spare tire SAAB 9-3 2004 User Guide

232 Car careWhen to checkCheck your tires once a month or more.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It
should be at 60 psi (420 kPa).How to CheckUse a good quality pocket-type gage to
check tire pressure. You can’t tell if your
tires are properly inflated simply by looking
at them. Radial tires may look properly
inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the
valve stems. They help prevent leaks by
keeping out dirt and moisture.Tire Inspection and RotationTires should be rotated every 7,500 miles
(12 500 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate
your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged
tires or wheels. See “When It Is Time for
New Tires” on page 233 and “Wheel
Replacement” on page 236 for more infor-
mation.
The purpose of regular rotation is to achieve
more uniform wear for all tires on the vehi-
cle. The first rotation is the most important.
When rotating your tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern. Left front tire to left
rear. Left rear tire to right front. Right front to
right rear. Right rear to left front.
Don’t include the compact spare tire in your
tire rotation.After the tires have been rotated, adjust the
front and rear inflation pressures as shown
on the Tire-Loading Information label. Make
certain that all wheel nuts are properly tight-
ened. See page 246.
Flat spottingAll tires get hot, especially on long journeys
or when the car is driven hard. After the car
has been parked with hot tires and the tires
have cooled down, a flat spot can form in the
tire, where it is in contact with the ground.
The same can occur if the car has not been
moved for a long time.
Flat spots can cause vibration that can be
felt through the steering wheel, similar to
that experienced when the wheels need bal-
ancing.
Flat spots of this type disappear once the
tires get hot again, usually after 10–15 miles
(20–25 km) of driving at cruising speed.
WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to
which it is fastened, can make wheel nuts
become loose after a time. The wheel
could come off and cause an accident.
When you change a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper towel to do
this; but be sure to use a scraper or wire
brush later, if you need to, to get all the
rust or dirt off. See “Changing a tire” on
page 245.
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234 Car careThe wheels and tires have been carefully
matched to the characteristics of the car and
play a key role in its outstanding roadhold-
ing and handling.
Do not take it for granted that a wheel/tire
combination will work in the best possible
way, just because it can be fitted to the car.
To ensure that the speedometer is as accu-
rate as possible it should be reprogrammed
if wheels of a different dimension are fitted.
Contact a Saab dealer.
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.
Store wheels lying flat or hanging – never
standing upright.
NOTICEAlways consult your Saab dealer before
changing the car’s wheels or tires on your
Saab.
Wide wheels and tires with side walls that
are too low can:
 be damaged in potholes, etc.
 cause springs, shock absorbers and
wheel bearings and body mountings
to be overloaded
 affect the function of the Electronic
Stability Program (ESP).
The speed and load limits of the tires
must not be exceeded; see page 239.
Wheels larger than 17" must not be fitted
on the Saab 9-3 for reasons above. The
permissible offset is 1.61 inch (41 mm).
WARNING
Mixing tires could cause you to lose
control while driving. If you mix tires of
different sizes or types (radial and bias-
belted tires), the vehicle may not handle
properly, and you could have a crash.
Using tires of different sizes may also
cause damage to your vehicle. Be sure to
use the same size and type tires on all
wheels. It’s all right to drive with your
compact spare temporarily, it was devel-
oped for use on your vehicle. See
“Compact spare tire” on page 243.
WARNING
If you use bias-ply tires on your vehicle,
the wheel rim flanges could develop
cracks after many miles of driving. A tire
and/or wheel could fail suddenly, causing
a crash. Use only radial-ply tires with the
wheels on your vehicle.
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235 Car care
Uniform Tire Quality GradingQuality grades can be found where applica-
ble on the tire sidewall between tread shoul-
der and maximum section width. For exam-
ple:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature
A
The following information relates to the
system developed by the United States
National Highway Traffic Safety Administra-
tion, which grades tires by treadwear, trac-
tion and temperature performance. (This
applies only to vehicles sold in the United
States.) The grades are molded on the side-
walls of most passenger car tires. The Uni-
form Tire Quality Grading system does not
apply to deep tread, winter-type snow tires,
space-saver or temporary use spare tires,
tires with nominal rim diameters of 10 to 12
inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some limited-pro-
duction tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary
with respect to these grades, they must also
conform to federal safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire Perfor-
mance Criteria (TPC) standards.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled conditions on
a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and a half (1.5) times as well on the govern-
ment course as a tire graded 100. The rela-
tive performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service prac-
tices and differences in road characteristics
and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades repre-
sent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave-
ment as measured under controlled condi-
tions on specified government test surfaces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance. Warn-
ing: The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance
to the generation of heat and its ability to dis-
sipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive temper-
ature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of perfor-
mance which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination, can
cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
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243 Car care
Tire date codeTires should be regarded as perishable
goods. As the tires age, the rubber becomes
progressively harder, and the roadholding
ability of the tires diminishes. This is partic-
ularly true on winter tires.
