So this car in the junk yard has a nice set of what look to be steel wheels on it (I've been having trouble finding a complete set).

My current tire size is 185 70 R14

Will the donor car's tire size have to match my current tire size in order for me to use it's wheels?

The donor car is a wagon a few years older than mine so I think the wheels will fit on my wagon. Is there any way to tell what size the wheels are or will tire size be the only indication?

I feel like a bit of an idiot but it's time to get an education because I'd really rather have these wheels than the aluminum ones currently on my '86

thanks,

jack
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Bad Blue, '86 245, 250,000 mi., Columbus, Ohio

They will fit. Nice thing about 240s, all the wheels fit all the cars (AFAIK).

When junkyard cruising remember to check these two labels: Rear edge of the Driver's door will tell you the mfg month and year. Rear edge of the RF door will tell you the stock tire size.

There is also a service label in the trunk or rear storage area (245) but it has codes. P/S rack CAM or ZF? Brakes ATE or Girling?

BTW: Girling calipers have a logo. It's a "G" where the cross piece is an arm, with the hand gripping the round part of the "G".

Are the aluminum wheels that are you unhappy with the 25-spoke Coronas? All my daily drivers have those GL type wheels, I personally like them - but I am likely a member of a generation other than yours and there's no acocunting for taste, right?

Look here for a complete list:

http://brickparts.d--r.com/wheels/index.htm


Good Luck,

Bob

:>)

Yes Bob they are the 25 spoke Coronas... they might look better if they were painted.

maybe I'll polish 'em up, paint 'em and sell 'em to someone of your generation (if I get these new ones).

thanks for the stats -I'm printing them for the trip to the salvage yard.

jack

p.s. - .... talkin' 'bout my generation... (clue to what generation is mine!)
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Bad Blue, '86 245, 250,000 mi., Columbus, Ohio

If they are OEM wheels, they should fit if they are 14" (the last number in the tire size).

Non-turbo 200-series wagons should use 185R14 tires or 195/75R14 tires if 185R14 cannot be found. 185/70R14 is too small, giving speedometer / odometer error and reduced load capacity.

So my Non-Turbo 245 currently has too small of tires on it? Because it has the 185 70 R14 on it now.

Interesting...
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Bad Blue, '86 245, 250,000 mi., Columbus, Ohio

My 1982 owner's manual lists 185R14 for non-turbo wagons (which is about equivalent to 185/82R14). The car came with that size tires when I bought it used; they had a load rating of 91. When I replaced the tires, I used 195/75R14 with a load rating of 92 since 185R14 was pretty much non-existent. 185/70R14 is significantly smaller and has a significantly lower load rating (although it is listed as the tire size for the sedan). I'd guess that the larger size was specified for wagons because they expected people to put more stuff in wagons than in sedans.

The tire size on the wheels are 195 60 R15

the car ('85 245) called for 185 R14 tires and the actual wheels have Volvo stamped on them... I guess they are aluminum not steel after all. They seem to me smaller and wider.

so here's my question:

If the 185 70 R14's are too small then I have to assume the 195 60 R15's are definitely too small... is this correct?

how much will the odometer and speedometer be affected by these tires?

and I also have to assume that the wheels will fit different width tires on them... is this correct?

thanks if you're still with me and even if not!

jack

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Bad Blue, '86 245, 250,000 mi., Columbus, Ohio

Stracker:

If the tires on the wheels are 195/60-15, then those are 15" wheels. Don't panic; many of the 740s and all of the 940s came with 15" wheels, and these will fit a 240 just fine. You will need 15" tires, however; you obviously can't put 14" tires on 15" wheels.

That said, I feel that 195/65-15 tires on 15" wheels are just about ideal for the 240 wagon. You'll have the greater load capacity alluded to in the other post, and the overall diameter is close enough to the stock 185R14 tires that there should be very little speedo/odo error. The 195/60-15s already on the wheels will work just fine as well (are they worth keeping?), although they are somewhat "squattier" and will make your speedo read about 3-4 mph above the speed you're actually traveling.
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Mike W., '79 242GT (my project car), '85 245DL (son's project car), '87 245 DL (my daily driver), '90 244DL (son-in-law's daily driver), '91 744T (wife's daily driver), '94 944T (daughter's daily driver), Largo, FL

thanks Mike,

three of the tires from the junk yard are barely worth keeping and one of them is not worth keeping.

so it looks like I will have to minimally buy a used 195 60 15 to replace the one and thus be able to keep my fancy wheels.

OR just buy a set of 195 65 15's to put on the nice wheels

in either case it looks like I'll have a set of 4 185 70 14's on 25 spoke Corona wheels that I can either use in the winter or sell or throw them in the back yard and use them for playground fodder!

Ah the quandaries my penchant for style gets me into.

maybe I'll do a poll on the board and find out what people would do?

anyway - what would you do?

I think my tire/wheel education is fairly well rounded (no pun intended) now!

thanks,

jack
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Bad Blue, '86 245, 250,000 mi., Columbus, Ohio

Jack:

Sounds like you've answered your own question. I'd keep the 14" Coronas for winter and mount some dedicated winter tires on them; I have no winter tire experience as you might guess, but I hear that Nokians seem to be well thought of. On the 15" wheels, I'd get a nice set of 195/65-15s. Go to www.tirerack.com and search by tire size; you'll find quite a few choices. Personally, I'd want H-speed rated tires for the summer, probably either in the Grand Touring category or maybe Performance All Season if you have big sway bars and gas shocks on your 240 and like to toss it around!
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Mike W., '79 242GT (my project car), '85 245DL (son's project car), '87 245 DL (my daily driver), '90 244DL (son-in-law's daily driver), '91 744T (wife's daily driver), '94 944T (daughter's daily driver), Largo, FL

If they are volvo originals, they likely have the dimensions stamped into the metal around the lugnut holes... either way I think all the 200 series volvos had the same bolt pattern... think.

Greg