one flat, four new tires?

Question: Backed my 98 V70 AWD into a sidewalk and got an unifixable
rear flat tire. My mechanic, generally pretty reliable, said it was
essential I replace all four tires. They were Pirelli snow tires, two
years old.
I've heard this before, but alas this was the first time i'd
encountered it with this vehicle, which I bought three years ago second
hand.
Could someone reassure me that it was neccesary for me to drop $500 for
four new tires when only one was dead? I understand (or not) that this
has something to do with the transmission, the tracs, the viscuous
coupling, the Volvo AWD for that particular year???
Furthermore, WHEN does it become essential?. When does the difference
in tread size (I'm assuming that is the problem) become a problem with
the old tires versus the new ones. After a year? After x amount of
tread loss?
Sorry if this has been dealt w/ before, thanks for any info.

 

In general there should be less than 1/8' difference in circumference
between any one tire and any one of the others.Cf:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=18

Bob

 

Thanks Bob.
Unforturnately, I didn't measure the new tire against an old tire to
see if there was a 1/8 difference in the circumference. Frankly, I had
a hard enough time getting that weird little spare tire onto the car.
I don't think my mechanic measured the circumference either lol
As for the option of "shaving" the new tire to the same tread length
of the old tires (in the article you linked, thx)...
It's an interesting concept, though if I suggested that in the shop,
they would look at me like I was nuts, no? Is that a common procedure?
Anyhow, for anyone interested, my present opinion is that the AWD
function on the 98 V70 is (was) a SCAM, and that the amount you have to
pay to baby the system is not worth it. Better to get a non-AWD and
save your money for towing (also, you wouldn't need a flatbed truck to
tow it, jeez).
I presume Volve has improved the system since then?
Btw I live in the frozen canadian north. I'm not against AWD as a
concept, but really, what a joke. Can someone name me a time when the
AWD on the 98 V70 has gotten them out of a jam?

 

That has been greatly improved with the use of the newer Haldex system on
Volvo AWD equipped cars. Try the new V50 T5 AWD.

All the best, Peter.

700/900/90 Register Keeper,
Volvo Owners Club (UK).

 

I've heard of "tire shaving" for that purpose, so I doubt you'd be laughed
at everywhere. Maybe a few places....

Mike

 

There aren't many places with the equipment to shave tires. Look for
shops that specialize in race prep for street cars. In racing series
where street legal tires are required, they're shaved down to reduce
heat build-up, tread chunking and increase grip and stability.

--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.

Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)

 

I routinely get that kind of difference through normal wear alone, at
least front to rear, (I don't rotate, but just replace two fronts
for one set of rears)

ALso, whenever I have all four replaced, I keep the best of the four,
to use if one of the ones on the car takes fatal damage halfway
through it's life, This has saved me the cost of new tire(s) several
times now.

 

Shaving is the primary method for correcting out-of-round tires; any
major tire chain (Goodyear, etc.) will have the equipment. The discount
or megastore places (Sears, Sams' Club. Wal-Mart, etc.) will take their
chances that the tires are close enough to correct with weights. Doesn't
always work...


Gary