Living in SE Pennsylvania, we don't get a lot of bad weather, but when it happens, the worst in all drivers comes out in force. I am taking my S80 '00 (11K, no serious problems, very satisfied) in for a oil change (and a few minor repairs such as the recall suspect) and am considering a change to snow tires for the next 6 months. I would appreciate a suggestion, as the approved Volvo Swedish snow tires (they start with a "G", I can't remember what they are), don't sound very promising, and I have always owned Michelins.

Could anyone help with a suggestion for the best tires for dealing with primarily snow covering, slush and incompetent drivers? This would be greatly appreciated, and much more useful (on a historically useful board), than yet another dead-end complaint.

All the best, Dick Jacobs

Sorry for the redundant response, my enter key is disfunctional.

thanks, Bart for the suggestion of tirerack.com, its a very useful site. I've always liked Pirelli's (had them for years on a Acura Legend '89 with 147k miles on it, very dependable).

Arno and Mat, thanks for the definition and concern. My response was only to express my reluctance to spend $150 per tire (my dealer's price), on a product I've never heard of. Subsequently, I've had a chance to ride in a co-worker's car with Gislavad's installed. They look like they would be glue on a snowy road, but on dry pavement to my ears, they are quite noisy. Mat, if your wife drives a lot of short miles, it seems they will be fine. On the other hand, I live in mostly snow-free SE Pennsylvania (Wayne, dealer-Keystone), but drive 25K a year. I put 1,000 miles on my S80 T6 this week (13K overall, bought in 2/00), and when I need them, they have to work!

I think I'll invest in 4 Pilot Aspin's.

Also, as another point to be hopefully helpful. May I note that for hip-replacement sufferers, this is a great car. I have had two hip replacements in the last 18 months, and have been recommending this car (well, really its seats) since February. If any reader of this site has the same orthopedic problems, and drives a lot of miles, drop me a line), and no, I'm not a dealer.

Dick Jacobs

Go to:

http://www.tirerack.com/winter/index.jsp

A couple of weeks ago, our '00 S80 with stock Michelin HX MXM4 225/55 R16s went over a couple of snow/slush covered mountain passes. And there were also drivers of the worst kind nearby. Handling and predictability were excellent, thanks to Michelin's compound and tread design. I've ordered a set of these tires for our BMW Z3 coupe for the winter. These all-season tires are fine for most winter driving conditions in urban areas where the roads are plowed often enough and half the time they're on dry asphalt.

For the worst winter conditions, such as a foot or more of snow on icy roads that aren't paved, Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires may be the best available. They don't cost much either, but are short-lived on the dry, warm paved roads of summer.

I'm surprised at your assessment of the "G... II" tires (I can't spell the name off the top of my head)- after looking the latest generation of this tire over and asking around - I just bought a complete set for my wife's S70 - rims/hubcaps/tires sitting in my basement as we speak.

Not too late to return them....What did you find to stop your consideration of them?

MAT

take it from someone that has put 200,000 miles on an 850, about 40% of that time in our wonderful Northern winters, the Gilslaved II's are SNOW tires! They may suck on the skid pad, or in car mag comparos with stickier tires like Blizzaks, but when you need a snow tire, cause the roads are snow covered, you can't beat the gilslaveds (Hakkapellittas are about the same, IMO)

You did not mention where you live. I would think that if you only see snow covered rds a couple times a year, I wouldn't sweat the selection but if you are up north, definitely keep the Gilslaveds.

Let me add my vote and say that from all I've read Claude is right on the money. Blizzaks may be stickier but they wear out in 1 - 2 seasons because the compound is so soft. In the domestic market, Michelin Alpins are garnering a lot of praise and are preferred by some over Blizzaks now.

-rdo

Thanks for the input - most of my driving is in Ontario, Canada - with trips up north to visit family.

MAT

> I'm surprised at your assessment of the "G... II" tires (I

Tire brand name is Gislaved

Make decent summer-tires too. Always liked the 306 types (very quiet).

It's actually named after a town in Sweden where the tire-factory is. Gislaved is now owned by Continental AFAIK though.

Bye, Arno.