compact spare tire

crlande · Post by **crlande** » 16 Apr 2018, 18:41

Went to check on spare and noticed the belts on my T115/70R 15 inch compact spare tire have separated. I am thinking the T125/70 16 or 17 inch Volvo compact tires i saw at junk yard would fit the 850. Will measure rim sizes next time i visit the yard. Am I missing anything here?

Post by **rguzz** » 16 Apr 2018, 19:57

Mine separated as well, maybe because these donuts maintain air so efficiently, or just maybe a weaker structured sidewall, which is most likely. Salvage yards should be replete with 15" donuts if there are Volvo's around. The spare should be same rim size as what you have on the car, of course. I ended up with a full size spare but it takes up more room as it won't fit in the depression for the spare. Interesting that spontaneous tread separation is an issue with these tires.

Post by **scot850** » 16 Apr 2018, 20:10

+1 to what rguzz states.

Take a tape measure with you and measure the diameter of the tire or the circumference to see if they are the same rolling dimension which is particularly important for AWD P80 models.

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 16 Apr 2018, 20:32

How do the tire gurus who argue 5 year tire life due to oxygen erosion rationalize spare tire life? Different construction?

Post by **cn90** » 16 Apr 2018, 20:57

- Your life depends on the good tire.

- Go online or visit a local tire shop to order a brand-new spare tire, it is cheap at $50-$60.
Installation is another $15.

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Apr 2018, 09:32

Ugh, those donuts are a dangerous and frustrating waste of your time and money, I can't imagine shelling out that kind of $$ for one.

You can fit a fully inflated 15 inch wheel/tire in the well of your 850. All of mine have one. $25 tops at the junkyard where they will be about 4 times as common as donut spares. Try it out in the trunk of the junker to make sure. If a wagon with 3rd row seating however, then you must dermal/grind some metal from the center seat belt anchor, that is a compromise.

Post by **scot850** » 17 Apr 2018, 10:33

Rubber continues to harden up to 10 years after manufacturing and then the grip becomes poor and the rubber brittle and less able to absorb impact of any kind.

Just realised the tires on my son's Volvo XC70 are dated 2010! Just ordered a new set but hard to find 'V' rated 215/65/16 tires. Not even Michelin seem to offer one any longer. Found Toyo Proxes ST III that will work.

Be happy, as here where we get a lot of snow/ice in long winters, we mostly have 2 sets of tires (except those who think their driving skills are better than everyone else). With 5 cars that is expensive and takes a lot of storage room, so where your life is concerned, surely paying for a good spare of any type makes sense?

Neil.

Post by **abscate** » 17 Apr 2018, 15:27

I just have one spare for five cars and we flip a coin to see who gets it this week.

That’s a whole set of tires I don’t have to buy. Rub them down with used motor oil to keep them soft.

Post by **erikv11** » 17 Apr 2018, 16:09

scot850 wrote: 17 Apr 2018, 10:33 ... so where your life is concerned, surely paying for a good spare of any type makes sense?

Neil.

I totally agree. The problem is the donut spare is dangerous, it is not a "good spare." Get a 15 inch wheel and tire, it will be cheaper *and* safer to refresh that than to refresh a donut.

Post by **MrAl** » 17 Apr 2018, 16:36

Hello,

Is this issue related to a certain set of models and years or is it for ALL Volvos ever produced?
For example, my v70 1998, would that be affected like this too?