I have recently purchased a S60 2.5T AWD and would like to hear from others that drive their S60 in harsh winter weather conditions. Thus far I driven the vehicle in wet road conditions and have noticed some unsteadiness, mainly in cornering and front tire spin out during acceleration from a stop. The tires are the stock Michelins (Energy MVX4 Plus) and have about 30,000 on them, w/ a moderate amount of tread life left. Are winter tires needed for this vehicle or can I get by with all seasons.

 

I can't speak for driving in the winter as this will be the first winter for my '01 T5 FWD. However, I picked up some Hankook Winter Ipike tires for it. I'm hopping those + winter mode on the transmission will suffice.

I also picked up a set of these plastic floor mats that get a lot of good reviews:

http://www.ipdusa.com/version.asp?st...=513&V_ID=1242

 

I just bought a 2001 S60 T5 FWD and I heard that its great in the winter time, I just have regular all seasons on it and see how they run when it snows. I'm prepared to buy winter tires if they are too slippery but I doubt it.. hey Nataku did you think about getting a performance chip for yours?

 

Indeed I did. Cash is tight, so I'm trying to get the basics done first and do things little by little. I'm about 75% of the way through the "Stage Zero" list. After this, I'm looking at perhaps the IPD air management system and a turbo-back exhaust. After I get those out of the way, then it's chip time

 

I can comment on winter driving and I have a T5. It's fantastic. We had an ice storm that lasted a week and I went everywhere I wanted to go with absolutely no probelms. Just go slow and use common sense and let the car do what it does. Traction control and winter mode are great. I even took it on a steep ice/snow covered incline just to see what it would do and it from a stop it went up it no problem.

Oh yeah, I have performance summer tires too.

Just go slow.

 

winter mode will kill your transmission - NEVER use it.

 

And where did you hear this?


Winter driving is 90% technique. When i lived in Northern Ohio i drove for BMW and they sent us off to a camp for winter driving. It's all about soft touches on the accelerator and brakes, planning for a turn before it even gets to you.

You'll be fine just practice in a parking lot first. Though, 30k on a set of tires, that tread must be pretty close to the bars.

 

Bender - Please expand on your comment. Why does Winter mode kill your trans?

 

It doesn't.

 

it most certainly does - it starts you out in THIRD gear. Though a automatic does not have a clutch, the wear that starting out in a higher gear places on your transmission absolutely shortens its life.

If you are on slick stuff just eeassseee on to the pedal and you will be fine.

Go over to one of the other forums (swedespeed) and google search winter mode. You will find a) a suspiciously high number of transmission failures occur while it is being used and b) rule number one of autos is to NOT use it.

Only in an EXTREME situation should you use it and as SOON as you start moving well TURN IT OFF.

 

Would I be better off in Tiptronic mode and start out in 2nd gear - opposed to Winter mode that starts you out in third?

 

start in first with a light foot and get a proper set of snow tires. Cheaper, safer, more effective in the long run.

 

I bought Continentals, and they have been great in nasty Chicago weather. I did not have any control issues last winter. My previous car was a little Toyota Corolla, though, so that may be partly by comparison. Corolla + snow/ice=scary

 

I live in the N.E and that is one reason i bought my S60 AWD.This wil be my 3rd winter with her and have never been stuck or even had a hard slide.The AWD system in this car is amazing for myself.I have driven threw and during some large winter snow storms where 90% of the car were driving 15-20 and the 4x4 were driving with litttle issue and i was one on them.The tires i a big issue on a S60 so for me a good all season was the best choice.But this winter i will be throwng on a set of snow tires on with a set of stock 17" VOLVO rims i was able to pick up.I was a liitl worried that AWD was not realy all that i was hoping it was but i could not be happier with car proformance in snow,ice on the roads.

 

Living in Alberta, we tend to get extreme winter conditions for a good majority of the winter months. I put a set of Good Year Ultra Grip 7's on my '05 S60 2.5T AWD, and have never regretted the decision. They weren't cheap (~$1100 CAD with the winter rims), but in combination with the traction control and ABS, my S60 outperforms my Dodge Durango 4x4 in icy conditions and loose snow (with the exception of deep snow due to clearance). I agree with others on the thread though in saying that 95% of winter driving is technique. Overall though, if you've got about $1100 kicking-around, definitely consider a set of winter tires.

Overall rating of Good Year Ultra Grip 7's --> 8.5/10

 

I have a 01 S60 FWD. I live in Flagstaff AZ. I have the recommended regular tires on the thing and this car gets stuck in the damn parking lot at work. I suggest winter tires for non-AWD models. Also, the roads are not cleared as diligently here as they are in MN, (where I am originally from), so that is part of the problem.

I hate this car in the winter and that "W" mode seems to do almost nothing for me. Judging by my transmission shifting, I shouldn't use it anymore since it can't seem to shift regularly in dry conditions.

My 2001 Ford Focus drove better in MN winters than this car.

 

Yes W mode is an unfortunate kiss of death, tires tires tires are the big thing

 

damn good point there bender. I'll keep that in mind. as always bender is like my little encyclopedia lol. he answers almost 90% of my posts here in this forums and his dead on accurate. as for the post, My mechanic also mentioned to me that winter mode ain't healthy for my car, at first i kinda doubted it then did a little research as i saw bender's post... i wont gumle either. Perhaps it won't kill you not to use it. Just proper winter driving skills will do you good.

 

haha thanks karnage!

 

Bender -- I have a question.

I wouldn't and haven't used "W" for driving. But I have used it to start the car moving on extremely slick surfaces. Once I'm up to about 5 mph, I turn it off.

Am I trashing the geartronic in an '06 V70?

In the old days, Ford automatics were "startable" in 2nd gear w/o any apparent problems developing for use on slick surfaces. I know the old torque convertors were more flexible (who cared about MPG back then?), and I'd hoped the Volvo system was similar.

Would I be better off starting it in "2" when its on glare ice? Or simply leaving it in "D" and hoping for reasonable traction? Here in Metro Detroit, we rarely deal with deep snow, and the road authorities use more salt than MacDonald's does on french fries.