Most of the 700 and 900 series wheels will fit on your 240. The 700 wheels have a 25mm offset versus your current wheels 20mm offset. This means that when the 700 wheels are mounted on your car, they will move the contact patch of the tire 5mm towards the center of the car on each wheel. This should not be a problem and will not have much effect on your handling. However, if you take 240 wheels and try to mount them on a 700 or 900 series car, you can run into conflicts (interference) with the brake calipers, depending on the year and ABS/non-ABS equipped.

Be advised that there are a few 900 series cars that have wheels with 43mm offsets. While a 43mm offset was typically used only on the Front Wheel Drive Volvos, a friend of mine has a 960 that came factory equipped with 43mm offset aluminum wheels. Fortunately, if you're buying a factory Volvo wheel, the dimensions and offset will be stamped right on the wheel next to the stud holes.

The debate of Aluminum vs. Steel will continue for a long time, but here's a rundown of the basics to help you choose what's best for your situation:
*****Steel Wheels: Very durable. They resist damage from bending, denting, warping, and curb hits.
*****Aluminum Wheels: Light weight, reduces rotational torque required to accelerate the car (every 1 lbs of weight reduction in the wheels is equal to 10 lbs of load reduction in the car), they conduct heat away from the brakes much faster than steel, provide quicker suspension response due to decreased weight, but can be scuffed easier and typcially require more frequent cleanings to look nice.

As for what Aluminum wheels are the best, it depends on what you're looking for. If you're going for looks, then whatever looks best to you. If you're seeking the most durable aluminum wheel, the 14" Dersus are probably the best. In the 15" category, I would wager that the Omegas are the strongest, but I don't have any test results to back that up. If you're seeking a softer/Lexus ride for your car, go with 14" wheels. If you're seeking Porsche style performance, then 15" and 16" wheels will suit you best (but you'll feel every road imperfection). The smaller the wheel, the larger you tires will be and they absorb a lot of the bumps and shock from hitting objects.

While not complete, the following websites will give you a good idea of what you can put on your 240.

http://brickparts.d--r.com/wheels/

http://www.sonic.net/~zipzippy/volvo/volvo%20240%20faq.html

God bless,
Fitz Fitzgerald.

Yes, I had 740 alloy wheels on my 245 for a few months until I got my Corona wheels back, no clearence issues at all. It's when You go from the 240 to the 700's where the issues are. Some 740/760's had bigger brakes and ABS and 14" wheels won't fit on those.
Ben

I just test fitted a steel 740 15" wheel (volvo part #1387534) on my 1991 245 with ABS brakes.
The rim clears the caliper.

Putting Michelin X-One 195/60/15 tires on next week.

FYI: The steel wheel weighs the same as a 15" Virgo alloy - 19 lbs.

I've been told that the 740 steel rims will set up a footprint a few millimeters narrower than the stock 14" 240 or 15" Virgo rims. No biggie.

Me, I would much rather have steel wheels than fancy alloys that bend and leak air.

Bert

I swapped alloys from a '88 745 to a '90 244, no problem with that match.
chris in vermont

I've seen, at one time or another, just about every model of 700 and 900 style wheel on a 240. I do not know of any that have clearance problems.
The tire sizes need to be kept close to the original to avoid scuffing things in the back.
The possibilities are only limited by what you can locate.
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: '87 244DL/M47- 221K, 88 744GLE- 202K, 91 244 181K, 88 244GL 145K

Most will, some won't; you'll have to be more specific.
--
Jim McDonald