Improve the ride of 11 year old XC90??

[TWPC]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

So XL is extra load and has reinforced tyre walls. That’s probably your starting point and probably more contributing than rim size.

Interesting: would having non-XL rated tyres impose any limitations on conventional family use, e.g. when packing it for the annual family holiday?

[TWPC]

Originally Posted by XC90Mk1

So XL is extra load and has reinforced tyre walls. That’s probably your starting point and probably more contributing than rim size.

XC90Mk1,
I saw on the tyre thread that you had put Michelin Cross Climates on your car a couple of years ago and were very happy with them. Would you still recommend them and do you think they are worth the premium over other all-weather tyres? (I've got Pirelli Scorpion Verdes on my XC90 now.)

[Harley Dave]

Originally Posted by TWPC

Interesting: would having non-XL rated tyres impose any limitations on conventional family use, e.g. when packing it for the annual family holiday?

I've got XL tyres on my car and it drives fine. (It's an Exec and has the bigger wheels)

I fitted XLs because they were available, and I do tend to load the car up sometimes.

This blog has some detailed info which I will need to read and digest to decide whether I really need XL or not.

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/blog/reinfo...-disadvantages

Cheers

Dave

[50p]

Originally Posted by TWPC

XC90Mk1,
I saw on the tyre thread that you had put Michelin Cross Climates on your car a couple of years ago and were very happy with them. Would you still recommend them and do you think they are worth the premium over other all-weather tyres? (I've got Pirelli Scorpion Verdes on my XC90 now.)

I put a set of 4 Michelin Cross Climates on in place of Pirelli Scorpion Verde and the road noise improvement was massive. I'm about ready to replace that set but dont think I got much over 20k out of them. Currently shopping around...

[TWPC]

Originally Posted by 50p

I put a set of 4 Michelin Cross Climates on in place of Pirelli Scorpion Verde and the road noise improvement was massive. I'm about ready to replace that set but dont think I got much over 20k out of them. Currently shopping around...

Thanks for that, 50p. Are you shopping around for another set of Cross Climates or trying a different type of tyre this time?

[robsterpaterson]

Just a general note, if you do change to 17s etc, and they're not listed as being standard fitment, then you should tell your insurance just in case they try to wriggle out of a claim...

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by robsterpaterson

Just a general note, if you do change to 17s etc, and they're not listed as being standard fitment, then you should tell your insurance just in case they try to wriggle out of a claim...

On my Ford Ranger I've fitted a set of Wildtrack 18" alloys and tyres as they are very cheap on e-bay with delivery mileage as new owners start modding their vehicles. The standard fit on my cooking model was 16" steels. I've informed the insurance company (Direct Line) but I explained it as I have a number of sets of Ford Ranger wheels and tyres which I rotate with summer, winter and all-terrain tyres - but the key point being they are all Ford Ranger alloys, just difference sizes and appearance. Policy is noted and no extra charge...

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by TWPC

Interesting: would having non-XL rated tyres impose any limitations on conventional family use, e.g. when packing it for the annual family holiday?

No - providing the tyre load index is at least that of the axle weight of the car - which it must be to be legal anyway.

The axle weight of your car will be noted on the VIN plate, obviously you would work to the higher of the two axle weights and then divide by 2 to ascertain the tyre load rating that is required. So if the highest axle weight was 1600 Kg, the load index of each tyre would need to be 800 Kg or more - that would equate to load index rating 100 or more.

(Useful reference : https://www.blackcircles.com/helpcen...is-load-rating)

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by robsterpaterson

Just a general note, if you do change to 17s etc, and they're not listed as being standard fitment, then you should tell your insurance just in case they try to wriggle out of a claim...

17" wheels are standard on an XC90. I have a set.

Genuine Volvo 17" NEPTUNE 17x7 wheels, made by Volvo for the XC90. Standard equipment.

[Harley Dave]

Yeah, but the point is, if 17" wheels weren't listed as standard on your model and year because it came out of the factory with, say, 19" wheels like mine did.

Cheers

Dave