The 10 Best Tires for the Volvo S90

#1. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack

My list starts off with the quietest tire in the industry, and you can probably guess which one it is. The Turanza QuietTrack has been among the best in this regard while delivering excellent performance.

The performance of the Turanza QuietTrack in dry conditions is excellent. As part of the package, you’re getting some of the highest levels of grip and traction, making it an excellent performer. The S90 packs plenty of power, but it won’t be a massive issue for this tire. It will deliver more than enough performance and combine that with short braking distances. As for the handling, it’s responsive enough to be considered good, with an acceptable amount of feedback.

Another situation where the Turanza QuietTrack will offer plenty of performance is in wet conditions. Damp roads aren’t an issue, and the tire will grip to the road, allowing you to drive it without too much slip. At a certain point, it will slip, but you’ll need to be aggressive to achieve that. There is a slight drawback with the braking distances. Yes, they are short and premium-like, but several models in this segment can outperform it. On the other hand, the tread pattern does a phenomenal job of providing excellent aquaplaning resistance.

The Turanza QuietTrack is an all-season tire, and as such, it offers decent performance in snowy conditions. It can deal with unpacked snow reasonably well, offering usable traction for most people. It struggles a bit more over packed one, but it’s not an unsafe option. Keep in mind that it’s not a winter tire, so you shouldn’t expect wonders.

We come to the area that the Turanza QuietTrack is known for – refinement. The noise levels are some of the lowest in its category, offering a quiet ride across the board. In a worst-case scenario, you’ll hear it slightly on rougher roads, and even then, it’s quiet. The comfort levels are very high. It will iron out smaller cracks and uneven patches in the road and provide a plush driving experience. With larger potholes, the initial hit is well-dampened, and the vibrations are almost non-existent.

The warranty is another area where the Turanza QuietTrack is among the best. It comes with an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is among the best in the premium segment.

#2. Michelin Primacy Tour A/S

The next tire on my list is one from Michelin, and it’s probably not the one you’re thinking. I’ve chosen the Primacy Tour A/S, an excellent touring option without many drawbacks.

In dry conditions, the Primacy Tour A/S provides plenty of grip and traction. This combination results in the tire eliminating slip when accelerating and will go around a corner with no issues. There’s plenty of room to push it, so you can have some fun with it despite not being a performance model. This is backed by solid responsiveness and sharpness, giving it that “sporty” feel. Speaking of feel, unfortunately, you won’t have a lot of feedback to work with.

The tire continues to deliver impressive performance even in wet conditions, but it’s not perfect. With the Primacy Tour A/S, you’re looking at plenty of traction to minimize slip when accelerating, meaning you can get a bit aggressive without worrying about losing control. The cornering grip is plentiful, allowing you to go into a corner without too much understeer. This comes with short braking distances and excellent aquaplaning resistance, so what’s the drawback? As good as the performance is, the tire becomes a bit twitchy at the limit, like it doesn’t like being pushed that far. As long as you’re under the limit, you’ll be perfectly happy.

In winter conditions, the Primacy Tour A/S will offer usable performance in lighter conditions. The traction on shallow unpacked snow is pretty good, while on packed one, you’ll notice a slight drop in performance, but the tire remains a strong performer. This comes backed with short braking distances, so there aren’t a lot of complaints. Since it’s an all-season tire, this is where the performance ends and where you’ll need to look at winter tires.

The refinement is excellent, and there aren’t too many complaints. My biggest complaint is the comfort levels. Don’t get me wrong, the tire is comfortable and doesn’t struggle with bumps or potholes, but it’s just a bit stiffer than I’d like. As for noise levels, the Primacy Tour A/S is a quiet tire. While it is behind the previous model, I still wouldn’t call it loud, even when you drive over rougher surfaces.

Warranty is the biggest drawback of this tire. The Primacy Tour A/S comes with a 55,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is less than some mid-range models.

#3. Yokohama Avid Ascend GT

If you’re looking for something more affordable, you’ll need to aim for the mid-range segment. A good option from this category is the Avid Ascent GT from Yokohama.

The tire does an excellent job of providing you with plenty of performance in dry conditions. It offers plenty of traction, keeping the slip at a minimum even if you get a bit carried away when accelerating. The Avid Ascent GT also does an excellent job of clawing to the road, delivering high levels of cornering grip, higher than some premium models. As part of the package, you’ll also get pretty decent handling. The tire has a very responsive nature for a touring tire while providing decent feedback. It’s not the most pronounced, but most people will be fine with that.

Wet is where some tires struggle, which isn’t the case with the Avid Ascent GT. The tire delivers excellent performance on damp surfaces, keeping your S90 in check regardless of whether we’re talking about acceleration or going around a corner. It’s not the most planted tire, so you can get it to slip, but most people won’t experience that too often. The braking distances are among the shortest in the mid-range segment, and the tire provides excellent aquaplaning resistance, even at higher speeds.

