Determining the car's permitted weight
Be sure to never exceed your car's maximum permitted weight. Calculate your load limits for transportation using the following information.
Warning
- If the permitted axle weight, gross vehicle weight or another specified weight is exceeded then the tyres may overheat. This could lead to severe tyre damage and safety risks.
- Do not use replacement tyres with a lower carrying capacity than that of the tyres which the car was originally equipped with, as this lowers the car's gross vehicle weight classification. Only use tyres with the correct load capacity. For more information, contact Volvo support.
Before you load the car, you should familiarise yourself with the following weight terminology that can be found on the FMVSS/CMVSS label (Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) and the car's tyre information plate:
Terminology:
| Kerb weight | Weight of the car, including all oil, fluids and all standard equipment. This does not include passengers, cargo or optional equipment. |
| Weight capacity | All weight added to the kerb weight, including cargo and optional equipment. When towing, trailer hitch tongue load is also part of cargo weight. |
| Gross vehicle weight | The car's kerb weight + cargo + passengers. |
| Permissible axle weight | The maximum allowed weight that can be carried by an individual axle (front or rear). These figures are specified on the FMVSS/CMVSS label (Federal/Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards). The total load on each axle must never exceed its maximum permitted weight. |
Steps for determining correct load limit
Locate the statement "The combined weight of occupants and cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle's placard.
Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX kg or XXX lbs.
The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 × 150) = 650 lbs.)
Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.