Hi everyone,

I'm trying to figure out what the best setup for driving a 740 in the snow is. snow tires, studs, chains, ect. The area i live in doesn't get much snow but i would like to use the car for frequent snowboarding trips.

it's worth mentioning that i am in my early 20's and don't have a lot of experience driving in winter weather.

thanks for looking at this,
Dan

After 15 years of driving 745s (90 745AT and 90 745M46) in Ontario winters, I can categorically state that FOUR snows are necessary. I run 185/65-15s to put maximum weight down, but have never needed additional weight in the back. Currently running Yoko IceGuard IG20s, which are excellent in freezing slush and light snow, not bad in heavier snow.

Thanks for all the advice.

Will 195 60 R15 88x tires fit on my car? The tires that are on there now are 195/65/R15

Thanks

Yes to 4 snows, chains or tire cables- test fit them when you get them so that you don't discover they won't fit when you need them most. I had an old sewer grate in the spare tire well for weight but have had luck with two bags of sand in the passenger wheel wells too. Could put it in rubbermaid tubs so that you can scoop it out when you get stuck too.

Herb is right on with the snow tires. My 1990 745 is awfully loose feeling on icy roads, Last winter I installed a set of GILSLAVED snows on my daughter's 944 during a 16" snow dump & then gave the car to her & she said she was amazed how they transformed the car's ability to cut thru heavy snow. NO GETTING STUCK. Also & most importantly remember you have a rear wheel drive vehicle & you are being pushed by the rear wheels/front wheel drive pulls you. Manual transmission would mean you can dis-engage a gear & coast- its very hard to coast with an automatic transmission. Tubes of sand in the back-end helps give weight over the rear wheels. Studded snows and/or chains are for seriously bad road conditions. Studded snows are probably your best defense against rotten icy/snowy conditions. Any rear wheel drive vehicle is a pig in the snow- you have to adapt it. If the older VOLVOS had traction control we would not be discussing this. Have Fun !!

Bob/1990 745 159k, 1991 744 242k, 1993 944 256k. That's the way we roll.

Thanks everyone for the advice. can you get away with only using 2 snow tires on the rear or do you have to have all 4. i'm on a tight budget.

I'll definitely get them mounted on their own wheels. i do a lot of in town driving and a bit on gravel roads and don't mind switching them before i go snowboarding

You want all four as Herb said. The other reason is that the front wheels steer and do most of the stopping. So rear only will get you going, and then get you in trouble.

Charley

Check craiglist and the like in your area-- I've bought complete sets mounted and balanced for great prices from people who had sold their cars. You really want all 4. Winter tires are different from old fashioned snow tires-- they have tread compounds that are optimized from about 5degC and colder. Put them on and leave them on until the weather warms up in Spring.

Good luck!

I agree 100% with Herb. A set of premium winter tires is a great investment, especially if you are going to go after the snow instead of let it come to you. Mount them on their own set of wheels, and that way you'll be ready at a moment's notice to either put them on yourself or have a shop do it for you. I usually ballast my 245 down with 2 50 lb. bags of sand, carry a shovel,some energy bars, recovery strap, some warm clothes, a candle, flashlight, chains, and a charged cell phone before I venture out in serious weather. A AAA card isn't a bad investment either. Be advised that most winter tires wear very quickly on pavement. It's the nature of the tread compound that they use. So don't run them too much at either end of your snow season. Go practice in a wide-open, empty parking lot in the snow when you get them. You'll quickly develop confidence about where the traction limits are, and you'll be a better driver on the street.

Get 4 good winter tires-- the difference in winter handling is amazing-- my 940t wagon is scary on slippery roads without them, but with them it is surprisingly sure-footed. If you're going to keep the car for a while it makes sense to get a spare set of steel wheels for the winter tires so you don't have to pay to swap and balance them in the Spring and Fall.

Good luck!

Not sure where you are located. Some states won't allow studs. Chains might not be a bad idea stored, if you need them, throw them on. Volvos are very light in the rear end. Old trick I was taught with a 2wheel drive pickup yrs ago. Got some garbage bags and put in the rear full of sand. Gave me added weight, and it I got stuck, I could put down some sand to get out.
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