XC60 in winter conditions - share your experiences here

[Ron 98]

I've been pretty happy with the AWD capability of the XC60 during the snow this winter - I have been able to get up and down the hill to my house when 2wd vehicles have been regularly abandoned at the bottom. This alone has convinced me to stick with the Volvo instead of buying something smaller.

However, on several occasions the door locks have malfunctioned when the temperature has been very low - the driver's door unlocks but then won't open from outside, so the driver has to climb across from the passenger side (the door is not frozen against the body; the fault is internal to the locking mechanism) and the front passenger door opens OK but then won't latch shut. The second fault means, of course, that you can't drive the car and you can't leave it securely either. It's very annoying, particularly for a vehicle whose Swedish origins invited me to believe that it would cope fairly well with low temperatures.

[pwoodley]

Forget all this talk of winter tyres, my AWD on very worn standard tyres got through the worst winter North Yorkshire has seen for a long time, just drive carefully within the limits of the road conditions and it will get you there, save yourself the cost of two sets of wheels and tyres, by the way have just replaced with new standard tyres.

[XC60KEV]

You're entitled to your opinion of course. Indeed, I shared your opinion until deciding to give the winter tyres a go.

Having tried them, I will be getting them again. You can't knock em 'til you've tried em.

[Daleman]

If by forgetting all the talk of winter tyres it is to be assumed they are not required it seems strange that in some European countries they are de rigueur and I think in some it is even illegal not to have them.

[morrich]

My wife took delivery of her XC60 D5 AWD just before Christmas and so far it has dealt very well with all the snow and ice we've had on its standard tyres. At the same time I bought some new wheels and winter tyres for my 3 series coupe which transformed it from sitting on the drive unable to go anywhere to being as good as the Volvo getting going and better at going round corners and stopping. The difference has been fantastic. We don't intend getting alternative tyres for the XC60 as we reckon it will cope adequately, but there is no doubt it would be significantly better with winter tyres. I suppose my point is that it depends on the starting point you have as to whether you feel justified buying them, and how much you want to reduce the margin for error that you have in bad conditions.

[andyfromembsay]

I think if it was convenient (ie there was a "tyre hotel" facility) and not astronomically expensive (say <£400) then I might be tempted when I've got my XC60 AWD. However coming from a RWD jag I'm expecting to be far better off next winter, and also my normal journey to work is along a road that's generally very well gritted (they do a grand job in N Yorks).