Tires have a code that specifies their date of
manufacture. The first two digits denote the
week number and the last two digits the
year.
Accordingly, a date code of 3701 signifies
that the tire was manufactured in week 37,
2001.
Compact spare tireCompact spareThe compact spare is light and easy to
handle when changing the tire. Its use is
only permitted when a standard tire has sus-
tained a puncture. The maximum life of the
tire is only just over 2,000 miles (3,500 km).
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h) with the
compact spare fitted.
The tire pressure should be 60 psi
(420 kPa). Put the punctured tire in the
spare wheel well under the trunk floor.
“Driving with the compact spare tire”, see
page 187.
Have the standard tire repaired and refitted
as soon as possible.The spare tire, the tools and the jack with its
crank are carried under a panel in the trunk.
Fold the carpeting forward to ease access to
the tools and spare tire.
The screwdriver handle has a “button” for
removing plastic rivets. This type of rivet
must be removed when changing the light
bulb in the trunk lid (see page 216).
WARNING
The spare tire or punctured tire must be
stowed under the trunk floor, and secured
in place with the retaining nut.
Date code
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244 Car care
Your Saab is equipped with a trip computer
and you can use its “Speed warning” func-
tion, to monitor driving speed since you
must not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).
NOTICETo avoid damaging an alloy wheel with a
flat tire, this can be placed outside up in
the spare-wheel well but only while driv-
ing to the closest workshop.
A general rule is that all heavy loads must
be well secured in the luggage compart-
ment (see page 137).
Tools under a panel in the trunk
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275 Technical data
Wheels and tires Summer tires
6.5 x 15" _________________________ 205/65 R15 94 H
6.5 x 16" _________________________ 215/55 R16 93 H
7 x 17"___________________________ 225/45 R17 94 W
RF/XL
Always contact a Saab dealer if you plan to fit other wheels or
tires than those fitted as standard.
Winter (snow) tires:
6.5 x 15" wheel ____________________ 205/65 R15 91 Q
M+S
6.5 x 16" wheel ____________________ 205/55 R16 91 Q
M+S or
215/55 R16 93 Q
7 x 17" wheel _____________________ 225/45 R17 94 Q
M+S RF/XL
Compact spare:
Wheel ___________________________ 4 x 16"
Tire _____________________________ 125/85 R16 99 M
Pressure _________________________ 420 kPa (60 psi)
Maximum life______________________ 2200 miles
(3500 km)
Maximum speed ___________________ 50 mph (80 km/h)
NOTICESnow chains:
Snow chains must not be fitted to the rear wheels, and may only
be used with the following wheel-tire combinations:
Wheels Tires
6.5 x 15"_______ 205/65 R15 M+S or
205/65 R15
6.5 x 16"_______ 205/55 R16 M+S or
215/55 R16
Contact your Saab dealer regarding suitable snow chains.
Max. permissible speed with snow chains fitted is 30 mph
(50 km/h).
Snow chains must not be fitted to wheels larger than 17".NOTICEWheels larger than 17" must not be fitted for reasons stated on
page 234.
Exercise care when driving on uneven roads or against the curb
if the car is heavily laden. This particularly applies to cars with
17" wheels.
Permitted wheel offset is 41 mm.
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277 Technical data
Recommended lowest tire pressure, cold tiresTire size Load/speed
mph (km/h)
*)
Front
kPa/psiRear
kPa/psi
Summer tires
205/65 R15 94 H 1–3 pers./0–100 (0–160)
4–5 pers./0–100 (0–160)
1–5 pers./100– (160–)220/32
220/32
260/38220/32
220/32
260/38
215/55 R16 93 H 1–3 pers./0–100 (0–160)
4–5 pers./0–100 (0–160)
1–5 pers./100– (160–)240/35
240/35
280/41220/32
220/32
260/38
225/45 R17 94 W
RF/XL1–3 pers./0–120 (0–190)
4–5 pers./0–120 (0–190)
1–5 pers./120– (190–)240/35
240/35
280/41240/35
240/35
280/41
Winter tires
205/65 R15 91 Q 1–3 pers./0–100 (0–160)
4–5 pers./0–100 (0–160)240/35
280/41240/35
280/41
205/55 R16 91 Q 1–3 pers./0–100 (0–160)
4–5 pers./0–100 (0–160)240/35
280/41240/35
280/41
215/55 R16 93 Q 1–3 pers./0–100 (0–160)
4–5 pers./0–100 (0–160)240/35
280/41240/35
280/41
225/45 R17 94 Q
RF/XL1–3 pers./0–100 (0–160)
4–5 pers./0–100 (0–160)250/36
290/42250/36
290/42
Spare wheel
125/85 R16 99 M Max 50 (80) 420/60 420/60
*) Do not exceed posted speed limits.
