Looking for any recommendations for new tires for my 98 v70 awd. I live in WI so snow is an issue though we haven't had much the last couple of years. I currently run Michelin Pilot XGT 205/55/ZR16s and have been very happy with them. Put them on at 46k and have 96k now with about 1/16 in. left before the wear bars are exposed. Any help would be appreciated.

For the size you specify, I would seriously consider the Bridgestone Turanza's. I had them on the 850 Turbo wagon before I sold it and they were bar none the best tires I've ever had. They are good in snow too as long as there isn't a whole lot of it. Anyway check them out at Tire Rack, here:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Turanza+LS-V&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=055VR6TLS&fromCompare1=yes

thanks for the info on the turanzas. you're the second person to recommend them. my buddy just put a set on his 2000 maxima and he loves them.
Maco

We have Michelin MX4V's on our 1999 V70 GLT. They are and have been excellent. They are probably better than the Pilots. On our Chevy Malibu we replace our Affinity tires (the worst tire immaginable) with the Dunlap A2 Sport. They are a world of difference, and very good on wet roads. The difference has been night and day. They are highly rated by Consumer Reports and in the Tire Rack surveys. I paid about $75 each if I remember correctly, at NTB.

Living in Dallas, I don't see too much snow. But, oddly enough it was a snow day (the only one in the last 5 years than actually left snow on the ground for more than about 10 minutes) when I replace the tires. The Dunlap SP Sport A2's did very well. Here is the Tire Rack site for the High Performance All-Season tire table that lists the A2:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/survey results/hpas.jsp

The reviewers gave the Dunlap’s a 7 of 10 in snow. Overall, the A2 was number two in the list. It has been a great tire for the 3,000 miles we've put on them, almost equal to the Michelin MX4V Plus tires on our V70 Volvo.

At first I was concerned about the few negative reviews for the Dunlap’s, but then whet through almost all of the reviews. Probably 90% of the reviews are excellent, with only a few discussing a shorter life. Remember, a shorter life is probably to be expected at only $75 a tire. True, I got a lot of life out of the Michelin MX4V's I've owned, but they cost $140 each.

That all said, I will still put the MX4V’s on the Volvo when the ones on it wear out. I think a Volvo should have tires with the slight extra that Michelins give it. A Volvo is not a Chevy Malibu.

thanks for the input on the dunlops. i will seriously condsider these tires.
maco

Since the original set of Michelins, I've been running Dunlops, first SP8000s now my second set of SP5000s. The SP5000s are also M&S rated. Although I switch to studded snow tires on for the really evil months, we also get late fall and early spring snow storms, so the M&S rating is very nice to have. The Dunlops may wear quicker than the Michelins (they're stickier, too) but since they're 1/2 the price I'm running on fresh tires twice as often. Since the Dunlops are so cheap, I don't feel guilty at replacing them waaaaaaay above the wear bars, as soon as the handling and braking seems to deteriorate. Since I have a T5 with a manual transmission, I notice the wheelspin right away!

I recently bought a set of Yokohama AVS ES100 for a Porsche 944, for $79 they're an awfully impressive tire, I have the feeling that you could stick the car on the garage wall with them, but they're probably hopeless in the snow!

-Punxsutaney Phil

I was looking at dunlops because of the cost of the michelins but not sure how they are in snow. I know yokohamas suck in snow. I had them on my 93 accord when i lived in vancouver and they might have well been a set of K2s. thanks for the input i am considering dunlops but sure have been happy with the michelins.

I have a V70, had a 740 wagon, and have had as sedans, BMW and Mercedes ( 300D's ), for which Michelin seemed to have the best products. I like tossing a car into a corner, so handling is a high priority. Buying tires is not. So the reliable Michelin always wins out. I've been tempted away on two occasions by " just as good, but cheaper" Dunlops, and Bridgestones. They had great handling, but both developed wear, balance ,and tread seperation problems. Even with warranty pro-rating, they averaged half the life, at nearly twice the cost, in the end.
I live in Florida, so snow is not an issue, hi-speed driving in torrential rains is. Also extreme heat.
Hope this helps, by the way, I choose the V70 over a Mercedes E320 Wagon.

some very good insights especially with tread separation. good choice of wagon! thanks for your help.