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Volvo XC90 Tires and Wheels

143 messages,  Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 5:08 PM

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What is this discussion about? Volvo XC90, Tires, Wheels, SUV

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#112 of 143 Re: TIRES for 2006 XC90 XC90 2.5T AWD [4dimad] by jim314 Oct 08, 2008 (6:49 am)
Replying to: 4dimad (Oct 08, 2008 5:46 am) My wife's 2007 XC90 came with 235/65-17 tires on the 17" wheels which I personally think is an excellent tire and wheel choice for this vehicle -- a great combination of performance, appearance, and much lower price compared to 18" tires/wheels.   An alternate tire/wheel for at least some years of the XC90 is "lower profile" 55 series, 235/55-18 tires on 18" wheels. This size has the same outside diameter at the tread as the 235/65-17, but at considerably higher cost. To change now to 18" tires would require replacing the current 17" wheels with 18" wheels.   The main reason to choose the 18" wheels is appearance. Some people really prefer it. People have gotten weirdly obsessed with the "look" of low profile tires.   Maybe lower profile tires improve the performance of sports cars on smooth pavement, but I don't think they are appropriate on an SUV. The appearance of the 65 series tires is just fine, and having more rubber and air between the rim and the road is what is wanted in an SUV -- more likely to protect the wheel from impact damage. And for extra traction in winter or on soft ground you could reduce the inflation pressure (within limits) to give more traction.   Many pickups and body-on-frame SUVs (like the Chevy Suburban) are equipped with 70 series tires which have even more air between the rim (i.e. the wheel) and the road. Replies to this message: jim314 (Oct 08, 2008 1:25 pm) jim314 (Oct 08, 2008 5:52 pm) jim314 (Oct 08, 2008 3:53 pm)
#113 of 143 Re: TIRES for 2006 XC90 XC90 2.5T AWD [jim314] by jim314 Oct 08, 2008 (1:25 pm)
Replying to: jim314 (Oct 08, 2008 6:49 am) This afternoon we parked next to a Honda Pilot and I looked at the tire sidewalls: the tires were some model of Michelin in 235/70-16, i.e. 16" wheels. The outside diameter at the tread of these is 29.0", the same as the 235/65-17 (29.0") and practically the same as the 235/55-18 (29.2").   For those who may not know:   (1) The first number in the tire size designation is the width in mm at the widest point sidewall-to-sidewall with the tire mounted on a specified rim width wheel and infllated to some standard pressure. The tread width is less than this and depends on the tire model.   (2) The next number is the aspect ratio. This ratio is the radial distance from the edge of the rim at the sealing surface to the outside of the tread divided by the width of the tire defined in (1) above. The decimal point is not shown.   (3) The third number is the diameter in inches of the wheel at the bead sealing surface.   So, for example, the tread of a 65 series tire of width 235 mm is at a distance of 0.65 x 235 mm / 25.4 mm/in = 6.0 inches from the sealing surface of the rim. Therefore, the outside diameter at the tread of a 235/65-17 tire is 17" + 2 x 6.0" = 29.0". Replies to this message: jim314 (Oct 08, 2008 5:52 pm)
#114 of 143 Re: TIRES for 2006 XC90 XC90 2.5T AWD [jim314] by jim314 Oct 08, 2008 (3:53 pm)
Replying to: jim314 (Oct 08, 2008 6:49 am) Error correction.   For the 2004 XC90 FWD the alternate tire size in the 18" wheel is 235/60-18 (diameter 29.1") and not 235/55-18 (this would be diameter 28.2"). See TireRack.   In a 55 series tire, 255/55-18 is required to give the same 29" dia at the tread as 235/65-17 and 235/60-18. If Volvo doesn't list 255 mm wide tires as an OE choice this could indicate that 255 mm wide tires might be wide enough to rub the insides of the wheel wells in tight turns, especially turns with bumps causing suspension travel.
#115 of 143 Re: TIRES for 2006 XC90 XC90 2.5T AWD [jim314] by jim314 Oct 08, 2008 (5:52 pm)
Replying to: jim314 (Oct 08, 2008 1:25 pm) Error correction.   The diameter of 235/55-18 is 28.2".   It is 235/60-18 that is the same dia and is the alternative size to 235/65-17.
#116 of 143 Re: TIRES for 2006 XC90 XC90 2.5T AWD [4dimad] by jim314 Oct 10, 2008 (5:00 am)
