Winter wheels and tyres / XC60 2022

[alexaris1985]

Hi all! Glad to be here. I need your opinion with regards to winter tyres and wheels. My current car, an XC60 2022 R-Design is wearing 21 inch Pirelli summer tyres - it is through Care By Volvo subscription. I am actually thinking of investing on a set of 4 winter wheels and tyres. Would downgrading to 18 inch alloys and winter tyres (from 21 inch existing plus summer tyres) compromise the drive of the car at all? With my existing 21 inch ones, everything is super noisy in the car...I am also comparing with my previous BMW X3 which was much quieter to drive, albeit at 20 inch.

[James77]

Wife has a 2019 Momentum Pro which we bought new with 19 inch wheels (standard was 18). The Petrol T5 on the 19s is not just a fantastically compliant ride but also so quiet inside the cabin.
We also have a second set of alloy wheels shod with winter tyres and they are also incredibly quiet although a tad less than the tyres the car came with.
We plumped for the Alutec wheels as they are a direct fit not spigot rings required PCD and Offset the same as standard fitment.
Check your car can take 18 inch wheels in the manual.
I prefer the look of the 19s but the car trundles along perfectly well on the Alutec 18s.
Bought our second set from LKPerformance a few years back.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by alexaris1985

Hi all! Glad to be here. I need your opinion with regards to winter tyres and wheels. My current car, an XC60 2022 R-Design is wearing 21 inch Pirelli summer tyres - it is through Care By Volvo subscription. I am actually thinking of investing on a set of 4 winter wheels and tyres. Would downgrading to 18 inch alloys and winter tyres (from 21 inch existing plus summer tyres) compromise the drive of the car at all? With my existing 21 inch ones, everything is super noisy in the car...I am also comparing with my previous BMW X3 which was much quieter to drive, albeit at 20 inch.

Reducing the wheel size from 21 to 18 will improve noise, handling, vibration, harshness and performance. 21inches only look good and allow the manufacturer to see expensive tyres so no concerns to that end.

I would need to double check (as I am not familiar with the model) that 18” wheels clear the brake calipers. I think they will but someone more knowledgable than me would need to advise?

Incidentally, tyres like michelin cross climates would allow you to run tyres all year. I don’t know if they make them that large however?

[alexaris1985]

Thanks so much for your response! Volvo dealer is saying that it will be all good with the 18inch wheels, opting for the 5Y spoke silver Volvo alloys and choosing the new Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 winter tyres. Had previously checked with care by volvo whether they would take the cost in replacing from existing summers to Pirelli All Season, but they rejected! I was quite annoyed as these days in a climate like the UKs, you would expect Volvo cars are fitting all season tyres. They are the same price as summer tyres, so not quite sure why they are not doing it!

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by alexaris1985

Thanks so much for your response! Volvo dealer is saying that it will be all good with the 18inch wheels, opting for the 5Y spoke silver Volvo alloys and choosing the new Pirelli Scorpion Winter 2 winter tyres. Had previously checked with care by volvo whether they would take the cost in replacing from existing summers to Pirelli All Season, but they rejected! I was quite annoyed as these days in a climate like the UKs, you would expect Volvo cars are fitting all season tyres. They are the same price as summer tyres, so not quite sure why they are not doing it!

I expected the 18s to fit but always best to double check with Volvo as you have.

Which Pirelli tyres do you have out of interest? I didn’t think that Volvo did ship with the summer specific versions? Are they not all seasons then?

I mention because whilst I do use cross climates on mine, which offer great summer performance but are also 3 peaks winter rates too, mine was not bad on snow and ice on normal michelin pilot sports which are summer orientated.

If you are in the highlands, bad areas etc or do take trips abroad then summer and winter very very much make sense. However if somewhere moderate is it another option to use the current tyres to wear and then replace with all seasons?

Incidentally, silhouettes my all seasons are very good indeed I have previously run proper summer and winter tyre configurations and the winter tyres, as you no doubt probably know really are in a league of their own.

My front wheel drive with winter tyres (at the time) drive through snow and slush as wel as any 4x4 on non winter tyres.

[alexaris1985]

The car was supplied with the Pirelli P-Zero Noise cancelling ones. I have double checked and there are no signs of an all season tyre unfortunately...they are good tyres, for a 21inch wheel as well, but I am really annoyed that they don't supply with all season. Indeed, as you suggest, some all season tyres like the Michelin or Pirelli can perform really well in snow and winter in geenral. Having a Care By Volvo subscription means that they should change your tyres free of charge, but I now understand that they need to be properly worn out before they do it (tread at 4mm or so...).

I am planning to start travelling to French Alps by car from this winter onwards (fingers crossed), but I also think that for even more security in the UK on cold winter days, winter tyres can give good peace of mind, especially with a child in the car all the time

Volvo Leatherhead in Surrey will also store the set of summer and winter tyres at a relatively logical cost per annum, as I don't have enough space at home and don't want to store them in the shed (not a good idea due to temperature fluctuations)...

[Philip Fisher]

If you look on eBay there are usually sets of brand new Volvo winter wheels and tyres sold for a lot less than list. I remember maybe circa 1500 for a set. It was a Volvo dealer doing it, but through eBay so they don't get in trouble for deep discounting at their premises. Off the top of my head it might have been volvo Carlisle which was doing it a few years back.

[Ulrikas PA]

Originally Posted by alexaris1985

I am planning to start travelling to French Alps by car from this winter onwards (fingers crossed), but I also think that for even more security in the UK on cold winter days, winter tyres can give good peace of mind, especially with a child in the car all the time

..

It's been very mild until now in the French and Swiss Alps. We are there for skiing for the first time in 6 years, but I'm leaving the Cross Climate 2s on as they are a good enough with an AWD car, unless we get a proper dump of snow over there. I think it's unlikely. If I was lucky enough to be there for a season (which I'm not), I would buy full Winters.

[James77]

We also drive to the Alps. The rule is you must carry chains (in France, Austria you must have both chains and winter tyres) these will be side fitting and expensive mine have only been out of the packaging for a trial fit. I bought mine from roofbox.co.uk
You do not require winter tyres, however, as you say for peace of mind I have a set and they will cope with pretty much anything apart from the full on snow when chains will be necessary and the local law enforcement will not let you ascend without them.
The winter tyre debate is one that rattles on, my view it's too late to wish you had bought them when your summer tyres give up and you're sliding toward a collision.
Personal choice but with my kids in the back under 1500 quid for a second set plus winters is a price worth paying.

[XC90Mk1]

Originally Posted by James77

We also drive to the Alps. The rule is you must carry chains (in France, Austria you must have both chains and winter tyres) these will be side fitting and expensive mine have only been out of the packaging for a trial fit. I bought mine from roofbox.co.uk
You do not require winter tyres, however, as you say for peace of mind I have a set and they will cope with pretty much anything apart from the full on snow when chains will be necessary and the local law enforcement will not let you ascend without them.
The winter tyre debate is one that rattles on, my view it's too late to wish you had bought them when your summer tyres give up and you're sliding toward a collision.
Personal choice but with my kids in the back under 1500 quid for a second set plus winters is a price worth paying.

Not to mention (as someone who has run 2 sets myself) that the additional £1,500 is not actually a cost…. You are simply running 2 sets and will get twice the life out of them.

The real cost is quite a lot less when you consider all the time the winters are on you are not wearing the summers down, and that you also generally get money back when you sell the winter set on down the line.

I do agree about looking around on eBay etc however as you will find winter sets on there.