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Nelson
I saw this tire on TireRack. It's V-rated with a load index compatible with the XC90. It's all-season touring, with AAA rating and a tread wear index higher than that of the Michelin. And it's available in 235/60R18. I didn't see any comments on this tire from any mid-size SUV owners on TireRack. Most sedan drivers praised this tire.
I don't usually like GY tires, but at $144, it's much more affordable than the $217 Michelin, which won't last more than 25k miles.
Having had it happen on two different cars, I'm convinced that even by the tire-eating standards of most SUV's this is a design defect. Volvo should own up to it and provide free tire replacement at least up to MFG warranty point, and better yet, for life of vehicle.
So now it seems my two year old car, with 46,000 miles should be quickly dumped before I have more trouble. How do we all band together so that Volvo supports us?
My dealership (Volvoville LI) will not honor any waranty on the tires and they say I have to pay for them?? That is ridiculous I bought this vehicle for my wife to drive our children in because of it's outstanding safety record. My Volvo dealership say's: the way the tread on my Michelins is worn is because they are improperly inflated maintained?? BS
Someone have any advice?
Thanks
Frank
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I own a 2004 XC90 turbo with 20k on it right now and I love the car. I have had some problems that were unexpected for a $45,000+ BRAND NEW CAR, that should never been an issue. Living in New Hampshire, and having to drive 100 miles+ round trip to the nearest dealer tend to make me cranky, but the dealer took care of the issues at their cost.
My tires were shot at 14k. I was just doing research for tires and came across this forum. All I can say is thank you to all that have posted their issues and I am now tossing the ball around with the idea of S E L L I N G. I am on a fixed income being retired. I can't imagine spending that kind of money on repair of a new car, the time and travel for repairs, and fighing with the dealer every step. I too damn old.
My wife's 2007 XC90 3.2 came with Michelin 4X4 Synchrone (235/65-17) and they only have about 5500 miles on them so I cannot say how they will wear.
The 4X4 Synchrone is described as having superior all weather traction, starting tread 13/32".
"Energy™ MXV4®: Get More Miles For Your Money; Enjoy A Quiet, Comfortable Ride; Go Farther With Each Tank Of Gas; 400 A A
http://www.michelinman.com/michelinman/action/tires/find-by-tire-size/compare/
"Plus 4x4 Synchrone®: Experience Grip In All Seasons; 380 AA A "
Both tires are rated at 51 psi max and I set them at 40 psi cold despite the fact that the tire placqards recommend a somewhat lower pressure. The MXV4 Plus is rated at a higher load-- 1984lbs. (at 51 psi) vs 1804lbs. (at 51 *psi) for the 4x4 Synchrone.
Nokian WR SUV
Goodyear Fortera Triple Tread
Michelin All Terrain (in the 17" size it has an LTX M&S hybrid tread pattern)
Any recommendations by those that have driven them on the XC90 would be appreciated. Interested in your comments relative to handling, noise, ride and wear.
Thanks
What brands of tires are brand new XC90s equipped with and are they any good?
It sounds like you're driving with your tires underinflated. Have you checked that possibility?
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
I wish there was more informed discussion on the rationale for tire pressure recommendations. I do wonder if I could be reducing the tire contact patch, but until I read something authoritative which recommends against this practice or see some excess wear in the center, I am going to continue this. Excessive inflation could cause excessive wear to suspension components, but where we drive we are able to avoid potholes and don't have to just drive through them.
I asked about the tires at 17K and again on Friday and they said the fronts are at 3.32 and the backs at 2.32 - Not exactly sure how the rears would wear more than the fronts since this is a FWD suv most of the time but in any event, I didnt question the dealer since they have been great on service with me. Dialed up Volvo north america and filed a complaint this morning about an hour ago. Service guy from my dealer called me a few minutes ago and stated that Volvo NA will pick up 50 % of the cost on the tires and labor, replacing the tires with the same michelins that are on my xc. Service guy stated that the tires run 240 a tire plus 75 for labor/ install plus 45 for alignment so I would have to cover the alignment costs plus half of everything else - Just under 600 bucks.
I asked the service guy to contact Volvo NA to see if there were better tires that I could replace them with since im not entirely happy with the Michelins. They ride terribly and I dont go off rroad, in snow at all and it rarely rains here (San Diego). So for me, I want the quietest, smoothest ride for 30K miles.
Just updating all of you that you can still get a discount from volvo NA.
I have a 2004 XC90 T-6 with 85k miles on it. I have had what I consider good tire wear for most of it's life, but all of a sudden I apparently have a rear wheel camber problem and am eating up the inside of the rear tires. The problem seems to have developed in a short time period.
The vehicle is infrequently driven on very rough mountain roads but was recently subjected to this environment.
The weight load on the vehicle is normally a single person but I also always carry approximately 300 lbs of equipment in the rear of the vehicle. The last alignment check was at approx. 45k miles and no adjustments were required to the rear at that time.
The rear wheels have always previously set very square on the road regardless of the load being carried.
How is the camber of the rear wheels controlled?
Is there a torsion bar or other part that ages or might have failed?
Other thoughts?
Putting a new set of tires on the vehicle this week and want to promptly correct the problem.
Thanks for all help.
- OldJim
My dealer was able to immediately identify the problem and correct it. The problem was not camber (which is not really adjustable - you normally replace worn parts) but Toe instead. The rear tires were toed out and the inside of the tires were being scraped off at a very alarming rate.
