Hello All.

I have a 2002 V70 (2.4L 5cyl, no turbo) and have 38k on my Michelin 195/65/R15-91H tires. I have been having a hard time locating the same type of tire locally (have some on order, but taking a while).

My question is
* Do I have to match the same load (i.e. the "-91"). I can find lots of 95/65/R15-89H tires... but the 89H load is not what came with the vehicle.
* Any other tires I should consider (car is daily driver for wife).
Thanks,
Kent

A year or so, Road & Track did a quick comment on three performance tires. One reason that they liked the Yokahama Prada Spec 2 is the load rating.

The article opined that far too many high performance, low profile tires have very poor load ratings.

An important issue for a large, heavy, fast wagon.
--
96 855R, 95 855,854, 90 744 Ti - 343,000 Volvo miles put on 7 bricks

I've got an 01 no turbo model. When the stock tires wore out I got Yokohama Avid H4s. Much better ride, handling and wear. Quiet, smooth, everything a Michelin isn't.

The "load index" is something that many tire shops will even get it wrong (or not bother to specify it). It refers to the maximum weight the tire can support (http://www.hogantire.com/tcloadindex.htm). I think they should be matched, or exceeded.

I bought my 98 V70 XC used from a dealer (50k miles ago), who had installed Michelin MX4 205/65 R15 92S. The car's recommended tire pressure (per the placard inside the gas filler door is:

Recommended 36 front / 41 rear
"Optional: 34 front / 32 rear

When I look at the max pressure on the sidewall of the tire, it is something like 35psi (I can't recall the actual #, but it is definitely lower than Volvo's "recommended" tire pressure for both front and rear). I therefore use the "optional" tire pressures on the car.

When I started looking for new tires (the Michelin's are ready to give up the ghost), I want to make sure that I get the correct "load index", and also make sure that the new tires can handle pressures up to at least 41psi, so I can try to inflate the tires to the "recommended" pressures.

When I spoke to the dealer, they said that they never look at the load index when they install new tires for a customer, and they just fill to 32psi all around. Even when I spoke with Michelin customer service, it was hard for them to let me know the max tire pressure (generally, the higher the load index for a certain tire size, the higher the resulting max pressure).

Good luck

In my experience, 'Optional' refers not to an option of a different pressure setting but more to optional size tyres that may be fitted to the vehicle.

So if you have 15" tyres and the pressure is 36/41 I would guess that the 'Optional' settings may refer to an alternate size (such as 16")...

Best method is to go for a long drive and check tyre temps across the tyres. They should be even across the width of the tyre when the pressures re right. Too high in the middle says the pressure is too high, to cold in the middle says too low. Its normal for there to be some variation side to side but if you really want to be clever you can use the temp side to side to set wheel camber angles....

If you haven't got a temperature probe try looking at the tyres wear. Worn in hte middle is too much pressure, worn on the edges is too low pressure.

A.