What with doing a lengthy daily commute (65 miles each way) and after the extreme conditions of last winter I am considering buying a set of steel wheels and fitting winter tyres to use over the coming winter months.

Wondered if anyone else has done this and what their experiences were in terms of positives and negatives e.g. greater wet/ ice grip/ increased road noise etc. Also, it would be good to get an idea of potential costs for the wheels and tyres and any particular make of winter tyres that are recommended.

This exercise will also have the added bonus of keeping the alloys for summer use only and thereby keeping the dreaded salt off them.

Any advice welcome.

Cheers

I use rainsport2's winter and summer. Had to climb a high pass last winter in the worst of the snow. It was 3 foot deep in fresh snow in places and compacted in others but they gave enough traction to do it. The wide grooves seemed to spit the snow out rather than clog up like standard tires. Wasn't a breeze, but certainly good for the odd snow day. You only have to search this forum to see how well respected they are for on-road performance as well

185 60 15 Continental TS800 wintercontacts on my SE. Live out in the moors and last winter they were absolutely brilliant in the snow.

Drove straight up a hill that a RAV4 was slipping up, the only day they wouldn't cope with was when it was sheet ice and 3 gritters slid off the road!

I bought a set of Audi alloys off an early A3 - plenty cheap ones on fleabay and the profile tyres I fitted are cheap compared to the original. It also helps in snow to have a higher profile.

Just be aware that you probably will have difficulty finding winter tyres after November(ish) as they tend to sell out early.

HTH

I like Toyo Proxes T1-R's as an all rounder but they're very grippy in the wet. The previous Goodyear Eagle F1's would spin up accelerating in 3rd in my VR6 even in damp, the toyo's just don't do that.

I passed many a stranded car commuting through the snow as well but it's a fairly flat drive to work.

I would normally say Vredestein or Nokians for winter tyres. However neither of them do the correct size in 16". You would either have to buy 4 bigger tyres (205/50s) or buy a smaller wheels (15")

I am very tempted to buy a pair of wheels and put some winter tyres (not sure which) on them. As I know how bad my Goodyears and Toyos were last winter. I once had wheelspin in top gear on snow with my GSD3 Goodyears. Having said that the T1-Rs being soft were not too bad in the cold (still useless in snow/slush).

Having lived in Germany where it is law to have winter tyres, if you have an accident and the police prove that the accident could've been avoided with either car having winter tyres fitted then if you are the person that hasn't got winter tyres then you will get an on the spot fine of 150 euros and more often the blame for the accident will be put on you even if the other person hit your car!!!

I had a set of Bridgestones on my old Mk2 Golf GTi 16v. I had no problems in getting around last winter in germany where the snow was alot worse and deeper than here, and when driving along in water logged or damp roads it certain gives more stability.

I actually bought a set ready to go onto my Octy over here for this winter (wife hates the slippery conditions, so if it gives her a little more confidence then i am happy), and I am looking for a set to go onto my Furby 1400.

They do tend to last a good few years as well, as long as you change them back to "normal tyres when the weather gets better (generally above 7-10 degrees c), otherwise the will wear out within a couple of thousand miles...

I will swear by winter tyres and think we should as a nation follow the germans... that way we wouldn't end up looking like a bunch of muppets and the country closing down when there is a sniff of snow!!!

But thats my opinion......anyone else want to comment?

I agree completely with andyids and Tight Git, if you really do think that you need that extra grip to get going,keep going, stopping and so out of most trouble then get some proper winter tyres and not just all season ones, remember even winter tyres give a lot better results than all season tyres in rain as well as snow and ice.

I'd say get a set of "-1" steelies if your brakes will allow you to fit them, that way you will get even better grip by using narrower tyres - mytyres might be doing a "winter steels + tyres" deal, they did one last year and I bought a set of 5-off for my wife's Polo. I will be fitting them back on maybe mid November until mid April. If you buy something like Alpins then they should last a few years if used over the period I indicated.

I am not saying that some all season tyres are not better than others in snow, I should know all about that as I fitted Mitchelin Pilot Exaltos to my wife's Polo, great in warm weather - probably the worst tyre to use in cold weather - ah well at least I know that that is official (see tyre tests!).

I would also add that I'd hope that our motor insurance people would take a responsible attitude to us using them and not their usual "you will tend to go out more in bad conditions if you fit them - so have more accidents" - wake up, sometimes we need to go out and sometimes the weather does catch us out!

Edited 8 September, 201015 yr by rum4mo

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Steel_wheels.html

prices look not too bad too !

I've just bought a spare set of alloys and getting some winter tyres too !

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Steel_wheels.html

prices look not too bad too !

I've just bought a spare set of alloys and getting some winter tyres too !

I had no choice last winter, got caught out rather and mytyres were the only suppliers that could sell a set of Michelin in late January!!! As said my others, if you feel that you need winter tyres buy them sooner than later as they will be gone by mid November I'd reckon.

Thanks guys these comments and advice are really helpful. I will check out the 'mytyres' options....

http://www.mytyres.co.uk/Steel_wheels.html

prices look not too bad too !

I've just bought a spare set of alloys and getting some winter tyres too !

Following the link posted, Does anyone know - For the Fabia VRS which option do you pick from the following:

Skoda

Fabia

1.9 TDi

6Y 1896ccm 96kW 01.2000 5-Hole Steel Wheel

6Y 1896ccm 74kW 01.2000 5-Hole Steel Wheel

6Y 1896ccm 77kW 04.2007 5-Hole Steel Wheel

Thanks in advance.

6Y 1896ccm 96kW 01.2000 5-Hole Steel Wheel - I think?

If I put a set of winter tyres on in say 6 weeks time then we have a mild winter and they prove to never have been needed, what would be the down sides?

Increased fuel economy?

Higher wear rate?

If I put a set of winter tyres on in say 6 weeks time then we have a mild winter and they prove to never have been needed, what would be the down sides?

Increased fuel economy?

Higher wear rate?

They will wear much quicker than regular compound. I think they have a lower tread depth anyway and should be changed at around 5mm. Fuel economy increase will be present, but hardly noticeable.

so now i have 312mm audi tt front brakes on my fabia what size steel wheel would i need? plus mine is lowerd on eibachs 30mm :S not sure what size i need as i know the std wheels are snug but if i choose audi tt steel wheels of octy's they are 55 not 45 any suggestions

Edited 9 September, 201015 yr by Si Vxr

so now i have 312mm audi tt front brakes on my fabia what size steel wheel would i need? plus mine is lowerd on eibachs 30mm :S not sure what size i need as i know the std wheels are snug but if i choose audi tt steel wheels of octy's they are 55 not 45 any suggestions

Didn't someone say not so long ago the steelie spare wheel in the boot will fit fine. you just need to find 4 of them

thats a dam good point yes it does i put that on my front while i was doing the refurb hmmmmmmmmm now i need another spare wheel

thats a dam good point yes it does i put that on my front while i was doing the refurb hmmmmmmmmm now i need another spare wheel

Take note of all the numbers on the steel spare wheel and buy a new one as scrappies did not even seem to have any thing close to what I was looking for. BTW, the steel wheels that I bought from mytyres looked very very like the wheel design that VAG use, and if I had bought the VAG wheel covers I'd reckon that they would have fitted into the array of little square holes that some VAG cars use to secure the covers. Remember having two winter tyres only fitted will tend to make the rear misbehave if you try to be silly in winter.