All-season tires are designed to be usable in light snow conditions, and the Avid Ascend GT delivers on that front. It provides decent traction on shallow and unpacked snow, so the tire will be fine if you don’t push it hard. There’s a bit more slip on packed snow, but the tire isn’t an unsafe option, thanks to the relatively short braking distances. If you need better performance, you may want to look at winter tires.

When it comes to refinement, the Avid Ascend GT isn’t lacking. The comfort levels are very high for the mid-range segment, and the tire irons out imperfections without feeling bouncy. With larger potholes, the initial hit is softened, and the tire will absorb most of the vibrations. The noise levels are excellent, and for the most part, the tire remains quiet, as a touring tire should. You may notice a bit of hum at highway speeds, but it’s not too terrible.

The warranty is decent, but it’s far from the best. You’ll get the Avid Ascend GT with a 65,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is more than some premium rivals but less than some mid-range ones.

#4. Kumho Solus TA71

The second affordable option from the all-season touring segment is the Solus TA71. It’s another solid performer for the price, which I believe many people will be happy with on their S90s.

On a dry road, the Solus TA71 is a tire that will deliver plenty of performance for daily driving scenarios. The traction levels are enough to minimize slip even when you get a bit aggressive while keeping the cornering grip usable in these situations. It’s not on the same level as some of the premium models, but it will be enough for most people. The same goes for the braking distances – they are short enough to be safe. As a grand touring tire, it offers decent responsiveness without too much feedback, so you won’t have a lot of information to rely on.

In wet conditions, the Solus TA71 continues to offer excellent performance for a mid-range tire. Damp roads aren’t a problem, and the traction will be enough to offer as little slip as possible. Keep in mind that it’s a slippery situation, so don’t expect the same levels as in dry conditions. Going around a corner is fine, thanks to the grip levels, but keep in mind that the levels aren’t as high as some of its rivals, and the same goes for the braking distances. They are short within the mid-range segment but are behind the premium competitors. One thing that’s almost premium-like is the aquaplaning resistance, keeping the tire stable even when you’re driving on the highway.

Winter performance is available, but don’t expect wonders. The Solus TA71 deals with snow in lighter conditions well enough to be considered usable. On unpacked snow, the traction is decent, and as long as you live in an area with mild winters, you should be fine. It’s the same with packed snow. Even though the traction levels are slightly lower, the tire isn’t an unsafe option. For anything else, like deeper snow or ice, you’ll be looking at a poor performer.

The refinement of the Solus TA71 is pretty good, even though it’s a mid-range tire. You’re looking at pretty good comfort levels from a tire that can smooth most of the road imperfections and offer a smooth ride. The noise levels are also generally low. If you’re driving on smooth roads, the hum is almost unnoticeable. The only time you’ll hear the tire is the slight roar when you’re driving on rougher surfaces.

As for the warranty, it’s not the longest, but it’s pretty good. The Solus TA71 comes with a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is average for its segment but on the same level as some premium models.

#5. Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4

Even though the S90 isn’t the sportiest sedan, the last two tires on my list are UHP models. I’m starting with the Pilot Sport All Season 4, a common option for enthusiasts wanting year-round performance.

Starting off with the dry performance, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 is among the best in its class. The grip and traction levels are phenomenal, and I’m sure that unless you get really aggressive, you won’t get the tire to slip. Yes, going on a track where you can send it to the fullest will reveal that it’s an all-season UHP tire, but for road use, you won’t notice any problems with the performance. This is backed by the short braking distances and very dynamic and confidence-inspiring handling characteristics.

Wet is another area where the Pilot Sport All Season 4 won’t disappoint. The traction on damp roads is excellent, and the tire will slip a lot less than you’d think. In the corners, the grip levels will hold you in place, at least until you reach the limits. At that point, it will start to feel a bit uneasy with minor corrections. To be fair, most people won’t take it to the limit, so they won’t notice this. In terms of safety, I have no complaints. The tire has some of the shortest braking distances in its class and offers excellent stability in pouring rain.

The Pilot Sport All Season 4 is a UHP tire, but it’s an all-season one, so there’s a bit of snow performance available. In lighter conditions, the tire will do a very good job of delivering performance. The traction levels are solid on unpacked snow and usable on packed one, so if you live in an area with milder winters, you can work with it. Like most all-season tires, harsher conditions don’t sit well with this tire, so deep snow or ice are situations where this tire cannot deliver usable performance.

