Recommendation / review for good tire for 850 wagon

Post by **jreed** » 19 Jul 2025, 06:32

I searched the archives and don't see any posts in the last year or so on tires recommendations / discussion for the 850 with 15" rims (195/60 R15). I used to buy the Michelin Defender T+H and they were excellent but no longer available.
I was surprised to see tire rack, discount tire, and costco have fewer options for tires in this size than I remember seeing last time I shopped for tires.
Has anybody recently tried Michelin Primacy 3, and if so how are they performing for durability, noise, wet braking?
Thanks!

Post by **Sveedy** » 19 Jul 2025, 11:34

I've been running the Continental Control Contacts' on the 96 for about 5 years now. Very happy with them.
Of course like all tires out here, these will probably start to fail at the sidewalls long before the tread is gone, due to the high UVs.

Post by **rolsen11** » 19 Jul 2025, 11:41

I used the Vredestein Quatrac for the 15s that my car had. I have since worn them out and put 16 inch Perfo 5 spokes on the car running Falken Sincera SN250 tires. The Vredesteins were good and have improved winter traction over a standard AS due to them being a chevron tread design and being snow rated (3 peak mountain snowflake symbol). They weren't very expensive either, I can recommend them.

Vova585 · Post by **Vova585** » 19 Jul 2025, 21:51

I agree with rolsen11 about vrederstein tires. They seems to last way longer than competition(my brother in law got 70k out of them on his rav4), I personally like goodyear assurance weatheready(closeout tire, look for discounts if open goodyear credit card-saved around 240 recently ) Yokohama avid gt is also great quite tire. Cooper makes excellent tires which as "made in usa"

Post by **abscate** » 20 Jul 2025, 02:24

We have shod almost all our Volvos in Cooper cs5 ultra/grand touring tires. We get 40k out of them typically. Since moving to Long Island we don’t drive more than 7k a year on any car so they will probably die on time or road hazard

Post by **jreed** » 23 Jul 2025, 05:43

Got some feedback today from our local garage (Auto Logic in Carrboro NC) that 15" tires are getting harder to come by as cars have moved to larger sizes like 16 or 17".
They recommended Cooper Endeavor... anybody tried these and how would they compare to the CS5 Ultra/Grand tourings above? Thanks!

Post by **MoVolvos** » 23 Jul 2025, 10:01

jreed wrote: ↑19 Jul 2025, 06:32 I searched the archives and don't see any posts in the last year or so on tires recommendations / discussion for the 850 with 15" rims (195/60 R15). I used to buy the Michelin Defender T+H and they were excellent but no longer available.
I was surprised to see tire rack, discount tire, and costco have fewer options for tires in this size than I remember seeing last time I shopped for tires.
Has anybody recently tried Michelin Primacy 3, and if so how are they performing for durability, noise, wet braking?
Thanks!

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We've had several sets of Michelin Defender on our 03 Ody and I believe there's a set on them now. They don't last as long as they use to, well perhaps we just drove more in CA. Everything in NC is local so more wear. Costco has basically phased out 15" tires so have to look elsewhere. Unless you are on the freeway and long distance from home many inexpensive not national brands are fine. Have changed quite a few sets of tires since 2023 so can comfortably say tires have come a long way.
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Cut and paste from my recent posts
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2007 S60 2.5T came with 16" tires and was replaced with 17" rims before turbo was replaced so never drove with the 16's. Replaced the really old 17" tires a week after driving with the new turbo. The old tires were firm and made the car planted. The new 17" tires are soft, lack the planted turn in feel in the steering and perhaps not as smooth as the old at highway speeds. The 16" rims went to the 2000 S70 with new tires and they made the car much smoother, quieter and better handling than the old 15" setup.

2007 S60 2.5T 4 months ago.
Atlas Force UHP UHP 235/45R17 97W XL
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Atlas-Force- ... om=/search

2000 S70 Nov 2023
Goodyear Reliant All-Season 205/55R16 91V All-Season
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Goodyear-Rel ... /438414141

2009 S60 2.5T AWD Dec 2023 came with almost new 17" tires and is firm and smooth. Both S60 are in the fleet as with the S70.
KumhoSolus TA71 235 /45 R17 97W XL BSW
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/ ... 71/p/25720

2002 V70 XC Dec 2023 currently in the fleet came with DOT 2018 16" tires perhaps 50% tread depth and is quiet and smooth but harsh on some larger bumps in the road.

2003 S80 T6 though no longer in the fleet came with decent tires and was fairly smooth quiet.

According to 1AAuto except for the 2002 V70 XC P2 they can all use the generic Quick Strut including the 2004 V70 AWD. Tires make a huge difference in ride quality and feel. Having changed struts in over a dozen cars over the years in various makes and models so unless you have lowering springs the tires makes all the difference if the suspension is in good order.
https://www.1aauto.com/volvo-s60-s80-v7 ... 60165/2007

2008 C30 2.5T M66 New Tires Dec 2023
Up sized from 215/45R18 and made huge difference in ride, handling and road noise from Michelin which were purchased new and lasted less than 25K miles of careful driving

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Atlas Force UHP UHP 225/45R18 95Y XL Passenger Tire
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Atlas-Force- ... om=/search

Forgot this one

! The best tires ever purchased thus far. Been buying tires since the early 80's.

2020 Tiguan Nov 2023 Up sized from 215/65/17. At first it felt pillowy then got use to it and when push through a turn the tires respond. Have a larger Suspension Technique rear sway on this one.
General Altimax RT45 225 /65 R17 102H SL BSW $163.00 /EA
https://www.discounttire.com/buy-tires/ ... timax-rt45

My Son drives the 2020 Tiguan in VA while at school so not compromising on his safety whereas cars driven locally will take price into consideration.
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