2004 S60T, 48K miles. Car consistently got around 24mpg mixed driving with stock tires (think they were Pirelli, now that they are gone I don't remember). Got a set of Michelin Pilot Exalto (235-45-HR17, same size as original) from tirerack.

Two things happened: While new tires are the same nominal size as originals they rub when turning full lock. Not a big deal, although it changed a bad turning radius into a terrible turning radius. Still, surprised that same size tires would rub when originals did not. These are the "top selling" tire at tirerack for my car, so figure other people have seen this - is rubbing expected with these tires?

Second, gas mileage immediately dropped from typical 23-24 mixed driving to 20. Took a long highway trip and got 24, where normal is 30-ish.

I don't see how tires could change mileage that much - seems that to consume that much energy they'd wear out or burn up! However, the change happened right when we switched tires.

FWIW I have them at 38lbs.

Could tires change mileage this much? Other than this I like them a lot. Handle well, quiet, do a nice job of absorbing bumps.

Thanks for your comments,

Terry

I just put Goodyear Eagle GTs on my S60. Great traction on pavement and also performing very well in snow.

Hey all...

This is a timely thread for me as I've been looking for replacement tires for my '03 S60 T5. Currently I have the Pirelli P6's that were put on there new 2 years ago when I bought the car. I've done 30K miles since and the tread's maybe 40% remaining, but the rubber is starting to crack a little and the wet road traction is less than I'd feel comfy with--time for replacement.

My overall experience with the Pirelli's wasn't terrible, but hasn't been nearly as good as the Goodyear Tripletreds (not available in 235/45/17) nor the Bridgestone Potenza RE950's (no longer in production) on my previous cars. Also, seeing mixed reviews on the Pirelli's I figured there's gotta' be something better.

I came across the Exaltos on Tirerack and have been on the fence about getting them. I've read favorable reviews about them on other cars, but it's more assuring to see reviews from other S60 drivers. I'll take the plunge. :)

Thanks guys!

- Dan

PS
Good to know what to expect of the Exaltos...even the decreased gas mileage. I did a ~300 mile drive this past weekend on my current Pirelli's and averaged 32 MPG on mostly highway driving at 65-75 MPH (with occasional pass through small towns at 35 MPH). Ah well...no more of that, hehe.

Where did you get the idea that those were the "same size" as the originals? They're not even close. They're almost an inch and a quarter wider and almost a half-inch larger in diameter - which would explain both the rubbing and the lower mileage.

re: "Where did you get the idea that those were the "same size" as the originals?"

They have the same size specification as the tires that came on the car - 235/45/17. If I should have looked at the actual tire dimensions well, I didn't know that. This is also one of the sizes on tirerack's web site for this car, and the "Exalto" was their "best seller" for my car when I got them. If I missed some research details that's what I'm coming here for: what did I miss?

You said the are wider/bigger than original. Visually I thought they look bigger, just seem to fill up the wheel well a bit more, but since I don't have the old ones I couldn't measure and.

Anyway, they are mine now and I like them fine. Mostly wondering if there is something wrong with the car. If tires explains drop in mileage, ok. And if I missed something in selecting tire size that would be good to know for next time.

Thanks for your help,

Terry

It is the tire design, not the measurements. The sidewall of your older tires went in to meet the tread, where the new ones go straight up. Gives you about 1 inch more tread for cornering.
A really good tire shop can "shave" some of the inside tread off if the rubbing gets to you.

As for turning radius, you sure don't want to use my V70 with AWD! It corners like a truck. My old 164 could do a U turn on our local street, the 850 can make a 3 point turn, and the V70 has to wait for a driveway or side street to make a 3 point turn. Modern progress...

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Yeah, that's one of the reasons that FWD (or AWD) is worse than RWD -- what can you expect if you've got some driveshaft (even with a CVJ) behind the wheel? It still can't turn as far as one without (like any RWD car) without snapping off the joint.

