I just purchased a certified pre-owned 2017 V60 Cross Country. The previous owner paid up for the 19" sport wheels, and I discovered to my dismay that the snow tire options were greatly limited vs. 18" rims. The tire people at the dealer would sell me 18" rims, but they're ridiculously expensive, and they warned me to not use non-OEM rims, because they've seen problems with them. My question is, is it true that I should avoid buying non-Volvo rims. In fact, should I just forget the whole idea of having separate wheels for the snow tires and just change out tires on the 19" rims? I had basic black wheels and Blizzak WS-80's on my 1998 V70. I loved the tire, and it was cheap to swap them out between seasons. I hate the idea that I'm being forced to pay way more for a tire that won't be as good as what I've used for years. Thanks for any advice or suggestions.

 

I've had winter tyres on dedicated wheels for four vehicles (two BMWs, a VW, and my current Volvo). None were OEM wheels, and I have never had a problem.

Things to watch for, in addition to the basic wheel dimensions:

1. Lugnut type. There are a few different types of lug bolt (see this page, for example: https://www.performanceplustire.com/...bout-lug-nuts/). The lug bolts must match the wheels, or things can go bad in a hurry.
2. Center bore needs to be correct for your car, or you need adapter rings. This assures the wheel is centered on the hub rather than on the lug bolts. Again, things can go south quickly if this isn't right.

The easiest thing to do is just go through tirerack so you know the package is complete and correct for your car. You can also likely go smaller than 18" too so you have a little more sidewall for winter driving conditions (and save a little cash along the way). For what it's worth, I'm running 16" wheels for the winter and 17" for the remainder of the year.

 

You can go as small as 16”rims on your car with thae appropriate sized snow tire. I would suggest two sets for a variety of reasons.