Have an offer for a set of 15" allow wheels for 2007 V70 2.4. Just got the car and it currently has 16" 4-season. Will want winters, too. I have seen 195/60/15 as a tire size for this car. Has anyone had experience with 15" winters (Vs 16")?

 

Hello, I use 15" steel wheels for Winter. 195*65*15 tire size . If the shoe fits...Kira

 

Look at the owners manual and it will list all applicable "stock" wheel and tire sizes. As I recall (can't check since wife took V70 this am), 15, 16, and 17 were all "stock" wheel sizes with appropriate tire sizes. I'd use 15 for winter as I am in a snow zone here. As is, use 17 fitted with Conti DWS and they work pretty well. Not as pothole proof, however, as the taller 15' would be.

 

Made error on 15" size. The size offered/recommended is 205/65/15

 

Yes, thatnks, I have read the listings. However, while the guide does list the recommended sizes for tires, I guess I was looking for particular recommendations for different sizes for winters as there are more/different handling issues. Volvo does not separate tire types in their listings (only give additional info for setting studded). By what I continue to research, seems like the 15's are a reasonable choice.

 

The deeper your snow, the narrower and taller you want your tire. Ditto for the more washboarded, potholed, etc., your roads get.

Those recommendations are for snow and bad roads, however, not for ideal dry pavement handling.

The diameters of the "stock" wheel and tire combos listed by Volvo won't be very different due to speedo calibration issues and all that flows from there. And, more importantly, they will "fit" . Our 17's give the classic "grunch, grunch" sound on hard left turns discussed in other threads here. I don't think 16" do, or 15".

Hope this helps. You didn't say where you were from, so I don't know the answer to the math question of snow x temp + sunny days / road surfaces used = answer to your question.

 

Thanks, again. In NH, so we can get our share of winter conditions. In-town/hwy miles mostly, though do get the occasional hilly gravel/dirt roads. I usually do the November/April switch out and have always used a separate set of winter tires/rims Vs moving the tires. We had a nasty winter this year, but can typically have a fair share of dry surfaces during the winter tire season. While I would think, on one hnd, I would now lean toward steel rims for the winters, the other sets we had were on 16"alloys (for 6 seasons on a SAAB 9.5 wagon that got too expensive to maintain). The main reason I was looking at the 15's (have always used the 16's) is am offered a good deal on a set of 15" alloys, so now leaning towards using those. IMO the tires are the most important part of the car when driving, so want to make the best size choice.