Winter tyres

All Volvo XC40 related discussions
White
Posts: 32
Joined: Wed Dec 18, 2019 11:33 am
Location: Scotland

Post by White »

I have the original Pirelli PZERO tyres on my AWD XC40 with 20" wheels but am not impressed with their performance in snow and ice. Snow and ice are quite common in winter here and my main reason for going AWD. Have any members any comments on these tyres and recommendations or experience of tyres which perform better in snow and ice.
Volvo XC40, T4, R-Design Pro, AWD, Automatic, Thunder Cloud Grey

blastpipe
Posts: 565
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2018 9:04 pm
Location: UK

Post by blastpipe »

Might be worth a look here:

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre-Tests/

Where are you based?

I'm northern England and find all season tyres ( with three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF)) do the job pretty well and can stay on the car all year round saving the cost of tyre swaps twice per year or the cost of a spare set of wheels.
Last edited by blastpipe on Sun Dec 05, 2021 9:25 am, edited 1 time in total.
T4 Auto AWD R Design March 2019
eugen61
Posts: 1210
Joined: Sun May 10, 2020 7:33 am

Post by eugen61 »

Pirelli PZero are not intended for ice and snow, so no wonder you’re not impressed. It’s outright dangerous to use summer tires in winter driving conditions because of the huge increase in braking distance. Winter tire performance decreases with larger rim sizes, therefore you won’t find tests performed on SUV tires above 18” and should look to those relevant for XC40 tire sizes.

235/55 R18 from 2021:
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/202 ... e-Test.htm
and
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/202 ... e-Test.htm

235/55 R17 from 2020:
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/202 ... 55-R17.htm

However, as mentioned by Blastpipe, for winter driving conditions in England all-season tires could be a better choice. The new Michelin Cross Climate 2 tested very well in all driving conditions and it’s recommends by Volvo, but it’s not available in 20” size for XC40.

Michelin Cross Climate SUV is available for your 20” size rims (245/45 R20). I’m using these in 18” size as dedicated winter tires from December till February, for the rest of the year I’m using Michelin Primacy 4, these being far superior in temperatures above 5C.
Cevoli21
Posts: 281
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:38 am

Post by Cevoli21 »

I have Continental All Season Contacts on one of our cars. Seem to perform well in all conditions. I have just driven back from Italy with snow in the Alps. They coped fine with it. When ordering our P8 Twin motor I asked if it could be supplied with all season tyres. I was told that they were unsure if the motors would be OK with different tyres! Clearly ludicrous as all season or winter tyre options are on the configurator in other European countries. In Belgium all season are the default option. Why do Volvo UK have to limit options so much?
XC40 P8 Twin Motor Pro in Denim Blue with Tow bar, mudflaps
eugen61
Posts: 1210
Joined: Sun May 10, 2020 7:33 am

Post by eugen61 »

Cevoli21 wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 12:12 pm I have Continental All Season Contacts on one of our cars. Seem to perform well in all conditions. I have just driven back from Italy with snow in the Alps. They coped fine with it. When ordering our P8 Twin motor I asked if it could be supplied with all season tyres. I was told that they were unsure if the motors would be OK with different tyres! Clearly ludicrous as all season or winter tyre options are on the configurator in other European countries. In Belgium all season are the default option. Why do Volvo UK have to limit options so much?
When did you order your P8? Volvo started only recently to recommend all season tires on their vehicles. Michelin Cross Climate 2 is the first all season tire carrying the VOL seal, approved by Volvo. Some markets like Belgium are offering all season tires as default for pure electric models only, not for mild hybrid and PHEV. I believe it has to do with low rolling resistance criteria for claimed range on electric models.
qrt31
Posts: 172
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2021 10:30 am

Post by qrt31 »

Cevoli21 wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 12:12 pm I have Continental All Season Contacts on one of our cars. Seem to perform well in all conditions. I have just driven back from Italy with snow in the Alps. They coped fine with it. When ordering our P8 Twin motor I asked if it could be supplied with all season tyres. I was told that they were unsure if the motors would be OK with different tyres! Clearly ludicrous as all season or winter tyre options are on the configurator in other European countries. In Belgium all season are the default option. Why do Volvo UK have to limit options so much?
A few months ago I asked CbV whether I could get the all-season Recharge tires that are now standard on the P8 in northern/central Europe. They said no.
Den48
Posts: 248
Joined: Sun Dec 20, 2020 10:13 pm

Post by Den48 »

Hi
Just fitted cross climate 2 to my xc40 b4, early days yet but so far no extra noise or dry / wet grip compromises, just waiting for a bit of snow to try them , they are supposed to be very good for snow grip.
T4 recharge, plus spec, 23my
typolee
Posts: 47
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 10:30 am

Post by typolee »

Den48 wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 1:30 pm Hi
Just fitted cross climate 2 to my xc40 b4, early days yet but so far no extra noise or dry / wet grip compromises, just waiting for a bit of snow to try them , they are supposed to be very good for snow grip.
I think they beat winter tyres in snow tests? Fitting them to my xc40 as well
Cevoli21
Posts: 281
Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:38 am

Post by Cevoli21 »

eugen61 wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 12:21 pm
Cevoli21 wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 12:12 pm I have Continental All Season Contacts on one of our cars. Seem to perform well in all conditions. I have just driven back from Italy with snow in the Alps. They coped fine with it. When ordering our P8 Twin motor I asked if it could be supplied with all season tyres. I was told that they were unsure if the motors would be OK with different tyres! Clearly ludicrous as all season or winter tyre options are on the configurator in other European countries. In Belgium all season are the default option. Why do Volvo UK have to limit options so much?
When did you order your P8? Volvo started only recently to recommend all season tires on their vehicles. Michelin Cross Climate 2 is the first all season tire carrying the VOL seal, approved by Volvo. Some markets like Belgium are offering all season tires as default for pure electric models only, not for mild hybrid and PHEV. I believe it has to do with low rolling resistance criteria for claimed range on electric models.
Ordered 16 August 2021
XC40 P8 Twin Motor Pro in Denim Blue with Tow bar, mudflaps
eugen61
Posts: 1210
Joined: Sun May 10, 2020 7:33 am

Post by eugen61 »

typolee wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 1:37 pm
Den48 wrote: Sun Dec 05, 2021 1:30 pm Hi
Just fitted cross climate 2 to my xc40 b4, early days yet but so far no extra noise or dry / wet grip compromises, just waiting for a bit of snow to try them , they are supposed to be very good for snow grip.
I think they beat winter tyres in snow tests? Fitting them to my xc40 as well
There’s one test conducted on SUV tire size 215/65 R17 that can be a reference for CrossClimate 2 performance. It doesn’t beat the winter tire in snow braking and traction, but comes very close: https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/202 ... e-Test.htm

CrossClimate 2 performs admirably in cold dry conditions found in continental Europe, but has some weaknesses in wet. For those living in regions where wet winter months with few dry days are the norm Conti AllSeasonContact might be a better winter tire option.
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