This is no lie. I have had TEN blowouts from the low-profile tires which came as the original equipment on my $43,000 Volvo. I was never told that the low profile tires were an anathema in areas which were well known for potholes. My dream car was always a Volvo. It was always beyond my reach until I retired, and then I splurged. I bought what I believed would be my last car ( I'm 76 years old ) and I wanted it to be the best. It has always been known for being a safe and secure and reliable vehicle. WHO KNEW THAT MY DREAM WOULD BECOME A NIGHTMARE. Now, I know that blowouts and potholes are a fact of motoring life, but in the 60 years prior to owning the Volvo I recall only one blowout. Since then, as I've said, I've had TEN. Twenty minutes ago I threw in the towel and decided to call an outside tire dealer and, lo-and-behold, there is a non-low-profie option. I purchased fournew alloy wheels and four new tires at a cost of $ 980. Add that to the cost of the previous ten tires ( @ +/- $ 200 each ) and that comes to over $ 3000. Now, this is not to say that I dislike the car. It's really very nice. However, I'm mad as hell that I wasn't told about the disadvantages of low-profile tires, that I was not offered an option, and that when I asked the Volvo dealer where I got the car I got nowhere FAST. Needless to say I tell anyone and everyone who asks me about the Volvo that I'm pleased with the car, so far, but I warn them in the strongest possible terms NOT TO ACCEPT THE CAR UNLESS IT HAS NON-LOW-PROFILE TIRES. I should add that when I contacted the Volvo H.Q. they informed me that such blowouts were virtually unheard of. Yet, my own inquiries from tire salespeople and mechanics tell a different story. They know that this is a problem in pothole prone areas. Now, I haven't even gotten to the safety issue. In one instance the blowout nearly sent me crashing. Nothing happened but that was due to my skill as a long time driver. Should anyone else have this problem, please look me at. I'd be your most convincing witness !! I think Volvo needs to take a good look at itself, or it will go the way of the Peugot in America.