Tyres For XC70 ?

[bosskat]

Originally Posted by ronmanager

I had a set of new Volvo dealer fitted Pirelli Scorpions on my 06 XC70 when I bought it maybe 2.5 years ago. I then had three un-repairable punctures on the back ones in the first year. After the most recent one (on a virtually new tyre) I found it difficult to find a matching spec Pirelli tyre anywhere. So I replaced the rear pair with Michelins.

Not saying the punctures were anything to do with the Pirelli's but in that year I had more punctures than over the entire 25 previous years that I've been driving.

What size tyre were you looking for, we're bringing new sizes out regularly

[Bonefishblues]

Originally Posted by bosskat

The softer compound is for the low temperatures, in the summer the tyres would degrade quicker as the compound is softer than those for summer conditions.

Interesting that many running winters all year round don't report that.

Isn't it the case that winter tyres use a high silica compound to retain flexibility at low temperatures as opposed to being intrinsically softer. Plenty of info around, as well as misinformation.

[bosskat]

From Pirelli website on advice on running winter tyres in the summer

"Winter tires have been developed to offer excellent performance when the temperature is below 45 °F. During the summer their compound, which is softer than that of summer tires, wears much more rapidly and hence doesn't perform as well."

[Tannaton]

I have Cooper Discoverer MS2 (snowflake marked winter tyre) on my XC90 and my father has Vredestein Wintrac's on his XC70 and we run them all year round. I also have Goodyear Ultragrip winter tyres on my company car but these get changed for summer tyres from April to November.

Based in that experience, winter tyres are softer compound and hence lose grip sooner in summer temperatures when driving on the limit due to tread block deformation and do wear faster (but not rapidly) if you drive hard - but the plus side is they are still substantially better in the wet at any time of the year. All season tyres don't perform on snow or ice as well as snowflake marked winter tyres. As winter tyres are softer you usually drop a speed rating for the same size. They're not for the autobahn....

The suggestion that winter tyres harden in the summer may have referred to one brand perhaps but I'm certain it doesn't apply to most brands in the uk. Winter tyres are noisier than the summer compounds - of the three brands I've mentioned the Goodyears are the noisiest and surprisingly the Coopers with an all terrain tread pattern are the quietest.

With regard to the faster wear on winter tyres in the summer months - I doubt that the cost of the shortened life would exceed the £120 or so of swapping your tyres twice a year.

On the XC90 forum the Vredestein and Nokians seem to be the favourite.

[ronmanager]

Originally Posted by bosskat

What size tyre were you looking for, we're bringing new sizes out regularly

They were Scorpion STR 215/65 R16 98V. I couldn't find anywhere selling anything other than H rated STRs. I only needed one as the other side was almost new. Couldn't find one anywhere.

[bosskat]

Pirelli do a Scorpion Verde all season on a V rated. Round Black circles have at £88 fitted

[ronmanager]

Originally Posted by bosskat

Pirelli do a Scorpion Verde all season on a V rated. Round Black circles have at £88 fitted

I saw them everywhere but it's a different tyre and tread pattern to the STR I already had. Call me old fashioned but at the very least I like to have the same tyre either side. Don't Volvo say that the AWB gearbox is (allegedly) sensitive to odd tyres? Think I read that in the owners manual.

[october37]

Originally Posted by Dave XC70

I have just purchased a 2008 XC70. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on tyre selection ? Is it best to use separate winter tyres or can someone recommend a good all year tyre. Any advice would be appreciated.

Volvo recommend Pirelli Scorpion now.
Had a set fitted to my 06 XC70 D5 Geartronic 8000 miles ago and so far no problems with mainly Motorway miles.

2006 XC70 D5 185 Geartronic

[bosskat]

Originally Posted by ronmanager

They were Scorpion STR 215/65 R16 98V. I couldn't find anywhere selling anything other than H rated STRs. I only needed one as the other side was almost new. Couldn't find one anywhere.

I was in work today and were doing a 98H in that size

[ronmanager]

Originally Posted by bosskat

I was in work today and were doing a 98H in that size

But I needed a V rated one. Here's the good one that I took off when I had to replace the pair. I gave it away on here.