V50 Wheels/Tyres : So what's the best course of action now..

[CathDog]

Originally Posted by olliemayo

Winter tyres are a different ball game, those do work, but again unless you are going abroad do you need them?

I see you are in Somerset, ring up Phillips tyres in Shepton Mallet and they will sort you, used them for years just like we use Shipham for our servicing and MOT.

You don't really need winter tyres in the UK, even in all the snowfall we had this year, I could drive around quite happily.

I'm in a tight cut de sac, with a tight turn and sloped parking in front of my flat, with my landlord parked right next to me -( hes already being nice about my incontinent old dog in his carpeted flat), also have loads of cars parked on the pavements in the ccl de sac and on the pavements in the neighbourhood , right at the junctions too.. with lots of right and left turns on hills.. I think its best I prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

[LizardOfBodom]

Originally Posted by CathDog

I'm in a tight cut de sac, with a tight turn and sloped parking in front of my flat, with my landlord parked right next to me -( hes already being nice about my incontinent old dog in his carpeted flat), also have loads of cars parked on the pavements in the ccl de sac and on the pavements in the neighbourhood , right at the junctions too.. with lots of right and left turns on hills.. I think its best I prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

If you decide to go all-year tyre, you have to accept some compromises. That tyre will not be as good during summer as summer tyre (as for rolling resistance and aquaplaning, let alone grip but this seem to be lesser of your concerns) , and not as good in snow as M+S dedicated tyre, as for snow grip. But it will certainly work and provide you best option in any condition without changing the tyres every season.
Just make sure you go for Michelin CC+, that currently seem to be the best CC tyre there is. Any other ones are more or less compromises between summer and winter conditions and ultimately you are getting medium in anything.

Choosing tyre is a personal preference so its up to you, but I personally prefer to have the best "weapon" for 95% of my driving conditions (hence summer tyres with best possible cornering speed and wet grip) and worry about the odd 5% when it comes

[CathDog]

Just thought id update, they fixed the tire woohoo.. so far so good so I can put off the decision about buying winter / all weather tires for a bit and wear these summer ones out. cost 16.99.

Shouldn't woohoo too soon tho, will check tire pressure in a few days. I didn't ask what the problem was, nail, seal or leaky valve but nice to know my 'best' tire was fixable.

[andy_d]

that , with luck, has bought you the time to make a choice / save up for 4 of the same before the blegh hits,,
and wooohoo all you want,, a win , however small is an excuse for a woohoo,,,

[CathDog]

I thought this might be interesting to someone else as it was to me

Even with the dodgy tire and not having the other tires at the right pressure because I put air in them hot, my fuel mpg was about 55 (this is driving mostly motorway driving at 55mph)

Since the tire has been fixed (and the other tires are now at the eco 36-37) I've been averaging 62-63mpg! I've also been driving faster at about 55-70 now.

This is from the car computer though, but I have noticed I am not nearly going to the pump as much. The manual says I should get the best mileage at about 55 but I'm going close to their best estimate driving faster. I love my v50.

[andy_d]

ps ,, dont buy the 2.4i then hehehe
23-25mpg and tyres at the correct pressures

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Skaartj

Well for a start im sure you shouldnt have different tyres on the drive axle so i would be putting the 2 cooper ones on the front and then put the other 2 on the back for now while you either get a matching one for either the ones on the back or get 2 new ones

I don't really think this matters to be honest.

[CathDog]

Originally Posted by andy_d

ps ,, dont buy the 2.4i then hehehe
23-25mpg and tyres at the correct pressures

hehe should be illegal to get that sort of milage

[andy_d]

Originally Posted by CathDog

hehe should be illegal to get that sort of milage

pfft, mpg isnt the be-all and end all for me
and theres no way in hell id drive one of those 1.buggerall fart box eco things

eco drive,, fugit , i drive, if i need fuel i need fuel,,

[MajorB]

I have the same model v50 drivE and currently covering 16,000 miles per year. I love the car - and the £20 road tax - also enjoy getting between 53 mpg and 72 mpg (real - not from the computer reading) depending on the time of year and type of journeying.

When I initially purchased the car, I put on Michelin Primacy tyres, but they didn't seem to last as long on the Volvo as they had on previous motors. Someone told me to try T205/50/17GOO goodyear EFF GRPER 93w tyres instead. Worked for me. Front tyres covered 32k at last renewal whilst the rear ones covered 48k.

I can be a "sedate" driver, but not always - I try not to break the speed limit given the cost of fines nowadays!