Need advice with bad traction on snow/ice! 2006 S80

niko · Post by **niko** » 04 Jan 2013, 07:44

Hi, I have a question in regards to traction on ice with the Volvo S 80 driving here in Pennsylvania. I recently had a problem getting up a hill or two and confused as to how well it should've been able to get up the hills--- here are some details. The car is a 2006 S 80 that has standard traction control not DSTC. The car has four Goodyear mud and snow tires with 9000 miles on the tires. We have had the car for three years and I'm a longtime Volvo owner.
So here's the story:
1. It snowed 2 to 3 inches that day. Yes there was some ice on the roads
2. I was having trouble going on flat surfaces here and there slipping the traction control did kick in and out I was going fine except for some small hills.
3. On a couple of the low hills I barely got up them I go in these roads all the time
4. On the scale of 0 to 10 where zero is I didn't get up and 10 I flew up like it was dry roads, I would give it a 1--- as I did get up that hill crabbing sideways at 2-5 miles per hour. Should have been 25 miles per hour.
5. So I knew this wasn't right, so I took out my 2007 xc90 and it went up the hills nicely, with some spinning I was up to speed two 25-30 miles an hour 50 yards later. Not unexpected I would give it a 6 on my scale… Which I say six times better than the S 80.
6. I then went and got my Chevy express full-size passenger van which happens to be all-wheel-drive too, and it went up the hill without issue at all. It has all season tires on it and I would give it an 8 on my traction scale, believe it or not.
So yes I have driven in snow all my life and yes I was very surprised. So had the car taken to the Volvo dealer they checked out the traction control and all-wheel-drive and found no problems. They said well maybe it's the tires and the only thing I could do is put on snows all the way around. Not a good option for me. And of course I find it very odd that this car had so much trouble compared to the other two vehicles. During my trips around that night I saw no other cars having problems by the way.
So yes I know that tires are important. My tires have decent tread amounts, but can tires make that much difference? I'm about ready to sell the car because I don't trust it anymore. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks......

Post by **jblackburn** » 04 Jan 2013, 10:48

When you say "mud and snow" tires I think you mean "all season M+S" tires right? Cruze Ecos ship with Goodyear low-rolling resistance M+S tires, and reports are that they're absolutely terrible in rain, snow, or anything else.

If so, those things are terrible. Get a set of REAL snow tires for it (or Conti DWS). Yes, rubber makes ALL the difference in the snow - certainly not the car's fault.

niko · Post by **niko** » 04 Jan 2013, 12:24

The tires are Goodyear Eagle GT M+S. Thanks for your advice.

Jmccarthy2 · Post by **Jmccarthy2** » 04 Jan 2013, 19:36

Have 2004 s80 live in Vermont have snows with studs and front wheel drive only never had a problem and travel 30 miles to work each way. Better in snow than all wheel drive chevy Tahoe. Tires make all the difference!!