posted by
someone claiming to be paul
on
Tue Sep 17 18:03 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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I've been checking out tirerack.com to see what my options are for new tires, and they seem to be VERY limited in this size. Just wondering if anyone can give any info as to what their experiences have been with all season tires in this size. I live in the Pacific Northwest - only a few snow days a year but plenty of rain, so I'm looking for something with good wet traction. The reviews on tirerack are helpful, but half the owners love each tire and the other half hate them, and there aren't a lot of reviews from Volvo owners. So... let's hear from Volvo drivers - any input?
Thanks in advance
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Michelin MVX4 Plus work pretty well for a compromise between weather handling and performance. When I first got my 850, I ended up in a situation where I had to drive 200 miles on I-81 in PA through a pretty bad snowstorm. Careful driving, and no slippage. Never had a problem with them in the rain either. And I autocross with those tires =) They hold up pretty decently, in 10k I can't see any visible wear really, although I'm sure there's some.
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Brandon
95 854T 92k
Pictures =)
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posted by
someone claiming to be James
on
Wed Sep 18 10:17 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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I am thinking of getting the tires you are talking about, but i have a quick question about them.. I just bought my '95 850 and it has nitto z-rated tires on right now, but 3 of 4 are getting bald (i guess one was replaced). These tires are really bad about squealing when pushed anywhere near the limit of their traction, really embarrasing for someone getting used to a new car's limits (especially since my previous car, an older accord, could practically slide sideways without making a peep with yokohama tires).
Do have you noticed if this is the case with the michelins, or is it more of a function of the suspension?
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Yokohama tires are very good too, wouldn't recommend against those either.
Being that my car came wit these, I'm sort of stuck with them...but the squealing really dosn't happen much if you keep the pressure correct. In the Autocross, they make a ton of noise, but I'd expect that anyway. They squeal a little on fast hard turns (90 degrees), but other than that are pretty quite/comfortable.
Make sure you get 205/50 R16 and not 205/55 R16...the previous owner of my car put 5he 205/55 R16s on, I guess becuase of avaliability, or cheapness....and they're causing some mild rubbing in the passanger side wheel well up front.
I probably won't buy these tires again because I want something more performance oriented, but I've got a good 30-40 k left so that'll be a while. Unless I'm still in the cold part of the world at that time =)
BTW if you go look at my pictures you can see the tires on the car.
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Brandon
95 854T 92k
Pictures =)
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posted by
someone claiming to be steve s
on
Wed Sep 18 07:43 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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if u want the best all-season currently available...u can get the michelin pilot sport a/s. unfortunately, it just came out...so it's expensive and it doesn't come in 205-50-16. although it is available 205-55-16...many have said it'll rub...depends really on ur car, varies. dunlop sp sport 5000 is the same deal. what i would suggest, if u have more freedom with ur cash...is to get the bridgestone s-03 for spring/summer/fall...it's better than most all-season in the wet (or another high performance tire, where traction is usually better than most all-season tire in dry and wet, except perhaps the bfgoodrich gforce t/a kd according to luke from tirerack) . and get some dirt cheap steel rims with some bridgestone blizzak 15" or something for the few days of snow. (btw, skip the oem michelin pilot hx mxm...way too expensive for limited traction, although it is fairly quiet for a grand touring tire)
http://forums.mbworld.org/forums/showthread.php?s=84dd525970b155e3ec4ca7292e538e47&threadid=5877
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posted by
someone claiming to be mike t.
on
Wed Sep 18 03:27 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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Paul, i'll tell you this whatever you do don't put 205/55 16 on the car they will rub the inner wheelwells, stay with the 50 series. I've been dealing with this for three years, rubbing and hitting the outer fender on turns just enough to be annoying.
i was told changing the fender liners would help, it didn't. I run dunlops on my car i think they are the a60 and have had good success with them in the rain . however I'm in the northeast and on hilly roads. I found out the only way to be real good in snow, I have to put four snows on it, again i used the dunlops they 've been great and the price from tirerack is reasonable. i use the 185/65 r15 for snows, a little narrow so more weight per sq inch helps with wet traction. i happen to have two sets of rims custom 16 for the summer and stock 15 alloys for winter. i hope this helps you in your decision process.
check with volvospeed.com they are an excellent source of info too!!!!
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posted by
someone claiming to be francisira
on
Wed Sep 18 03:00 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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205/50/16 ARE a very limited tire size. you cant just walk into sears, nor trak auto, nor pep boys and have them put on. tirerack.com or tires.com do carry them at least in several brands and price ranges. true that half the people want one tire and others hate the SAME tire. that is called individual preferences, based on individual taste, location, driving needs, driving habits,and not even counting some people that will always find something wrong with everything. valuewise, i think the koumos are ok. i personally just put on bridgestone potenza 730 gen2 and i like them. i know that there will be some out there that would not.....individual preference
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Not on Volvo, but on my sister's Saab, I purchased Pirelli P7000 Supersport, same size as yours. She had the same tires previously, and the ride was rather harsh, so looked everywhere for something with not as harsh ride (based on reviews), but ended up coming back to the same tires. Perhaps the old tires had been over-inflated, or they just ride harsh with less tread, but with the new ones, the ride feels much, much better. I don't drive it everyday, but when I do drive it, I like it. Ride is better than my '96 855t with BF Goodrich g-Force KDWS. Of course, it's more than just the tires that influence the ride, but as an fyi.
On the 855t, I ended up getting BF Goodrich g-Force KDWS (all season) @ 205/55/16, and I'm reasonably happy with it. The ride doesn't seem any harsher than before, even though 'psychologically' the tires feel very stiff due to the looks (the corners look very 'edgy' to me and the sidewalls very stiff). I DO get slight rubbing at full-lock, and I just avoid turning that tight. I'll be getting winter tires as well (in New England), but didn't want to risk safety with OEM MXV4s on the snow (again, based on the reviews). So, I'll have all seasons + winter tires.
Btw, I have 205/50/16 summer tires (Bridgestone Potenza RE730, Z-rated) that came off the Saab (driven ~600 miles), if you want a whole set. My sister (actually my parents) got them not knowing there were summer only. If you're considering getting a winter set, and need summer tires, let me know.
Anyway, good luck. It took me a lot of time sifting thru reviews at tirerack.
--
'96 855T w/ BF Goodrich T/A KDWS, '93 944 n/a
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posted by
someone claiming to be Robert Firestone
on
Tue Sep 17 20:50 CST 2002 [ RELATED]
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If you are not looking to spend a lot of money, but want a decent tire for all that you described try Falken Ziex ZE-512. M + S, unidirectional w/ some additional cuts, V speed rating (on 205 50 16) Z rated on others. I have them on my car and am very pleased. I got my set of 4 from www.stopandgotires.com for $336 UPS to my door. Good luck.
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