|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/samscars/ |
Upload File : |
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN">
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type"
content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<meta name="Author" content="MARK GIAMMALVO">
<meta name="GENERATOR"
content="Mozilla/4.04 [en] (Win95; U) [Netscape]">
<title>Volvo Tires and replacment recommendations</title>
</head>
<body>
<center>
<table cellpadding="20" width="90%" cols="2" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td height="10%" width="10%" valign="top" align="left">
<center><big><big><b><i><font color="#3333ff">Giammalvo Files</font></i></b></big></big></center>
<big><big> </big></big>
<center></center>
<img src="mark3.jpg" alt="Mark Giammalvo" height="180"
width="167">
<center></center>
<p><i><font color="#000000">Mark Giammalvo specializes in driveability
diagnostics </font><font color="#000000">at his family
business, Sam Giammalvo's Auto Sales & Service,
Inc. in New</font> <font color="#000000">Bedford,
MA. </font> </i> </p>
<p><i><font color="#000000">Mark, who has been with the business for
over 20 years, is an ASE
Master Technician and Parts Specialist. He also holds the ASE
L1 certification, and has an associates degree
in business</font> <font color="#000000">management.
<br>
Mark is also a writer for Motor Age Magazine
and is the past secretary of the Alliance of Automotive Service
Professionals, (AASP).<br>
</font> </i>
<br>
<br>
</p>
</td>
<td align="center" valign="CENTER" width="50">
<font color="#000000"><a href="ourarticles.htm"><img
src="sam-logo.gif" alt="Return To Our Articles Page" border="0"
height="71" width="351">
</a> </font>
<br>
<br>
<center></center>
<big><big><b> <i>"Left Front Tire Is Worn. Recommend
Four New Tires Per Factory Recommendations"</i></b></big></big>
<div align="justify">
<p align="center"><small><i><font color="#000000">(Printed in the Journal
of The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers, AASP) <br>
<br>
</font></i></small></p>
<div align="left"><br>
<br>
<br>
It all began with a remark on a service invoice: <i>"</i><i>Left front
tire is worn. Recommend four new tires per factory recommendations" </i><br>
<br>
The vehicle sparking my curiosity was a 2002 Volvo V70 All-Wheel-Drive.
We had just purchased the Volvo for resale and I was going through the dealer
repair orders in the glove box. A recent $900.00 service invoice had caught
my eye. The invoice showed that the vehicle had just over 15,000 miles and
had come in for the 15,000 mile service. That same invoice referenced a
worn l/f tire and the recommendation for the replacement of all four tires,
which the owner had agreed to.<br>
<br>
At first blush I thought this might be just an error or a marketing ploy
to boost tire sales. Further investigation into the Volvo's glove box invoices
proved interesting. I found a letter titled: <i>"Information Campaign 102."</i>
The letter was part of a foldout owners manual supplement that had been
mailed to the prior owner. The letter stressed the fact that Volvo AWD vehicles
have special requirements and that only tires of identical brand, size, construction,
tread pattern, load, speed, and temperature rating should be used. I found
that statement rather odd, at least regarding the speed rating. Let me digress
here for a moment. At our dealership, we always stress to the customer that
they should always replace tires with those of the same size and speed rating.
This however is often difficult to accomplish on Volvo models. Most cars
today have a tire decal or "placard" on the door, door frame, glove box,
or inner console lid. Volvo's are a little different in that they typically
put their placard on the inside of the fuel filler door. That in itself is
not a problem. What bugs me about Volvo is that they rarely put the speed
rating on that placard. The Volvo placard normally states the air pressure
and size but the speed rating letter is often not included within the size
listing. The owners manual will often refer you to the placard for this information.
A call to our local Volvo people here revealed that they have found that
same issue. As a remedy, they always install tires of the same speed rating
as those that are already on the car. Sure that will work ok, but what if
the tires have already been changed? Did the last person install tires of
the correct speed rating? Maybe not, considering the expense of the higher
speed rated tires today. How do you know which is the correct speed rating
to use? The aftermarket tire guides are not always correct on the size information
for Volvo's, let alone the speed rating. Hopefully, in the future Volvo
will post the speed rating with the size on the tire placard.<br>
<br>
Anyway, back to the letter. The letter included a fold out addendum to
be placed in the owners manual. In the addendum, the following information
was stressed: <i>"When tire replacement is necessary, Volvo strongly recommends
replacing all four tires at the same time with identical tires as explained
above. Failure to do so can result in a circumference difference that may
damage the transmission and all-wheel-drive system."</i><br>
<br>
Well, it would appear that the dealership's service department was correct.
The manufacturer did recommend all four tires even if only one was needed.
Just goes to show you how more and more expensive it is getting for the
automotive consumer today.<br>
<br>
In a sense, I'm glad I stumbled on this information. This is just another
example how difficult it can be to be an independent servicer today. Even
with all the computers and service bulletins, we can easily fall out of
the loop on the proper service information. Just something to keep in mind
the next time a Volvo All-Wheel-Drive comes into your facility needing one
tire replaced.<br>
<br>
Happy Holidays and my wishes for a prosperous New Year to all.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</div>
<br>
<br>
<center><font color="#000000"> <a href="ourarticles.htm"><img
src="sam-logo_002.gif" alt="Return To Our Articles Page." border="0"
height="71" width="351">
</a> </font><font
color="#ff0000"><font size="+3"> </font></font> </center>
<center> </center>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</center>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
</body>
</html>