Noteworthy, though, are Volvo's own specs for some of their models. I remember looking at those for the '07 S60 my daughter was ordering: it had a larger turn radius for the AWD version than the FWD version (as you compare your FWD 850 to your AWD V70). I can't understand why, though (not counting wheelbase, which does make a difference).

Shouldn't the shafts and joints behind the front wheels be the same for FWD and AWD versions of the same model cars?

I have also seen that the optional wider wheels offered on some models require "stops" that also reduce the turning radius -- this, too, I can understand, but not FWD vs AWD (all other things being equal).

I can only speculate (pure guess!) that perhaps, because the center diff of the system can't cope with drastic differences between front and rear wheels, as would happen in a very sharp turn, the AWD cars are also given those "stops" to prevent the operator from trying to make such a sharp turn. Okay, there's a lot of things wrong with this proposal, but what else could it be?

Regards,

All of the fwd cars have turning stops. It's too cold now, but I guess I could measure the stops and compare the 850 to the V70R. The awd already squeals tires in the parking lot with the wheel turned to lock, but that is the only speed where one can turn the wheel to lock.
Your are correct about the awd system diffs not being able to handle hard turns without wheel slippage, but Jeeps do it! My old Wrangler turns on a dime, just don't try it on dry pavement with 4wd low engaged!!! The diffs are locked and the noise is tremendous! Perhaps the awd diffs are locked pretty tight at low speeds?
I used to laugh at my brother's old Chevy wagon when he tried to park in a stall at the parking lots. I don't laugh anymore. And his Chevy was rwd, but about 3 feet longer than my wagon.

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

When I put on 4 new tires, I only lost about 4mpg for the first 5-10K miles. The deeper tread contributes to a lot of the demise, but so does the traction friction. Cold weather doesn't help any.
You do need to look for where the rubbing is. Inner fender or suspension part.

Klaus
--
The 164 has a new home, all I am left with are a 95 854T and a 98 V70R :)

Good to know about your experience with mileage loss and new tires. Tread squirm on new, thicker tread makes sense. Was also juggling alternative explanations like cold weather, time will tell.

Front of tire rubs splash shield between engine and wheel well at full lock, that is, right tire rubs when turning left, left tire when turning right. Only happens when maneuvering in tight quarters, which this car never did well anyway. Big difference from my 245 wagon, which seems almost able to turn in place, and 850's which are do almost as well.

I guess big tires have tradeoffs. I'll post back when tires have some miles on them. By then it will be summer, car will have been though tuneup: enough variables to keep me guessing.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Terry

I've got Exaltos, too. Love them so much I not only put them on my and my wife's older Volvos, but also put them on, right away, as soon as my daughter took delivery of her brand new 2007 S60 2.5T. I also upgraded the size on her car (as I did on my wife's and my own) -- for my daughter's car, I went from the OEM 205/55-16 (MXV4's, btw) to 225/50-16 (exact same rev/mile, according to Michelin's specs).

They're as sticky as hell -- these are W-rated (as indicated by the load-speed designation, even though the size includes a mere V in the size nomenclature -- i.e., 225/50VR16). It's noteworthy that high speed tires, being stickier, notoriously use more energy as they roll, and that would account for your lower mileage. All the "high-mileage, fuel economy" tires are much harder rubber, and that's their trick. You should know that you have to choose between traction (braking and cornering) and fuel economy.

These Exaltos also have a thickened part of the sidewall near the bead, to protect the alloys from "curb rash". Perhaps that's what's rubbing? On some suspension or chassis piece? You didn't explain clearly what part was rubbing.

Glad you like your Exaltos, I like them too. If the tires explains the drop in fuel economy that's ok and good to know. Was wondering if possibly something was wrong with the car. I'll replace the air filter and plugs to cover those bases. Otherwise, it is what it is.

My tires do not have the curb rash bead on them. The front of the tire rubs against the plastic splash shield between engine and wheel well at full lock. This only happens when parking and we've learned to avoid it.

Thanks for your help,