The Volvo S60 is a compact luxury sedan that offers an excellent mix of superb performance, spacious and comfortable interior, state-of-the-art technology, and latest safety features. Plus, it comes with a long warranty, meaning you can expect years of reliable performance.
In order to make the most of the above qualities, it’s imperative that you pair your S60 with the right set of tires. But as you know from your experience of buying tires, that’s something easier said than done. Multiple variables come into play when you’re shopping for tires.
The first of which is your driving habits and the roads you drive on. Next comes the weather conditions in which you regularly drive your S60. Your S60’s tire size (which will be mentioned in the owner’s manual) and your budget will also guide you in your tire search for this car.
Don’t have the patience to consider all these factors? Then you might want to outsource your tire search to us. We have carefully reviewed the various tires that can go on the Volvo S60. The result is a list of the ten best tires than can enhance this compact sedan’s qualities.
#1. Continental PureContact LS – Best Overall
The Continental PureContact LS is a luxury touring tire designed for compact cars, full-size sedans, SUVs, hatchbacks, and crossovers. Its superb dry and wet performance, plush ride quality, and extended treadwear warranty make it one of the best Volvo S60 tires.
Data from Continental shows that this tire offers 10% improved traction on wet roads and 23% improved wear than its predecessor. This is very impressive, given that its precursor wasn’t bad in either of the areas. As such, you can expect great things from this model.
One area where the improvement is even more notable is road noise. Or, to be more precise, the reduction in road noise. A 50% lower road growl vis-à-vis PureContact with EcoPlus Technology has made this model one of the quietest touring tires on the market.
This tire’s design also includes Quick View Indicators. These D, W, and S letters on the rib help you determine how well this model will perform in dry, wet, and snowy conditions. The higher a letter’s fading rate, the less reliable the tire will be in the said condition.
A close inspection of this tire will reveal three rectangles molded into the outer tire tread directly across from one another. These make up the tire’s ‘Alignment Verification System’ or AWS. If each side has the same number of rectangles, your car’s alignment is good.
Pros
- Offers an unbelievably quiet ride
- Comes with a 70,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Performs superbly on wet and light snowy roads
Cons
- May wear quickly if regularly pushed to the limits
#2. Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring – Best Touring All-Season
The Cooper CS5 Ultra Touring is one of the best tires for Volvo S60 drivers who use this compact car for commuting and everyday driving. Its ability to wear evenly, superb wet and light snow performance, and extended treadwear warranties are reasons why.
Start with the even tread wear. The credit for this goes to Cooper’s StabiliEdge Technology which evenly distributes pressure forces across this tire’s tread. The result is a much stabilized contact patch ensuring balanced road contact for extended road life.
Next comes this model’s excellent wet performance. Four circumferential grooves and multiple channels in the tread ensure that accumulated water particles trickle out before they can hurt this model’s road grip or increase the risk of hydroplaning.
An M+S rating is indicative of the CS5 Ultra Touring’s excellent snow performance. This emblem only comes on tires that have enough flexibility to stay useful in inclement weather.
The extended treadwear warranty we referred to above is 75,000 miles. However, before you get super-excited, not every version of this tire is backed to last for such a long time. Some models (H- and V-rated) only come with a 50,000-mile warranty, below par for a touring tire.
Pros
- Above-average dry and wet handling
- Performs superbly in mild wintry conditions
- Wears evenly for a long tread life
Cons
- Average treadwear warranty for V- and H-rated tires
#3. Michelin Premier A/S – Best Touring All-Season
The Michelin Premier A/S epitomizes what touring all-season tires should be all about. This model combines superb road manners with decent amounts of road feedback and cornering grip. Plus, its ride quality is so good it can put your fellow passengers to sleep.
A silica and sunflower oil tread compound helps this model strike an optimal balance between firmness and flexibility. This gives this tire two benefits: added grip for confident high-speed driving and enhanced wet traction for assured performance in the rain.
The tread compound alone isn’t to credit for this model’s excellent wet performance, though. Four circumferential grooves and multiple rain grooves also make this tire reliable on wet roads, evacuating water to keep the contact patch dry for better wet traction.
Fuel economy is another area where the Premier A/S shines. As is ride comfort and quality, with this model’s ability to deflect noise and absorb vibrations helping it offer a plush ride on paved roads. Unfortunately, though, its astronomical asking price may prove to be a deal-breaker.
The Premier A/S is by far one of the most expensive tires out there. Yet, as in other areas of life, you get what you pay for in tires.
Pros
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride
- Provides excellent traction on wet surfaces
- Can handle mild wintry conditions with ease
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#4. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 – Best High-Performance All-Season
The Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 is without any doubt the most popular tire among Volvo S60 drivers. You can verify this by asking any community of this car’s drivers about their favorite HP A/S model. Their responses would indicate that what we said above is true.
So, why are S60 drivers infatuated with this tire? The main reason, at least in our opinion, is that the DWS06 offers an extended tread life. We’re yet to come across many UHP A/S models that can rival this model when it comes to longevity and dependability.
