snow tires on XC70?

[Mike]

I recently bought an XC70 and am approaching my first upstate New York
winter with AWD. I have always put four snow tires on my Saabs (which
of course are not AWD) and am wondering if anyone can relate their
experiences with and without snows on the XC70. Thanks.

 

[Sandyon66XYZ]

I recently bought an XC70 and am approaching my first upstate New York
winter with AWD. I have always put four snow tires on my Saabs (which
of course are not AWD) and am wondering if anyone can relate their
experiences with and without snows on the XC70. Thanks.

We live in NH and bought a 2003 XC70 on 1/31/03. The salesman suggested to
me that, even with the bad winter we were having last winter, that snow
tires probably were not necessary because the Pirellis and AWD woudl provide
good traction. We made it through the winter fine, never skidded or got
stuck once, and I was on Interstate Highways many times during snowstorms.

Depending on where in Upsate NY that you are, e.g. Buffalo, you may need
snow tires or even a tracked vehicle!

Sandy

 

[Bob Noble]

Hi, Mike - - -

I'm another one who's often thought of a separate set of wheels for our
'98 V70XC, but have never pursued that thought. We're talking about
four winters past and another starting. Never a problem.

This car, of course, has the original viscous coupling variety of AWD.
It has proved its value more than once, after an initial proof that it
could operate when we were at higher elevations getting our Christmas
tree the year it was new. The system just dug four nice little holes in
the too-soft snow that I blundered into. A more aggressive tread might
well have saved the day, but AAA did the job just fine.

Bottom line: If really heavy snow is in your future, you might want to
think twice, but the Salesman probably called it right when he noted the
chunky tread of your Pirellis.

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA

 

[Staffan Nilsson]

If you are interested in traction, as the salesman and previos posts
seem to be, then you may be alright with the all-season tires. If you
are concerned about safety (braking distance, stable handling and so on)
then winter tires is your best choice.

In my work I develop AWD systems, and I have been driving them in winter
conditions really alot on different car manufacturers winter test
tracks. Believe me when I say that all-season tires should really be
called no-season tires...

Living in Sweden, I do not know what your winters are like, but it seems
to me that winter tires is a small price to pay for decreasing the risk
of getting injured in traffic - or injuring someone else.


/Staffan