All Volvo cars have a spare tire, except the ones that have a tire sealing system.
Volvo cars usually have a spare tire placed in the cargo compartment in the trunk of the car. The spare tire is just as good as other tires. However, if your Volvo has a tire sealing system, then you won’t have a spare tire. Instead, you will have a Temporary Mobility Kit (TMK), to seal the punctured tire.
What is a spare tire?
There is always an extra tire in your trunk’s compartment, in case of any emergency. These tires are placed there to replace a flat tire. All car manufacturers give this kind of tire, and you can also buy extras at auto parts stores.
There are several types of spare tires:
- Full-size matching spare tire
- Full-size non-matching spare tire
- Full-size temporary spare tire
- Compact temporary spare tire
- Folding temporary spare tire (inflatable)
When you drive with a spare tire, you should first check that the tire is fully inflated. The tire must not have any damage or punctures. You should also drive carefully, and slowly with your eyes on the speedometer. Also, the spare tire is just a temporary solution, and you should head directly to a service station or mechanic.
Types of Volvo tires
Different types of tires are used in different Volvo vehicles and in different weather conditions. The tire’s information is usually on the B-Pillar, which is on the back of the driver’s seat door. Most Volvos come with “All-season tires.” These tires are good for normal condition roads and offer good performance in rain. However, they should be replaced with winter tires if you live in a snowy region.
Some other Volvo cars come with “Ultra High-Performance Tires.” These tires are designed to give the best performance on dry roads, with very satisfactory performance in rainy conditions. These tires must never be used in snowy conditions and must be replaced with winter tires.
Volvo spare tires
Volvo usually provides a temporary spare tire for your car, as well as a jack kit. Volvo recommends that this is just a temporary solution, and you should replace this with a normal tire as soon as possible. This is because the spare temporary tire affects the traction, ground clearance, and handling.
Volvo’s tire sealing system
Some Volvo cars do not have a spare tire, but instead have a tire sealing system. This can be used to seal a punctured tire, and then you can drive your car for almost 70 to 90 miles. However, there is a speed limit that you should follow if your tire has been sealed, and it is a maximum of 50 mph or 80 km/h.
Temporary Mobility Kit (TMK)
This is the kit which is used to seal the punctured tire. It comes with a sealing compound bottle which has natural rubber latex and ethanediol. To use this system, follow these steps:
1. First stop your car on the side of the road with your hazard lights on.
2. If there is a nail or any sharp object inserted in your tire, then it is better to keep it that way. Leave it there and do not take it out.
3. Take out the electrical cable and hose.
4. Unscrew the cover of the compressor and cap of the sealing compound bottle.
5. Set the sealing bottle onto the bottle holder as tight as possible.
6. Open the tire’s valve cap and attach the connector to it tightly.
7. Connect the TMK with the nearest 12 V outlet and start the car.
Volvos with tire sealing system
The Volvo models that don’t have spare tire in their cargo compartment, but rather use the tire sealing system that can take the punctured tire about 70 miles are:
- Volvo S60
- Volvo S90
- Volvo V60
- Volvo V90
- Volvo XC40
- Volvo XC60
- Volvo XC90
What is the cost of maintaining a Volvo?
FAQ
Why do cars have a spare tire?
A car has 4 working tires and an extra tire as a spare wheel. The tires on a car can get a puncture, or become flat. In this case, this spare tire comes in use. The spare tire is not always the same as the regular tires, and in many cases, the spare tire is just a donut tire used to carry the car to a service station.
Difference between donut tire and spare tire
The temporary or donut tires are small in size, and they can easily be stored in the vehicle. Donut tires are more inexpensive than other full size spare tires, so they can easily be bought if anything happens to the previous one. However, they have disadvantages like they cannot go more than 112 km or 70 miles. They also have a certain speed limit and bad handling.
Full-size spare tires are much heavier, and they are more or less just like the other regular tires of the car. You can also replace the steel wheel of the flat tire to replace that with the spare tire’s wheel. This spare tire can be different from the other three tires, which can cause some unbalance.
How long do spare tires work?
A spare tire’s main job is to transport the car to a service station. However, nowadays, many people carry a full-size matching spare tire that is the same as other tires. The temporary spare tire or donut tire is often only good for fewer than 50 miles, but a full-size matching spare tire is just as good as the other tires, and it can go many miles.
Drive safe with your Volvo
If you get a flat tire when driving your Volvo, don’t panic. Your car will either be equipped with a complimentary spare tire or a tire sealing system that can seal the punctured tire. This sealing can take your car more than 70 miles, and then you can replace your tire.
