I am in need of at least two tires maybe four. I have Michelin XSE's on the front and MX4's on the back. They both have a T speed rating. The XSE's are rated 700 for tread wear the MX4's 500. Think the traction rating is A on both. I have not been happy with the tread wear on either set. They both have under 30K on them.

I've been looking at some BF Goodrich Traction TA's. They have a speed rating of H and a traction rating of AA - better than the Michelins. Not sure on the tred wear but they have a 60,000 mile warranty wich the michelins don't have.

This is a familly car that is not drivven hard. Most of the diring is around town with an occassional 1-2 hundred mile trip on the weekend.

Does anybody have any experience with the BFG Traction TA's or have any
recommendations?

Thanks,

Mike in W-S, NC

Nokian (WR) all weather tires are a great all around tire for quiet all season performance wet, dry, ice or snow. The wear well (50k+) considering the wide range of performance.

We've had three Volvos (850/S70/V70T5)and these tires are great. Check out Nokian Tires web site.

They are sold at Tire Factory stores here in the West.

Good Luck.

Here's my vote for BF Goodrich Traction T/A (H-rating)

BB

I have recently put on a full set of Bridgestone LSH. Love the ride, low noise level,and traction.

I second the Bridgestone Turanza LSH. Quietest and smoothest ride I ever had in the 850. The '04 V70 still has the OEM Michlins which aren't as bad as I would have suspected, but when it comes time to change those out- back to the LSH's I'll go~!
--
Current owner of a '04 V70 2.5T. Previous owner of a '94 850 Turbo Wagon

From day one, my car tires (Michelin MXV) were terrible, sliding off the road in rain/snow.
Apprently Volvo installed these tires on new cars because of low friction so their fuel mileage look good, but not good for safety.
Another time, my car slid with just 1/2 inch of snow, down to small ditch!

Since then I changed to Lemans Tires:
-Much cheaper ($45.00 vs $100 for Michelin)
-Wear more slowly
- Quiet ride
- Good traction in wet/ and even freezing rain weather in Chicago.


For the least money spent, I suggest Lemans.
Get them at Firestone dealers.

Set of 4 for about $200 something installed/balanced.
I have had these Lemans tires for 4 yeras and have put 30K miles on them....no problems at all.

cn
1998 V70

I just had a set of Traction T/A V-rated tires put on my S70. Judging from the tread pattern, specs and reviews on the Tire Rack web site, these tires will be perfect for my needs: decent dry and wet weather performance, with occasional light snow. (I live in coastal NJ.) My first choice was actually the Continental ExtremeContact, which seems to have similar characteristics for about $19 less per tire, but Tire Rack was out of stock on these in my size. Regardless, it's too early for me to say anything about the Traction T/As, other than there were no obvious defects.

I will comment about the tires that these replaced, though, as well as a general class of tires that I now think should be avoided. My previous set of tires were Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloce -- not the current tread design, but the previous one that was discontinued about three years ago. These tires are generally classified as "Grand Touring tires," reflecting their intention for good grip and smoother riding, possibly at the expense of some responsiveness and steering feel. These pluses and minuses are all usually attributed to the softer, more-flexible sidewall that grand touring tires tend to have. For a "sports sedan" that spends much of its time on the highway, this seemed like a reasonable compromise.

But over the course of the past three years, I've had to replace two of those tires due to sidewall bubbles. Although I couldn't recall having clobbered a pot-hole or curb such that it might damage the cord within the sidewall, apparently I did. Since those replacements, I've read Tire Rack's customer reviews to find that this was a particularly common problem on that model of Pirelli tire. The last straw for me was just before Christmas, when I hit a pot-hole and knew it this time. You can see the damage to the tire here:

http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/pirelli-p6000.jpg

It nearly split the tread! This was the third tire of the original set of four that developed sidewall bubbles.

That night, I started digging around for other grand touring tires on Tire Rack's web site. I also scoured the reviews and noticed a trend: grand touring tires have far more problems with sidewall bubbles than any other class of tires do. Check it out for yourself and read the reviews of other grand touring tires. Apparently, the thinner, weaker sidewall cords of this class of tires just can't stand up to common road conditions.

So that's it. That's my story. Ask me about the Traction T/As again after we have a snow-fall -- tomorrow, they say -- but DON'T BUY ANY GRAND TOURING TIRES.


--
Jim Rothe, '99 S70 T5M,
http://www.jimrothe.com/volvo/index.html

I just recommended them is my prior note. It was based on the reviews in tirerack and the testing.

Hi,

It is also about time to have a new set of tires for my 99 v70. I am still debating whether to get them from Tirerack or old place-Costco. Could you let me know a bit more about doing business with Tirerack. For price per se, it is good to get from Tirerack; but how did you guys deal with the hassles after you got the tires from Tirerack, such as installation and repairing? Good thing about Costco is a purchase includes all services, installation, repair, and life-time tire balance and rotation (at least $40 at any tire shop; so it could add up to $200 for a set of tires.), and one goes shopping there regularly. The problem with Costco is that you can only get tires equivelant to original specified tires; eg. V-rated tires (maybe only Michelin available) and they are expensive. I have a set of Michelin tires on my 95 850 and have no complaints. Thanks for your inputs.

Best,

Puhong

Price from tire rack and discount stores is roughly the same...if you are buying rims, the edge goes to the tire rack. They balance for free with the rims. or course you have to pay shipping. And the tire selection is better. If not buying rims...the clear advantage,,,in my view, is the discount warehouses. Free balancing for life.

I only had one warranty issue from tire rack in many transactions. It was pretty hassle free. There was some prorating...I think the new tire was about $25 shipped. It was a fairly cheap Yohahama snow tire for a Jetta. Those tires could brake a belt in the sidewall when hitting a pothole...could be driven fine until the new tire arrived. Interesting thing...i didn't have to return the tire. That may have changed.

Rick,

Thanks for your feedback. I agree with you that tirerack has advantages on its tire selections. It has a very good reputation too from what I heard.

Best,

Puhong

I always buy from Tirerack and have the tires dropped shipped to a local installer. I've never had a regret buying from them.
--
Current owner of a '04 V70 2.5T. Previous owner of a '94 850 Turbo Wagon