It is not compulsory to fit XL tyres to an xc90 but more of a personal choice and for the few extra pennies involved is common sense to me.
It certainly improves the ride and control of this big comfortable beast
It was because of the state of the roads in ill repair nowadays that persuaded me to buy an xc90.
I was fed up keep paying out for damaged suspension components and burst tyres.
It helps protect against side wall damage when entering and exiting potholes which very often you don't see until it's too late.

It helps prevent damage when parallel parking in a tight spot and accidental kerbing sometimes.

And last but not least there is a tendency for newly resurfaced roads today to be a couple of inches above original level but the surface water gully gratings never get raised so the gully then acts the same as entering and exiting a pothole.

Went with Goodyear Efficient Grip 2 SUV in the end. They are the 107 XL ones (I have only ever run 103s) and, blimey, what a difference. They just feel so much more stable and responsive, even with a knackered ball joint (being fixed tomorrow)!

Glad you notice the difference...people just don't realise what a difference it makes...try them on 39psi and they should go where you aim them and last you for ages(that is the recommended eco setting for the XC90)
Enjoy.

I have these on my xc90 and find them to be excellent tires.

Hi everyone, first post from me and apologies if this has been done to death in this thread...I'm just in the process of buying a 08 XC90, which needs four new tyres to pass it's MOT before I take custody of it.
I'd like something more A/T leaning for work and leisure, but options on a 255/50/19 seem a bit limited.
Ideally I'd like to put Cooper A/T 3 sport on, I know the tyre as that's what I had for years on my old and now deceased L200 and i found them to be a very good tyre and they don't break the bank.
However they are only available in 255/55/19. Is there any reason why I can't/shouldn't fit these? I'd fit the Grabber A/T 3 but I'd prefer an All season as opposed to summer tyre.
Thanks!

General Grabber AT/3s are not summer tyres, perhaps you are confusing them with the GTs? They are mud and snow rated, road-based All Terrain tyres - they are superb in the snow - better than your average All Season - are pretty refined (for AT tyres) and last well, I averaged 60K miles for a set on my Range Rover. I'm running Falken Wildpeak AT3Ws on my XC90 T8 at the moment replacing some Continental (CrossContact LX Sport) All Season tyres which shockingly wore out in under 15K miles and didn't have the wet grip expected of a tyre that wears so quickly. The Falkens aren't as refined as the General AT3s but seem to be lasting very well so far, they are a particularly heavy tyre but still balanced up nicely, slightly vague but that probably due to the very deep tread - the AT3s are a better compromise.