time to time. Note
Under no circumstances should tires older than 6
years be used on your Porsche.
The age of the tire can be obtained from the “DOT”
code number. If, for example, the last four num-
bers read 1204, then the tire was produced in the
12th week of 2004.
fStore tires in a cool and dry place.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
233
Example of InscriptionInscription on radial tireATire size
Example: P 265/40 ZR 18 101 Y
–P - The tire is designed for Passenger vehicle.
This information is not included on all tires.
–265 - Indication of tire width in mm
–40 - Indication of tire height to tire width ratio
in percent–ZR - code letter for radial tires for speeds
above 150 mph / 240 km/h
There are currently no standards concerning
tire strength at speeds above 150 mph (240
km/h).
–R - Belt type code letter for radial
–18 - Indication of rim diameter in inches
–101 - Load capacity coefficient
–Y - Speed code letter
–XL (Extra Load) - Tire with increased load rat-
ing
B TIN (Tire Identification Number)
Example: DOT xx xx xxxx xxxx
–DOT
The DOT symbol indicates that the tires com-
ply with the requirements of the US Depart-
ment of Transportation and provides informa-
tion about:
– first two-digit code means manufacture’s iden-
tification mark.
– second two-digit code means tire size.
– third four-digit code means tire type code.
– fourth four-digit code means date of manufac-
ture.
If, for example, the last four numbers read
0204, the tire was produced in the 2nd week
of 2004.
C Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers in the tread and sidewalls
and their material composition.
D Maximum permissible inflation pressure
The maximum permissible cold inflation pressure
to which a tire can be inflated.
fDo not exceed the permissible inflation pres-
sure.

Practical Tips, Emergency Service
235
Loading InformationDefinitionsThe Curb weight - actual weight of your vehicle -
vehicle weight including standard and optional
equipment, fluids and emergency tools. This
weight does not include passengers and cargo.
The Gross Vehicle Weight is sum of the curb
weight and the weight of passengers and cargo
combined.
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maxi-
mum total weight of vehicle, passengers, luggage
and optional equipment.
The Gross Axle Weight Rating is the maximum
load limit for the front or the rear axle. This infor-
mation is located on the safety compliance sticker
located in the driver’s side door jamb.
For determining the compatibility of the tire and
vehicle load capabilities:
fPlease observe the chapter “TIRES, RIMS,
TRACKS” on Page 282.
The load capacity coefficient (e.g. “101”) is a min-
imum requirement.The Gross Combined Weight Rating is the
maximum total weight rating of vehicle, passen-
gers and cargo.
The Vehicle Capacity Weight - Load Limit - is
the maximum total weight limit specified of the
load (passengers and cargo) for the vehicle. This
is the maximum weight of passengers and cargo
that can be loaded into the vehicle. This informa-
tion can be found on the tire pressure plate.
The maximum loaded vehicle weight is the
sum of curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle ca-
pacity weight and production options weight.
The load rating is the maximum load that a tire
is rated to carry for a given inflation pressure.
The maximum load rating is the load rating for
a tire at the maximum permissble inflation pres-
sure.
The cargo capacity is the permissible weight of
cargo, the substracted weight of passengers from
the load limit.
fNever exceed the permissible limits.
Danger!
Risk of personal injury, loss of control and
damage to vehicle.
fNever exceed the specified axle loads. Over-
loading can shorten the service life of the tires
and car, as well as lead to dangerous vehicle
reactions and long braking distances. Damage
due to overloading is not covered by the vehi-cle warranty.

236
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Example for determining the combined weight of occup-
ants and cargoVehicle Load CapacityfThe combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed the weight shown on the
tire plate in the vehicle.
Please observe the chapter “VEHICLE IDENTI-
FICATION NUMBER” on Page 278.
fNever exceed the number of passengers
shown on the tire pressure plate in the vehicle.Determining the combined weight of
occupants and cargo:
fAdd the weight of all occupants and then add
the total luggage weight (figure).
Steps for determining correct load limit
1. Locate the statement "The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX
pounds" on your vehicle’s placard (depending
on the date of manufacture).
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver
and passenger that will be riding in your vehi-
cle.3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and
passenger from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the "XXX" amount equals 400
lbs. and there will be two - 150 lb passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is 100 lbs. (400 -
300 (2 x 150) = 100 lbs.).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available car-
go and luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.

238
Practical Tips, Emergency Service
Flat Tire
Warning!
Failure to follow these instructions may result
in serious personal injuries to you or to by-
standers.
fIf you have a flat tire, move a safe distance off
the road. Turn the emergency flasher on and
use other warning devices to alert other
motorists. Set the parking brake.
fDo not park your vehicle where it may contact
dry grass, brush or other flammable materials.
The hot parts of the exaust system could set
such materials on fire, thereby causing both
property damage and severe or fatal physical injury.
A tire sealant and compressor with pressure
tester are located in the toolbox in the luggage
compartment.
fPlease observe the safety and operating in-
structions on the special sealant bottle with a
special Porsche part number and on the com-
pressor – these are essential.Important note
Sealing the tire with the tire repair kit is only
an emergency repair. Even with the tire air-
tight, it may be used only for short journeys
in an emergency.
The maximum permitted speed is 50 mph
(80 km/h).
fDo not use commercially available sealant or
tire inflating bottles.
Use only the tire sealant located in the tool box
in the luggage compartment.
Warning!
Risk of accident.
fHave tires replaced by a specialist workshop
as soon as possible.
fAvoid hard acceleration and high cornering speeds.