By cold tires is meant tires that are the same temperature as the sur-
rounding air temperature.
The values for tire pressure in table above are for tires at 68°F
(20°C).
The tire pressure will increase as the tires become warm (e.g. during
highway driving), and decrease as they cool.
When the temperature of the tires increases or decreases by 10
degrees the tire pressure will correspondingly increase or decrease
by 2 psi/10 kPa.
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283 Index
Index
AA/C
__________________________ 101
ABS brakes
____________________ 161
ACC
_________________________ 103
Adjustment, steering wheel
________ 116
Air conditioning
_________________ 101
Air filter
_______________________ 198
Airbag
_________________________ 28
Anchorage eyes
________________ 137
Anti-corrosion treatment
__________ 253
Antilock braking system __________ 161
Anti-spin
______________________ 163
Ashtrays ______________________ 126
Autochecking of lights, warning and
indicator lights
__________________ 78
Autodimming
_______________ 129
, 130
Automatic climate control (ACC)
____ 103
Automatic tire pressure monitoring __ 229
Automatic transmission
___________ 153
BBattery
_______________________ 202
Bedding-in of new brake pads
_____ 151
Before towing a trailer
____________ 181
Bi-xenon headlights
_____________ 209Bi-xenon headlights, head light
levelling
_______________________ 91
Brake fluid, grade
_______________ 274
Brakes
________________________ 160
Braking _______________________ 160
Bulb changing
__________________ 208
Bulb table
_____________________ 221
Buying new tires
________________ 233
CCabin lighting
__________________ 123
Cabin lighting, Convertible
_________ 70
Car alarm
______________________ 48
Car transport ___________________ 186
Care of air conditioning
___________ 256
Change of address notification
_____ 264
Changing a tire
_________________ 245
Changing bulbs _________________ 208
Changing engine oil
_____________ 197
Changing the battery, remote control
_46
Changing wiper blades
___________ 206
Checking the number of remote
controls
_______________________ 45
Checks before towing a trailer
_____ 181
Child safety
_____________________ 21
Child safety locks, rear doors
_______ 44
Child seats
_____________________ 21
Cigarette lighter
_________________ 126
Cleaning the engine bay
__________ 249
Cleaning upholstery
_____________ 249Climate control system, manual
_____ 98
Closing the soft top manually,
Convertible
____________________ 60
Closing the soft top, Convertible
_____ 56
Clutch interlock
_________________ 152
Compact spare _________________ 243
Compass
______________________ 133
Condensation water, A/C
_________ 101
Convertible
_____________________ 53
Convertible, washing
_____________ 251
Coolant
_______________________ 199
Cruise control
__________________ 159
Cup holder
_____________________ 124
DDate codes, tires
________________ 243
Deep water, driving through
_______ 183
Definitions and terminology, tire ____ 240
Determining correct load, tires
_____ 242
Direction indicator stalk switch ______ 93
Direction indicators
_______________ 93
Dome light, Convertible
___________ 218
Dome light, Sport Sedan __________ 217
Donor battery, boost starting
_______ 187
Door handles
____________________ 40
Door mirrors ___________________ 128
Drive belt
______________________ 205
Drive belt, length
________________ 272
Driver’s seat with memory
__________ 19
Driving at night
_________________ 184
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284 IndexDriving in cold climates
___________ 175
Driving in deep water
____________ 183
Driving in hot climates ____________ 177
Driving techniques
______________ 173
Driving with a heavy load on hilly
roads
________________________ 155
Driving with a load
______________ 183
Driving with a roof load ___________ 182
Driving with the compact spare wheel
187
Driving with the trunk lid open
______ 183
EEDR
_________________________ 266
ESP, anti-skid system
____________ 165
Easy entry, Convertible ____________ 65
Economical motoring
____________ 173
Electric engine heater ____________ 174
Electric heating, front seats
___ 102
, 111
Electric windows
________________ 117
Electric windows, Convertible
_______ 69
Electrical system, technical data ____ 272
Electrically adjustable seats
________ 18
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
__ 165
Electronic steering wheel lock
_____ 142
Emergency opening of the narrow
backrest
_____________________ 138
Emergency operation of the sunroof
_ 122
Engine bay, cleaning
____________ 249
Engine heater
__________________ 174
Engine immobilizer
_______________ 47Engine number
_________________ 278
Engine oil, checking
_____________ 196
Engine oil, grade
________________ 270
Engine oil, volume _______________ 271
