S60 jars my fillings

[MistralS60]

My 2004 S60 2.0 automatic is on 17" alloys with 45 series tyres, and the roads around here (Glos, UK) are mostly full of potholes.

It's the land that Highways forgot (but they are trying to catch up, although cash-starved by our greedy government). Rant over, for now !!

Anyway, could someone please suggest the best wheel and tyre combination for a smooth ride ? I kid myself I can do without the ultimate in road-holding, as I do handbrake turns in snow-covered (empty :) ) car parks for fun.

Apparently 195/65 R15 was the smallest tyre size, then 205/55 R16.

Cheers
Keith

[M-R-P]

15" will fit, you'll probably want a wider tyre like 205 or 215 to take the worst of the potholes.

[M-R-P]

You could even put 50 or 55 profile tyres in onthe 17" wheels you have but they'll rub the arches on full lock (not an mot fail with these cars though)

[Harvey]

Shocks are worn ? Any history of them being changed at any point.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.wlga.gov.uk/transport-and-highways-3&ved=0ahUKEwiu3_q8saLNAhVICMAKHf_2BtAQFggiMAM&usg=AFQjCNGg71ce-CMKvnfm9e8NK6-PVuLQcQ

[Orca2]

As said by Harvey , check your suspension , I have 17" 45's on my T5 and our roads are crap, too , one of my T5's has shot front struts and is like driving a skip over the potholes , the other has new struts and is 100% smoother.

[Baj]

Unless I hit a proper big hole I seem OK on 18" 40s.
I do have police V70 rear shocks tho :rolleyes2

[MistralS60]

Many thanks, people, a whole new perspective ! I'll check the shocks, but have to say the car handles OK.

In which ocean do Orca2s live, where the sea lanes are krup ?

Off-topic : Collecting Rs and Ts seems to be a way of life here. I already understand it after 24hrs with an S60 2.0 T S :). Why don't Volvo enter Le Mans ?

[Orca2]

The crappo roads I use are in Glasgow, the M8 is like a bleedin ploughed field in places .

[foammanmark]

Think the whole British Isles is plagued with crappy roads, cos I seem to spend half of my driving time looking for pot holes(swerving when safe to do so) and half looking out for driving toss pots.

[Orca2]

The roads in and around London, were like a billiard table by comparison with the roads around here, I was driving there quite recently. The main routes in and out of Glasgow are like a third world country's roads . There was a pothole on the main M8 Glasgow offramp that was like having the car hit by a sledgehammer, they have been out to shovel some tar into it , but no sign of a proper repair . My own street is more like a string of holes linked with tarmac than a road.

[foammanmark]

Haven't been North of the Border for a while sadly, but I remember that around the Hillington Ind Est it was terrible when I last came up there.

[Redbrick]

The roads of Calcutta are better than affluent Bath!

Having just returned from the Nurburgring it was amazing how good the German roads are. The tarmac seems to be of a finer grade (not as course), the roads are raised above surrounding fields/countryside, there is no vegetation up the edge of the carriageway, no hedges, no overhanging trees; the roads are spotless. This was out in the sticks as well. No mobile phone 3G however, 20 years behind us on that front but years ahead with their roads.

16' Volvo alloys are cheap, fit a 205 or 215 tyre with a 50 to 55 profile and they will be great. My winter tyres are that size and very comfy.

[MistralS60]

Anyone know if steel wheels are springier than alloys ? IIUC they shouldn't become porous with age as alloys are said to do ...

As to roads, has anyone been on the motorway in Malta ? (This is not a joke.)

[jamesy12345]

A quick look on the net says that (low carbon) steel has a modulus of elasticity about 200 GPa....and cast aluminium alloy (A356) about 70 GPa...a stiffer material has a higher number - more stress is needed to cause it to deform

but I don't think that is useful info as it would depend on the design of the wheel & construction method which one is stiffer as an overall design. More important would be the softer stuff like tyres & suspension condition

[htomi]

I had the 205/55 R16 on my S60 2.0T. Original 16' Volvo Mimas. It was smooth ride on the ££££ty irish roads.

http://originalwheel.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/v/o/volvo-60-wheels-70242-b.jpg