What tyres?

[jco]

I need new fronts on my V70 which are currently 225/50/17 Michelin Primacy. Don't know how long the've lasted as they were on when I got the car though I've done 6k on the last 1mm of tread which suggests 20- 25k which I can live with.
Tyre performance does me fine but these are expensive.
Has anyone tried Falken or Kumho or got a something they can really recommend - comfort and wear rather than on the edge performance please.

[cassell]

Hi jco,

Having had an S60 (225/45R17) and two S80's (225/50R17) I would definitely recommend you pay a bit more for either Michelin Premacy or Continental Sport Contact tyres. I have achieved at least 28k miles on the front and over double this on the rear of all three Volvo cars using these tyres.

Pirelli P6000 give nowhere near the mileage or wet performance of the above makes, and having sold my S60 to a work colleague who decided on 'budget' tyres when he needed replacements (Falken I think?), he achieved only about 15k.

So like everything else, you get what you pay for, but I'd seriously consider sticking with what you have.

Hope this helps,

Paul

[dodgyken]

I race on Kumhos and also have them on my BMW 525 - the Volvo is currently on Dunlops. The ones on the 525 have been excellent - and are very quiet.

[Jim314]

Originally Posted by jco

I need new fronts on my V70 which are currently 225/50/17 Michelin Primacy. Don't know how long the've lasted as they were on when I got the car though I've done 6k on the last 1mm of tread which suggests 20- 25k which I can live with.
Tyre performance does me fine but these are expensive.
Has anyone tried Falken or Kumho or got a something they can really recommend - comfort and wear rather than on the edge performance please.

The correct size may be 225/45-17. You should check on this. What year model is your V70?

If you are having trouble with rubbing, you could even go to 205/50-17. I think this has the correct 25.0" overall diameter at the tread that Volvo was using during these years : 205/25.4 x 2 x 0.50 + 17 = 25.07" or 636.8 mm.

The OE tires on my US base model 2004 V70 2.4 168 hp 5-spd auto were Michelin MXV4 Energy in 195/65-15. (overall diameter 195/25.4 x 2 x 0.65 + 15 = 24.98" or 634.5 mm.

They gave terrific hwy mpgs of up to 40 mpgUK (34 mpgUS) at 70 to 80 mph when driven carefully on uncongested roads (US western interstate hwys in New Mexico and Arizona). The original US EPA mpg est for this trim level of V70 was 22/30 mpgUS city/hwy (26/36 mpgUK). The Energy have a max infl pressure of 51psi (350 kPa), and for long trips on smooth roads I would inflate them to 40-42 psi. I don't draft on trucks, but I do modulate speed with the accelerator as much as possible--saves brakes, tires, and fuel.

I replaced them at about 33 kilomiles with Michelin MXV4 Primacy 195/65-15. On my first, and to date only, road trip with the Primacy, the V70 gave significantly lower hwy mpg--35 mpgUK (29 mpgUS). These have a max infl pressure of 44 psi (300 kPa) and I keep them at 38 psi.

The Primacy have thicker starting tread than the Energy and may have better traction and resistance to hydroplaning than the Energy, but my days of stunning hwy fuel efficiency are over for the foreseeable future.

I used some Kumhos on another car and I was well satisfied. I wish I had gone for Kumhos on my V70. See this for example.

[southportvolvo]

Paul's right, you get what you pay for. Stick with a quality brand and they last the course

Kumho are decent budget tyres, we fit quite a few along with Hankook. They last about half the time of a decent branded though.

[Jim314]

Originally Posted by Jim314

The correct size may be 225/45-17. You should check on this. What year model is your V70?

Oops! I just realized I'm in the forum for the Generation 3 V70. They use larger tires than my '04 Gen 2.

I realize that 225/50-17 must be the correct size for a Gen 3 V70 and a good size too.

[jco]

Thanks to all - it looks like opinion is a little split
The general feeling I have is to go fro the michelins - however I do have a problem with " you get what you pay for" because its only true to a point.

Michelin are priced high because they are pretty good and are well known for wearing well - the price is less factor of the real cost and more what they think they can get in the market.
Kumho (et al) have lower costs BUT cannot get the premium for the name yet which is really what its about - once you have got the basic performance right.

So the question is have Kumho really got the basics right - seems like the jury is still out - however watch for them to get a) better and b) more expensive

[acseuser]

Well, I just had my V70 cambelt done at a main dealer... but that's another story.

Anyway, they mentioned that one of the tyres is close to the legal limit, and quoted me £100 to fit a P6000.

I use Toyo T1-Rs on another car, and they are truly FANTASTIC in the wet... and OUTSTANDING in the dry... anyone else used these on a V70??

- Simon