22” pro wheels - real world vulnerability?

[Cull06]

I tried an xc60 polestar with the 22s and found it on the harsh side for a daily. I went with the 21s and am glad I did. A noticeable improvement indeed.

[VOLVOL0VER]

Originally Posted by Cull06

I tried an xc60 polestar with the 22s and found it on the harsh side for a daily. I went with the 21s and am glad I did. A noticeable improvement indeed.

You're talking about a polestar. you can only choose between 21" or 22". But for the others that might choose below 21", i would say 20" is the balanced choice.

[kaney1980]

We have the 22” and whilst I like the style and simplicity of cleaning, both fronts now have scars. The tyre rim protector just isn’t thick enough to protect. They do thud over sharp bumps and holes in the road too, so you definitely lose comfort (and gain road noise).

What’s more, these can only be refurbed a couple of times and then no more material can be diamond cut off them. I got one refurbed when we hadn’t got the car long as I was too worried about it looking perfect; after what I thought was only a light scuff, I was told they couldn’t do it again in the future. What I didn’t realise was it had already been done in the past by Volvo (was ex demo), so we’re down now to it’s last life before being replaced, ideally. Since been kerbed again too, so it really irks me!

Also, after the refurb I was told there was a slight buckle that they couldn’t get quite right, but I haven’t noticed any vibration whilst driving.

[Wib]

I have 22’s on mine and I am paranoid about curbing etc. These wouldn’t have been a choice, although they do look amazing, as the car was an ex-demo

I am thinking about seeing if I can get Alloy Gator protectors fitted, I’m sure they will save some scrapes, I do think they’re still very much at risk

[Zebra]

I have summer 22s and winter 19s.

22s look great but poor ride, noisy and despite careful 50K miles have scuffs.

When the pure winters on the 19s have worn down I think I will go with cross climate and stick with the 19s year round.

Like others I had an ex demo 22s and on reflection I wish I had asked to reduce to 20s not that it would have necessarily been available.

[Baconbaronen]

Originally Posted by Zebra

I have summer 22s and winter 19s.

22s look great but poor ride, noisy and despite careful 50K miles have scuffs.

When the pure winters on the 19s have worn down I think I will go with cross climate and stick with the 19s year round.

Like others I had an ex demo 22s and on reflection I wish I had asked to reduce to 20s not that it would have necessarily been available.

22s summer here, noisy? Not at all, but they're still new (8000 km).
The funny thing about ride comfort, put 50 people in a room, and you'll get 50 different opinions.
From my POV, the ride comfort is just fine with 22s.

[Zebra]

Originally Posted by Baconbaronen

22s summer here, noisy? Not at all, but they're still new (8000 km).
The funny thing about ride comfort, put 50 people in a room, and you'll get 50 different opinions.
From my POV, the ride comfort is just fine with 22s.

Agree with the ride comfort thing. My view is comparison but then I also know which wheels are on so it is not a blind comparison.

[Baconbaronen]

Originally Posted by Zebra

Agree with the ride comfort thing. My view is comparison but then I also know which wheels are on so it is not a blind comparison.

Ah yes, of course, if you have both size of wheels at hand, then it's easier to make a direct comparison.

Me, just having summer 22s at the moment, well......I wouldn't say it's a bad ride comfort? But that might change later in the year, when I get around to get my hand on some wintertires in 19 or 20s.

[Discoman]

Cannot understand the need to put low profile tyres on an SUV. As others have said 22" etc wheels are just nuts.

I've got 19" wheels on mine with air suspension and in dynamic mode it corners to a degree which is very impressive but ride quality is sublime.

I guess it depends what you want. I enjoy an easy life in my XC90 and keep an old V8 coupe for an enthusiastic drive now and then. Why an SUV needs to pretend to be a sports car is beyond me and, anyway, if you want to play that game then an X5 or Cayenne are better bets.

[techwatcher]

Originally Posted by Discoman

Cannot understand the need to put low profile tyres on an SUV. As others have said 22" etc wheels are just nuts.

I agree. The argument for 22" wheels seems to be purely cosmetic, i.e. they look better.

We were half-thinking of changing our XC60 earlier this year and many of the Volvo Selekt cars had 22" wheels. I did drive an XC60 with 22" wheels on air suspension and, compared with my current XC60 on 20" wheels, it rode surprisingly well, granted on smooth-ish roads.

I would be rather worried about kerbs though, even though I am careful.