I'm getting prepared for next winter. Thing is I can't find any winter tyres that are W rated. I emailed Skoda and this was their reply,

Dear Mr Skinnyman (changed to protect the innocent)

Thank you for your email dated 5 May 2010, regarding Winter Tyres.

We do not recommend that you alter the speed ratings of your tyres however if you cannot find the specific ones with the correct

speed rating please use the following parameters.

You can use the V speed rated tyres as long as all four tyres are of the same size, aspect ratio and diameters, however you must

not exceed 210kmph (130 mph).

Thank you for contacting Skoda Customer Services.

Kind regards

Chloe Moyes

Customer Service Advisor

Skoda Auto Customer Services

[email protected]

08457 745 745

www.skoda.co.uk

I'm going to keep a copy of my for the insurance company just in case the need arises. I'm pretty keen on not giving the insurance companies any reason not to pay out, this should help as V rated are available in 205 50 17. Hope this might help some others who have been thinking along the same lines as me.

That's cr@p as V rated tyres are rated to 149 mph!

The speeds they have given you (130mph) are for H rated tyres.

It's good to see the people at customer services know what they are talking about

EDIT: added link to support my point.

http://www.blackcircles.com/general/speedrating

Edited 7 May, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

That's cr@p as V rated tyres are rated to 149 mph!

The speeds they have given you (130mph) are for H rated tyres.

It's good to see the people at customer services know what they are talking about

EDIT: added link to support my point.

http://www.blackcircles.com/general/speedrating

I know! This made me smile as they are so specific as are the insurance companies. When it comes down to it though, they know less than the average car geek on here. Unfortunately for Mrs Skinnyman, I can quote all the speed ratings in my sleep, so as soon as I saw the email, I had a fifteen minute rant about it.

However, it means though that I have got an official email from Skoda telling me I can use V rated tyres on my winter wheels, so if there is any comeback, I have more to argue a case with.

I'd quite like to see you doing 130mph in the snow. If it goes well, then maybe you could try 149 mph. Lol

Now there's a challenge.

I'd quite like to see you doing 130mph in the snow. If it goes well, then maybe you could try 149 mph. Lol

Fresh snow and a wide runway and I think you could do it.

Stopping however might be a whole different game, never mind throwing in some corners.

Edited 8 May, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai

Fresh snow and a wide runway and I think you could do it.

Stopping however might be a whole different game, never mind throwing in some corners.

Anything will be better than summer tyres in the snow earlier this year! I'll be happy to hit 30mph, let alone 130.

I was lucky enough to be running on winter tyres this year and yes they are well worth it

I was lucky enough to be running on winter tyres this year and yes they are well worth it

What brand did you have on?

What brand did you have on?

Nokian WR up front and WRg2 at the rear

Nokian WR up front and WRg2 at the rear

I'll look into those then. I'm probably going to buy them this summer before the mad rush in Autumn that happened last winter. At least I've got them then, but knowing my luck it'll be a mild winter.

My opinion would to be get a set of steel wheels (16") and put winters on those.

Maybe I'm vain, maybe stupid, but I've got a set of Spiders to put them on. Do you remember the ninety nine pound ebay wheels I bought a while ago? I've had them refurbed and have a new set of summer tyres to put on them. I'm then going to put the winter tyres on the original Spiders when the current summer tyres wear out. This way there won't be an issue with insurance, the car won't look crap on 16s and I'm a happy man all round.

I wouldn't want to be driving round on a set of steelies wondering if they'd give the insurance company a reason not to pay out should the occasion arise. I'm not normally someone who worries about stuff, but I'm not naive enough to think that 16" steel wheels wouldn't go un-noticed in the event of an insurance claim. This is why I hatched my cunning plan.

I only said go for 16" steelies, because the salt knackers alloys and also when you can drive on the snow, you might well catch a hidden kerb or two over the course of a winter.

For the 16" side of things (steel or not) the tyre cost is much lower and the lower width means they can actually bite better than the 17" versions.

Either way, I'll give the warning of be careful on icy junctions, as while they are good, nothing short of chains or studded tyres will stop you on polished sheet ice.

Most Octavias over here (I'm in Germany this week) tend to run 195/65/15 winter tyres,

as narrower tyres grip into the snow better.

Mine's only a Sport TDi (17" summer wheels) but I think it has the same size brakes as a VRS.

My local dealer did a free trial fit of a 15" steel to check for clearance over the front calipers.

I run Avon Ice tourers (I think Nick Wega3 does too although on 16s).

I'm very happy with them.

Been over 1000m high & -23c with them.

If the tyre size is listed inside the fuel filler cap, it's fine

(Funnily enough heading home from the pub last night, in SWMBOs car,

we got stopped for a random Polizei roadside check...

Visual check of lights, tyres, driver paperwork, breath test (if they smelt booze) etc ...

The German V5 has the range of tyre sizes listed on it.

If you've put something on that's not on the list, you're in trouble,

however, had we been in my car, I could have directed them to the fuel filler info,

ever wondered why it's on there!!)

As for the speed rating, I think mine are H, but lets face it, you're not going to get near that.

Hope that helps.... Darren

p.s. I agree with Mr Cheeze Monkey entirely

Edited 12 May, 201016 yr by dieseldarren

A 15" wheel won't fit over the 312mm brakes, however 16" will (I run 312mm and tried the 15" too).

A 15" wheel will however fit over the 288mm set up.

I believe the sport has the 288mm brake set up.

Edited 12 May, 201016 yr by cheezemonkhai