Test drive woes. Dealers poor. Volvo HQ appalling.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by NigelDay

It's a tough one this. I have run winters all-year round for "two summers". It doesn't get that hot up here ! Duplicate wheels add to the cost (especially if alloy) and if I want to go down to 16" then the profile becomes 75. That's a truck tyre ! Then I have to store them somewhere. Although 16" is not officially listed by Volvo, there is a UK website which claims 16" is OK on an XC60. www.wheelbasealloys.com Various tyre dealers will offer a hotel facility for winters / summers (tyres only, not on rims), but I do agree it is not a good idea to keep swapping over the tyres (and risk rim damage). The new tyres from Nokian look interesting. Not available in the UK just yet, but www.mytyres.co.uk will have them for sure.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/mis...erproof-tyres/

No way would a 16" rim fit my car. Can barely get my figure between the calliper and rim with a 17" rim. Unless the FWD has smaller brake discs that is.

Lot of people run the XC90 and XC60 on the Nokian WR3 and Volvo offer it as a standard fit on their winter wheel set.

[GMcL]

Originally Posted by NigelDay

It's a tough one this. I have run winters all-year round for "two summers". It doesn't get that hot up here ! Duplicate wheels add to the cost (especially if alloy) and if I want to go down to 16" then the profile becomes 75. That's a truck tyre !

You go with the size the manufacturer recommends otherwise you will have insurance issues. If Volvo state 75 profile then who are we to argue ? There is usually more than one size available. 80 is standard profile, 75 would still be a lower profile than standard so hardly a truck tyre.

If Volvo do not offer a 16" wheel for your car then I would not fit a 16" wheel from anywhere else. The size I quoted was for my car which is a Volvo option.

[NigelDay]

Originally Posted by GMcL

You go with the size the manufacturer recommends otherwise you will have insurance issues. If Volvo state 75 profile then who are we to argue ? There is usually more than one size available. 80 is standard profile, 75 would still be a lower profile than standard so hardly a truck tyre.

If Volvo do not offer a 16" wheel for your car then I would not fit a 16" wheel from anywhere else. The size I quoted was for my car which is a Volvo option.

I'm happy to stick with 235/65 R17. Totally agree about insurance issues. Interestingly, some marques (not Volvo) offer higher profile tyres for the US market, so perhaps over there they are not quite so obsessed with the 'low profile image'.