Kwikfit tyre size?

[mcloke]

Hi, I had winter tyres fitted to my XC90 today in kwikfit. The previous tyres were 265/65 r17. The new ones they fitted are 265/60 r17. So same rim size, but a smaller aspect ratio. Kwikfit assured me that this is "a few millimetres difference", and won't affect the drive train etc. However, looking further into it, I'm not convinced this is true.

Anyone have any experience of this, is it likely to break my drive chain, and should I get them to change the tyre size?

Many thanks for your help,

Martin

[Rooster]

If you had all 4 changed then all that will be affected is speedo,

if they just changed a front or rear pair then it will upset things and i would take it back and get the right size tyres fitted

[mcloke]

Yes, all 4 changed. Thanks a lot, that's put my mind at rest,

Martin

[TiredGeek]

They're 26mm smaller than your previous tyres, or 3.35%.
As you've had all four done you won't have any transmission problems, but it was a bit naughty of kwakfit to not tell you before fitting smaller tyres.

[Ninja59]

Also be careful as some insurers do get funny about tyre sizes as some have learnt to their cost on here in the past.

[pacman67]

Gearing will be affected by the diameter change, the recommendation is no more than 2.5% change on all the websites I've ever visited. Also, is it an approved size listed in your handbook, if not it will be classed as a modification, and you should advise your insurance company. Sounds more like Krapfit have cocked up, accident or deliberate, who knows ?

[mcloke]

Thanks again - just phoned the insurance and they've added the weird tyres for no extra cost. Sadly I don't have time to go to try to get them changed to something standard, as I'm leaving for the alps today, so appreciate the assistance.

Martin

[heyskull]

Originally Posted by mcloke

Thanks again - just phoned the insurance and they've added the weird tyres for no extra cost. Sadly I don't have time to go to try to get them changed to something standard, as I'm leaving for the alps today, so appreciate the assistance.

Martin

Me personally I would of taken it back to Kwikfit or at least get a written guarantee that they will not damage the transmission, this will make them change them I bet.
If they cannot be arsed about putting the correct tyres then I would have kicked off.

SC

[Simon Jones]

You'll use 3.35% more fuel to travel the same distance and the speedo / odometer will read higher by the same amount. All that assuming that the tyres on there previously were of the correct size. You'll probably have a sticker inside the fuel flap showing the standard sizes and pressures.

Hope you get thru all the snow drifts in the Alps. Looked pretty hairy on the news.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by mcloke

Hi, I had winter tyres fitted to my XC90 today in kwikfit. The previous tyres were 265/65 r17. The new ones they fitted are 265/60 r17. So same rim size, but a smaller aspect ratio. Kwikfit assured me that this is "a few millimetres difference", and won't affect the drive train etc. However, looking further into it, I'm not convinced this is true.

Anyone have any experience of this, is it likely to break my drive chain, and should I get them to change the tyre size?

Many thanks for your help,

Martin

You don't say what year or model you have but as far as I'm aware your XC90 had non standard tyres on it in the first place. Standard size is 235/60/18 or variations that have the same diameter.

The new tyres will only be 1.3% bigger, so OK. Volvo's recommendation though in the handbook for winter tyres is 235/65/17