[SteveS60R]

Hello,

I purchased a used 2006 S60R about 6 months ago with 41K miles. The car has great power, comfort, and suprisingly great gas mileage. My complaint is that the steering is erratic on the highway, bordering on dangerous. It gets pulled sideways on uneven pavement, to the point where I need to keep both hands on the wheel at all times for safety. I've had it looked at three times. One shop replaced a tie rod end and did an alignment, and the steering problem was definetly improved as a result, however it's still not right. The local Volvo shop says that's just the way it is due to the wide tires. Other than this problem, I really like the car, but will be getting rid of it if I can't get this resolved. Any insight and/or helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[ata2ed]

Interesting. I don't have a answer or a solution, but just to share my thoughts.

I have noticed that at high speeds (70mph+) it seems to 'dance' over rough pavement. I just tried to ignore it assuming that it had been in an accident (and since I bought it used already - nothing I can do - useless carfax) and since I LOVE the car otherwise I can live with it as the roads around here don't have to deal with the rough winters, and I only really noticed it on a trip up 'north' where the roads are worse. It was actually bumpy enough to disengage the cruise at one time, although I wouldn't say dangerous.

I can't really explain it but it sounds similar to your problem, it seems to shimmy over the really rough spots (I feel almost a side to side movement).

My last car had tires almost as wide and I never felt anything as bad, (225 vs 235 on my S60R - less than half inch difference). So I don't know if I would buy the dealership's story, well actually I would since I am looking for an excuse not to worry about it, but you get my point.

It seems solid as a rock otherwise, maybe it just doesn't like rough pavement??

I should point out this is in comfort mode, as I usually switch to comfort for distance driving.

[mazjeep24]

I'm not convinced it has anything to do with the size/width of the tires. If the tread on the outside of the tire is really sticky, the car will naturally be pulled out to where the road dips and bumps. I too noticed this when I bought mine brand new. Very unnerving when you're driving an expensive sports car and you get pulled to where the bumps are on the highway. I've also seen this in my wife's subbie, my camry and my old wrangler. All of which are on all kinds of tire sizes and shapes. I believe there was a thread on this awhile back but I could be wrong. You might want to dig a little deeper because if you are willing to sell this car over what could be a case of tire tramming, then you might have some other issues the Volvo techs are missing. The fact that they are willing to dismiss it as "just the way it is" would definetely stir my interest in finding out what's really going on inside. (bad suspension, awd etc, etc).

[JRL]

You guys have to post what BRAND (and how much tread is left) on the tires.

If you're running the OEM Pirelli P Zeros they wander all over the place, even when new.
If that's what you have, GET RID OF THEM NOW.
It's a horrible tire and not matched well to the R's suspension and steering

[ata2ed]

JRL, on Dec 12 2008, 08:30 PM, said:

You guys have to post what BRAND (and how much tread is left) on the tires.

If you're running the OEM Pirelli P Zeros they wander all over the place, even when new.
If that's what you have, GET RID OF THEM NOW.
It's a horrible tire and not matched well to the R's suspension and steering

And replace them with????? My other thread turned into a winter tire discussion, which although may be helpful if I move back to where they have winter for more then a few days of the year. I am looking to replace my tires (even though two are fine tread-beginning to wonder if they actually rotate my tires at the dealer with my $100 oil change - never mind that's for another thread) and I want to replace them with something in keeping with the 'spirit' of the OEM tires, but since everybody says they are crap I am at a loss. I don't want to spend crazy either just something that is a good balance between price and handling in rain and dry.

So far I have got a recommendation for Toyo Proxxes 4 any other suggestions?

[JRL]

You replace them with almost ANY OTHER TIRE than the P ZEROS.
They just do not work on these cars.

I've used the Michelin Pilot/Sport-All Season for years now, great tire, sticks almost as well as a dry performance tire and tracks dead straight and true.

(Also rides much nicer)

They (Michelin) just came out with an P/S A/S PLUS, supposedly an even better/stickier tire

[MD2005R]

JRL, on Dec 16 2008, 09:37 PM, said:

You replace them with almost ANY OTHER TIRE than the P ZEROS.
They just do not work on these cars.

I've used the Michelin Pilot/Sport-All Season for years now, great tire, sticks almost as well as a dry performance tire and tracks dead straight and true.

(Also rides much nicer)

They (Michelin) just came out with an P/S A/S PLUS, supposedly an even better/stickier tire

I stayed with Pirelli, but changed to the P Zero Nero M&S and am pleased. I like my Michelins on my Jeep, but had a bad experience with them on my S70 T5.

[JRL]

MD2005R, on Dec 18 2008, 09:18 AM, said:

I stayed with Pirelli, but changed to the P Zero Nero M&S and am pleased. I like my Michelins on my Jeep, but had a bad experience with them on my S70 T5.

That should be a lot better.
For whatever reason, PZeros just do not work well on the R.
These all seasons should be much better, maybe they won't have the ultimate dry traction but you can run them all year around and get almost twice the mileage out of them!

