Wheels/tyres - 18s vs 17s

[Steff79]

Hi,

My 2015 V70 is on 17s. Part of the appeal of the car was a more comfortable ride after my V60 R design, which my wife is not a fan of because of the ride.

I was fully intending to put some Michelin cross climates on when the current tyres wear out, however, as they are pretty pricey tyres, I'm wondering if it's actually more cost effective in the long run to get a 2nd set of wheels with winters on.

That then leads me to think, should I get some 18s for the summer wheels.... purely for the looks.

Just me thinking out loud really.

-Do others have cross climates on?.... what are you thoughts?
-Anyone driven V70s on std suspension on both 18s and 17s? does it impact the ride much?

Thanks

[Steff79]

After a bit of googling I'm going to answer my own question. I think on a non r design, 17s kind of suit the car anyway. After all, its not a sports car.

So I guess its a question of cross climates all year or a 2nd set of wheels with winters

[100K+]

I run a 2004 V70 AWD on 18" summer and 17" winter tyres.

1) 17" are chalk and cheese more comfortable than 18" but ultimate grip is not as good (obviously).

2) Traction in the snow is unbelievable, until you beach it for its full length on compacted snow its unstoppable. You might say AWD helps, which it obviously does but look out Utube vids on AWD v snow tyres. What I saw was a 4 litre Jeep get wooped by a BMW 3 series in a up the street drag in the snow.

3) When I'm driving I can't see whether I'm on 17" or 18" rims

4) To me cross climates are a compromise. The best in neither summer or winter, and as the tyre is what keeps the car on the road, and safe, I want the best for the environment I'm driving in.

just my 2d

Cheers Bob

[Peter86]

Where I live I either get very little or no snow so cross climates would be the answer for me. It saves buying another set of tyres and wheels also. All fwd are rubbish in the snow no matter what I find but I have had cross climates on my p2 v70 and found them slightly better grip in winter but push them and they will spin out like any other tyre.

[Steff79]

Thanks both, you have pretty much summed up my thoughts.

i.e. Cross Climates are a compromise...... however, like Peter, I live in the Northwest and don't get a huge amount of snow.

The fact that winters are supposed to be better in anything sub 7 degrees makes sense though. I think I'll keep my eyes peeled for a suitable second set of wheels.

Do you tell insurance about different wheels when they ask you about mods?

As an aside, I agree Bob about the traction winter tyres offer. Me and the now wife worked in a ski resort after uni and the chalet we worked at had a knackered 205 diesel and a 110 defender. Both on winter tyres. The Peugeot was unstoppable, it would scrabble up any sort of road or track in the snow. The Land Rover obviously would as well, but one morning I got puncture on a rear tyre and swapped it for the spare, which was a summer tyre. Driving it back up the track to the chalet you could really feel the difference and it was slipping and sliding all over the place at the back end. Basically a 205 on winters was much more competent in the snow (obviously not deep snow) than a defender with one summer tyre!

[100K+]

Originally Posted by Steffan Eldred

Do you tell insurance about different wheels when they ask you about mods?

I'm with Aviva, I tell them every year usually by email - (its a record ). In my first year, they explained as long as they were of a size recommended for the car they had no issue.
My AWD R is fortunate in that both 17" & 18" wheels were fitted.
Not sure what the P3 wheel dia's are across the range.

Cheers
Bob

[SwissXC90]

I have 17" for Winter and 20" for Summer on my XC90

HUGE difference in performance, handling, grip and comfort.

20" gives you performance, handling and grip
17" gives you comfort

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Steffan Eldred

Anyone driven V70s on std suspension on both 18s and 17s? does it impact the ride much?

My V70 has 245/40x18 for the summer and 225/50x17 for the winter.

The ride is better on the 17s, but not much.

On the 18s it suffers from torque steer and tramlining quite badly, but does not at all on the 17s.

[Steff79]

Thanks all. I think I'll stick with 17s. Luckily I have and have had cars that are more about the handling so I'll keep the v70 as the comfy cruiser....

[volvocat]

To answer your original question - yes - IMO!
I spec’d the optional 18” Venator wheels on my V70 (new in 2008)
I thought they suited the car more than the standard 17” Canicula - which are nice wheels - but the 18s filled the arches better.
Ride was fine, even with the 4C in Advanced mode.
Tyres were standard Pirelli P-Zero.