Would it make more sense to add TRACS to my 1997 850 T-5 or add 17x8 Wheels w/ 205x45x17 ZR Tires, and a Strut Bar? Thanks

I might be wrong here but aren’t 205 width tires too narrow for 8” wheels? I’d think you’d be better with 7” – 7.5” wheels, if you were going to stay with the 205 width tires.

If you are looking for dry performance enhancements forget TRACS and go with the wheel/tire combo, strut tower brace, and sway bars if they aren’t already there.
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'97 854R

pirelli p-zero assymetricos are the only ones i can find whose 205-45-17 will fit an 8" wheel, they'd be a little small. kuhmos and yokohamas would not fit. just wondering, is your stock rims 16" with 205-50-16? cause if they are, then nitto's nt-555 has a 225-40-17 that's the exact same overall diameter. i haven't had the chance to test these tires out because they don't fit 17x7 wheels; they fit 17x8. i also don't know if they'd rub.

Jeremy,

What ever you do stay away from the 205/45R17 P-Zeros. They are no fun. They bubble easily, wear quickly, suck in the rain, what more can I say.

I’m running 215/45R17 Bridgestone RE730 on my stock Volan rims. They are a huge improvement over the 205/45R17 P-Zeros that I had before.
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'97 854R

agreed...i had 3 pirelli p-zeros 205-45-17 go (although all paid by cities whose roads damaged them) b4 i changed to bridgestone s02 215-45-17 (may or maynot rub, different people have different experiences, be careful).

Jeremy, I don't think it will help much for performance. For
one thing, it disables itself above 25 mph. I'd spend the
money on tires.

What are your goals? The tires seem to be performance mods and
TRACs is there to help get you home in rough weather conditions.
TRACs does not work when you floor it -- not meant to be a traction
control device in a performace sort of way (not even close). In fact,
if you want to go fast turning of TRACs is best since it mostly just
induces violent axle hop when you floor it.

If you are in snow and ice I think you want narrow tires to bite
through the snow and TRACs would help.

If you live in winter snow country then try out a newer Volvo at the dealer that is equipped with TRACS and see how it works. It probably makes more sense to add the TRACS if you are fighting with ice and snow from time to time.

If you live in an area where winter snow is rare, then definitely go with the suspension mods.

Although I must say that I have no idea what it takes to install the TRACS system.
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Nathan Valles, Black 855R, Tint

Consider adding TRACS if it's winter where you drive, and you're dealing with slush, black ice, sanded surfaces and snow. Coupled with winter driving mode, TRACS has helped me get my FWD through several tough spots (including a notorious spot in my neighborhood that only RWDs and AWDs have been able to negotiate...that is, until now, as my winter-enabled S70T5 can handle this turn with aplomb; all other neighborhood FWDs have to drive around the block). Black ice with ball bearings, I mean sand, are pretty much an every day situation at dusk around here. At startup and slow cornering speeds, TRACS prevents the two bugaboos of FWD winter driving: tunneling and fishnosing.

But if you have no need of such handling, I'd recommend the wheels and tower brace. You'll get the benefit of these modifications for a higher percentage of the year. Have you thought also about the IPD sway bar for the rear?
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(98 S70 T5SE misc mods, mostly lighting) (92 940GLE)

depends what u want to do.

TRACS on an 850 actually just applies brake to whichever wheel it detects is slipping. this actually robs u of power, sort of, cause whatever power u put in is retarded by the braking action. (i thought TRACS was standard on turbos/t5.) besides, isn't limited slip on your 97 car? what happens here is if one of the drive wheel (front left for instance) starts to slip, the limited slip differential would transfer power up to a certain extent (25% for example, new 2001 m3 have an impressive 100% transfer) to the other non-slipping wheel (front right then).

adding a strut bar keeps the proper alignment of the front suspension. think a U, where the wheels are attached to each side of the vertical part of U; now bend the top of the U together, the wheels no longer are 90 degrees to the ground, don't have maximum contact to the ground by the wheels, so they might start to slip. strut bar keeps this U in proper form, and helps with putting down power. as for 205-45-17 on 17x8 wheels, i assume u still have stock 205-50-16 tires. since these two tires have the same approximate wheel width and assume they're all the same brand and series/type, the contact patch would be roughly the same. you will notice the difference mostly during cornering. the taller/longer the sidewall of the tire, the more flex u get, the mushier feel in cornering u'll get; but, u get a better ride as that flex absorbs more bumps.

if your intent on using tracs is for snow/foul weather, then go ahead. if tracs for dry, then i say go with the tires and wheels, and u'd get better handling as a plus.

I was more interested in performance. I had tracs on my 1995 850 and was great for winter drivring however I rarely go to the snow in my 850 so I was more worried about taking the twistys fast as well as acceleration. To clarify will adding TRACS really be worth the price for dry traction around sharp corners. Thanks

since it sounds like u want to have better handling, u can probably save money without the TRACS. i actually leave TRACS off all the time, except maybe occassional snow treading (still didn't help on a slight uphill at full stop with snow tires). most stability controls systems on the new cars are much more sophisticated than simply applying brakes on slipping wheel up to only 25mph. it's actually pretty hard to "spin" an 850, it's FWD and it's got a pretty heavy understeer dialed in. the only time i ever induced an understeer was turning too fast on a corner and keeping up the throttle, plowing quite a bit, but then letting go of throttle eased things up a bit. some of the 850 wagons don't even come with a rear sway bar. probably the only time u'd spin is if u intentionally lock up the rear with the hand brake :). save the money on TRACS and go with the tires/strut tower brace.