using car to hit the slopes - i highly suggest buying a separate full set and not just rubber.


But if you were to be looking for rubber, I would look up what the dealership sells too. If i remember correctly there are some odd specifics to what tires we can use due to the way our wheels are designed for crash protection etc etc.


if none of that matters, yes you can go a skinnier tire, i just don't know how long it'll last with each swap.

 

Here is a great tire calculator so you can see the difference. I would go at least 255/50 not 45.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=275-45r20-255-50r20

And I would highly recommend to get another set of wheels for winters! You don't need OEM wheels, get cheaper aftermarket wheels or even slightly used. Yes upfront cost is there at first but it's worth it IMO and less chances of damage to your summer wheels!

 

I would go at least 255/50 not 45.

Any idea why Tirerack would only list 275/45-20 and 255/45-20 and not the 255/50-20s ??

Will they all fit on my stock rims?

Thanks.

Michael

 

Looks like Blizzak DMV2 comes in 255/50-20 at least here in Canada https://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Bridgestone/Blizzak+DM-V2/015947

 

Also about 20% cheaper than the 275's. It's my exact conundrum right now. Can't decide for mine which to go for.

 

FYI - I decided to go with the Pirelli Scorpion Winters in 275/45-20

I got them from my dealer at about the same cost as I could get them from Tirerack shipped.. and will save me hauling them into my car (my dealer stores my tires in the offseason for a small fee).

Also, they were running a special for a free 4-wheel alignment if you purchase 4 tires, so this saved me about another $100, since I always get a full alignment when putting on new tires.

And Pirellie is running a special through mid-december for a $70 Visa card if you purchase a set of 4, so I an looking at $1,200 for the tires, less the $100 credit on the alignment and the $70 visa card, so walk away with total cost around $1,000 (and yes, I have to pay to mount/balance them, but that is only about $20 a tire).

I will just put them on my regular rims and store my allseasons for the winter.. been doing it this way for decades, and never had a problem..

Just never went for the dedicated rims.. too much money and also (honestly) too much size/weight for me to even store..

Now, just need some snow so I can put them to good use.. already planning a few trips to Vermont and possibly Canada, since the Poconos just don't cut-it for us except for quick day-trips...

Michael

 

I paid ~600 mounted for 20" Yokohama IceGuard in the stock size from Tirerack during the summer.
They're only $726 right now.

 

Out of curiosity, where do those of you mounting winter tires live?

I live in Chicago. I'm planning on trying all-seasons for this winter to see how it goes. I have had an XC70 with all seasons since moving back here and it has been pretty decent.

 

I live in Pennsylvania in the suburbs.. but we are big snowbirds, and do several ski trips each winter.. that is REALLY what the snows are for.. We do get the occasional big snow up here, but about 90% of our winter driving is on dry roads. But if you have ever taken an SUV up the side of the mountain into the Vermont mountains or up to Canada, you would be nuts to not have 4 snows on. In fact, many times there are signs on the roads that say "snows or chains required".

Can't tell you how many SUVs I see in ditches and off the road when we drive up to Vermont because the drivers think that just because they have an SUV they can go up a mountain.. I have even seen people get stuck trying to get through the roads by the lodges because they don't have snows.

And the snows also work much better then all-seasons in the very cold weather since they are softer in cold weather.... and when we do get the occasional snowstorm (and we had two big ones last year), the snows are awesome... we power right out of our driveway and can get anywhere..

Plus, having the snows on for 4 months makes our allseasons last longer, since they are only driver 2/3 of the year... yes, doesn't offset the cost of snows, but helps a bit...

Cheers.

Michael

 

Chicago suburbs here. Run winters on both our cars.

 

This will be my first winter with the XC90 but on my old vehicle I ran year-round with Michelin A/S tires. The AWD and traction control took care of most slippage for me just fine.

I'm also in the Chicago area.

 

Have the same XC90 Inscription as you. Last week bought and installed Blizzak DM-V2s in the 275/45-20. We live in Seattle where we don't get much snow (avg 5"/year) but spend every winter weekend at Crystal Mountain (avg 500"/year). Drive up last Sunday with 20" of fresh snow. Tires performed flawlessly. Also very happy with the Blizzaks around town. Hardly any noise difference from the OEM tire and they drive great.

Happy to have those tires so my daughters could get some pow!

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This is why I run winter tires also. Precious cargo!!!! Up in VT every weekend and you never know what you will get on the ride up. Snow tires r worth the weight in gold as far as I'm concerned. If I was to stay in the flat lands all the time I would think again about getting them, but if you go north at all snow ties r the way to go.

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Middkid, wow!

Did you buy a new set of wheels or mount the blizzard on your existing set?

 

Mounted them on the existing set.

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I just got my R design yesterday with the 22" rims. The tires are the Pirelli Scorpion Verde and the dealer swears they are all season tires. I am pretty certain that these are summer tires. I live in North Dallas where we may get snow or ice once a year. Should I go through the expense of trading for all season tires?

 

It says very clearly on the Volvo site that the 22's are summer.
You can also look them up on Tirerack and they're listed as summer.

 

I totally agree but have no idea why the dealer is insisting they are all season. They even called me back today and said the same thing.