Another reason is this model’s excellent performance on wet and wintry roads. Thanks to the X-Sipe Technology, the DWS06 boasts incredibly short braking distances in the rain. It comes to a halt so quickly that you may suspect driving an all-season touring tire.
An ultra-stiff sidewall would erase any such thoughts, giving you the kind of steering response and feedback only ultra-high-performance tires can deliver. Plus, an asymmetric tread pattern enhances road grip for superior straight-line tracking.
A 50,000-mile treadwear warranty is another reason Volvo S60 drivers are attracted to this tire. All in all, this model would have been faultless if not for its weak hydroplaning resistance.
Pros
- Offers an enhanced steering response
- Excellent treadwear warranty (40,000 miles)
- Superior cornering performance and grip
Cons
- Relatively long braking distances on wet roads
#5. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3 Plus – Best High-Performance All-Season
The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3 Plus gives you several reasons to pick it for your S60, especially if you like pushing this luxury car to its limits.
An aggressive-looking tread design doesn’t just improve this tire’s dry grip for superior high-speed stability. It joins forces with the wide shoulder blocks to enhance the straight-line tracking, helping your S60 run in a straight line without steering inputs.
A unique tread design also helps this model in more ways than one. For starters, it ensures balanced road contact for even tread wear and long road life. The tread design also helps you rotate this model any way you like (cross or side-to-side) for added durability.
Michelin’s Helio+ Technology adds a bit of flexibility to an otherwise stiff rubber, helping this tire stay useful in mild wet conditions. Plus, the fact that this model has biting edges (something you don’t expect to see in an HP tire) helps it offer extraction traction in snow.
Sure, the fact that you’re looking at a Michelin tire means all the qualities will come at a steep price. But the above features and 45,000-mile coverage may help soften the blow this model’s asking price may have on your bank account.
Pros
- Exceptional high-speed stability
- Above-average treadwear warranty (45,000 miles)
- Superb steering response and feedback
Cons
- Pricey
#6. Pirelli P Zero All-Season Plus – Best High-Performance All-Season
The Pirelli P Zero All-Season Plus is another tire in this class that can excite S60 drivers. However, in contrast to the above two models, this tire can’t go on most S60 trims. So, it’s imperative that you match your car’s tire size before ordering it.
A sticky rubber compound justifies its name by helping this tire stay glued to the road. And it does that regardless of whether the roads are dry or damp. The result is exceptional road grip and traction 365 days a year, an anomaly for tires in this class.
Nano rubber composites work together with the asymmetric tread pattern to increase cornering performance. Another thing we like about the rubber composites is that they’re wear-resistant, meaning they’d stay useful year after year.
A trio of S-shaped sipes, circumferential grooves, and parallel channels help quickly evacuate water for enhanced wet traction. The sipes also give this model the ‘teeth’ to claw into light snow and ice, making it a reliable performer in mildly inclement weather.
To further sweeten the deal, Pirelli backs the P-Zero All-Season Plus with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty. So, if this tire fits on your S60 and its average hydroplaning resistance isn’t too bothering, you may have no reason to consider its two above rivals.
Pros
- Comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers excellent grip on dry and wet surfaces
- Superb and long-lasting cornering performance
Cons
- Average aquaplaning resistance
#7. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 – Best Summer Performance
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 proves that what most people say about summer performance tires is true. This model offers unrivaled steering feedback, cornering performance, and high-speed stability. And it is totally unreliable in wintry conditions.
Most summer performance tires you see on the market opt for an advanced silica compound. They do so to take full advantage of the added grip silica’s firmness ensures on dry roads. The Indy 500 has done the same to offer superior handling on dry roads.
An asymmetric tread pattern is another thing common between the Indy 500 and other summer performance tires. The tread pattern’s design ensures that this model can offer an equally excellent grip on the highway, street, and city roads.
Pulse Groove Technology helps distinguish this tire from its colleagues. It does that by enhancing this model’s wet traction for reliable wet performance. A 65,000-mile treadwear warranty creates further daylight between this tire and its competitors.
Keep in mind that this model is only available in three X60 tire sizes (235/45R17, 235/40R18, and 235/50R18). Check out the next model if this tire won’t fit on your S60.
Pros
- 65,000-mile limited treadlife warranty
- Excellent steering response and feedback
- High levels of cornering grip
Cons
- May not cover all S60 trims
#8. BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 – Best Summer Performance
The BFG g-Force Sport Comp-2 offers three qualities that make it a must-have for enthusiast S60 drivers. These include high amounts of steering response and feedback, exceptional cornering grip and performance, and minimal risk of premature deformation.
Start with the steering. Multiple “g-Hooks” and a “g-Control” sidewall help deliver more feedback to the steering that you’d know what to do with. They also make this tire quick to respond to steering inputs, letting you bypass road disturbances at the last minute.
Next comes cornering performance. This tire features multiple aggressive shoulder blocks that maximize its contact area with the road when you’re taking corners. The result is a better cornering grip and minimal risk of over-steering (loss of traction on the corners).
