[meinstei]

Hey there.

We have a 2016 XC90 Inscription with 20" Tires.

We plan to put on Snows for the winter (we live up in the northeast and get snow, and we also do several big ski trips in the winter, so snows are a MUST for us).

We have always just used the same set of rims and we just remove the summers and mount the winters each season. Yes, it costs some bucks to mount/balance each season, but a full set of 4 tires and rims is a lot of money, and a huge pain to haul and store.

I was just on the TireRack site and they state that there are two tire sizes that they list:

275/45-20 (which I believe is the "OEM" size for this car). There are a large number of winter tires listed for us to choose from.

255/45-20 (which I believe is just a "narrower") tire). But there is only ONE tire to choose from - a Pirelli Scorpion Winter.

I like the idea of running a slightly narrower tire for the snows, since they tend to "bite" into the snow a bit better.

But, can you confirm if the 255/45-20 tire will definitely FIT our stock Inscription rims?

Also, was surprised that there is only ONE tire (the Pirellis) listed. We have traditionally used either Dunlops or Michelin's in the past for our snows and been very happy with them, so I am not sure I am going to get the Pirelli, which means I must use an OEM sized tire. Not a huge deal, since about 95% of the time, we are driving on "dry" pavement anyway and it improves "dry" handling.

Just want to know if there are any other tire options out there in the narrower 255/45-20 size besides the Pirelli?

Thanks.

Michael

 

[eyeloveteeth]

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.

 

[Brutus99]

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!

 

[meinstei]

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

 

[Brutus99]

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

Can't help you with that sorry. Not even sure they make tire in that particular size. If not just go with same size 275/45-20. That's exactly what I just ordered.

 

[Brutus99]

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

 

[Triggerhappy]

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.

 

[meinstei]

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

 

[OURDESIGN]

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

 

[etherfarm]

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.

 

[OURDESIGN]

Chicago suburbs here. Run winters on both our cars.

 

[phillipu]

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.

 

[OURDESIGN]

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.

AWD won't help you stop any better.
Would you wear bowling shoes in the snow?

 

[etherfarm]

AWD won't help you stop any better.
Would you wear bowling shoes in the snow?

ABS and traction control help overall control immensely.

I grew up in the far west Chicago suburbs and know that it can take some time to get roads plowed during a major storm. I can think of maybe twice in the last five years where winter tires (which I had when I lived in Maine) were justified where I live now, and even those situations would be addressed easily by either home for a few hours, walking, or just driving carefully.

I'm much more interested in winter tires for our frequent trips to western Illinois, where we have a farm. But if I can get away with A/S tires I will, because I don't like the idea of rumbling around on winter tires through March.

As to your question, if bowling shoes required a jack, a wrench, and a compressor to take on and off, yeah, I'd have no problems wearing bowling shoes in the snow.

 

[OURDESIGN]

ABS and traction control help overall control immensely.

I grew up in the far west Chicago suburbs and know that it can take some time to get roads plowed during a major storm. I can think of maybe twice in the last five years where winter tires (which I had when I lived in Maine) were justified where I live now, and even those situations would be addressed easily by either home for a few hours, walking, or just driving carefully.

I'm much more interested in winter tires for our frequent trips to western Illinois, where we have a farm. But if I can get away with A/S tires I will, because I don't like the idea of rumbling around on winter tires through March.

As to your question, if bowling shoes required a jack, a wrench, and a compressor to take on and off, yeah, I'd have no problems wearing bowling shoes in the snow.

Interesting that you'd risk a broken bone or sprain if you had some bandaids.

I find it amazing that people will pay 60k for an AWD and 2k more for some fancy air suspension but will poopoo spending under 1k on winter tires.
Tires ...you know the things that actually make contact with the ground. Getting stuck in a snow storm doesn't give one the alternative to walk and driving carefully doesn't mean you'll be able to stop your non-winter tire equipment 60k AWD SUV from sliding off the road intro a ditch.

Winter tires will perform better than A/S or summer in conditions below freezing. If there is only 1 severe storm within the 20k miles these tires are rated for then the paid for themselves.
A false sense of security from "driving carefully" isn't for me.

 

[meinstei]

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

 

[etherfarm]

Interesting that you'd risk a broken bone or sprain if you had some bandaids.

Even more interesting: that you'd take my comment about wearing bowling shoes in the snow seriously.

I find it amazing that people will pay 60k for an AWD and 2k more for some fancy air suspension but will poopoo spending under 1k on winter tires.
Tires ...you know the things that actually make contact with the ground. Getting stuck in a snow storm doesn't give one the alternative to walk and driving carefully doesn't mean you'll be able to stop your non-winter tire equipment 60k AWD SUV from sliding off the road intro a ditch.

For the record, I never said anything about the money. And getting stuck in a snowstorm where I live absolutely gives me the alternative to walk. I do it all the time. But mostly I just look at a little thing called radar and have mostly avoided getting stuck in snowstorms.

Winter tires will perform better than A/S or summer in conditions below freezing. If there is only 1 severe storm within the 20k miles these tires are rated for then the paid for themselves. A false sense of security from "driving carefully" isn't for me.

Well to each their own, I suppose. I'm considering getting winter tires for my XC90. I've had them before and have lived in places that get more snow and less ability to deal with it than Chicago. Since moving back to the area 6 years ago, with the exception of a couple of storms and the crazy cold spells, I've found Chicago winters to be milder than I remember. As mentioned earlier, I've been running A/S tires on my AWD XC70 that whole time and have never felt like I needed more, but I drive around town very little in general.

 

[OURDESIGN]

Even more interesting: that you'd take my comment about wearing bowling shoes in the snow seriously.

Considering the comment was related to driving without winter tires I'd have no reason not to.

For the record, I never said anything about the money. And getting stuck in a snowstorm where I live absolutely gives me the alternative to walk. I do it all the time. But mostly I just look at a little thing called radar and have mostly avoided getting stuck in snowstorms.

I never said you said anything about money. It was a general statement about people who spend a large amount of money on SUVs with expensive AWD/4x4 systems who don't buy winter tires in areas that see snow/ice.

You make it sound so simple that it's just a matter of radar. So if you need to go to work, school or attend any event you're just not going to go or walk?
Try to be realistic. We all know that's not going to happen.

Well to each their own, I suppose. I'm considering getting winter tires for my XC90. I've had them before and have lived in places that get more snow and less ability to deal with it than Chicago. Since moving back to the area 6 years ago, with the exception of a couple of storms and the crazy cold spells, I've found Chicago winters to be milder than I remember. As mentioned earlier, I've been running A/S tires on my AWD XC70 that whole time and have never felt like I needed more, but I drive around town very little in general.

As I said it only takes 1 occurrence. I'd rather be safe then sorry. I just hope you're not near me in less than favorable driving conditions.

 

[etherfarm]

You make it sound so simple that it's just a matter of radar. So if you need to go to work, school or attend any event you're just not going to go or walk?
Try to be realistic. We all know that's not going to happen.

Maybe not for you, but my kids' school is 3 blocks away, I live 4 blocks from both the El and the Metra, and I regularly work from home. In fact, my car stays in the garage the majority of the week. I'm totally lucky in this way, but try to be realistic. Not everyone lives in the far suburbs.

As I said it only takes 1 occurrence. I'd rather be safe then sorry. I just hope you're not near me in less than favorable driving conditions.

I probably won't be, but I'm guessing you should be more worried about the high percentage of drivers who will be near you who don't have fancy cars built in snowy Sweden and who have never owned a set of winter tires in their lives.

I'm not entirely sure what got you all riled up about winter tires...

 

[MiddKid]

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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