When it comes to refinement, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 is acceptable, which is normal for a UHP tire. The comfort levels are fine as long as you’re prepared to accept a slightly firmer ride for the sporty performance. Larger bumps and potholes are more noticeable, especially when compared with a touring tire. The noise levels are also noticeable. Most people will be fine at slower speeds, but the tire’s growl increases when you’re driving on rougher roads or at highway speeds.

Despite being a UHP tire, the Pilot Sport All Season 4 comes with a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is pretty good for a tire from this category.

#6. Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus

A direct competitor of the premium tire in the all-season UHP segment is the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus. It’s the upgraded version of the regular tire, bringing some improvements to the table.

For dry road use, the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus offers plenty of performance. The traction levels are very high, and you won’t notice any slip, even in aggressive scenarios. The cornering grip is also excellent, meaning you won’t have to worry about understeering if you go into a corner a bit faster. This tire also offers very short braking distances, which are just marginally longer than the previous model. In terms of handling, the responsiveness is excellent, as you’d expect from this kind of tire. With that said, I’d like to see a bit more feedback.

In rainy conditions, the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus continues to deliver impressive results. The tire has no issue with damp roads, offering plenty of grip and traction for it to feel planted and stable. If the roads are greasy, you can get it to slip, but it won’t happen too often. Combine this with the short braking distances, and you can see why it’s among the best tires in its class. The aquaplaning resistance is superb, offering high stability when you drive in pouring rain.

Like the previous tire, the ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus offers some winter performance, but only in lighter conditions. There’s a decent amount of traction on packed and unpacked snow, as long as you don’t treat it as a winter tire. It’s usable, and that’s as much as you should expect from it. Harsher conditions like ice or deep snow are something that this tire doesn’t deal with well.

Surprisingly, the refinement is excellent. The ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus is a stiff tire, but it deals with bumps well. You will notice the bigger ones for sure, but you won’t notice a massive amount of vibration. The noise levels are on the lower end of the spectrum for this kind of tire. Yes, it’s audible, but not as much as some of its rivals.

Finally, for the warranty, it’s a bit better than the previous tire. The ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus comes with a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is among the longest in this class.

#7. Cooper Zeon RS3-G1

The previous two tires are considered the best, but they are pricy, so I’ll cover a more affordable model. For this list, I’m going for the Zeon RS3-G1.

Unlike the models so far, the Zeon RS3-G1 delivers much better performance in dry conditions. The traction and grip levels come in abundance, meaning that even in aggressive scenarios, the tire will eliminate slip. You can go into a corner at higher speeds, and the tire will claw to the ground, meaning you won’t notice any understeer. To be fair, you can get the tire to slip, but only in very aggressive scenarios, something that most people won’t experience on the road. The construction and design make this a very responsive tire, providing you with a good amount of feedback.

Another area where the Zeon RS3-G1 offers plenty of performance is in wet conditions. The tire does a marvelous job of putting the power down on damp roads. It offers plenty of performance, meaning that you’ll need to push it before it starts to let go. Despite being a mid-range tire, it’s pretty close to what the premium models have to offer. In addition to this, you’re getting a tire that will remain stable at higher speeds in harsh rain conditions. One thing I have to mention is the braking distances. Yes, they are short and safe, but they aren’t the shortest even when compared with models from its class.

The Zeon RS3-G1 is an all-season UHP tire, so some winter performance is available. It will do a solid job of providing decent performance in lighter conditions like shallow snow, which should be fine in some situations. It’s the same story with packed snow – the tire will offer some traction, but not on the same level as something that a winter tire would have to offer. This also covers relatively short braking distances, which are pretty good for the category.

Surprisingly, the Zeon RS3-G1 is a solidly refined tire. The stiffer internal construction isn’t the worst thing in the world, and the comfort levels are solid. It won’t smooth road imperfections as well as a touring tire, but it’s not too bad for a UHP model. The noise levels are also pretty good. It’s relatively quiet for a tire from this category, and even though you will hear it, especially at higher speeds, it won’t be overly intrusive.

Like most all-season UHP tires, this one comes with a warranty. The Zeon RS3-G1 has a 45,000-mile treadwear warranty, which is similar to the Michelin model.

#8. Falken Azenis FK510

While I’m talking about performance, I wanted to include a UHP summer tire. Sure, they are becoming rare these days, but there are people that still buy them. You may be surprised, but the model in mind is from the mid-range segment, and it’s the Azenis FK510.

Under normal driving conditions, the Azenis FK510 is a marvelous performer. Most people won’t notice that it’s a mid-range tire, so it sounds like a perfect tire. Yes, but not in every aspect. You can push it, and the grip and traction levels will be more than enough, even if you want to have some fun on a twisty road. The only thing that gives it away is the braking distances. Even though they are short, they aren’t premium-level short. Another thing I should mention is the handling. The tire is responsive and sharp, which is what you’d expect from a UHP tire. Unfortunately, the feedback isn’t something that this tire can brag with.

