Timing belt Gates or OEM Volvo

I've done many timing belts. The locking tool is a "nice to have" but certainly not required. You should be checking your cam sprocket alignment before turning the engine over, anyway, so just take your time and be careful and you'll avoid most issues.

I used a Gates timing belt and some other parts from an ECC kit (new water pump, tensioner, etc.) The timing belt looks tight and normal still

I don't have a problem with Gates. I install lots of those without problem so I went with one on my Z32

Don't cheap out on the timing belt. Get the entire kit with rollers, tensioner and water pump. If it fails it is catastrophic. I use Gates kits all the time.

Usually with auto parts you get what you pay for. So pay a little more for better quality stuff. The brands I like to go with for timing belts are gates and continental.

Gates belt is great but I'm not convinced that anyone not tracking their car needs it. Even then, it's probably not necessary 80% of the time.

My gates belt looks identical to that and has ever since 5 miles after i changed it, and that was like 4 years ago....

I'm going to swap the Conti belt I installed for a Gates (OEM on this car). I'll let you know how it goes.

Gates kevlar and tracer belt is shiaatt.

Gates seems to have lost some quality in recent years.