Tires on 1998 S70

My 1998 S70 needs new tires. My mechanic (who I trust) says that because
it's a Volvo it needs higher rated tires than normal. It's something about
keeping its handling etc.

I'm looking for a moderately priced all season tire. This is not a sports
car or an SUV. Does anyone know what I am being steered to higher rated
tires than one might expect for a passenger car? (And I don't think it's
because he's trying to upsell me.)

Ian

 

You should have "H" rated tires or better. If he's trying to get you to buy
"V" or better ask him why. With anything less than H, you'll get soft
sidewalls that effect the cornering of the vehicle. Go to
http://www.tirerack.com and enter your vehicle info. The software will
direct you to 195/60-15 tires rated "H" or better. Lots of good choices
(Bridgestone RE950s, Pirelli P6s, etc). You can even go with 205/55-15s if
you'd like to expand your search a little. I did and ended up with
Continental ContiExtreme Contacts that I'm very happy with (and fit my S40
just like the 195/60-15s).

John

 

Consumer Reports rated tires not too long ago. I think it was in
November 2003 ???.

 

I noticed that on my 740, seems to "need" higher rated tyres that the car's
top speed would suggest. If you pause to reflect though, Volvo always over
engineer for the safety factor. I'd sooner use tyres that were rated higher,
rather than take a lower rate to it's limit.

 

Hi Ian,

I know a thing or two about tires. I race cars, and the tire is the single most important
part of a car's suspension. Without a proper tire to comply with the rest of the
suspension, you will affect the car's performance in several different ways:

Stopping ability
Cornering ability
and of course, ultimate traction especially in diverse climates like those in Canada


You would be best off buying an EXCELLENT name brand tire that has been rated well. Tire
manufacturers that are involved in auto racing learn a lot from their experience at the
track, and apply that technology to their tires (hence, we don't have biased ply tires on
our cars anymore, rubber compound technology is far better than before, etc...).

I had a set of BFG Commercial tires on my full size Chevy Van, and I could not believe how
good these tires were!!! They were expensive as hell, but worth every penny.

Some better tires are less susceptible to tread shifting, out of round conditions, balance
easier (without the requirements of tons of weights), etc....


I'd also suggest a decent all season, but for winter, pick up a used set of S70 steel
wheels and buy yourself winter tires. Even though it doesn't snow a lot in Toronto, I
picked up a set of winter tires (Gislaved) for my sister's 850, and the tires work great
(winter tires are able to work in low temperatures, where all season tires loose their
pliability at low temps, loss of traction on wet pavement, etc..... increased stopping
distances, especially with ABS.


So don't take buying tires lightly, make it a performance decision. Wal-Mart Ulysses
tires won't make your Volvo all that pleasant to drive!!, cheap to buy yes, but.........


Speed rating, even though you will never exceed the speed limit matters (Speed rating is
the ability to dissipate heat at a specific km/h over a certain amount of time). Also, if
you fill your car up with a family, a trunk full of beach stuff, and a tank of gas,
suddenly, the load on the tires have increased exponentially!!!


You have a great car, buy good tires to match

(On my Volvo 760 GLE, I have Michelin MX-1, and I am amazed at their "all season"
performance, except in heavy snow conditions, the car is impossible to drive.

 

You race cars but can't get a Volvo though snow?????? Don't tell Volvo
!!!!!!

 

LOL!!!!

Ok, I can't get my Volvo through the snow without purposely drifting and sliding through
turns!! (which makes RWD without traction control A LOT of fun). I don't have a problem
once I'm going, but to get going in my Volvo is hell!! I'd be a horrible rally racer, but
as a pavement (circuit) racer (Mosport), I do alright .


Actually, if anyone ever watched the 1994 BTCC (British Touring Car Challenge), you would
have seen Volvo use their 850 Estate (Wagon), it was incredible. Didn't do very well
overall, but, it was certainly interesting to watch. (I'm really an Italian car nut, Alfa
Romeo won that year with the 155)

If Volvo wishes to contact me and get me into a S60R to race here, I'll do it!!

 

I think so, I have the issue... I was looking at tires at the time.

 

Get at least H rated.

This is what we have always had on the Volvo's, and believe it or not, this
is what we have on our new VW Golfs.... except mine had its tires replaced,
and the PO put on S rated tires I think they are (180kph).... Well this car
loses traction easily in hard cornering (like me trying to avoid having an
accident with a car, then ending up slamming into a curb because the tires
plain ran out of grip) they are awefull for hard braking (ABS comes on
quickly, my dad has Goodyears on his Dub, same ones we used to have on our
960, which has Michelines now... in his car I can't get the ABS to come on
with dry braking except just at the end of the stop and slightly during to
balance the car out).

Go with the H rated tire, they are FAR superior in wet, dry, usually snow,
cornering, braking.... And H rated tires still get pretty high KM usage.

 

I'm with you now !!!!! LOL. Once it's going it's good, lots of sideways,
thats why I thought you'd like that. ;-) I did see the 850 in the BTCC, best
bit I saw was when the 850 overtook on the outside, past an Audi and a BMW I
think it was. I've forgotten the track and the time, but the image stays
with me, like the one of the Norton rotary outdragging the japs and italians
at ummmm, one one the tracks down south, see I'm great for places !!!! and
times....
Don't tell me about Alphas, me best mate is a tally, and loves them. He
raced for a while, then I made him admit that his rover sdi 3.8 with turbo
was better. LOL He now is "retired" and drives diesel, where you have to
have plannning permission to overtake.

 

Hi, Ian - - -

In the U.S., it's simply a matter of liability issues - though you may
hear otherwise. You will find that Dealers will fit tires that are
rated no lower than the OEM equipment.

The first replacement set purchased for our '98 V70XC came from Costco,
who responded to my question with "Well, it's the law, you know." One
can take that response or leave it, but in shopping, I did hear it
elsewhere, as well.

Following the advice of my German e-mail friend, Juergen Schrader, I
have run toward the lower end of the tire pressure scale and find (on
our '02 S60AWD) that the car is much more stable at speed. Since that
equates to some added heating of the tires, the higher ratings are
certainly sensible. In Germany, I seem to recollect that he stated that
S60's are fitted with "V" series tires. The better to cope with
Autobahn speeds, no doubt.

bob noble
Reno, NV, USA

 

Best option : Z-rated tires for summer, winter tires for winter. The trade off is the
Z-rated tires will transmit almost everything on the road (including every Toronto pot
hole). The good is that it will feel like a slot car compare to OE tires.

I had Pirelli P-700 Z in the size of 205/50/15 on my Alfa Romeo Milano, and in the dry
they were fantastic!!! Try stopping in the rain, and well, you just better pray.

 

Michelin Pilots (forget the exact model, but it's the top one or the 2nd
from the top) have a Z rated model... It is incredible bot wet and dry....
and apparantly it's useable in the snow as well, tho my friend who has these
tires refuses to test this claim, and has winters.

His car has better rain grip then my tires have on dry pavement... it's
incredible. But the tires are well beyond what I would pay, or could afford
to pay.

So not all Z rated are bad in the rain... But they aren't the greatest for
tread life.