Trying on my winter shoes...

[volvoid]

Ive got a pot of lurid green caliper paint, ideal for a bit of contrast

[volvoid]

Originally Posted by Haldex

Lol I actually like these!

Im hoping to go visit them soon so that they can draw around my feet, I choose the leathers, talk through the options, get a pair made how I want them.
Not cheap, but will last.
Get a factory tour as well, cant wait to see the victorian wire screwing machine still in use.

[Deman77]

When you change fully and gave her outside, Can you post pictures from different angles and also crops from a distance - I find phone lense perspective distorts the geometry relative to human eye too much if you try to fill the frame. If you make it so the whole car is a quarter frame and crop it - that makes it a lot more like human vision.

[Deman77]

Come next year winter my winters will be too old to use and I will go to crossclimates to not have to guess when to switch. I quite tempted to size down now I have seen a 19in look that doesn’t make me cringe.

[MaDProFF]

Originally Posted by Deman77

Now paint the callipers.

I wished that was an option, my last 2 cars had red callipers, and black wheels

[MaDProFF]

Originally Posted by Deman77

Come next year winter my winters will be too old to use and I will go to crossclimates to not have to guess when to switch. I quite tempted to size down now I have seen a 19in look that doesn’t make me cringe.

I have run winter tyres all year round on load of vehicles, over the last 8 years, never had an issue or a problem with tyre wear. (we are talking Vito Van, and various high performance cars one was an AMG GLA I got to say very impressed how many miles it did on winters. (Nokians)

[Haldex]

@Deman

Oh this was just a garage shot - as I won't have all 4 of them on before mid November.. But sure- I'll take some proper pictures then.

Actually, I run 19" summers too - the standard-issue Volvo RD double-spoke diamond cut. I think 19" is a good size for the XC60 - aesthetically and in terms of ride quality/handling.. On an XC90 - 19" would probably look small(ish..) Why not go with 20"?

@Deman, Bloke69

Tried the CrossClimate last winter (granted it was a small car, FWD..) and they just don't do it for me in proper snow conditions. I suppose they're ok for slush- but I spend most of the winter above 2500m elevation- and for that I really need proper winters.

Also, the CrossClimate is only available up to 18" (well, in continental Europe at least..)

[Deman77]

Originally Posted by MaDProFF

I have run winter tyres all year round on load of vehicles, over the last 8 years, never had an issue or a problem with tyre wear. (we are talking Vito Van, and various high performance cars one was an AMG GLA I got to say very impressed how many miles it did on winters. (Nokians)

I’m low extraurban miles so wear is low on my worry list and 120quid a year in re-shoeing fees probably covers the extra wear if I went full winters. What I do know is that in complete dry and 10C+ my conti 850 winters are scary even if they do really well in higher temperatures in the wet. There is a reason insurance companies in continental Europe get huffy about people on winter rubber in summer conditions. It’s very rare in this country not to have wet roads in winter but jan17 when we had +14 and sunshine I did not enjoy the breaking distances. I definitely won’t run them in summer especially on motorways. Guessing change over this year was also not fun. After a hot spell late March which seemed like time to change we had snow in April. With cross climates I’ll get something that will cope with 2in of snow three days a year but completely suitable for both icy mornings and hot spells which neither summer nor winters will handle.

[bobby2000]

Originally Posted by Haldex

It's the first major modification on my XC60 - so I just had to hear some opinions

I went for Ronals R56 (7.5x19) in matte black - for several reasons- from my experience this wheel design is easy to clean, matte black hides the dirt pretty well, plus the powdercoating resists the salt/road grit much better than the lacquered wheels. And finaly, at €380/set it's hard to go wrong

What do you all think?

What is everyone else running for winter wheels?

I'll just manage with what I've got, we don't get alot of snow down south.

[MaDProFF]

@deman77 considering they turning point is 7ºc in general for Winter tyres, they perform better than Summers, I really am surprised you quoted 12ºc maybe try some other winter tyres, Nokians are high performance winter tyres, and for me certainly are not inferior at 12ºc.

I like them on in the winter, not because of snow, it is black ice, great grip in rain, less aquaplaning, and just the stopping power on ice and snow, could be the difference between you in the hedge or not, (in my case I drive a lot at night and early morning).