■ Tyre and wheel safety

The tyres are the only contact between the vehicle and the road, so it is essential to keep them in good condition.

You must make sure that your tyres conform to local road traffic regulations.

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For your safety and to comply with the law, when tyres need to be replaced, only tyres of the same make, size, type, and profile should be used on a single axle.

They must either have a load capacity and speed rating at least equal to those of the original tyres or conform to those recommended by an authorised dealer.

Failure to heed these instructions could endanger your safety and affect your vehicle's roadworthiness.

Risk of loss of control of the vehicle.

■ Maintaining the tyres

The tyres must be in good condition and the treads must have sufficient depth: tyres approved by our Technical Department have wear warning strips 1 which are indicators moulded into the tread at several points.

When the tyre tread has been worn to the level of the wear indicators these become visible 2 : it will then be necessary to replace your tyres as the tread depth will be 1.6 mm at most, resulting in poor road-holding on wet roads.

An overloaded vehicle, long journeys by motorway, particularly in very hot weather, or continual driving on poorly surfaced minor roads will lead to more rapid tyre wear and affect safety.

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Incidents which occur when driving, such as striking the kerb, may damage the tyres and wheel rims, and could also lead to misalignment of the front or rear axle geometry. In this case, have the condition of these checked by an approved dealer.

■ Tyre pressures

Adhere to the tyre pressures (including the emergency spare wheel).

The tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month and additionally before any long journey (refer to the label affixed to the edge of the driver's door).

Pressures should be checked when the tyres are cold. Ignore higher pressures which may be reached in hot weather or after driving at high speed. If tyre pressures cannot be checked when the tyres are cold, assume an increase of 0.2 to 0.3 bar (or 3 PSI).

Never deflate a hot tyre.

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Incorrect tyre pressures lead to abnormal tyre wear and unusually hot running. These are factors which may seriously affect safety and lead to:

  • poor road holding;
  • the risk of blow-outs or of throwing a tread.

The pressure depends on the load and the speed of use. Adjust the pressure according to the conditions of use (refer to the label affixed to the edge of the driver's door). Tyre pressure

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Please be aware that a poorly tightened or missing valve cap can make the tyres less airtight and may lead to pressure loss.

Always use valve caps identical to the originals and screw them down fully.

■ Fitting new tyres

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For safety reasons, this operation must be performed by a professional.

Fitting more than one type of tyre can cause the following effects on your vehicle.

  • The vehicle may not comply with road traffic regulations.
  • The handling may change during cornering.
  • The steering wheel may feel heavier when turned.
  • The tyres may make noise.
  • The use of snow chains may be affected.

■ Use in winter

▶ Snow chains

For safety reasons, fitting snow chains to the rear axle is strictly forbidden.

Chains cannot be fitted to tyres which are larger than those originally fitted to the vehicle.

▶ "Snow" or "Winter" tyres

We would recommend that these be fitted to all four wheels to ensure that your vehicle retains maximum adhesion.

Caution: Snow tyres (winter tyres) can also be asymmetrical, meaning that the inside and outside of the tyre are distinct. When installing the tyre, observe the direction of rotation or INSIDE and OUTSIDE markings on the side of the tyre (the side with the INSIDE marking goes inside the vehicle and the side with the OUTSIDE marking goes outside the vehicle).

Also, the maximum allowable speed for snow tyres (winter tyres) may be lower than the vehicle's maximum speed and is indicated by a letter on the side of the tyre.

In all cases, we would recommend that you contact an approved dealer who will be able to advise you on the choice of equipment which is most suitable for your vehicle.

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Some snow chain specifications may not be suitable for your vehicle.

For appropriate snow chains for your vehicle, please consult your authorized service center.

If you wish to fit snow chains, you must use special equipment.

Consult an approved dealer.

Contact your authorized service center.

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Chains may only be fitted to tyres of the same size as those originally fitted to your vehicle.

Only specified chains can be fitted to tyres. For more information, contact an authorized workshop.

To use specialized equipment, contact an authorized workshop.

■ Vehicle fitted with a tyre pressure loss warning system

In the event of underinflation (punctures, under-inflation etc.), the warning light appears on the instrument panel.

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Vehicle fitted with a tyre pressure loss warning system

Individual sensors mounted on the wheels can only be used for each wheel.

If you do not swap wheel positions and initialize the system, the system may incorrectly recognize the position of each wheel. The system can be initialized at an authorized workshop.

Incorrect information can result in a serious accident.