Just like the above Indy 500, the Sport Comp-2 can hold its own in wet conditions. A ‘Performance Racing Core’ gives this tire the flexibility needed to thrive on damp roads. As such, you won’t have to keep another set of tires for when the weather is inclement.
Pros
- Delivers great feedback to the steering
- Offers decent wet traction for a UHP tire
- Excellent cornering performance and grip
Cons
- May wear quickly if pushed to the limits
#9. Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 – Best Budget Summer Performance
The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 is an affordably-priced summer performance tire. This model may attract you if the asking prices of the two above tires aren’t to your liking.
A high-silica tread compound containing styrene polymer helps it deliver on many fronts. Silica adds to this tire’s grip to increase its high-speed handling, while styrene lowers this model’s weight for an even lower rolling resistance and enhanced fuel economy.
Open-notched shoulders and 3D intermediate ribs shorten braking distances, a major boon during high-speed driving and when there’s water on the road. Plus, multiple circumferential and lateral grooves evacuate water quickly for enhanced wet traction.
Compared with rival tires, the V12 Evo2 is fairly quiet. This model doesn’t growl at high speeds and thus won’t need you to use earplugs to enjoy a noise-free ride. However, the absence of biting edges means you must replace it when there’s snow on the roads.
Pros
- Best-in-class dry pavement traction
- Relatively noise-free at high speed
- Six years of workmanship and materials warranty
Cons
Not intended to be used in winters
#10. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 – Best Winter Tires
Multiple features make the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 one of the best S60 winter tires.
The first of which is Michelin’s proprietary Flex-Ice tread compound. It doesn’t let the rubber stiffen up in sub-zero temperatures to help this model offer an equally reliable performer on snow and ice as your average touring tire gives on dry and wet roads.
Secondly, Cross-Z sipes help this model plow through snow and ice, allowing it to safely carry you from point A to point B in harsh wintry conditions. Furthermore, multiple grooves help with water evacuation to help shorten braking distances on snow-laden roads.
Michelin’s Green X Technology doesn’t let this model use its elevated snow traction as an excuse to lower its fuel economy. Thanks to this technology, the X-Ice Xi3 isn’t a fuel guzzler, especially compared to its rival winter tires.
To further sweeten the deal, Michelin backs this model with a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty.
Pros
- 40,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers exceptional snow and ice traction
- Very short braking distances in inclement weather
Cons
- Pricey, even for a dedicated winter tire
How to Choose Tires for Volvo S60
Size
Installing tires that aren’t compatible with your car may cause several issues. For instance, bigger tires will increase your S60’s fuel consumption and reduce its braking power. Smaller tires, on the other hand, can make this car more susceptible to road hazards.
Depending on the model year and trim, your Volvo S60 might have any tire size, including 195/65R15, 205/55R16, 215/55R16, 215/50R17, 235/45R17, 235/40R18, 235/50R18, 235/40R19, and 235/45R19. Simply check your S60’s owner’s manual to know its tire size.
Weather
Choosing the right tires for the weather is crucial to your X60’s safety and handling.
If your area receives more than its fair share of snow, tires with flexible compounds can give you a better grip and flexibility out there. Conversely, tires with shallow treads and a harder compound will offer improved handling and durability in dry conditions.
Driving Style
It goes without saying that different people have different driving styles.
If you have a conservative way of driving and rarely push your S60 close to the speed limit, all-season touring tires may be the perfect fit for you. However, if you like pushing this car to its limits, a set of high-performance or ultra-high-performance tires may work better.
Feature Compatibility
Does your S60 come with a tire-pressure monitoring system?
If so, you must make sure to pick tires that are compatible with this feature. Otherwise, you may end up with a tire-pressure monitoring system that you won’t be able to use.
Best Tires for Volvo S60
All-Season Touring
All-season touring tires are an excellent choice for S60 drivers who want reliable performance 365 days a year. These tires also come with long treadwear warranties and superior fuel economies, making them budget-friendly in the long run.
Performance Tires
Performance tires are designed to offer above-average high-speed handling, steering response and feedback, and cornering grip. They provide better handling compared to their all-season counterparts. However, keep in mind that these tires may wear much more quickly.
Winter Tires
Winter tires have super-flexible tread compounds and aggressive biting edges to help them plow through snow and ice. These models come in two versions – studdable and studless – and generally consume more fuel than other tire types discussed above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some mistakes people make when choosing Volvo X60 tires?
If you want to select the best tires for your Volvo X60, try to avoid these mistakes:
- Selecting tires with the wrong tire size
- Choosing cheap tires from less-known brands
- Not paying attention to driving conditions and terrain
- Purchasing tires with a lower speed rating than what is recommended for your V60’s trim
- Not considering your driving style while choosing tires
How long do tires last on Volvo S60?
If you have a conservative driving style and mainly use your S60 for highway or city driving, you may get 3 to 4 years out of premium aftermarket tires.
Conclusion
Only high-quality tires from renowned brands can help you get the best performance out of your Volvo XC60. Therefore, you should not skimp on money or compromise on brand reputation while choosing tires for this high-performance luxury sedan.
