I just put the Gislaved tires on my wife's S70 (Volvo rim/hubcap and tire set) very nice - a little more sidewall flex in turns and more road noise in the 30-70km/h range - mild rumble at 100km/h plus.

I'm using them because:

1) it takes the aluminum rims out of the salt

2) hubcaps are easier to clean and stay cleaner

3) you cannot beat specialized tires - especially when they are sized for greater road contact pressure - compounded for cold weather - and threaded to be self-clearing.

4) replacing one aluminum rim and tire (ie. from a snow hidden curb) would have paid for the entire rim/tire combination.

5) you must ALWAYS be able to out-stop the vehicle your are following - the insurance company will take care of the rest. Snow tires increase my chances of doing so.

6) I miss one week of work due to injury - tires paid for.

7) I have one at-fault accident - 2 years of insurance premiums - tires paid for.

and the biggy:

8) wife likes (the idea of) them.

MAT