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850 Tires

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

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manovlov
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Year and Model: 1995 850 GLT 2.5 170
Location: Grenoble, France
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850 Tires

Post by manovlov »

Hy Buddies,

I am continuing my forensic automotive medicine session and I am interested in changing my tires. The 2 rear ones are soon ready to be changed, the two front ones still have some time to go but the sidewalls are starting to show their age.

So question that must have been asked thousands of times (although I didn't find anything specific in the topics), what tires do you recommend for my 170 ponies car, knowing that I would tend to drive like a wild man when I feel like it (it doesn't happen often, but then, clowns in Audi, whose head barely exceeds the steering wheel... :mrgreen: ).

I use to have MICHELIN ENERGY SAVER, i don't know others brands, and i'm opened as a guy.

Help me to brake stereotypes : maybe it's time to organize a survey ?

Matthew would may be help me by organizing it ?

Manov
1995/02 850 GLT 2.5 170 Petrol M56

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misha
Posts: 5379
Joined: 7 December 2008
Year and Model: '97 850 2.5 20v
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Post by misha »

What rims you have on the car...15" or 16"?
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

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manovlov
Posts: 1180
Joined: 6 July 2011
Year and Model: 1995 850 GLT 2.5 170
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Post by manovlov »

Salut Mischa
Tires dimensions.jpg
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1995/02 850 GLT 2.5 170 Petrol M56

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misha
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Post by misha »

Ok...you have 16".
205/55/16
Choose between Continental,Michelin,GoodYear,Hankook...just make sure that they are H rated(speed rating).
H is for up to 210km/h.
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

Azik09
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Joined: 11 September 2014
Year and Model: S70 T5, 1997
Location: Russia, Caucasus
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Post by Azik09 »

Interesting thing: cars with 16'' rims for European market were factory equipped with 205/50 tires. And 205/55 for USA with the same rims.
If my English is bad, please correct me :oops:

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misha
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Year and Model: '97 850 2.5 20v
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Post by misha »

Azik09 wrote: 23 Jul 2021, 14:01 Interesting thing: cars with 16'' rims for European market were factory equipped with 205/50 tires. And 205/55 for USA with the same rims.
All markets had 205/50/16 in the begining.

Volvo decided to switch to a higher(55) profile later in the production because of customer complaints about bent rims and tire damage.
'97 850 2.5 20v / fully equipped / Motronic 4.4 from the factory / upgraded with S,V,C,XC70 instrument cluster / polar white wagon
History of Volvos in the family:
'71 144 S
'73 144 De Luxe
'78 244 DL
'78 244 DL
'79 244 GLE
'85 340 GLS

scot850
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Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Post by scot850 »

It is a North America parking by 'touch'. The higher sidewalls were less prone to sidewall splits.

Many tires are good today. Any of the brands mentioned are good as well as Pirelli, Vredstein and Gislaved. It for me comes down to price and what type of driving you do. I have used Toyo as I found them to be a good all around tire but not as expensive as say Michelin. Being from Scotland originally I keep an eye out for deals.

Neil.
2006 V70 2.5T AWD Polestar tune
2000 V70 R - still being an endless PITA
2006 XC70 - Our son now has this and still parked in our garage
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Limited
2015 Kia Sportage EX-L - Sold
1993 850 GLT -Sold
1998 V70 XC - Sold
1997 Volvo 850 SE NA - Went to niece in California - Sold
2000 V70 SE NA - Sold

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BlackBart
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Post by BlackBart »

Well you clearly need these! They have a color for everything - rain, snow, commuting....

tahrs.jpg
tahrs.jpg (167.72 KiB) Viewed 507 times
ex-1984 245T wagon
1994 850T5 wagon
2004 XC70 wagon BlackBetty

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manovlov
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Year and Model: 1995 850 GLT 2.5 170
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Post by manovlov »

BlackBart wrote: 23 Jul 2021, 15:37 Well you clearly need these! They have a color for everything - rain, snow, commuting....


tahrs.jpg
With these, the car itself becomes superfluous...
1995/02 850 GLT 2.5 170 Petrol M56

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jreed
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Post by jreed »

I've had Michelin Defender tires on our 850 for the past 4 years or so and so far they've been smooth and quiet. We don't push them to the extremes but they seem to work fine for everyday handling and braking.
1997 855 GLT (Light Pressure Turbo) still going strong. Previous: 1986 240 GL rusted out in '06, 1985 Saab 900T rusted out in '95, 1975 Saab 99 rusted out in '95, 1973 Saab 99 rusted out in '94

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