tire time again

[sjonnie]

I appreciate the reply, but I have long been against "good"year tires. I have had Horrible service out of a few sets in the past, and simply don't trade with them anymore.

Goodyear make some of the top rates tires out there, just because you had a bad experience in the past doesn't mean their current offerings are bad. Anyway, when I replaced my TripleTreds I was tempted to go with the Geolander AT (was looking for a more off-road capable tire and didn't want asymmetrical again) but instead went for the Toyo Open Country HT. They are H rated, symmetrical and given good marks by Off-Road Magazine. After 12K miles they are holding up well. I'm interested to see how they do in the Midwest winter. So far I'd say they aren't as good as the TripleTreds, but considering the difference in design I'd say they are a fair compromise.

[sjonnie]

According to Tire Rack, Assurance TripleTred All-Season is available in 215/65R 16 size but is only 'T' speed rated, so unsuitable for Volvo.

Yep, that's what I had. I put 50K miles on my set, with over half of that with a fully laden car doing about 80mph or so. They handled great in pretty much every condition until a rock went through the right front tire on a dirt road. For pure US highway driving they were just fine, if you're racing on the German autobahn maybe you need V rated tires, otherwise they're a pointless waste of money.

[MacNoob]

if you're racing on the German autobahn maybe you need V rated tires, otherwise they're a pointless waste of money.

Disagree. V-rated tires are not just rated for higher maximum speed, they also have stiffer construction in order to withstand those speeds, which makes a difference in handling and ride. I figure with the soft tall suspension these cars have, they need all the handling help they can get.

[Astro14]

There are so many other variables that go into speed ratings and the applicability or suitability of tires for a particular chassis combination that it is hard to describe it here (though, Lord knows, I've tried...).

Speed ratings and load ratings are specified by the manufacturer for the intended use of the vehicle. You can't simply put a T-rated tire on a car and say "there, it's good for 118 MPH" because that is only true if several other conditions, including load, inflation pressure and temperature fall within specified limits. Higher speed ratings are really a measure of the tires' ability to handle heat as well as circumferential force...but those qualities depend on the proper inflation pressure as well...ask any owner of a 90's vintage Ford Explorer about this...and failing tires...

Winter tires typically have lower speed ratings since it is known that they will be used in cold temperatures...

This car specifies an H speed rating and an XL load rating. The correct UTQG service description for this car is a 98H (you can use a 98V...it's higher speed, but the same load rating). Go to www.tirerack.com and plug in the car make/model/year and you'll see a very specific set of tires that are 98H or better (again, winter tires are likely a 98T because they'll be run in the cold) that they will sell you for this car. That's because Tire Rack won't sell you a tire that has the wrong load rating.

The Goodyears being recommended in this thread do not have the correct load rating specified by Volvo. Neither do the Michelin Hydroedge, though they are both fine tires on other cars. That's why the Goodyear site tells you that there are no suitable tires for this car...the tire manufacturer knows it... Mount them if you like (many tire shops won't because of liability concerns) but you just became a test driver.

The General Altimax are 98H...so you can run them, but I have no personal experience with the tire...The new Goodyear Eagle LS2s are 102V and suitable, but again, no personal experience with them...

Just because a tire fits on the wheel doesn't mean that it is the correct tire for this application...

[WallaceK]

