Hi Guys from Down Under,

My 940S wagon has the standard steel rims with 195 65 15 tyres. One of the wheels is slightly egg shaped and the spare has a different tyre to the others.

A friend suggested that the locally made GM cars have the same wheel studs with fifteen inch alloys, but they have 205 tyres.

My owners manual clearly states to only use Volvo approved wheels and tyres.
The specified size is 6.0Jx15 wheels.

Does anybody have experience of upsizing to 205 tyres with the appropriate sized alloys?

Thanks,

Chris

Hi Chris,
There are no wheels from other car makes that will do the job. You have very limited options.

They are.............stick with Volvo from the 740/940 and pre 94 960 series or use an aftermarket alloy.An aftermarket manufacturer, Performance, has a wheel with the correct offset. They drill your bolt pattern to suit. There maybe one other make available.

If you choose wheels from the 960 series make sure it has the 25mm offset. They went to a 43mm offset in I believe 94.The later 43mm offset can be used but require wheel spacers.

The 195x65x15 is a good profile for our poor Aussie roads.With lower profiles chances of wheel damage is increased.

Regards,
John H from Downunder

Hey, mate, I'll put our ****ed US roads up aginst your ****ed Ozzie roads anytime!
The 205-60 is roughly the same diameter as the 195-65, so sidewall height(and **** absorbtion) is roughly the same.
Many wheel suppliers offer 5X108 rims with the correct offset; some(US only?) Ford rims have the required bolt pattern, but are hub-centric, and have FWD offset(i.e., 43mm, like Volvo FWD). There may be a T-Bird RWD wheel which has a better offset, but Ozzies are unlikely to be so inflicted.
Diety-of-your-choice only knows what NASCAR Fords use.
--
Jim McDonald

The 205 width on Volvo rims wouldn't be a problem. My 940 came stock with 205-55/16 (Hydra wheels). The potential problem (as mentioned earlier) could be with the offset. For example, wheels from a Volvo 850 would bolt on to your 940. But the offset is differnent. So depending on the tire size, you could have a clearance problem.

I thought I read somewhere that some Ford products had the same bolt pattern (5 x 108) as Vovlos.

Jeff Pierce
--
'93 945 Turbo ( one kickass family car ! ), '92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece -- sold to a loving home), '85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow

I run 205-60x15s on my 700 cars, on stock Volvo alloys, with excellent results.
I'd be suprised if Holdens have the same bolt circle, but let us know.
--
Jim McDonald

Bolt pattern must be exactly correct. Volvo have used 5 X 108mm on RWD cars - I think also FWD. Another factor is wheel offset (the location of the hub mounting surface with respect to the wheel's centreline). Incorrect offset puts additional strain on wheel bearings and other suspension pieces like stub axles. It often also leads to contact between the rotating wheel or tire and stationary bits like brake lines, calipers, tie rods, inner panels...

I have heard that certain "Volvo approved" wheels (eg: the 15-inch Virgo from early 240 Turbos) will not fit later 940's with ABS, despite all the wheel specs seeming OK. To state the obvious, they are only approved by Volvo for use on the vehicle type on which they were originally supplied. If you do find suitable wheels, the increase in tire width from 195 to 205 should be no problem - it's just +5mm on each of the outside and inside of the tire.
--
Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)