Dear All

Here in the UK 4.5 inch rims have become available. Are there decent handling improvements from changing my original 4-inchers on the Amazon to 4.5, or would this only come through changing the tyre size as well? At 150 dollars a corner they're not cheap.

Thanks

Tom

Hello,

Are you sure the new wheels are 4.5"?

Fairly recently, a reproduction of the 5.5" the steel wheels that came on the 1969 1800S and 1969-1970 122 has become available.

If your original 4" wheels are in good condition, especially the lug nut holes which can become damaged to the point where the stock lug nuts will not safely hold the wheel to the rotor/drum without larger diameter lug nuts, then continue to use them if you are happy with the available tires and their fit to your narrow 4" wheels.

A wider wheel, even only a .5" wider will make our recommended tire, a 185/65/15 fit better, although 185/65/15 tires will fit even better on 5.5" wide wheels and you can easily step up to a 195/65/15 tire if you want.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Yes, I think TT has done a typo here and he means the 5.5" ones currently available. Apparently they have issues with the hub cap retaining "knobs". Hub caps won't stay on! Not important if you don't like hub caps.............

I bought some Duette wheels for my 544, they are not only wider, but are made of thicker steel.

I bought a set of steel wheels for one of our 850 wagons - The tire shop had some trouble finding them - The welds on those wheels were three times as long as those on the wheels that came with a Volvo snow tire package.

Are these wheels actually better made?

At $150 per corner, you might want to consider some alloy wheels - Made for a Ford? They would be far stronger.

As a lark, I just looked for a snow tire/wheel package from Tire Rack for our '12 XC70 - no steel wheels available!

Ill probably go to the tire store that I have used since 1963 - They retredded the tires on my '60 SAAB!
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'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '12 XC70, the first three are mine, heh, heh, 525,000 miles put on 10 bricks

Ouch!

Any chance you can find Junkyard 70's and 80's Ford rims? They come in the right bolt pattern and fit nice. I have Ford LTD/Lincoln "turbine" alloys on the 122s with nice wide low profile rubber and it looks sweeeet.

I did have to clearance the back of the wheels slightly and the calipers with an angle grinder (like 0.1" - 2.5mm - tops).

The steelies stock type rims probably fit w/o clearancing.

Best part is they were $25 each.
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Mike!

Save your money- replace the tires with wider ones on the 4.5" rims next time you replace them

[opinion]

No, no difference, especially if you keep tire size the same.

If you up it to 5.5" rims, you can run something like a 195/65-15 tire, and then you'd notice a difference. But there would be trade offs.

$150/corner to gain a half inch? Crazy talk.

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-Matt I ♥ my ♂