Hi there,

Just wondering if I can put a 195-70-14 size tire on my 240 (1990)?

The tires I want - Nokian WRII only come in a 195, not a 185. They are an all season tire that is also winter rated so i would be using them all year.

Besides a slight odometer variation is there any safety risk or major performance changes?

I would be getting four put on.

fall guy

I need to replace my tires as well very soon. I am leaning towards 195/65-14's. I think the slightly wider tread and slightly lower profile will assist handling. I have a sedan.

Got the 195/70-14's on my daughter's 83. No fitment problems at all - in fact they fill the wheelwells better and look good. The slightly larger size has brought the speedo and odo nearly dead accurate where the 185/70's made them optimistic - higher than actual.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, my 94-944 B230FD and 89 745 (LT-1 V8); hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)

Oops - You did say 240 so ignore the reference to wagon.

How does saying it's a 240 limit it to being a sedan?

This is one of the frustrating things I've always found with these cars. Anything else, like a Camry or something, the owner would say "it's a Camry Wagon".

I face this all the time with the 240, 7/9 and 850 models. I always have to go back and ask people if they're talking about a sedan or wagon and I can't even ask them if it's a 244 or 245 because no one has any idea what you're talking about. The car doesn't say "244" anywhere on it, except maybe the title department at DMV. Likewise there were at least cars call "244" or "245" made reflecting the number of doors on the car. The 850 was never sold as an 854 or 855, so you always have to ask.

Anyway, tire size will work for either sedan or wagon. It's a bit small for wagon, and one size big for a sedan... not enough to worry about probably.
--
::: Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 92 244 M47 211K ::: 90 745GL M47 273K ::: 88 245DL AW70 190K ::: 84 242DL Project ::: 70 VW Bus ::: 70 VW Pickup Project ::: 71 VW Notchback :::

sorry,

should have specified that it's a sedan. i know the stock size is a 185-70-14. i was just wondering whether a 195 would have any adverse effects other than a slight spedometer change.

looks like it's not a big deal.

fall guy

OK, from my preferred tire size calculator at
http://www.wickedbodies.net/Tire-Size-Calculator.htm

If stock size is 185/70-14 and speedometer says 65 mph:

With tires 195/70-14: actual speed is: 66.48
With tires 195/65-14: actual speed is: 64.41

You can save the calculator web page to your local hard drive and load+run it from there if you like.
--
Sven: '89 245 NA, 951 ECU, open-front airbox, E-fan, 205/65-15's, IPD sways, E-Codes, amber front corner reflectors. Wifemobile '89 245 NA stock. 90 244 NA spare, runs.

Of course that's fine... expect a "tiny" bit of alignement issue o nthe front due to the ride hight.

I have wit hthe virgos:
195/60-R15 front
205/60-R15 rear

Greg Mustang
www.volvoclassic.bravehost.com

You don't indicate if yours is a sedan or wagon. According to tirerack.com the OE for a sedan was 185/70 x 14 and wagon 195/75 x 14. I have an 88 wagon and once was talked into using 70 series. I didn't like the feel of the Michelin Symmetry [now discontinued] in that size but the same tire in the 195/75 felt firmer, rode better and gave more road clearance. I believe that generally you can go up one size in the same series [i.e. 70 series if a sedan] and the rim will safely accomodate the tire, in your case a 195/70. Nowadays due to liability issues, reputable tire stores won't mount a tire that is incorrect for the application. Tirerack.com also listed an optional 60 series tire for the sedan.

Self-not-proclaimed not expert here.

Actually I'm getting tired of posting basic tire information over and over, but too many owners as well as tire salespeople don't know what size your car should have. Wrong size = lying speedometer.

Mostly, 240 sedans take one size and 240 wagons take another.

Some really old ones and maybe some turbo or other oddball 240s might take other sizes.

So look at the tire size label in the passenger door. Or in your owners manual. You can get one from a junkyard or from Volvo's web site.

And don't blindly believe the guys working in tire stores.
Their books often can't tell the difference between a 240 sedan and wagon - but they might insist on knowing which engine you have or whether it's DL or GL - none of which matters at all, SFAIK.
--
Sven: '89 245 NA, 951 ECU, open-front airbox, E-fan, 205/65-15's, IPD sways, E-Codes, amber front corner reflectors. Wifemobile '89 245 NA stock. 90 244 NA spare, runs.

I'm running this size on my '87 245 right now. No problems at all.

The tires will fit OK, go for it.

Go here to check your speedo error:

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalcold.html


You will need to input your stock size tire. Check the label of the rear edge of the RF door.

My general rule of thumb to minimize speedo error in this: If the first number goes up one step then the second number must go down one step.

If the stock size is 185/75-R14, then the next OK size would be 195/70-R14. If your stock size is 185-R14, use 80 for the "missing" profile number. There will be some speedo error, but close is OK.

My 1986 244 has 205/70-R14 on the rears, and the speedo error is about all I would want. Speedo reads 70 and actual speed is close to 74. The 205/70 size is not in the rule of thumb range. So far no tickets, just lucky.

Bood Luck,

Bob

:>)

Yes.

You will start a never ending string of threads here when you ask that question because there are a lot of self proclaimed tire experts on this board.

Try searching the same question and you'll see what I mean.

Kyle

1985 240 wagon w/243,xxx miles and runs like a top.