Noob Question - Volvo C30 Flat Tires
 

Hello All

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere - I did try to search before asking but didn't find anything.

Anyway - I have a 2012 c30 T5 with 60K miles. I bought it for my wife to use as a commuting car just because its small and I've always thought they were cool looking cars. This may have been a bad decision.

In the year or so that we've owned it we have had 5 or 6 blowouts with the run-flat tires. To be fair - we drive in and around NYC so there are lots of potholes but still, is that a common issue?

I like the car b/c its peppy and handles well but my wife, who is the primary driver, HHAAAATES it because of all the flats.

Is this a common thing? Is there a solution?

Thanks -

Michael

PS - Anyone want to buy a 2012 c30?

Are your wheels very low profile? If so, you can potentially increase the side wall when it is time for new tires as long as the room allows. Compare current tire size to the sticker on the body when you open the driver door. I did that on my 2018 because my first winter I broke a rim due to a pothole. I went with a 40 side wall to 45 aspect ratio. Also, are your tires properly inflated?

Thanks - I think they are the stock size but I'll check

check your tire pressure. As somebody who regularly drives NY roads, I'd simply add 3 PSI above what the placard suggests. In the past I've had blowouts - all from a pinched sidewall. Bumping up the pressure won't hurt the tires but will prevent blowouts and protect the rims . I currently run 36-39 PSI on 235/45-17s. PS a few months ago I was driving home on the FDR coming home from a wedding downtown at the Beekman Hotel - hit a pothole the size of Texas that literally made my car jump to the point I was concerned that I broke something. No flat, drove home - all because I put 39 PSI on all four corners before venturing downtown :-)

thanks

Ill check the pressure

Front 215-45/18 & Rear 225-50/18 Run Flats. Lowered on Silvers Coilovers as low as I can be safely with Zero Blowouts.

Increasing your tire air pressure & increasing side wall height looks like a great method to avoiding those blowouts. I went to a 195-55 sidewall on a Fiat 500 successfully for better ride quality.

Good Luck.