Replying to: 4dimad (Oct 08, 2008 5:46 am) How about letting us know what you decide to get? To answer your question about source, I use Discount Tire.   You might look at Post #94 in this thread. So you could consider Kumho Road Venture APT KL51 in the 235/65-17 as an economical alternative to Michelins (or in 235/60-18 if you decide to change to 18" wheels).   Besides performance and length of service, an important criterion for tire choice nowadays is fuel efficency. Some tire models do allow higher mpg than others, and it seems to be difficult to find data on this. However, wider tires almost always give lower mpg than narrower ones. So the relatively wide tires in the 2008 XC90 V8 AWD Sport model (255/50-19 => 29.0" diameter at tread) should contribute to lower mpg than the 235 mm wide tires in the other XC90 models.
#117 of 143 by camarkim Dec 27, 2008 (8:10 pm)
FWIW: Replaced the badly worn Michelin Pilots with Kumho Road Venture APT KL51's a few months ago and couldn't be happier. 1/2 the price and so far much quieter and seem to be wearing better. Got ours delivered to the house from Tire Rack.
#118 of 143 XC90 Tires - What to replace with? by tuck Dec 29, 2008 (10:33 am)
I am surprised at the bad experiences people mention on OEM tires. I have a 2006 AWD V8 at almost 46,000 miles with the ORIGINAL Michelins running just fine. We are moving back to NH from PA and I'm seriously considering Nokian WR's based on my research to date. I must say that the Michelins have been performed very well in all conditions, but I'm going with the Nokians as I think they are better suited to the 8 feet of snow we get in NH.   With respect to the XC90, I love this vehicle. I've owned Ford, GM, Chrysler, Toyota, and VW over the years and I have to say this car has outperformed all. Probably key to this is the dealer support and we will miss Lehman Volvo of York, PA. Unfortunately, Miller in Lebanon NH are a bunch of incompetent crooks. Lovering in Concord is somewhat better, but can be difficult to deal with at times.   I'd appreciate any responses on the Nokians and experiences with dealer service in NH / VT / MA. Replies to this message: chongli (Dec 30, 2008 3:48 pm) jfgxc90 (Jan 10, 2009 10:35 pm) deraltemann (Nov 11, 2009 7:16 am)
#119 of 143 Re: XC90 Tires - What to replace with? [tuck] by chongli Dec 30, 2008 (3:48 pm)
Replying to: tuck (Dec 29, 2008 10:33 am) I just got a 2007 XC90 with the Michelin Pilots. They are fine on dry pavement but are some of the worst all weather tires I've run on. I've had the vehicle for about a month and came from a 96 Ford Explorer 4x4. So I am used to good traction and 4 wheel drive which is very different than the Volo AWD witch is like FWD with some rear wheel assist.   Anyway, after the first snow here in Chicago a few weeks ago I had to get rid of the Pilots. I did find a Nokian dealer local and put 4 of the WR-G2s on. It made a HUGE difference in wet & snow control! I had there perfect chance to test them the past 2 weeks of snowstorms, sleet, & rain we've had so far this December. The tires worked very well in it all. It is still not even close to what I'd try and go through with a real 4 wheel drive SUV but it's pretty good! It does feel more like a truck now as well. Very happy with the purchase.   I know you're not in Chicago but I bought them at Suburban Tire which has about 5+ locations in the suburbs here. The service was excellent and they have nitrogen if you want it...   John
#120 of 143 Re: XC90 Tires - What to replace with? [tuck] by jfgxc90 Jan 10, 2009 (10:35 pm)
Replying to: tuck (Dec 29, 2008 10:33 am) I service my car at lovering volvo in Merideth. I have had nothing but good experiences with them. Good people...
#121 of 143 Re: Excessive rear tire wear [jfgxc90] by louharry Jan 11, 2009 (5:06 am)
Replying to: jfgxc90 (Aug 06, 2008 12:29 pm) I had an XC90, but had to get rid of it because of the same problem. My rear tires went first, but they moved my front tires to the back and put new tires on the front. My front tires then started to wear. i had terrible service from Betten Imports, in Grand Rapids, so I went to an independent shop to ask them their opinion. I was told that the alignment was off and that Volvo sets the alignment up like that for stability of the vehicle. I went through 16 tires in 18 months! Michellin took care of the first set and then I had to pay for the rest. I contacted Volvo NA and also Volvo headquarters in Sweden, but they were no help and rude. They told me that it was a tire problem and they do not deal with tire problems. They told me that there was nothing wrong with my vehicle, it was the way I drove the car. If I were you, GET RID OF THE VEHICLE!!!! The problem will only continue and you will shell out a lot of money on tires!!!

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