Login Register

Recommended Snow Tire Size

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

Post Reply
5rivers
Posts: 533
Joined: 27 February 2009
Year and Model: V70 1998 T5
Location: The North Country, NYS
Been thanked: 14 times

Recommended Snow Tire Size

Post by 5rivers »

Greetings all,

I finally was able to locate some decent 16" rims and used tires with decent tread and even wear to replace the 15" snow tires I had on the '98 V70T5.
But winter is approaching and am now thinking about snow tires.
I don't have an owners manual, and the gas/fuel door flap only lists 205/55r16 as the recommended tire.
But what size snow tires are recommended? I've read some go to a 215/60/16, or to 15" tires.
Appreciate your thoughts/experience on this!
5rivers
1998 V70 M56, silver/grey, has tranny issues, #?# owner, 330,xxx miles, a handy parts car
1998 V70 AT, nautical blue, 2nd owner, 260,000 miles, Sold
1998 V70 AT, T5, forest green, 3rd owner, 172,300 miles, Mimas 16" rims

User avatar
abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35308
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1506 times
Been thanked: 3818 times

Post by abscate »

Get some studded Coopers for those 15 inch steelies, K. You want studs up in the North Countryside
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

scot850
Posts: 14894
Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 1850 times
Been thanked: 1712 times

Post by scot850 »

The dealer here used to sell 185/65/15 tires. They work really well and cut through snow and grip better. If you are allowed studded tires and have packed snow/ice for long periods, then as per Abscate go for studded tires on the 15" rims. With the taller sidewalls they also resist pot holes better, especially if you have steel rims!

I have tons of owners' manuals if you want one. They are 'Canadian' spec but other than a couple of changes for dash warning lights they are the same.

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

User avatar
P80GLT
Posts: 397
Joined: 18 January 2023
Year and Model: 850, 1997, GLT
Location: Scotland
Has thanked: 154 times
Been thanked: 176 times

Post by P80GLT »

I was always told a smaller than normal wheel with a tall narrow tyre is best for snow. Fuel flap says 185/65/15 which is what I would choose.
Fuel Flap.jpg
Fuel Flap.jpg (158.54 KiB) Viewed 376 times
1997 850 GLT website
2010 XC90 SE...SOLD
2005 V70 2.5T SE

5rivers
Posts: 533
Joined: 27 February 2009
Year and Model: V70 1998 T5
Location: The North Country, NYS
Been thanked: 14 times

Post by 5rivers »

Thanks for your replies Abscate, scot850 and P80GLT!!
I do have some 15" steel rims and the odd snow tire...will see what I can do with them!
Studded snow tires would be awesome for our roads up here and especially since winter is lasting longer than in years past!
We seem to have gotten more storms with heavy snow up here :)
5rivers
1998 V70 M56, silver/grey, has tranny issues, #?# owner, 330,xxx miles, a handy parts car
1998 V70 AT, nautical blue, 2nd owner, 260,000 miles, Sold
1998 V70 AT, T5, forest green, 3rd owner, 172,300 miles, Mimas 16" rims

scot850
Posts: 14894
Joined: 5 April 2010
Year and Model: 2000 V70 R
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Has thanked: 1850 times
Been thanked: 1712 times

Post by scot850 »

Skinny studded tires on steelies it is then!

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

User avatar
abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35308
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1506 times
Been thanked: 3818 times

Post by abscate »

The I’ve got an extra set of Cetus studded snows but they are on Long Island now. I could get them back to ALBANY this week and maybe your neighbor could bring them over on one of her ALBANY to SYRACUSE runs?
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

5rivers
Posts: 533
Joined: 27 February 2009
Year and Model: V70 1998 T5
Location: The North Country, NYS
Been thanked: 14 times

Post by 5rivers »

That sounds wonderful! Thank you, abscate!
We could do a run to Albany in a week, once I am back in Syracuse!
5rivers
1998 V70 M56, silver/grey, has tranny issues, #?# owner, 330,xxx miles, a handy parts car
1998 V70 AT, nautical blue, 2nd owner, 260,000 miles, Sold
1998 V70 AT, T5, forest green, 3rd owner, 172,300 miles, Mimas 16" rims

User avatar
abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35308
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1506 times
Been thanked: 3818 times

Post by abscate »

5rivers wrote: 20 Sep 2023, 07:22 That sounds wonderful! Thank you, abscate!
We could do a run to Albany in a week, once I am back in Syracuse!
OK, Ill get them back to ALB on Friday. They are 36-11 tires so you need a station that doesnt buy into the 10 year tire life crap, my daughter ran them last season, we dont really need them down in the Deep South of NY.
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

5rivers
Posts: 533
Joined: 27 February 2009
Year and Model: V70 1998 T5
Location: The North Country, NYS
Been thanked: 14 times

Post by 5rivers »

Thank you!
I know of a few places I can choose from!!
5rivers
1998 V70 M56, silver/grey, has tranny issues, #?# owner, 330,xxx miles, a handy parts car
1998 V70 AT, nautical blue, 2nd owner, 260,000 miles, Sold
1998 V70 AT, T5, forest green, 3rd owner, 172,300 miles, Mimas 16" rims

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post