Just joined this forum. I'm looking to replace my Triple Treds as I've had TWO sets on my 2004 XC 70 that got just 25,000 miles (same experience with the OEM Pirellis). I recently replaced front struts, front and wear stabilizer links (103,000 miles). I'm fascinated by earlier comments on this forum that members put 34 or even 35 psi in their tires; Volvo recommends 30-30 and I've been strictly maintaining my tires at 33-32 front to back. But as my tires tend to wear towards the edges I'm wondering if I've been UNDERINFLATING for the last 6-1/2 years?? I've also had a lot of trouble with my alignment going out more than once a year (once right before a 15 hour round trip drive that ruined a new pair of tires) - I'm now aligning twice per year automatically. What I hear from Volvo dealer and the Volvo "expert" (trained at Volvo) at my local repair shop is that Volvos (4 wheel drive) chew through tires ("lucky you don't own a XC 90"), though they can't explain my bad luck with alignments. LOOKING FOR REAL WORLD ADVICE ON TIRE INFLATION FOR XC70. You guys are getting much better mileage than I am!
Tire advice I received this week:
I actually have a high school friend who is a senior manager at CR: recommends Hankook Optimo H727 even though T rated
Local shop owner who works on my family's 4 cars: he drives GY Assurance Comfort Treds
Tire Rack guy on phone: the Comfort Treds or BF Goodrich Advantage TA (have never seen these highly rated)
Me: I like the Triple Treds, but my experience with their mileage is terrible (I thought the Pirellis handled well too), but maybe I'm underinflating in spite of Volvo's recommendation. I drive the Michelin MX-4 on my 6-cyl Accord (2 sets) which are top-rated and have gotten 60,000 miles and have not dry rotted (like some complain about Michelins) but they art NOT good in snow...and they're expensive.
My sons' cars (both 4-cyl): both Toyo Extensa A/S and like them; decently rated and would save me some $$
Looking forward to your advice/thoughts/opinions!

[Skater]

The label on the door on my 2006 xc70 says 35psi front, 38 psi rear, for 215/65r16 tires.

[Astro14]

Yep...and regular passenger car tires are rated for max load at 35 PSI...

While XL load tires are rated for higher pressures...and that margin of increased load is part of the spec...and why not all tires are correct for this car...

[wgriswold]

I am confused about tire ratings and what they mean and I hope you all can help. My XC came with 98V tires that wore out at 25K miles. I understand that the 98 refers to load rating and the V to speed ratings.

When I went to tire stores to replace the OEM tires I was offered 98V, 98H, and 98T. So, I thought they all had the same load rating but different speed ratings. Since the T tires had a speed rating of 118 mph and I never exceed 70 mph, I went with the recommendation from Les Schwab and installed TOYO 98T tires. I have to admit that I have no idea how the speed ratings correspond to tire construction or safety if driven at less than the rating.

The only difference I can feel is somewhat more leaning while driving on curving mountain roads. So maybe the sidewalls are more stiff in a V tire and the rubber is softer since I got 60K from the T tires compared to the V tires.

It seems clear that I am using the same load rated tire but a lower speed rating and that gives me much better mileage but the question is: am I compromising safety?

[Astro14]

Wait - the sidewalls are more stiff in a higher speed rating...the carcase has to be more resistant to stretch at high speed...so it's stronger/stiffer...

Are you compromising safety? Geez...I am not qualified to say...I am not a tire engineer (though, it's clear from all my posts that I've spent some time talking with one...)...and I don't know what Volvo had in mind when they spec'd the tires...

If I knew what Volvo had in mind for operating conditions when they spec'd a 98H...then we could tell if/when you were getting close to the limit or not...but I don't know if Volvo wanted a 98H for a fully loaded car on the Autobahn...or if they wanted a 98H for a fully loaded car on I-10 through death valley at 70 MPH...and saved the 98V for the autobahn...and then allowed the 98T for winter only...I just don't know that. And all the opinions on tires on this forum are guesses...none of the posters are tire engineers.

IF you don't drive over 70...and if you're not fully loaded in the heat, and you avoid the high heat...then, I would guess you're OK. But it's my guess...I didn't engineer or test the car and I didn't specify the tires...

[Skater]

This car specifies an H speed rating and an XL load rating. The correct UTQG service description for this car is a 98H (you can use a 98V...it's higher speed, but the same load rating). Go to www.tirerack.com and plug in the car make/model/year and you'll see a very specific set of tires that are 98H or better (again, winter tires are likely a 98T because they'll be run in the cold) that they will sell you for this car. That's because Tire Rack won't sell you a tire that has the wrong load rating.

That odd, because I just searched for a tire for a 2006 xc70, and it actually gave me a couple choices for a 96V tire in the 17" size, and even a 96H for the 16", and in both cases they were all season tires. That's really bad on their part.