I need to buy a new set of winter tyres and wheels for my RS, which currently sits quite happily on 17" wheels. Now, the thing is, there's quite a price difference between 16s and 17s. Plus the tyres I want to buy - Pirelli Winter Carving Edge studded - are currently only in stock in a 16".

I drove for two winters with the Pirellis on my old car, and they were absolutely excellent, and want to buy them again: but is it going to be a problem going down to a 16" wheel when Skoda recommend 17 or 18"? I presume that the ride comfort is going to drop a bit, plus the contact from the 17s is going to be slightly better.

Edited 12 August, 201015 yr by jasoncarter

I've been considering exactly the same thing after the heavy snow in the winter.

I've found a place that sells VW Transporter Wheels 6x16 which seem to fit the bill quite nicely. I was thinking about Nokian tyres for my 1,8 TSi DSG.

I am currently getting some 16" Audi alloys refurbished (for less than those steel rims!) to run with winter tyres, not sure what make to go for though.

Ran Nokian WR G2 205/55 R16 on my Yeti last winter, personally found this to be an excellent tyre.

Can get a winter tye and rim package from mytyres My link

Also Skoda Germany produce a PDF listing all approved tyre and rim sizes My link

Regards,

TP

Thanks - so 16" isn't going to make a huge difference to ride or handling?

(that link to Skoda Germany doesn't work by the way)

No, if anything you will get a slightly softer more comfortable ride - at the expense of a little less road holding.

Don't know if its any help but I ran 16" steelies on my Mk5 golf (same chassis as my other car, Octavia VRS PD) with Michelin Alpin A3 205/55 to very good effect last winter (no studs though). Roadholding was superb in wet, icy and snowy conditions. Ride was excellent, the only discernable difference was that the steering didn't feel quite as sharp (probably due to the increased tyre section i guess). Didn't get as far as trying them on the Octavia but will do that this winter hopefully.

16" Steels with Vredestein Snowtrac 3's last winter on my Scout were great. Sligthly different rolling radius gave a small speedo over read, but I was so confident in the performance I even let the better half drive it in the Cairngorm mountains. I got the wheels off e-bay for £65 for all 4 ( they are Seat Altea wheels, same as the Mk 5 Golf). There is also and advantage in going for 16" in that you can fit snow chains more easily if required, some 17" you can't (e.g. Scout) as there is not enough clearance.

What would people recommend if winter tyres were not an option on 18 inch rims? Snow chains or socks?

I think you will find that chains are not recommended by Skoda on 18" wheels anyway (certainly not on t e Superb anyway).

So you are left with just socks (only of use in snow) or 16"/17" winter tyres - the dearer but much better option.

Thanks - so 16" isn't going to make a huge difference to ride or handling?

(that link to Skoda Germany doesn't work by the way)

Try here for the link My link

Regards,

TP

Edited 15 August, 201015 yr by The Plumber

I ran 205/55R16 Avon snow and ice touring last year and they were fine. I believe skoda recommend 205/55R16 as snow tyres. (Sure its in my manual.......)

I prefer the higher profile as if you slide and hit something you are less likely to do damage to the wheels and tyres then a LP tyre. Last year I hit a pot hole that wrote off two wheels - the tyres were fine. I believe if I had LP I would have written off the tyres too.

Regards

Tom

Where are people finding winter tyre stock from? Currently after some Vred Wintracs in 225/45/17 but can't seem to find stock with the usual suspects? Would have thought this was the ideal time for purchase - being (allegedly) the middle of summer!

Cheers,

Steve

Back in the days when I got my L&K (58 plate) it came with 17" sputnik alloys and Bridgestone RE050 tyres a steel 16" spare with a continental sport contact 2 omnidirectional tyre. As a result I bought 16" steelies for my winter tyres (shod with Michelin Alpins). Here in aberdeenshire last winter they proved excellent, and got nme onto the main roads through soft snow over ice and handled just fine on the main roads and allowed for confident driving. It was great to be able to drive carefully but with confidence where others slithered about on "all weather Tyres" The difference was stunning.

I thought long and hard about buying some 16" alloys for the summer to soften the ride I got on the OEM Bridgestones. However when I came to change my bridgestones (which where hard and noisy) I put on Conti Sport Contact 2 directionals on a weeks trial basis from my local garage (Not the sort of service you'll get from Kwik-Fit.), and have got a quieter more compliant car that burns less fuel so I've kept the 17's and the contis. (they were cheaper than the Bridgestones too by £8 per tyre.

On my Alfa GTV 3.0 I have 16" wheels for both summer and winter duty I find that the ride on the summer wheels (Bridgestone Adrenalins) far softer than that on my winter one (Michelin Alpins) but the ability to drive easily away in snow that I sruggled to manage on the Bridgestones is worth it.

My local Costco still has some 16" alpins in stock but most here in Aberdeen appear to be arriving from Shetland!

Ahh, Costco for winter tyres! Good call

Will try my local one when I'm next down.

Hmmm lets hope there's some snow this winter!