Is this a bad winer wheels/tyres combo?

[LordRaiden84]

Evening all

 

As per title I'm running my VRS TDI Octy on Black Chrome TWS 18" Neptunes and Eagle F1 A2's. This setup has been used since the cars purchase (Jan this year). I'm a little in the dark and rather un-educated where winter wheels/tyres are concerned and often see threads of people enquiring/buying/selling/posting pics etc etc of everything and anything to do with it.

 

 

I'm after some advice and opinions really as to whether or not I actually need to go down that route. Thing is, I have storage issues (well at least till spring when shed gets built as I'm lazy) currently and I'm not even sure the sourcing of wheels/steelies & tyres fall into my budget. I live in Cheshire so it's not as if we get really harsh winters in my opinion (please feel free to disagree).

 

 

I suppose my number one question therefore has to be, do I need a winter setup at all?

 

 

Although the Eagle F1's aren't really a winter tyre per se, they do offer tremendous grip and I'd only be really concerned if I was driving in ridiculous snow or ice where braking distances and rolling resistances could be affected.

 

 

Is there anyone who is in a similar position to me or is it a case of as soon as the weather starts to turn, bang on the winters and have done with it?

 

 

Remember peeps, I'm an Octavia Virgin so I need all the help/advice I can get

 

 

Many thanks

 

 

 

 

[wiilydog]

If it doesn't snow and you are driving on well gritted roads you will be fine as for the past 2 years the winters have been very mild but you will struggle if it snows. Good tread depth helps but nothing beats winter tyres in snow or icy conditions. Have you thought about getting something like Michelin cross climates if you are concerned with storage or don't want to buy another set of wheels.

[Huskoda]

You can swap them for some of the recent good all-seasons when they get low, or if you find you need them. You don't need ridiculous snow for normal tyres to show their weaknesses.

 

While I do rate Eagle F1s as excellent summer tyres, they are not ideal for wintry conditions. The pattern is all wrong, being mostly around the circumference rather than across the tread.

Edited 26 November, 2015 by Huskoda

[rob_e]

Eagles are very good.  Even in cold and wet weather they are great, but for snow slush ice proper winters are better.

 

I run goodyear winters on separate rims - no incremental cost as the summers are sitting in the shed when the winters are on.  Yes it's an upfront investment but overall no additional cost over the life of the vehicle.

 

16" steels + winter tyres is usually the cheapest way do do this, ie cheaper than buying 18" winters and paying for a swap over at a tyre shop 2x per yr.  mytyres etc offer packages.

 

or try ebay from second hand oem 16"s..

 

or you might be lucky and find some sets..  e.g. http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-RIAL-AUDI-VW-SKODA-SEAT-MERCEDES-16-ALLOY-WHEELS-NANKANG-WINTER-TYRES-/252182806905?hash=item3ab7444179:g:hgUAAOSwo0JWMz~q  

[Jevpls]

or you might be lucky and find some sets..  e.g. http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-RIAL-AUDI-VW-SKODA-SEAT-MERCEDES-16-ALLOY-WHEELS-NANKANG-WINTER-TYRES-/252182806905?hash=item3ab7444179:g:hgUAAOSwo0JWMz~q

 

If you buy used tyres then checking the manufacturing date can be useful. If they are from year 2007 or so then they might have become harder and not as efficient as you expect them to be.

Note: one shouldn't be obsessed with the age of tyres. Many so called experts say that 3-4 years old winter tyres are useless but it seems to be not entirely true. But if you buy used ones - why should you buy that if there's always better choices.

Note2: I didn't see date on the tyres. Maybe these ones are good

[FatblokeVRS]

I got a set of virtually new (delivery mileage) VW Transporter T4 16" steel wheels cheaply from ebay and put Continental WinterContact's on them. The wheels fit over the VRS brake calipers fine. They have been well worth the initial outlay.

[Vegasphil]

I have an Octavia VRS and I won't be buying Winter Tyres - Happy to rely on the Goodyear Eagle F1's. 

 

I do live on the South Coast and we seldom get snow here.