Engine temperature gauge
_________ 80
Engine, description
______________ 193
Engine, technical data ____________ 270
Engines
_______________________ 271
Event Data Recorder
____________ 266
Extra electrical socket ____________ 126
FFacilitating entry to rear seat,
Convertible
____________________ 65
Factors affecting fuel consumption
__ 173
Filler cap
______________________ 148
Filling up ______________________ 147
Flat spots, tires
_________________ 232
Floor jack
_____________________ 246
Folding down the rear seat
________ 134
Front fog lights
__________________ 93
Front towing eye ________________ 184
Fuel gauge
_____________________ 81
Fuel grade _____________________ 271
Functions, car alarm
______________ 51
Fuse panel in luggage compartment
_225
Fuse table
_____________________ 224
Fuses
________________________ 222
GGDO, garage door opener
_________ 130
Gear selector indicator, automatic
transmission
___________________ 82
Gearbox number ________________ 278
General safety instructions,
Convertible
____________________ 54
Glove compartment
______________ 126
Glove compartment lighting
________ 219
HHandbrake
_____________________ 167
Hazard warning lights
_____________ 94
Head restraint, Convertible
_________ 66
Head restraints
__________________ 20
Headlight flasher _________________ 92
Headlight levelling ________________ 91
Headlights
______________________ 91
Heated door mirrors
_____________ 102
Hood
_________________________ 192
Horn __________________________ 116
Horn button
____________________ 116
IIf a tire goes flat
_________________ 237
Ignition switch
__________________ 140
Immobilizer
_____________________ 47
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286 IndexPinch protection, sunroof
_________ 122
Plates and labels, location ________ 278
Polishing and waxing
____________ 251
Poly-V-belt
____________________ 205
Position lights ___________________ 91
Power steering fluid, checking
_____ 201
Power steering fluid, grade
________ 273
Pressure gauge
_________________ 80
Pressure, tires
__________________ 231
Profiles, customized settings
_______ 83
QQuality grading, tires
_____________ 235
Quick guide, remote control
________ 41
RRain sensor
_____________________ 96
Raising the soft top manually,
Convertible ____________________ 60
Reading lights, Convertible
_________ 70
Rear fog light
___________________ 93
Rear seats, folding down
_________ 134
Rear towing eye
________________ 185
Rear window heating
____________ 102
Rearview mirrors
________________ 128
Recirculation
___________________ 101
Recommendations for automatic
transmission, towing a trailer
_____ 179Recommendations for manual
gearbox, towing a trailer
_________ 180
Recommended fuel grades ________ 147
Recommended snow chains _______ 275
Refueling
______________________ 147
Remote control
__________________ 40
Remote locking malfunction
________ 42
Replacement, wheel
_____________ 236
Reporting safety defects __________ 265
Rev counter
_____________________ 78
Reversing lights
_________________ 94
Roll bars, Convertible
_____________ 68
Roll-over protection, Convertible
_____ 68
Roof lighting
___________________ 123
Roof lighting, changing
___________ 217
Running-in
_____________________ 151
SSAHR, head restraint
_____________ 20
SDM
_________________________ 266
SID
___________________________ 83
SPA __________________________ 170
Saab Information Display
__________ 83
Saab Parking Assistance _________ 170
Saab Trionic engine management
system
______________________ 194
Safety belts _____________________ 11
Seatbelts
_______________________ 11
Seatbelts in rear seat, Convertible
___ 67
Seatbelts, care
_________________ 248Seatbelts, checking
______________ 248
Seats
__________________________ 16
Securing a load
_________________ 137
Sentronic, manual gear selection
___ 158
Service costs
___________________ 263
Service information
______________ 264
Service intervals
________________ 262
Service record retention
__________ 263
Signalling, horn
_________________ 116
Ski hatch
______________________ 136
Spare wheel ___________________ 243
Speed ratings, tires
______________ 239
Speedometer
____________________ 79
Starting the engine
______________ 142
Steering wheel adjustment
________ 116
Steering wheel lock
______________ 142
Steps for determining correct load
limit
_________________________ 242
Storage compartments
___________ 126
Sun visor
______________________ 124
Sunroof
_______________________ 120
Switches _______________________ 91
TTCS
__________________________ 163
Technical data
__________________ 268
Textile carpeting, cleaning
_________ 249
Tie down eyes
__________________ 137
Tightening torque, wheels
_________ 247
Tire chains
_____________________ 237
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