I currently own a 2003 XC90 . I have been through 4 sets of tires in 60K. I am loathe to buy another Volvo because of the dishonesty of Volvo in addressing the design flaw . Quite frankly I proved them to be outright liars and they at least paid for one new set . Much to my dismay my wife is looking at a 2008. Wehn se asked the salesperson about the problem , after denying the problem ever existed .. he suddenly remembered that they had corrected it .. Can anyone offer some experiences .. thanks

Hi,

I own a xc90 sport of 01/2007 (model 2008).
I have so far driven 47.000km (30.000 miles) with the standard pirelli zero 255/50/19 tires and i think i can still do about 5000km (3500 miles) until they are completely worn.

I drive on the roads in Belgium which aren't very good so...

I run a 2006 XC90 D5 185 HP, Aut., with a the Continental Cross Contact UHP, size 235/65/R17 104V, which were factory installed.

I have kept them always at the right pressure (I rely on my personal metering gauge, which is in a bath of oil, and not on the standard spring operated ones you find at gas stations). I rotated tires only twice, while checking for the geometry.

I have run these tires for 41000 km, and they would still drive about 2000 more, but winter is coming, so are heavy rains and possibly snow. I shall change them again with the same make. I admit that they deliver very good road handling and precision (let's not forget its a 2.5 tons SUV...), superb braking and comfort. Made me wish I asked for 18R wheels, instead of the standard R17...

Other than that, I have not experienced strange or odd consumption, nor noise, from the tires themselves. Roads are fairly good, but we get a lot of nasty speed-bumbers and mild holes, though!

Only recently, while breaking and steering all the way (especially to the left, in parkings), I get a noise from the front right strout. Sounds like a spring sliding in its casing. I asked my dealer, and they have tried something with the hand brakes, and by disassembling and cleaning the whole front brakes.

It lasted a couple of weeks. I complained and told them that cleaning them at a car wash had the same effect of their two days of work: which is very very mild.

They have noticed a rubber silent bloc is making noise. It will take two/three more days to get it fixed.

Since I had one of the first S40 2.0 aut (1996), and had a nasty problem in the rear suspension (the self-steering bar was damn loose) I warned them to check all and every nuts and bolts in the suspensions.

I have been driving and buying Volvo since 1981 (1.5L 340DL variomatic, 2.0 360 GLT manual - what fun -, 480 Turbo, 2.0 S40 aut., 2.0 LPT S40 aut - a real toy - and now this D5 XC90). I always had problems with the shock absorbers. I drive fairly, but all these cars (except for the XC 90 which is only 40k) had to change the shocks at about 50'000 km...

Luckily, in Switzerland they give you 3 years of full warranty and services, and 10 years on the body. I told my dealer that, if they do not solve the problem they shall face a serious warranty issue, with me reclaiming full shocks replacement. And I want a courtesy car for free for all the time it will take.

Otherwise, it will be a Lexus....