850 GLT - Winter Weather Driving

liaisonmedia · Post by **liaisonmedia** » 17 Mar 2007, 11:37

I have a 1994 Vovlo 850 GLT. I have had it for over a year now and love it in spite of the heavy mechanical costs involved. So far I have had to replace the oil pan twice because it sits so low (or the pan is so deep and I have no skid guard). I also had to have the rear engine seal replaced and a valve replaced. She runs smooth now after sinking in a lot of bucks.

However, my question and thread is more about the handling of the car in the winter. Last winter was mild and I had no problems. Although this year the northeast of the US has gotten hammered in snow. I have four brand new Pirelli P6's on the car, but it is the worst front wheel drive vehicle I have ever driven in snow. My experience is that the winter traction control and even low 3 doesn't do any justice.

My question is: Have any of you experienced the same situation as me? Is it because the car sits so low or could it be my Pirelli's? Any advice and recommendations would be greatly appreciated. I am getting a little discouraged and am considering my next car to be a Mercades Benz.

Coincidently, I am not a rough driver or a fast one, but have seemed to have the worst luck with this vehicle so far. In spite of it all I have a love/hate relationship. I do plan to keep the car regardless of buying another one as I get 29 mpg on the highway and about 22 mpg city.

Anyway, thank you for your help. I look forward to being a part of the forum as a new member.

Billy

Svenska 850 Wagon · Post by **Svenska 850 Wagon** » 17 Mar 2007, 12:39

In the winter I go to my Pizza Cutters 185/65/15 Gislaved's instead of the 195/60's and they are great in the snow. With the weight and the ABS so far has proved to be a great winter car up here in Canada.

CarVolvo · Post by **CarVolvo** » 17 Mar 2007, 13:18

isnt pirelli p6 an all season tire?

I have all seasons on my car and it has been amazing in snow..never had a complaint about it.

I would suggest you try snow tires.... all seasons dont cut it really.

liaisonmedia · Post by **liaisonmedia** » 17 Mar 2007, 14:12

Thanks guys for the comments so far. I did forget to mention that these are 195/60/15. I think next season I will try a snow tire and see how that does. I thought the P6 would be a great all-season tire, but i'll never get them again.

If anyone else has additional comments please feel free to respond. Thanks again for all your help - much appreciated.

Post by **srnkanator** » 17 Mar 2007, 14:31

If you are keeping the car get a set of winter (studs?) and summer sets, or go with the high profile low width, mud and snow seasonal tires . . .
You can't get much better, other than 4wd, than a fwd drive Volvo in the snow . . .

CarVolvo · Post by **CarVolvo** » 17 Mar 2007, 14:37

I think if you read this it will make you change your mind on all season.

I would most likely stick with michelin or bridgstone .. i have not had much experience with the nordfrost..but from what i hear they are great.

http://www.cbc.ca/consumers/market/file ... index.html

Post by **JRL** » 17 Mar 2007, 15:24

liaisonmedia wrote:Thanks guys for the comments so far. I did forget to mention that these are 195/60/15. I think next season I will try a snow tire and see how that does. I thought the P6 would be a great all-season tire, but i'll never get them again.

If anyone else has additional comments please feel free to respond. .

If you mean a horrible car in terms of traction, P6's is a HORRIBLE tire.
I have a set of 16" snows on my 850R and it can flog thru just about anything the roads throw at it

Svenska 850 Wagon · Post by **Svenska 850 Wagon** » 17 Mar 2007, 16:09

I still swear by my Sweedish Gislaved Nord Frost 3's. Then I have Michelin's as my summer tires.

loyaj · Post by **loyaj** » 18 Mar 2007, 09:25

Bridgestone used to have a tire called the Blizzak. I still have a set and used them for my first season with a V70 XC. Yes, the all-wheel drive is a plus, but before this car I used them for two seasons on a front wheel drive Saab 9000.
People who rode with me in the snow up to Mt. Baker thought that I had all-wheel drive in the Saab.
Although Blizzaks are not around anymore, you can still find a Studless tire. That is what the Blizzak is. No studs, but has relatively soft, oversized tread. If you watch it work, the snow and ice just fall out of the tread as it turns, grabbing the road inch by inch.
As soon as the temperature starts to warm up you have to switch back to your all-season or whatever you choose for the rest of the year because the soft tread will degrade quickly even in Spring. My experience in the area has been to put them on around 1 December and off by 1 April.
I have been so pleased with these tires. For some they are a bit pricey, around $100US a piece, but if you take care of them they should last three seasons maybe four. A hundred bucks a year for dependability is how I look at it.
I am not sure about current brands, but check it out for next season.
Good luck.
-loyaj

zenmervolt · Post by **zenmervolt** » 19 Mar 2007, 10:31

loyaj wrote: Although Blizzaks are not around anymore,

A quick 30-second check of Bridgestone's website lists eleven different Blizzak models currently in production. The Blizzak is absolutely still around, and it is consistently rated as one of the best lines of snow tires available.