What can I do to my Volvo V70 to improve the hard ride?

I have a 2000X (2001 model year) Volvo V70 2.4 (170bhp) SE petrol automatic. It has 16-inch wheels with Pirelli P6000 (summer) tyres, 205/55. The ride, while not uncomfortable, is somewhat hard, and you feel every bump you go over in the road. I have been told that these Pirelli's give a hard ride because they only have a low percentage of latex in them, and that a tyre with a higher percentage, such as Michelin Primacy 3, would give a softer ride. Is this accurate, and would the Michelins be a good summer tyre to change to, for a softer ride? Or is there something even better?

Asked on 7 September 2013 by CW, Beckenham

Answered by Honest John

These are the deepest profile tyres you can fit to this car, so you can't change wheel and tyre size. You might feel a small improvement from Primacy 3s. I found Toyo J48 205/55 R16s to be outstanding on a Mazda 5 I ran for a year. They are beautifully compliant, grippy and predictable, though that also had a lot to do with the Mazda 5 steering, engine weight and suspension.

Tags: ride comfort wheels and tyres wheel sizes

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