When it comes to wet performance, I have no complaints. The Azenis FK510 offers superb levels of performance on damp roads, meaning that the grip and traction levels will keep the tire on the ground with no or minimal slip. Getting overly aggressive will cause the tire to move around, but you’ll need to push it hard before it does that. As a mid-range model, I have to praise the braking distance. I wouldn’t classify it as the shortest in the industry, but it can outperform some premium rivals. It’s the same story with the aquaplaning resistance. Thanks to that, the tire’s ability to remain stable even in situations with harsh rain is phenomenal.

Performance tires aren’t ideal for a refined driving experience, and the Azenis FK510 is no exception. The tire’s noise levels are acceptably low, especially when you consider its category. Speed doesn’t seem to be a deciding factor, so the tire won’t be too loud even when you’re driving on the highway. The comfort levels, on the other hand, aren’t as impressive. I wouldn’t classify it as overly firm, but it’s noticeable, which is to be expected. In this regard, it falls within the mid-range segment.

#9. Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3

The last two entries on this list will be models designed with winter performance in mind, starting with the Winter Sottozero 3.

Driving in winter on dry roads with the Winter Sottozero 3 is a pretty good experience. The tire’s ability to stick to the ground is excellent, meaning you won’t have too many issues with slip or understeer. Even though the grip and traction levels are high, and the braking distances are short, it’s not a tire that enthusiasts would love to push hard. The tire offers some dynamic handling capability but is not on the same level as some of its rivals.

The Winter Sottozero 3 continues to deliver impressive results in wet conditions. In damp conditions, the grip and traction levels will be more than enough for daily driving, and you even have some room to push it if you want to have some fun. This comes with very short braking distances, so it doesn’t disappoint as a package. One area where it lacks a bit is the aquaplaning resistance. Don’t get me wrong, the tire is very stable, but a few models are a bit better in this regard.

As a winter tire, the Winter Sottozero 3 offers all the performance you’d need in multiple conditions. The traction is plentiful, meaning you won’t experience slip every time you accelerate. It also offers plenty of grip, meaning that it will planted in the corners. With daily driving scenarios aside, there is some room to push it and have a bit of fun, and the best part is that it will remain easy to control even if you go over the limit. The braking distances are very short, and the tire even offers some usable traction on ice.

Winter tires usually have some drawbacks in terms of refinement, and it’s the same with the Winter Sottozero 3. The lack of dynamic handling means we’re looking at a softer tire that offers excellent comfort. It has no issues with smaller bumps and imperfections and softens the blows from larger potholes, keeping the cabin almost vibration-free. The noise levels, on the other hand, aren’t as good. There is a faint hum around town, which isn’t terrible, but the intensity increases when you get on the highway.

#10. Vredestein Wintrac Pro

As a direct competitor of the Pirelli model, we have one from Vredestein. The tire in question is the Wintrac Pro, which seems to do some things better than the Italian counterpart.

In dry conditions, the Wintrac Pro provides plenty of performance. The grip and traction levels are abundant, meaning you won’t experience too much slip or understeer. Like with most tires, you can reach the limit at a certain point, but people won’t experience that in daily driving situations. The tire also provides short braking distances, so safety won’t be something you’ll need to be concerned about. Unlike the previous model, with this one, we have a bit more responsiveness, meaning that it can be a bit more fun to push it.

Things don’t change too much in wet conditions, and the Wintrac Pro continues to impress with its performance. The traction levels on damp roads are excellent, meaning you won’t experience slip unless you want to. In the corners, the grip levels will keep the tire sticking to the ground. It will let go at a certain point, so you won’t notice that unless you push it really hard. Like on dry roads, the safety aspect of the tire is excellent, thanks to the short braking distances. As for the aquaplaning resistance, I wouldn’t call it terrible. The tire is stable in heavy rain, but there are a few models that deliver better results by a margin.

The Wintrac Pro has two sides when it comes to winter performance. On unpacked snow, the tire provides plenty of traction, meaning that you’ll rarely find it struggling to get going. Packed snow is the weaker point, and even though the tire offers decent performance, it’s not the best, even within its class. The braking distances are also pretty good, putting the tire near the top of the mid-range segment. Overall, the performance should be enough as long as you’re not too much of it.

Similar to the Pirelli model, we’re looking at mixed results in terms of refinement. The comfort levels are good for its class, and even though there is some stiffness to the tire, it’s not overly harsh. It will iron out the smaller imperfections in the road and partially absorb the larger bumps. You will notice a bit of vibration, but it’s not too bad. The noise levels aren’t the lowest in the class. The hum is there, and the level increases with the speed. It’s noticeable but not horribly loud.