My '95 854 Turbo is running Bridgestone Potenza RE910s in the 205/55 size. What I like about the tire is it's wet weather performance, especially with the harsh winters we get here in the midwest. The ride is great, but handling is just SUB-PAR on dry conditions. When I push my 850 to the limit on turns, the tires will scream. Something that didn't happen when I had the stock Michelin Pilots. One other disadvantage of the RE910s is that they are only T-rated tires, which means top speed is 118mph, when in fact my Volvo has the potential to blast past 140lbs. Overall, it's a good tire that wears well, so if you want a good all-season tire with decent performance go with the RE910s. In the future, however, I'll probably go with something more aggressive for dry pavement, because I drive my 850 hard.

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'95 Volvo 854 Turbo: Gold Edition
K&N Air Filter, Leather, 6 disc CD-changer, Rear Spoiler
tinted windows

I'm currently running Bridgestone Potenza RE730 225/50-16. These are the best tires that I've had ever used. They work great in wet weather (almost impossible to break traction) and don't squeel like a pig during hard cornering during dry weather. These tires love to be punished, provide excellent handling feedback of the road and are very quiet during normal road crusing. The only problem I had was with some slight rubbing on the outer fender lips, but by bending the fender lip up about 60 degrees fixed the problem. There's a special tool that accomplish this task. Being in Alabama, we don't get much snow (actually we haven't had any significant amounts in five years), so I can't testify to any snow handling capabilities. I currently have 20K miles on them, and the threads are approximately 60% worn.
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groundhawg

97 850 R Wagon 17 inch wheels...Originally P zeros....They were too soft for a wife driven car...Switched to P7000 super sport and have gotten decent service. This car does not get pushed hard except when I drive. Tires OK for SC weather....

My 97 850 R came with Pirelli pzeros. They hydroplane a lot. Wear is okay and they are expensive--$175 a pop. I switched to Khumo Ecsta's at $98 each and get 20-25k miles from a set. They do much better in wet. They are a good riding tire for this car. These are the only tires I have tried so there may be others that are better.

Bought the car in summer 2000. Car was with original tire(Michelin MXV). Changed last summer for Yokohama Avid T4. Couldn't balance the wheels, probably went to my tire store 10 times to fix(they replace 2 tires but never fixed). After our winter I reinstalled those Yokohama and as soon as I went on the hyghway the vibration was back(always between 140-158 kph). Finally found a local Volvo mecanics that as soon as he tried the car said that it was not the right rating speed, I had T rating. He said tht Volvo need a minimum of H rated tires. I went back to my tire store and ask them to take back the Yoko, and install new H rated tire. They install Bridgestone RE 950 and the car is now perfect.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE950

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testResultsModel.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE950

A common complaint so far has been tires (or should I say tire) breaking free during hard throttle application in turns. That can't be attributed to any tire too much on the 850 Turbo with auto trans. My 98' Nissan Maxima SE 5spd has a viscous limited slip differential, and any LSD will make a HUGE difference in this situation.

As for my tire pick, I second Arno's opinion. I love the Toyo T1-S. I won't use any other tire than that, or the Bridgestone SO-3. GOBS of grip. I just love how braking distances have been decreased dramatically. I also love how much more predictable the car is under high cornering loads (although I have to attribute much of that to changing out basically everything there is to change out in the suspension). The tires just make turn ins so much more crisp and defined (also partly due to the allignment specs I specify).

I have driven everything from Yoko A520, Parada, Michelin Pilot HX, MMX, Pilot Sport, Bridgestone SO-2, SO-3, Toyo T1-S and Kuhmo Ecsta (on 850s, not all on my own car). Of these, I still love the Toyo's the most, if anything with the SO-3's just as much, but find that the Toyos work better with FWD cars than SO-3's, while it is reversed with RWD.

Do a search and you'll find literally 50+ similar accounts of experiences with tires, and many with much more detail. I know I have personally made a couple posts with much more info, and I have read many as well.

the oem michelin pilots hx mxm 205-50-16 screamed like a bitch...they would light up whenever u press too hard and exit a corner with too much power.

if u want something that'll do well in wet and dry, try the bridestone s-03. i have the s-02 and they're awesome. michelin pilot sports are really good too (a little better in straightline, a little worse in cornering). stay away from pzeros, they pop too easily with the volvo tire sizes. wait a few more months for the pilot a/s to come down in price if u want a good all season tire.

For summer Toyo Proxes T1-S all the way. Very good price/performance ratio and V or W speed-rated. Definitely *not* suited for winter driving as the compound gets rock hard at temperatures below 7 degrees C.

For that purpose I have Winter tires, which are Dunlop M2's and they work fine for me (we have mild winters here).

On my other car at the moment I use Bridgestone Potenza RE040's. Good tire with loads of grip, but does seem to wear rather quick (or I'm having too much fun :) Will be putting Toyo's on that one too.

Bye, Arno.

Jay,

I just bought BF Goodrich Touring TA's 205x55x15 (149 mph rated) on stock Volvo Cetus 5 spoke rims have had the tires about 3 weeks now. Good ride and much improved handling over the Michelein Pilots 195x60x15's that I replaced.

The tires still break loose due to HP when pushed hard around a turn but the Michelins were much worse as far as "sreaming" in the turns go. The TA's have better Off the line grip and less spin in a straight line also.


Dan
1997 854 Turbo GLT, Amsoil air filter, Dawes Device@10psi, Leather, Black w/ tint, rear spoiler, IPD (TME) cat-back on the way.

When I bought my 855 turbo it came with goodyear eagle gt II. They suck. I have tires and wheels for the winter. I too will be looking for some good summer only tires. I find the eagles to be loud, not bad in lite snow, but very poor on traction. I hope this helps. Geoff