[Silver60R]

The Toyo Proxxes 4 is a good tire, like I said in the last thread. They perform very well in the dry and wet weather. The flame tread looks sweet too.

[oldvolvotech]

hey guys newbie here I have just purchased a 2005 r and have experienced the same problem the car kinda walked on me very unerving to say the least cant remember if it was on comfort or sport

[JRL]

oldvolvotech, on 16 May 2009 - 11:17 AM, said:

hey guys newbie here I have just purchased a 2005 r and have experienced the same problem the car kinda walked on me very unerving to say the least cant remember if it was on comfort or sport

and....?
You just read the replies, BUY NEW TIRES and NOT P-Zeros

[ata2ed]

JRL, on 19 May 2009 - 03:24 PM, said:

and....?
You just read the replies, BUY NEW TIRES and NOT P-Zeros

I bought new tires, Yokohama AVID WS4, it helped but did not make the problem go away. I had a loaner from the dealership (regular s60) and I didn't notice it, so either it has to do with the 18" wheels (I have never driven a car with such low profile tires before) or something is wrong with my car. Either way I am not going to change either.

I do agree that the P-Zeros are not good with the R, not to mention they wear out too fast, but just switching to another tire doesn't seem to completely fix the uneasy feeling over the bumps.

[JRL]

ata2ed, on 05 June 2009 - 08:28 PM, said:

I bought new tires, Yokohama AVID WS4, it helped but did not make the problem go away. I had a loaner from the dealership (regular s60) and I didn't notice it, so either it has to do with the 18" wheels (I have never driven a car with such low profile tires before) or something is wrong with my car. Either way I am not going to change either.

I do agree that the P-Zeros are not good with the R, not to mention they wear out too fast, but just switching to another tire doesn't seem to completely fix the uneasy feeling over the bumps.

Did you properly align the car? They go out of alignment often.
R's are very touchy to alignment AND tire pessures.

[ata2ed]

JRL, on 06 June 2009 - 07:15 PM, said:

Did you properly align the car? They go out of alignment often.
R's are very touchy to alignment AND tire pessures.

I can't speak to "properly", but I did pay them to do a 4 wheel alignment when they replaced the tires. It did help quite a bit, but good to know that alignment and tire pressure are of concern.

[roy chu]

Hello all,

Ok so here goes, I bought my 2005 S60 R last March. I loved it, after owning it for a couple of weeks, I experienced the back end stepping out a little when going over the slightest uneven surface.

I thought its time to get the tracking done, so I went to Volvo in Gloucester in the UK and there I got the, Angle oil, Bevel Gear oil, Engine oil, Transmission oil, Coolant, Brake oil, along with the other service parts changed. And I also told the service assistant about my problem about it stepping out.

So for the stepping out issue, I told them to make the tracking perfect and ask them to please perform any software updates which need to be done. I also read on one of the forums that since the release of the 2003 S/V60 R that first came out with version 1 software for the 4C, since then until last year there have been update to version 4.

I got them to update the software for the 4C, and at the time I had the factory Pirelli PZero's fitted all round which the car came with and they had at least 5mm all round. After the first attempt for the suspension the steering was out slightly, so I got them to check it and adjust it again.

Since the fluids were changed the car felt a lot smoother and the stepping out issue had been resolved which was a huge releif for me as it made me quite nervous when I would go around a bend and the back end would twitch.

I am sure if you were to go to your dealer and ask them to look up for software updates for your car and to get the car retracked I hope that should solve your problem as it did mine. As 'JRL' said the car can go out of track on the worst of bumps I know here in the UK, the roads are awful. I take it as a sign that if it steps out a little the tracking needs to be adjusted.

Also another thig I have read in the past is that worn bushes can cause play in the handling and could also make the rear step out, after all the tranction is transferred all the time. The bushes is the next thing I will check. Overall that service was the biggest bill I have ever paid out, but I was extremely happy with the results.

Since last March, I changed to Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3 which were fantastic, I got 16k out of them and I think for our cars that is very good. I am currently running Goodyear Eagle F1 Assymetrics and so far 3k onwards they are performing very well. Oh and just to let you know, I have the Graphite Pegs on mine with the standard 235/40's on them.

You could read more on here which has a couple of links with more information,

http://www.volvoforu...ht=S60+stepping

I hope this helps, and my apologies for the long post.

Roy

This post has been edited by roy chu: 23 August 2009 - 08:17 PM

[JRL]

Bad move IMO
I've had ALL SUM software revisions and the earliets was the best.
The are new rear control arm bushings that some seemt o think help.
Also align the rear with 0 toe, that also helps.

[roy chu]

I think JRL is right, I did have my rear bushes replaced at the same time as all my fluids and tracking was done.

I guess if you notice a little side step, its a warning for the tracking to be done, doing it once or twice a year doesn't hurt.

The bushes must be rubbish to have worn so badly at 47k. Or maybe it was the previous owner.

[wilsonkevin]

Thats really strange....It is needed to be checked.

Volvo Performance Chip

This post has been edited by wilsonkevin: 20 October 2009 - 09:21 PM