Dear all,

Just acquired a lovely 2016 model (registered in 2015) XC60.

Delighted to be back in a Volvo, but horrified to discover that there is no spare, just a tin of gunk.

A little research revealed the availability of a suitable Volvo space saver kit.

However, my car has 21” wheels, giving an overall rolling diameter of 28”

The space savers are 17” wheels, giving an overall rolling diameter of 24.9”

Nearly 3” difference

Given that this is just for emergencies, should I just shut up, and go get one?

Or I have noticed that the later XC60 has a larger space saver of 28” rolling diameter

Does anyone know if this will fit in the earlier model?

Measuring the recess, I suspect it won’t.

Any help greatly appreciated

 

Well, following on from that overwhelming response, and an apparent lack of viable alternatives, I have purchased the only available space saver kit for this model and year.

It is a good 3” smaller than the regular road wheels. I can also confirm that the boot has been re-designed on the later XC 60 to accommodate a space saver that is exactly the same diameter as the road wheels, and that this will not fit into the boot space of my model.

So you need to choose between a can of gunk or a smaller space saver.

 

I'd really hesitate to run a wheel with a substantial diameter difference on an AWD drive car for more than a few miles to not risk any damage to the differentials. A quick check does indeed show the optional space saver spare at a 125/80-17 size where the oem wheel size of a 255/45-20 (sounds like the 21s are aftermarket) which makes for that 3 inch rotational different such that the spare will be rotating 10-15% faster than the other wheels - certainly limp mode material no matter what. I'd say your solution is about the best you can do (ie space saver plus can of sealant) short of shopping for run flat tires. The other recommendation I'd offer is to keep your tire pressure on the high side of the normal range. I run 36-38 PSI all around on my cars to avoid pot hole blowouts which can ruin a tire's sidewall.

 

Thanks for your reply.
I dont believe that it is aftermarket. My car was registered in 2015, but is a classed as a 2016 model (in true confusing Volvo style)
But you're right either way. I'm just carrying it to get me out of the mire, when I'm stuck in the middle of nowhere.
I might adopt you're higher pressure suggestion to be on the safe side. I am carrying the gunk also (as a contingency) but dont fancy using it, unless I have to.
The joys of motoring.

Regards,

N.

 

Days of spares are long gone. a plug kit and a mini compressor is all that is the boot these days, anyway, where do you put the full size tire you take off?

For instance my weekend car has 255/60-15 rears and a small trunk, Plug kit-

 

I agree. the most common flats are caused by simple punctures (nails etc) which the can of sealant will fix long enough to get to a tire shop or a pot hole induced pinched sidewall (more common to lower profile tires), which is where running pressure higher than the factory label can help, particularly if you're in an area of bad roads.

 

normally I would agree that a can of sealant is the fallback option.
In the 40 plus years I have been driving, that would be fine for the rare case of getting a flat tire, maybe once every 3 or 5 years.
BUT to my surprise, in ONE year, 2018, I had two major punctures in the sidewall that could not be fixed with anything but a traditional spare tire. If it was Sunday night, or if I was driving on some of the remote roads in the mid-west (where it is marked no services for next "75 miles" I would be in big trouble. Also- in many of those remote areas, there is at best spotty cell phone service. I want a spare tire, not the can.

 

yep, that's why buying the space saver spare is an option.