So the great guys at West End fitted the Coopers to my 16" steelies a fortnight ago and I got them swapped on Friday. They've washed the alloys and tucked them into bed for the next 5-6 months.

Tyres were £88 inc VAT per corner. First impressions are positive, even in the absence of snow, but with cool temperatures (snow on the hills and a hint of sleet in the rain) and very wet roads.

Car definately feels smoother on the roads, although the steering wheel is not quite as communicative in the hand due to the bigger tyre profile over the 17s. In cornering you can feel an element of initial flex in the tyres but there is ultimately more grip. Car now slices through roadside puddles thanks to the tread pattern and narrower wheels, with no sense of aqua-planing at all. Road noise doesn't seem markedly worse either. Seriously, these things aren't just for snow.

Given that these tyres are designed to be fitted with studs I'm under no doubt that snow performance will be up to the job too.

For the added safety between now and March/April I'm prepared to live with the slightly odd look of the car with those now emptier wheel arches.

I just hope the cheap eBay trims "grow" on me as at the moment I'm half tempted to take them off and run the wheels naked!!

Niall

I just hope the cheap eBay trims "grow" on me as at the moment I'm half tempted to take them off and run the wheels naked!!

Niall

Aaargh-off with 'em!! Get your steelies out for the lads!!

Spray your rims black just-at least it won't look like you've had your alloys robbed & are trying to make up for it!

Agree. Those covers look really cheap. Naked steel wheels - either silver or black, would look so much better.

Steve

Agree. Those covers look really cheap. Naked steel wheels - either silver or black, would look so much better.

Steve

They were really cheap!!

I'll give it a week, but am siding on removal. Just a shame that a set of OEM trims is getting on for £100.

Niall

Agree...........I think the steelies are better in the buff

I've ordered a set of 16" steelies, and I've been thinking about wheel trims. Saw those cheap ones on eBay and your pictures have confirmed it, they're truely nasty.

I'm going to run with naked black steelies for a while I think.

Yep i totally agree they definitely qualify as truly awful

My Seat trims don't look too bad

I went down the Audi Alloy route and repainted them myself..They were a mess...BUT cheap from a scrapper on eBay!!

Fitted with Kumho K27 M & S Winters:

Nice job Chris,

these might do the trick for someone? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Seat-16-Alloy-Wheels-Leon-Ibiza-Altea-5x112-et50-/120643806775?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item1c16ee6637

Aaargh-off with 'em!!

Those covers look really cheap. Naked steel wheels - either silver or black' date=' would look so much better.

they're truely nasty

definitely qualify as truly awful[/quote']

We are now 'Back to Black' and looking much better for it.

Back to t'Bay to see what I can salvage from this failed experiment!!

Click in haste, repent at leisure.........

Niall

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by Niall

Just a shame that a set of OEM trims is getting on for £100.

Niall

Have a look at this:

http://www.amsparts.co.uk/category/Skoda/Skoda_Accessories__Styling__Alloys___Protection/Octavia___Octavia_Estate___MKII___2004_2008,b.html

Quote briams10 in the offer box for extra 10% discount!

I'm going down the audi wheel route too. Picked up a cheap set last weekend same as ChrisRs has, but want to get them on a balancing machine before I get getting tyres

for them just to see if they're ok. On a closer inspection in daylight, one appears to have a very slight flat spot.... Guess thats what happens with "sold as seen in the dark" ;-)

Where is the best place to source winter tyres ? Camskill seem like the best option price wise.

Just had four Nokian WRG2's delivered from Mytyres (205/55/16's). Ordering and delivery went very smooth and the online tracking of delivery worked well. Tyres seem to bounce around in price though, I paid £86 but seen then £10 either side of that.

I've got some steelies on order at the dealer because I wasn't confident buying used alloys (size, type etc). I'm thinking what to do trim wise too: Kayak Jims trims look good, might look into them.

I'm thinking what to do trim wise too

Be a man, show the world your cold, hard, steel.

Sorry, no doubt this has been asked 100's of times, but where do you guys get your steel wheels from ?

Sorry, no doubt this has been asked 100's of times, but where do you guys get your steel wheels from ?

Look here:

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

Thanks for the link ChrisRs

Have a look at this:

http://www.amsparts.co.uk/category/Skoda/Skoda_Accessories__Styling__Alloys___Protection/Octavia___Octavia_Estate___MKII___2004_2008,b.html

Quote briams10 in the offer box for extra 10% discount!

Cheers! The eBay seller has confirmed a full refund (exc postage) so I'll seriously consider those.

All told my biggest concern with running the steels "naked" for the six months is the opportunity for corrosion to the exposed hubs and bolts, especially with all the road salt.

Would the black blanking caps from a VW Caddy fit? They're uber cheap and as the wheels are black will not be that noticeable.

Thoughts from the Briskoda collective?

Niall

I don't think anything will stop crud getting to the hubs or bolts. If anything they might just trap it there.