Hi,

I'm about to scrap my 2002 malibu. This car has a blown engine, and was the reason why I bought my 2 volvo 740's. I just put new tires on this car before it crapped out and I want them!

I'm wondering if these tires will fit my 1991 volvo 740 wagon.

Chevy Malibu tires: 215 R60 15
Current 740 tires: 195 R60 15

Will these fit?

If so, I guess I'll take the rims off the malibu, throw them in the wagon, and get them swapped out at a tire place (will they do that?)

Thanks everyone...

 

Yes the tire shop will do it. The 215 will physically fit and if they're new, I'd use 'em rather than take the hit. Assuming you're running stock wheels that are 6" wide, 205's are border line too fat for ideal performance. 215's will have enough sidewall flex to be noticeable in severe driving. Still, if you're talking d/d round town driving...go for it. Check here to see how your speedo will change. Incidentally, 205/60/15's are a perfect size in my opinion for 240's and 740's when run on 7 or 7.5" rims.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

Can't think why I didn't join a forum long ago. swiftjustice thanks for the calculator (I can see that is going to save me a few sums in future) and tyre insights. I have a 1994 940 Turbo which will soon need new tyres. Currently it is running 205 60 15s on 6" rims. When you say they are borderline too fat is this in terms of the sidewall flex you referred to with the 215s?

If I do go back to the stock tyre would I be best advised to put them on the front or rear? Many thanks for your thoughts or anybody else's.

 

Well, when I say too fact...it is mostly just esthetics. The 195/60/15 was a standard tire used on the 242GT Virgo rims (they are 6" rims). I currently have 205/60's on the Virgos and the sidewall is just a bit wider than the tread and rim bead.
If you have two different size tires on a car and it is a rwd car...the bigger tires go on the rear.

 

note the wagons use one size large than the sedans, also a heavier load factor. my 745T is running 205/55-16, I believe the same wheels on a 744 would be 195/55-16 (16" is the +1 optional rim on those).

My past experience suggests that oversize tires can make the steering 'heavy'.

 

Thank you gentlemen for those thoughts. Swiftjustice that is an excellent point you made regarding aesthetics. To test the fatness thing I first measured the "bulge" on the tyres of my father's Primera. The sidewalls on his 185 65 14s extended 6.5mm beyond the widest part of the rim and looked right. In comparison the 12mm bulge of my 205 60s looked positively porky.

Having seriously considered Toyo T1Rs as a replacement tyre I rejected them on the basis that they were not in keeping with the character of the car (pity I can't get the C1Ss in NZ). Now that you have made the point I would have to say that neither do the 205s befit the slim lines of the 940 (sedan).

I will be sure to fit the skinnies up front.