XC70: Wheels/Brakes XC70 - Wheels for Winter

[TeamG]

Take a wheel off and look at the code on the back. Not only is the diameter important, but also the width, the stud layout and the offset. There will be a code like in the photo attached starting 7.5JX17…

I’m selling this set of wheels that fit an XC60 - check the codes on yours, they may be a match too.

[Turbodave]

Originally Posted by october37

I h ave had numerous Volvos and even some other makes over the past sixty plus years and never had any trouble with the tyres in Winter , usually Pirelli ones without ever giving any thought to the tyres other than running at a couple of pounds less tyre pressure. In my opinion its just another ploy to part the Motorist from the contents of their wallet.

08 xc70 D5 SeLux Geartronic 208600miles

Interesting views. You should watch a few Tyre Reviews videos on the subject.

Winter / all season tyres vs summer tyres / budgets on snow... stopping distance differences are simply mind blowing.

[apersson850]

Here in Sweden nothing but real winter tyres are worth considering. Our two XC70 runs on 235/55 17" or 235/50 18" in the summer. They both get 215/65 16" in the winter. That was the standard dimension on the simplest spec XC70 back then.

[Turbodave]

Mine, an 08 D5 AWD... had Scorpions when I bought it and all were around 6mm give or take and they weren't that impressive. They were fine through the initial summer months as you'd expect but were unsettled by sudden wet roads and by the time the temperatures started dropping, they just seemed a bit vague on the road. They were also pretty poor on wet fields / mud.

I took them off at 4mm and changed to tried and tested Vredestein Quatrac Pro and granted yes, brand new tyres and more "winter" biased meant they car is slightly less sharp in the dry but they were significantly better in the wet and also did't give any issues through you're average cold, wet, snowy Scottish winter. They're also wearing incredibly well too, still sat around 5.5mm even after ~10k miles which I'm surprised at given the weight of the thing.

I've never really seen the benefit of going full winter, I think the drop off in dry performance doesn't outweigh any gains for proper winter driving over a decent all season. And I don't use "summer" UHP tyres as again, they may be better on dry, clean roads but it's an XC70 and spends quite a lot of time being taken away from warm, dry tarmac so an all season does covers most bases well... plus as has been said, an AWD Volvo on all season tyres, if it get's beaten by winter weather with that combo then not sure I'd be happy to venture out the house!

The new Quatracs appeal... they seem much improved in the wet and given I'm sat here and it's about 6degs and raining, thus the roads are cold and very wet (pretty much like they are 26 months of the year up here) then something more wet / cold weather biased appeals. But as always, many variables depending on your own needs etc... and I know some people run uber spec summer tyres on an XC70, but to me that's like putting running shoes on an elephant.