What are the best tyres to put on an XC90?

[putt1ck]

Originally Posted by TruckbusUK

So what did they use to lift the car up? ... surely not a 2/4 post ramp or a mechanic called Mongo ... would seem a bit excessive or a very quiet garage

4 post ramp, although one of the mechanics did look like he could lift it! The garage has as many ramps as mechanics - I think it was originally a commercial vehicle setup which the current owners have adapted to consumer, hence the level of equipment. They did 4 wheel alignment for £70 once they'd fitted the new tyres too.

[paultyler1]

Originally Posted by Uselesshippy

Hi, well bit the bullet and got the General grabber GT's all round, checked all the online sites and they were generally coming back around 140 per rim plus fitting. Thought I try some local indies and found one who do them for 132 per rim all in, and they could get them in a couple of hours.
Tyres are funny things to price while I was pricing the GT's thought I,d ask for Maxxis MASAS as some of the online sites has good deals on them. But the Indys were all dearer for them than the GT,s and in some cases the Pirelli.
Weird. Well off to France now so these will be well broken in.

Anyone got any more comments re the General Grabber GT's? They seem to be coming in cheaper than the GG UHP's but are they as good?

[Carrizos]

I had some GTs fitted yesterday from Andy's tyres near Penzance, all in 127 per tyre. The tread pattern is very different to the UHPs and I have only done 180 miles on them but they seem fairly grabby in the wet and are just as quiet.

[paultyler1]

Are the General Grabber GT's a summer or all season tyre? Different websites quote different specifications.

[doddiej]

I had 4 General Grabber GT 255/50 R19 Ys fitted (£162 from Black Circles, including fitting) a couple of weeks ago. Done about 400 miles now - think they may be a little quieter than the original Pirellis and felt assured in the wet. Time will tell how they wear of course.

[Nick2]

I have just been offered a good deal for a set of Goodyear Wranglers by local supplier. I am keen to dump my supersoft Contis but can I use the silly Continental emergency puncture kit with Goodyears?

Thanks

Nick

[RoyMacDonald]

As I'm not going to be able to wear out my Vredstien Wintrac 4 Extremes with my annual millage. I've decided to eBay them so someone can get more use out of them. I've done 25,000 miles on them for 1.5mm of wear. They have 5.5 mm left. So a high miler could get over 50,000 miles out of them still.

I've replaced them with another set of the same.

My daughter put them on eBay yesterday if any one is interested. I asked her to advertise them in pairs in case anyone doesn't need a whole set.

[TruckbusUK]

Originally Posted by Nick2

I have just been offered a good deal for a set of Goodyear Wranglers by local supplier. I am keen to dump my supersoft Contis but can I use the silly Continental emergency puncture kit with Goodyears?

Thanks

Nick

TBH, I wouldnt ever use it, unless a real emergency, why? a lot of tyre repair outfits will refuse to clean the tyre to allow them to repair the puncture, and will condemn the tyre and want to replace it, nurse it along if you can to your nearest tyre repair.

Or if you can fit a spare wheel winch and buy a spacesaver tyre/wheel combo, R-Design/Sport excepted (it wont fit)

[Nick2]

Originally Posted by TruckbusUK

TBH, I wouldnt ever use it, unless a real emergency, why? a lot of tyre repair outfits will refuse to clean the tyre to allow them to repair the puncture, and will condemn the tyre and want to replace it, nurse it along if you can to your nearest tyre repair.

Or if you can fit a spare wheel winch and buy a spacesaver tyre/wheel combo, R-Design/Sport excepted (it wont fit)

I agree Robin and having driven 2.5k miles in France this summer I was quite nervous about having a flat as I just had the silly pump stuff. I guess I should sort out a winch and spare sometime before its too late....

Thanks

Nick

[semo]

Originally Posted by paultyler1

Are the General Grabber GT's a summer or all season tyre? Different websites quote different specifications.

I wouldn't consider any tyre to be all season or winter capable without a three peak snowflake symbol. That's just my opinion. The M+S (mud+snow) markings are mostly meaningless as nothing governs the use of this designation so manufacturers can imprint those on anything.

Good starting point would be Dunlop Grandtrek Touring, Nokian WR G2 or
Vredestein QUATRAC 3 SUV. The Nokians are classed as a winter tyre in the UK but in the US, it is marketed as all season. However, the asymmetric tread design is typical of 4 season tyres so I believe the US classification to be more accurate.