The problem was identified as bent Toe Adjustment Bars. There are individual bars for each of the rear wheels and both of them were significantly bent in the approximately same relative location. It did not take long to recognize that some force had been applied to each of them that produced the bend and resulting Toe adjustment error.
The mystery was solved when I remembered having AAA tow the car to the dealer (you always tow an XC90 AWD on a flatbed) for service approximately one month earlier. The untrained tow truck driver apparently secured the car to the truck by chaining it down using the Toe Adjustment Bars instead of the tow attachments.
Once again a story of expecting experienced service personnel to know what they are doing, only to find that they cause more damage than they solve. Because of the location of the Toe Adjustment Bars, I suspect others will have a similar experience. Hopefully this note will prevent at least one instance.
Kudos to the Towing company that admitted their error and paid for an expensive repair and re-alignment. It would have been nice to have had the tires covered too but they were coming close to the end of their life anyway.
- OldJim
Donna V
Here are reviews from tirerack.com. See this.
2006 Volvo XC90 2.5T AWD
Kumho Road Venture APT KL51
Miles driven on tires: 7,500
Location: Princeton, NJ
Driving Condition: Combined Highway/City
Driving Style: Average
Initial Review, 7,500 Miles on Tires
April 15, 2008
Great value in this tire. Replaced the OEM Michelins after 35K miles for half the price and frankly it seems like these Kumhos were made for the XC90. Tires are unbelievably quiet and smooth. Driving in heavy rain is not much different than driving on dry payment as the tire displaces the water efficiently. Cornering is pretty good, but then again, I'm not taking tight corners with an SUV. Some have complained about the sidewall being unattractive. I think it's fine. Nobody is looking at your tires anyway. Treadlife rating is superior and so far after 7500 miles no real sign of treadwear.
2005 Acura MDX
Kumho Road Venture APT KL51
Miles driven on tires: 3,000
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Driving Condition: Combined Highway/City
Driving Style: Average
Initial Review, 3,000 Miles on Tires
April 13, 2008
The Kunho's transformed my MDX, for $400 less than replacement Michelins would have cost. They're quieter, much better riding with sharper turn then the Michelins. I wouldn't have supposed tires could have made such a difference. I was going to trade in the MDX, but decided to try the new tires instead. Such was the change they made that it's now my vehicle of choice, even around town in preference to my TL.
Granted, it has only been a week since I had them installed, but they are great. VERY REASONABLE in price - at least 1/2 the cost of Michelin's. Handling is very good, they generate less road noise than the Michelins did, and I think they feel better. Some people have commented that the sidewall is ugly, but to me it looks like any other tire. In general a very good experience. If you are in the Bay Area, I would recommend Redwood General Tire in Redwood City. They got them in 1 day and they were priced below Tire Rack out the door with exceptional service and workmanship. By the way, NONE of the companies listed as dealers on the Kumho web site had them on their web (you could not price them nor was the Kumho logo featured).
Good Luck and thank you to jim314 for the posting.
Also, what is the cost per wheelk?
Thanks,
Cliff Karchmer please reply to email below as well
e mail: cliffk4@juno.com
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
The volvo dealer says that it is an alignment problem, but I find that hard to believe since the excessive wear is only on my rear tires. Oddly enough, this wear did not start until after my last scheduled service which was 3,000 miles ago. At that time, the dealer replaced a brake booster and rear spring isolators.
Does anyone have any thoughts as to what may have caused this sudden wear on my rear tires? The front tires have very little wear and I have the tires rotated every 3,000-4,000 miles.
The dealer isn't completely off... you CAN have rear wheels out of alignment independent of the front wheels. But I think it would be odd.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I did have a noise which the dealer identified as a sway bar. I had that replaced yesterday.
Is this a FWD or AWD XC90? What was the wear pattern on the worn rear tires? That is, were they worn preferentially on the inside edges? the outside edges? all the way across? cupped?
Has the vehicle been towed recently? On this forum, I believe, there was a case of suspension components getting bent due to improper securing of the vehicle to a tow truck. In that case the towing company reportedly paid for the damages.
I just have difficulty with the thought that the car could have suddenly went out of alignment and chewed through the tires in a matter of 3,000 miles - especially when the majority of those miles were driving at speeds less than 50 miles/hr. All while there is no noticeable change in the steering of the vehicle (ie no significant pull in either direction).
I get that it is POSSIBLE...but is it LIKELY...
Is this a FWD or AWD?
If FWD I have no idea other than misalignment of the rear wheels, e.g. excessive toe in of the rear wheels would scrub the rear wheels and maybe selectively wear the outside edges of the tread.
There are implausible ideas like the front brakes are not being applied strongly enough so that too much of the braking is with the rear brakes. But the diagnostics should detect that.
Take it to the dealer for an alignment or to an independent alignment shop.
The most likely explanation is that when the rear anti-sway bar ends or bushings were replaced the rear wheels were gotten out of alignment. How many miles were on the tires when the service was done? Could it be that the tires were nearly worn out at that point and then 3000 miles later they were definitely worn out?
Is this a FWD or an AWD XC90?
The tires were new in October and November. I have them rotated every 3000/4000 miles and the front tires that were just rotated off the back show very little wear.
I believe the vehicle is all wheel drive - it is a T6. How do I know for sure?
It'll have an AWD badge on the tailgate.
it is a T6
Uh-oh.
Well, I believe AWD is standard on the T6. But so is a crappy transmission.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S